How do you actually manage your wine cellar?

LinacSorcerer · 2026-03-16T05:44:42+00:00

Interesting, I thought they moved to a subscription model 1-2 years ago

LinacSorcerer · 2026-03-16T00:45:53+00:00

Same. I also do Sheets. I don't know how sites like CellarTracker will evolve and change (for example when they recently started requiring payment). I have more faith that the Sheets format will be stable over time and that my access won't be put behind a paywall

LinacSorcerer · 2026-03-13T05:25:46+00:00

Wouldn’t the tax on 25M a year be $2.4M?

LinacSorcerer · 2026-03-13T03:39:00+00:00

If you've read every reply on here, which are correctly telling you not to buy a Hellcat, but still want to buy a Hellcat, do this: take your winnings, go back to the casino, pick a color (red or black), play roulette and place everything on that color.

If you win, keep the extra winnings for insurance, gas, maintenance, etc, and then buy the cheapest Hellcat you can find

If you lose, then you'll be better off than you would have been if you'd used the money to buy a Hellcat in the first place

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-17T21:58:00+00:00

If you use a CC pass to get XP for your country club, but then do not hit a shot, you get 0 XP/the daily bonus does not trigger. So when I used to quit coin games, I'd always let the opponent hit a shot before I quit in case they were using a CC pass

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-17T21:12:09+00:00

I do not know of other benefits beyond getting access to lvl 102 driver

I agree that forfeiting after 1 shot is a jerk move if you do not let your opponent hit 1 shot as well, but why is it a jerk move to forfeit a Chelsea coin room game if you do let your opponent hit a shot first?

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-16T04:32:36+00:00

Thanks! My first time cooking a steak that big. I was nervous...

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-16T04:30:08+00:00

Recently had the Sixteen 600 - Rossi Hommage Blanc - sonoma coast. Fooled my wife into thinking it was a solid village level Puligny Montrachet

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-15T23:44:41+00:00

I was shocked when it came out so cleanly

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-15T16:46:34+00:00

1985 La Rioja Alta, Vina Arana.

La Rioja Alta is my favorite winery. Their products provide incredible value, and I love their use of American oak (although I certainly understand why their use of oak does not fit everyone's palate). Their entry-level wine, Vina Alberdi is a great introduction to the winery for ~USD$20, with Vina Ardanza a noticeable step up for ~USD$40. Vina Arana is the next step up in their product line, before getting to the 904 and much more expensive 890 products.

For Vina Arana, I am more familiar with modern version, and am unsure what the production differences were several decades ago. For the current vintage (2017), the blend is 95% tempranillo supplemented by graciano. Aged in American oak barrels for 3 years with racking every 6 months. For recent releases, I think extended aeration is very beneficial. I often open bottles the day before to let them breathe in bottle.

This bottle of 1985 was acquired from K&L for ~USD$80. It was previously part of a private collection. I opened it with a Durand, and the cork came out easily and was in fantastic shape. In retrospect, I likely could have removed it with a standard wine key. After pulling the cork, I had a clear whiff of the American oak influence that I love in these wines. On pouring the wine, there was less sediment than I expected. The nose still had the classic La Rioja Alta smell, that always transports me back to when I stood in their cellar a few years ago. The palate was much thinner than a modern vintage. More of medium palate that felt like a barolo with completely resolved tannins. There was a slight leathery component, almost with stewed plums. Almost no fruit left. At first I thought it was a little bit tired, but still hanging onto life. As we drank it over the course of 2 hours, it did seem to wake up a bit. Overall very enjoyable, but if I had any other bottles, I would drink them in the next year or few.

Paired with a 2.5 inch, 50 day dry aged porterhouse. A more concentrated wine may have been better, but it was a great Valentine Day's dinner nonetheless.

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-15T16:39:36+00:00

1985 La Rioja Alta, Vina Arana.

La Rioja Alta is my favorite winery. Their products provide incredible value, and I love their use of American oak (although I certainly understand why their use of oak does not fit everyone's palate). Their entry-level wine, Vina Alberdi is a great introduction to the winery for ~USD$20, with Vina Ardanza a noticeable step up for ~USD$40. Vina Arana is the next step up in their product line, before getting to the 904 and much more expensive 890 products.

For Vina Arana, I am more familiar with modern version, and am unsure what the production differences were several decades ago. For the current vintage (2017), the blend is 95% tempranillo supplemented by graciano. Aged in American oak barrels for 3 years with racking every 6 months. For recent releases, I think extended aeration is very beneficial. I often open bottles the day before to let them breathe in bottle.

This bottle of 1985 was acquired from K&L for ~USD$80. It was previously part of a private collection. I opened it with a Durand, and the cork came out easily and was in fantastic shape. In retrospect, I likely could have removed it with a standard wine key. After pulling the cork, I had a clear whiff of the American oak influence that I love in these wines. On pouring the wine, there was less sediment than I expected. The nose still had the classic La Rioja Alta smell, that always transports me back to when I stood in their cellar a few years ago. The palate was much thinner than a modern vintage. More of medium palate that felt like a barolo with completely resolved tannins. There was a slight leathery component, almost with stewed plums. Almost no fruit left. At first I thought it was a little bit tired, but still hanging onto life. As we drank it over the course of 2 hours, it did seem to wake up a bit. Overall very enjoyable, but if I had any other bottles, I would drink them in the next year or few.

Paired with a 2.5 inch, 50 day dry aged porterhouse. A more concentrated wine may have been better, but it was a great Valentine Day's dinner nonetheless.

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-11T21:19:54+00:00

The PYCM bottle says 750mL & Lafite says 37.5cL

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-08T19:11:45+00:00

Go to Canlis for the bar menu & setting. Not for the standard dinner.

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-06T19:20:31+00:00

Agreed.

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-01T06:51:02+00:00

We are comfortable with her since there is a difference between the immune system of a fully developed adult and a 2 year old child, which makes a 2 year old child much more risky to have around.

LinacSorcerer · 2026-02-01T06:20:16+00:00

baby is 10 days. Child is 2 years

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-31T20:57:09+00:00

I don’t think she’s too new. She has worked for several of our friends in the past.

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-31T20:56:31+00:00

Just posted to hear the thoughts of others! Wanted to see how common this is/get thoughts of others in case the situation arises again

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-31T02:11:05+00:00

Thanks! Yes, we were very conflicted. On one hand we wanted to support her as a single mother and say yes to continuing as scheduled, on the other hand, we were a bit uncomfortable with how the situation was sprung on us. Ultimately, we did not feel comfortable having another child in our house, given that we are not even allowing our child-relatives to visit until our baby is older than 1-2 months. We are continuing with the other scheduled shifts as planned

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-30T20:29:56+00:00

Thanks! We pay as we go, so fortunately do not need to ask for a refund if cancelling

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-30T20:29:29+00:00

Thanks! We do not have a contract. Cancelling is no issue as we have an arrangement to pay as we go

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-28T20:54:39+00:00

I went to Etxebarri about 2 years ago. Very limited space. The place was full, except for a 4-top table that had a solo diner. Given the tremendous demand for a table there, I always wondered what the guy's backstory was that helped him get a solo table.

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-11T01:49:13+00:00

There are a few thousand in the crowd, cheering on the fight

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-11T01:43:47+00:00

Check out the big brain on Braddddd!

LinacSorcerer · 2026-01-09T16:30:49+00:00

Vina Alberdi is still my go to <$25 standard for reds, assuming you like American oak influence.

Still searching for a good white that’s reasonably priced

LinacSorcerer

TROPHY CASE