Special Wines - for Special Times and for the Basement
We just bought two bottles of a wine that are a steal. And as of 2:00 PM Sunday, there are at least 4 bottles left at Vinopolis - 1025 SW Washington (503.223.6002) - and they are worth the trip. We will not be able to determine until later in the week if and where there are others to be had.
Rudsen Stockade Shiraz 2005
The 2005 Stockade is a 1,000-case cuvee of 100% Shiraz that spent time
in neutral French oak. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue, an opulent,
fruit-forward personality, plenty of blackberry and smoky notes, a
ripe, heady mouthfeel, and a nicely defined finish.
- Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Rudsen Stockade Shiraz, 2005, Australia, Barossa Valley - 100% shiraz, deep red color, bright, currant and cherry overtones
Alcohol: 14.5% Bouquet: Ripe, dark fruit
Price: $17.50 Quality/Price Ratio: Very High
Spending Up
Two weeks when we recommended wines for Thanksgiving dinner, we broke our rules about recommending wines that cost more than $20-$25 a bottle. Above that price, the wine had better be good, and most generally are - so the business of recommendations, in our judgment, is best kept in the affordable range.
Thanksgiving in particular is a special case because wine and turkey are an uncertain pairing. But any holiday or celebration is an excuse to spend a little bit more. So go ahead, every now and then, splurge.
Another, maybe better, reason to spend up for a bottle of wine is to put it in the basement for a while and forget about it. Many wines improve significantly with bottle age - a lot of bottle age. 10 years is only the beginning for some varieties - cabernet sauvignon, nebbiolo, tempranillo, syrah - from places like the Napa Valley, Walla Walla, the Piedmont region of Italy (Barolo, Barbaresco),Bordeaux and the Rhone Valley in France, and the Rioja region of Spain. Even our beloved pinot noir fares better over time.(Though we think French Burgundy may age better than Oregon pinot, but we're not sure.)
Buy and Hold:
Think about it as an investment. Every so often, put a bottle or two away, forget about it for as long as you can, and watch what happens. The caveat here is that you have to buy a blue chip - a wine known for its ability to age gracefully, and blue chips don't come cheap. You will probably have to spend upwards of $40 per bottle (or more). But when you got to reap your investment it will have more than doubled in value. You will then have a real excuse for celebration - whenever you need it.
The other caveat concerns the basement. Wine is ideally stored at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Small fluctuations ( + or - 5 degrees ) will not make much difference. But years at room temperature will not serve the wine well. Also the wine must be stored on its side.
Because of our oh so temperate weather, Oregon basements, except for a few days here and there in August, are ideally suited to store wine. You do not need a special wine cellar. A closet or storage rack - one that is generally dark - will do just fine. We have been storing wine in a basement closet for years and are very pleased with the results.
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