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dayna4u2nv said:
LCBO = Ontario exclusive.
How can you tell if a bottle of wine is any good?
- Thread starter OMGWTFBBQ
- Start date
LCBO = Ontario exclusive.
The deal is this. DO NOT BUY WINE.
Seriously, I know from what I speak. I have been a collector of wine since the early '80s( my cellar is 500+ cases) and if your target is at all wine savvy, it is best for you not to try to impress with what you don't know. There is a lot, and i mean A LOT, of expensive bottled piss out there and giving a bad bottle is bad. Giving a bad bottle that is crazy expensive is REALLY BAD, as it shows that you are workin' it too hard and that is never impressive.
First: cover the gift by buying a KILLER bottle of Port. There are a few very good reasons for this:
1. It lasts longer. A bottle of wine is gone in one sitting. If you want to impress as well as be remembered for having given the gift, then give something that lasts for a WHILE. I regularly give targets a bottle of great Port, something that is drinkable NOW. Be sure to specify that to the merchant, as many of the truly great ports are still 10-20 years away from being drinkable.
2. A bottle of killer port will last for months, and every time he/she has important guests that he/wants to impress he will offer them a glass of killer port, and remember YOU in the process. Good call.
2. If this a long term boss, or a father in law, give them a bottle that they CAN'T drink right away, one that will be mature in 5-10 years. THAT impresses the shit out of long term contacts, as it shows that you plan long term, have an appreciation for things that don't come easy, etc. You can ice that cake by saying, when they open it, "It wont be drinkable for another 5 years and I am looking forward to sipping it with you." or some such blather. To the right target, that really works.
For lesser gifts Late Bottled Vintage Ports (LBV's) are much cheaper way to get this done, and are really great drinking ports.
I recently gave a big contact one of my 1963 Warre's (to buy now would go for about $475, but you can get a great 1963 Quinta Do Noval for around $150) that was a bullseye.
If you need some specific info on a particular port, years, storage, decanting, whatever, just ask.
Now, great wine is one of the pillars of life. Give a great bottle, you will be remembered, as well, but DO NOT go price hunting: it never works. I have some $7 a bottle chillean cabernet that beat a $400 bottle of Bordeaux in a blind tasting, so don't trust 'if its pricey, it must be the best' theory.
As far as learing about wines, you can read your ass off and NEVER get the clue you need: go take a wine class at a great restaurant or cooking school ( P.M. where you are located, I might actually know someone nearby). You get to taste A LOT of different things that you would never do on your own, you get to learn some specific knowledge that you can use and there are usually a lot of fine single women at those tastings. All good.
cheers
Seriously, I know from what I speak. I have been a collector of wine since the early '80s( my cellar is 500+ cases) and if your target is at all wine savvy, it is best for you not to try to impress with what you don't know. There is a lot, and i mean A LOT, of expensive bottled piss out there and giving a bad bottle is bad. Giving a bad bottle that is crazy expensive is REALLY BAD, as it shows that you are workin' it too hard and that is never impressive.
First: cover the gift by buying a KILLER bottle of Port. There are a few very good reasons for this:
1. It lasts longer. A bottle of wine is gone in one sitting. If you want to impress as well as be remembered for having given the gift, then give something that lasts for a WHILE. I regularly give targets a bottle of great Port, something that is drinkable NOW. Be sure to specify that to the merchant, as many of the truly great ports are still 10-20 years away from being drinkable.
2. A bottle of killer port will last for months, and every time he/she has important guests that he/wants to impress he will offer them a glass of killer port, and remember YOU in the process. Good call.
2. If this a long term boss, or a father in law, give them a bottle that they CAN'T drink right away, one that will be mature in 5-10 years. THAT impresses the shit out of long term contacts, as it shows that you plan long term, have an appreciation for things that don't come easy, etc. You can ice that cake by saying, when they open it, "It wont be drinkable for another 5 years and I am looking forward to sipping it with you." or some such blather. To the right target, that really works.
For lesser gifts Late Bottled Vintage Ports (LBV's) are much cheaper way to get this done, and are really great drinking ports.
I recently gave a big contact one of my 1963 Warre's (to buy now would go for about $475, but you can get a great 1963 Quinta Do Noval for around $150) that was a bullseye.
If you need some specific info on a particular port, years, storage, decanting, whatever, just ask.
Now, great wine is one of the pillars of life. Give a great bottle, you will be remembered, as well, but DO NOT go price hunting: it never works. I have some $7 a bottle chillean cabernet that beat a $400 bottle of Bordeaux in a blind tasting, so don't trust 'if its pricey, it must be the best' theory.
As far as learing about wines, you can read your ass off and NEVER get the clue you need: go take a wine class at a great restaurant or cooking school ( P.M. where you are located, I might actually know someone nearby). You get to taste A LOT of different things that you would never do on your own, you get to learn some specific knowledge that you can use and there are usually a lot of fine single women at those tastings. All good.
cheers
OMGWTFBBQ
brobe
Excellent post ChefWide! Thanks. I'm so retarded about this shit that I don't even know the difference between port and wine.
Maybe I'll just drink this wine myself and buy him some port.
What I will probably do is give him this, then if things turn ugly (not with the wine, but this other situation), I'll go the port route.
thanks again
Maybe I'll just drink this wine myself and buy him some port.
What I will probably do is give him this, then if things turn ugly (not with the wine, but this other situation), I'll go the port route.
thanks again
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