The wines you wish you did not own - post 'em!

[David M. Bueker]

So last night I busted out a bottle of Clos Les Lunelles, a Gerard Perse creation from the Cotes de Castillon. I can't for the life of me figure out what I ever saw in this wine. I've still got a bunch from 3 different vintages, and will use them for mid-week burgers or open them for folks who like big wines. I really have zero use for the wine.

So what's still in your collection that you regret? What have you moved past, and looking back, can't even figure out why you went there in the first place?

I don't really have "collections", as I usually buy individual bottles. However, I've been making Steuben rosé every year for over 20 years. I've found that I'm not all that excited about it anymore, but family and friends love it, so I keep making it.

[David M. Bueker]

I've been making Steuben rosé every year for over 20 years. I've found that I'm not all that excited about it anymore...

Make Cab Franc Rosé instead!!

I have more 2004 CdP's than I have any use for.

Make Cab Franc Rosé instead!!

Just don't stop blending it with Merlot!

Just looked through my CT inventory, realized I'm rather fortunate as there's only one bottle I wish I didn't own - a 96 Rene Rostaing Condrieu which I'm guessing doesn't have much left. Bought it recently, only because it was bundled into a two bottle lot alongside a 96 Allemand Reynard I really wanted.

So last night I busted out a bottle of Clos Les Lunelles, a Gerard Perse creation from the Cotes de Castillon. I can't for the life of me figure out what I ever saw in this wine. I've still got a bunch from 3 different vintages, and will use them for mid-week burgers or open them for folks who like big wines. I really have zero use for the wine.

So what's still in your collection that you regret? What have you moved past, and looking back, can't even figure out why you went there in the first place?

What vintages do you have, David, out of curiosity?

My collection is small enough that nothing is in there that I don't feel strongly about. On the other hand, for everyday drinkers, I do have a few bottles of Santa Ema Cab Sauv leftover from my brother's wedding that I got bored of rather quickly.

[James Roscoe]

When we first started visiting wineries we would make mercy purchases. Yes, we have a few left from a swing through Pennsylvania. Can you say "Apple wine"?

When we first started visiting wineries we would make mercy purchases. Yes, we have a few left from a swing through Pennsylvania. Can you say "Apple wine"?

A good apple wine can be a real treat. Don't know that they age well though . . . .

[David M. Bueker]

So last night I busted out a bottle of Clos Les Lunelles, a Gerard Perse creation from the Cotes de Castillon. I can't for the life of me figure out what I ever saw in this wine. I've still got a bunch from 3 different vintages, and will use them for mid-week burgers or open them for folks who like big wines. I really have zero use for the wine.

So what's still in your collection that you regret? What have you moved past, and looking back, can't even figure out why you went there in the first place?

What vintages do you have, David, out of curiosity?

2001, 2004 and 2005

Several cult-ish Aussie reds that I bought when I lived there, and brought back here to cellar. Every one I've had so far has horrified me. Now I open them only when I know there are gob lovers attending an event. Maybe the Wendourees will come through in the end??

Oh, who am I kidding?

One of the "benefits" of having a restricted wine budget is that you think fairly hard about all the purchases. So I never bought in any huge quantity at any particular time and my purchases never got too out of line with my preferences.

At this point, after careful winnowing of the stuff I was less excited about, I absolutely love (in theory) the 50 or so bottles in my wine unit. The only question is whether they will show well when I open them!

One of the "benefits" of having a restricted wine budget is that you think fairly hard about all the purchases. So I never bought in any huge quantity at any particular time and my purchases never got too out of line with my preferences.

At this point, after careful winnowing of the stuff I was less excited about, I absolutely love (in theory) the 50 or so bottles in my wine unit. The only question is whether they will show well when I open them!

This is me almost verbatim!

[David M. Bueker]

Several cult-ish Aussie reds that I bought when I lived there, and brought back here to cellar. Every one I'd had so far has horrified me. Now I open them only when I know there are gob lovers attending an event. Maybe the Wendourees will come through in the end??

Oh, who am I kidding?

I know you can find good homes for the Wendourees. They are built for the long haul and not gob-monsterish.

Several cult-ish Aussie reds that I bought when I lived there, and brought back here to cellar. Every one I'd had so far has horrified me. Now I open them only when I know there are gob lovers attending an event. Maybe the Wendourees will come through in the end??

Oh, who am I kidding?

I'm surprised you're lumping Wendouree in there with the gob monsters. Those are a very different style of wine (structured and at times austere enough to make even the old 80s/early 90s Henschkes and John Riddoch types look fruity and big) that need a lot of time, but they are singular, great wines that are worth cellaring.

I'm surprised you're lumping Wendouree in there with the gob monsters.

Well, I'm not, exactly. More like expressing my fears that they'll disappoint me in the end. But you and David are right, Wendouree wines express a different philosophy, just as Henschke and some otherAussies do.

Past tense for Henschke, sadly... the wines have taken a turn towards the denser/fruitier/goopier side in recent years. I have really enjoyed some of the old Cyril Henschke and Mt. Edelstone bottlings from the early and mid 1990s, a couple of their blends from earlier in the 2000s - but the brief samples I had of their younger wines (05 Cyril/Edelstone and onwards) did not make me want to explore them any further. Between those and the pricing that's gone from tragedy to outright farce, I'm no longer a buyer.

And if you're that worried about Wendouree disappointing, send 'em to Connecticut!

Just reviewed the Cellartracker, and I have essentially no wines I regret. There's a bottle of Powder Keg cabernet sauvignon that I doubt I'll enjoy much, and a couple bottles of Manischewitz, bought for a vertical tasting back when I thought I could be funny on the Internet. Beyond that, I'm very happy with what I have. In some sense, the only wines I wish I did not own are the Carruades de Lafite that I really keep meaning to get off my duff and sell.

I've got plenty (many are 2003 Europeans). But I don't sweat it- we're maybe talking 50 bottles total out of 1800. And it's not like I have to drink them myself. After my close encounter with crazy this spring I donated about 2 mixed cases of wine to the local PBA for their annual dinner- some wines I liked but had extras, some I thought others might like more than me (2001 Monbousquet, 2003 CdPs, etc). I have friends who prefer the jammy wines, I can open when they come over, or give as gifts. I'm lucky to not have any truly scary (ie Coturri) wines. And who knows, sometimes wines surprise you with evolution.

If you think the Perse era Clos des Lunelles are bad, try the 2000.

[David M. Bueker]

I've had the 2000 - horror show!

I've had the 2000 - horror show!

How so? And how do the vintages you have compare to that 2003 Kirwan you sent my way?

Not to speak for David, but the 2000 seems to have lots of variation, I think Perse bought (and renamed?) the estate in 2001. The wine may have been somehow bottled barrel by barrel or something, Some are quite vegetal (pretty amazing for 2000) and short, others at least fairly typical RB wines (I definitely remember the first one I ever had was at least acceptable Merlot heavy Bordeaux). Last one I had- about 2 months ago- was vegetal AND seemed to have bacteria issues. One wonders if someone just said "oh the hell with it - we're selling the winery" and then Perse just bottled and sold without any real quality control. So now seems to be bottle by bottle.

[David M. Bueker]

The bottle I had was laced with acetic acid.

Ryan - the 2001 Lunelles is just clunky and big. The 2004 is way too ripe with the 2005 being totally over the top. The '03 Kirwan is elegant by comparison.

2001 Carbonnieux Blanc of which I still have about 7 bottles. The five I've opened have been corked, madirised, or drinkable unimpressive. Partially my fault , should have drank them young.
Also, 7 bottles of 1990 Chat. Chateauneuf Du Pape Domaine Grandjean which I bought because of a rave Parker Review years ago and which never impressed me. I haven't tried one for at least 5 years, which I need to do to see if a miracle occured, or if perhaps I can cook with it.

Ryan - the 2001 Lunelles is just clunky and big. The 2004 is way too ripe with the 2005 being totally over the top. The '03 Kirwan is elegant by comparison.

Well, that's a troubling comparison. Parker describes the 2001 Lunelle as "poor man's Pavie." That's an even more troubling comparison. Although it does make me curious to try a Lunelles sometime just for "academic" reasons.