Your 10 Desert Island Wines (Not specific years but names)

I thought taking the vintage out of the equation might make this more thought-provoking since you basically have to pick ten favorite desert island wines by name, house or cuvee rather than by vintage. In other words, selecting Salon Blanc de Blancs is acceptable (and in good taste...haha) but you don't get to specify what vintages you will be sent. Or perhaps you want to choose Beringer Knights Valley but you will have no control over the vintage years.

As always, I'm happy to stick with ten champagnes but feel free to be more adventurous than yours truly.

My picks are based on at least one past experience of the wine and also on the hope that I can forever share them with my love on this desert island...

Salon
Krug Clos du Mesnil
Moët et Chandon Dom Perignon Rose
Laurent Perrier Grand Siècle
Perrier and Jouet Fleur de Champagne
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne
Bollinger La Grande Annee
Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill
Krug Grand Cuvée
Ruinart Non-Vintage

Yes, I may be deserted on this island but I hope to be deserted in style

[David M. Bueker]

I've answered this quesiton before in the context of desert island wine instead of wines.

Generically: Champagne
Specifically: Vintage Krug

Not to hijack the thread or anything (though this is the internet), but how about the 10 desert island wines taken from the wines you still regularly buy?

For me that list would look something like this:

Vintage Krug
Billiot Champagne NV (in magnum)
Pierre Peters Champagne NV (in magnum)
Billiot Champagne NV Rosé
Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett
Leitz Rudesheimer Berg Roseneck Riesling Spatlese
Louis Jadot Beaune Clos des Ursules
Roumier Morey St Denis Clos de la Bussiere
Edmunds St. John Syrah (from whatever vineyard he makes it)

I could actually live with David's list! Sticking with stuff I at least occasionally buy (the Taittinger and Lafarge Clos des Chenes are now only splurges, but I've bought within last year) I came up with a list designed to have variety (I'm hoping my desert island has wild boar and fowl as well as a nice fishing lagoon). I'm hoping I get some mature Canon and Montelena, and that they don't send me 10 year old rose.

Taittinger Comtes
Baudry Chinon Rose
Coudert/Roillete Fleurie
Ch. Canon
Montelena CS
Lafarge Volnay Chenes
Huet Le Haut Lieu Demi-sec
Trimbach CFE
Marcarini Brunate
Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting list Dale.

I tried to figure out how to branch out a bit more, but realized that I could not let go of any of the 10 I listed (especially since I am planning of having Laura with me on the island). I would really miss Trimbach CFE.

I'll just row my boat over to your island for wild boar night. I'll bring the mags of Champagne!

...but how about the 10 desert island wines taken from the wines you still regularly buy?

I don't regularly buy any wines, but I do make wines from the same grapes and vineyards every year. So, sparkling Cayuga, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Vidal, Pinot Noir, Cab Franc and Lemberger. OK - I do repeat purchases of Louis Martini Napa Cab.

Krug
Salon
DRC la Montrachet
Lafon Meursault Charmes
DRC RC
Ch. Petrus
Ch. Haut Brion
Ch Margaux
Ch. Yquem
Fonseca Vintage Port

Interesting list Dale.

I tried to figure out how to branch out a bit more, but realized that I could not let go of any of the 10 I listed (especially since I am planning of having Laura with me on the island). I would really miss Trimbach CFE.

I'll just row my boat over to your island for wild boar night. I'll bring the mags of Champagne!

Unsurprisingly, I could be quite happy with either of your lists. My own? Lesse:

Champagne: Larmandier-Bernier BdB
Muscadet: Clos des Briords
Chablis: Louis Michel Montee de Tonnerre
Vouvray: Huet Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec
Riesling: Donnhoff Kabinett
(I anticipate eating a lot of seafood on this desert island and coconut isn't easily paired with red wine)
Gamay: Coudert Fleurie CT
Cab Franc: Baudry Chinon Les Grezeaux
Syrah: Gonon St. Joseph VV
Nebbiolo: Produttori Barbaresco Asili
Pinot Noir: Rollin Pernand-Vergelesses Ile des Vergelesses

Like Dale, I've restricted my choices to wines that I still buy, so no more Dauvissat GCs or Chave Hermitage (or Verset Cornas, for different reasons). Also, because of the restriction to 10, I had to pass on the gorgeous Baudry Rosé as well as any other Cabernet-based wines (no Bordeaux? no CalCabs?) to retain other beloved wines. I also wonder how we're going to cellar those vin de gardes with searingly hot daytime temperatures? Maybe we can dig a cellar into the sand? I'm definitely swimming over to your and Dale's islands for those higher Prädikat Rieslings, the Roumier MSD, the vintage Krug and Dale's Cabernets, Rosé and CFE. I'll bring the Muscadet and Chablis for the oyster course.

Mark Lipton

lessee

Allemand Cornas Reynard (only because Verset no longer makes wine, )
Ch. La Conseillante
Ch. La Mission Haut Brion
Roumier Chambolle-Musigny
Ch. Rayas CDP
Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissee
Egon Muller Scharzhofberger Riesling Spatlese
Hirtzberger Riesling Singerriedel Smaragd
Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese
Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett

1. Chateau d' Yquem
2. Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d' Or Champagne
3. Duval Leroy Champange NV
4. Leflaive Chassagne-Montrachet
5. Vernaccia di San Gimignano
6. Heitz Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet
7. Marquis d' Angerville Clos des Ducs
8. Leoville las Cases
9. Edmond St. John Bassetti Syrah
10. Dow VP

The wine are in no particular order, other than white to red, and are all wines that I have actually tasted. I excluded wines that I had only fantisized about (much of Tom's list).

Champagne to be chosen after an extensive discussion and tasting with Jeff.
Marlborough SV Blanc to be chosen after a tasting.
Falanghina or other rich Italian white; looking for a waxy mouth feel I’ve had.
Burg to be chosen after seeking much help; maybe just pick a top name.
Southern Rhone to be chosen after tasting among the usual suspects.
Northern Rhone, again to be chosen from among the usual suspects.
Ridge Lytton Springs or Geyserville.
Bordeaux to be chosen after tasting with Covert and Lynn (while she’s sunning on the deck.)
Y’Quem
Tawny Post to be chosen after extensive tasting.

I would be happy to visit any of those desert islands. Here is my list of 10 indispensible wine types with some preferred crus/producers whose wines I have actually drunk, without taking account of affordability.

Left-bank Bordeaux - Latour, Pichon Comtesse, Palmer, Ducru-B, Léoville-Barton......
Red Burgundy - Various V-Romanée DRC, various G-Chambertin Rousseau, various C-Musigny Roumier/Voguë, various Beaune Jadot/Bouchard P&F, various Volnay Lafarge........
N. Rhône - Côte Rôtie Jamet, Cornas Clape/Allemand, Hermitage La Chapelle (up to early 90s), Croze-Hermitage Graillot
Loire CabFranc - Saumur-Champigny Rougeard/Villeneuve/Roche Neuves, Chinon B.Baudry/Joguet Dioterie and Chêne Vert/ Alliet VV, Bourgueil Amirault/Blot......
Loire Chenin - Vouvray Huet/Foreau, Montlouis Chidaine/Blot, Saumur Villeneuve/Roches Neuves, Coulée de Serrant (when on form), Quarts de Chaume Pierre-Bise........
Chablis - Ravenneau/Fèvre......
Champagne - Krug, Bollinger, Roederer, Egly Ouriet, Larmandier-Bernier, Pierre Moncuit......
MSR & Nahe Riesling - Abtsberg von Schubert, Scharzhofberg Müller, W Sonnenuhr JJ Prüm, any Dönnhoff........
Barolo - A. Conterno, G.Conterno......
Tuscan Sangiovese - CC Rancia Fèlsina, Flaccianello Fontodi.......

[Jenise]

I could actually live with David's list! Sticking with stuff I at least occasionally buy (the Taittinger and Lafarge Clos des Chenes are now only splurges, but I've bought within last year) I came up with a list designed to have variety (I'm hoping my desert island has wild boar and fowl as well as a nice fishing lagoon). I'm hoping I get some mature Canon and Montelena, and that they don't send me 10 year old rose.

Taittinger Comtes
Baudry Chinon Rose
Coudert/Roillete Fleurie
Ch. Canon
Montelena CS
Lafarge Volnay Chenes
Huet Le Haut Lieu Demi-sec
Trimbach CFE
Marcarini Brunate
Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett

And I could live with your list, though I'd choose Salon or Krug for my bubbly! Would take Chave Hermitage over your Coudert, and also, since I'm just sure this is going to be a warm island I would need to slip a good Sauvignon Blanc in there somewhere, like a Lucien Crochet or BC's Le Vieux Pin if they can duplicate the success of their 2010 in future years.

There are some wines that I wish I could include on my list, but could not. I so want to like Salon, Chateau Margaux and GC Burgs. Not that I would kick any of them off of my island, but I simply do not prefer the examples that I have tasted. Perhaps the skin-flint in me is compelled to consider QPR even as I head into exile.

PS: I saw the Louis Jadot Beaune Clos des Ursules on David’s list. That is definitely the best value Burg I have ever consumed as I found four bottles of the ’98 in a cut out bin for $18 each some years ago. Even at regular prices the CdU is a solid QPR for sure.

There are some wines that I wish I could include on my list, but could not. I so want to like Salon, Chateau Margaux and GC Burgs. Not that I would kick any of them off of my island, but I simply do not prefer the examples that I have tasted. Perhaps the skin-flint in me is compelled to consider QPR even as I head into exile.

PS: I saw the Louis Jadot Beaune Clos des Ursules on David’s list. That is definitely the best value Burg I have ever consumed as I found four bottles of the ’98 in a cut out bin for $18 each some years ago. Even at regular prices the CdU is a solid QPR for sure.

Sam,
A few years back (like maybe 10!) Jean and I won a lot of '99 Clos des Ursules at the Crossroads Easter Seals charity event in Indy. The silent auction there has been the source for many great wines (at great prices) for us. I'm sure you know about it and, who knows, maybe even have bid against us there.

Mark Lipton

hmm dessert island - must be hot. i guess we can cool the wines in the water. but what do we eat? are there goats on the island? sheep? cows? this is important. or am i taking this too literally. we should have plenty of fish, so plenty of chablis and muscadet can't hurt. if animals we might have cheese of a sort, so.......

I'm sure you know about it and, who knows, maybe even have bid against us there.

IIRC the Easter Seals event included a dinner along with the auction. We attended a couple of time back in the mid-2000s. I believe I was aced out on cases, but did win some large format offerings. I have 2X mags of Stags Leap and Silver Oak that I think I won there. I do not recall a CdU being offered when we attended. If there had been we would have definitely been bidding against one another.

Does Easter Seals still hold that event? I don't recall seeing an announcement in recent years.

I'm sure you know about it and, who knows, maybe even have bid against us there.

IIRC the Easter Seals event included a dinner along with the auction. We attended a couple of time back in the mid-2000s. I believe I was aced out on cases, but did win some large format offerings. I have 2X mags of Stags Leap and Silver Oak that I think I won there. I do not recall a CdU being offered when we attended. If there had been we would have definitely been bidding against one another.

Does Easter Seals still hold that event? I don't recall seeing an announcement in recent years.

They do, but moved it from a Spring event to a Fall event. We still get invitations from them every year, though we've steered away from large-scale tastings in recent years. No dinner at the events we attended, but hors d'oeuvres were served. There was also a "prestige" room in which they'd have some very nice wines such as First Growths, top name CalCabs and the occasional Supertuscan. We were last there in '07 IIRC.

Mark Lipton

Very interesting how many folks have Champagne on their list.. I guess it's not just for New Year's Eve anymore...

I completely agree on having some Salon, Krug, Taittinger (no one wants Dom? I know David doesn't.. but the others?). These have become, for me, as exciting, in their own ways,as some of the great Bordeaux I drink (give me some Latour and Leoville Barton).

Throw in some nice CA Pinot (Williams-Selyem, Marcassin, Clos Pepe, say), and I could be just fine. Add in some Montelena Estate and Monte Bello, and it's a pretty complete plate.

I definitely have Dom on my list James.

A 1985 Dom Rose was one of the most special wines I've had.

I'm not sure I've run across any (well cared for) champagnes that I wouldn't want to add to my list!

Jeff