Wine question for those wine connoisseurs here

Phelps Insignia

 

+1

Finally made to the Pride reserve & claret list this year. Must be the economy.

 

Caymus SS is my choice as well and a far superior wine to Opus One IMHO.

 

What's the best wine for a picnic on the beach with food as chicken wings, smokeys, burgers etc.?

Had a debate with friends that beer loses its taste if served in plastic cups, and that wine is best.....we chose the Sonora Rance Pinot Giorgio.

 

First, Wine Searcher can be helpful to find desired bottles: http://www.wine-searcher.com/

2005 Lokoya Diamond Mountain: http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/lokoya+diamond+mountain/2005/usa

Second, one of the best rare wine retailers 20-20 wines is by LAX: http://www.2020wines.com/ If you ever get the chance to walk-thru their storage facility, its insane.

This would be my pick: http://www.2020wines.com/1987-dominus-cabernet-750.html

Good luck!

 

You might want to start your own thread about wine basics.

 

Consider bottles with a screw cap. They are starting to appear on decent bottles. Pinot Grigio is not a good choice for me, because at the beach it is difficult to keep as chilled as I like. I would recommend any California Sauvignon Blanc in the US$10 range except BV Coastal. Buy plastic wine glasses, or in an emergency it is even easier to find plastic Champagne flutes. Get the skinny kind, not the fat kind.

If you don't get screw caps, and have forgotten a wine opener (which always happens), just push the cork INTO the bottle with a piece of driftwood. It will splash on you, so don't get it in your eyes, but then you can pour it just fine.

Practical beach advice from Jay.

 

For a mix of spicy food and red meats, I'd pick Paraduxx or a chateauneuf-du-pape.

 

Arista "Longbow" Pinot Noir from Arista Winery (Russian River) Westside Road-Healdsburg,Ca. Each vintage is a consistant 90+ point wine at a very reasonable price.