My Favorite Wine of All Time
I am regularly asked "what is your favorite wine of all time?"
I usually reply that it was something special that I would never get to try again, like that 1982 DRC Montrachet, tasted in the cellar where it was made and had rested for 20 years. After all, that was the first time a Montrachet ever seemed worth the price.
It could have been any number of vintages of Ch. d'Yquem, the great Sauternes. I have tasted vintages well back into the 19th century, and just the thought of it makes me salivate.
Maybe my favorite wine of all time was one of the flight of outstanding vintages of Ch. Petrus from the 50s to the 80s. That was certainly a memorable tasting, and worth bragging about, but were any of the above my highest rated wine? When you pay $1,000+ for a bottle of wine, the expectations are pretty high. They better be good wines.
Sadly, when you pay $1,000 for a bottle you actually have a good chance the bottle will not be wonderful. Time, travel and storage are not always kind to wine.
In fact, only one wine has consistently made it to the top of my list. Not because it was outrageous, but because it was notably good, and even more notably, inexpensive.
Houge Late Harvest White Riesling (it is less sweet than the name implies) is a summer sipper that goes well with a variety of foods. It has, year in and year out, been a nearly flawless wine that has stood out in every tasting I have run across it.
There are many other wines that bring out more poetry in my descriptions. That leave a greater lasting impression. That are simply better wines.
So why does the Hogue keep popping up on the top of my list? Price and consistency. Well under $10 (I paid $6 for the last bottle I tasted) and incredibly consistent, this is a wine you can count on, without breaking the bank.
Great vs. Consistent, I have prattled on about this before. In this case, consistent, well priced, and well made, wins out.
My favorite wine of all time? A hard question to answer, and perhaps not really a meaningful one. I think the real question people are asking is "what wine do I recommend?"
I can wholeheartedly recommend that you try the Hogue Late Harvest White Riesling, you will be glad you did.
I usually reply that it was something special that I would never get to try again, like that 1982 DRC Montrachet, tasted in the cellar where it was made and had rested for 20 years. After all, that was the first time a Montrachet ever seemed worth the price.
It could have been any number of vintages of Ch. d'Yquem, the great Sauternes. I have tasted vintages well back into the 19th century, and just the thought of it makes me salivate.
Maybe my favorite wine of all time was one of the flight of outstanding vintages of Ch. Petrus from the 50s to the 80s. That was certainly a memorable tasting, and worth bragging about, but were any of the above my highest rated wine? When you pay $1,000+ for a bottle of wine, the expectations are pretty high. They better be good wines.
Sadly, when you pay $1,000 for a bottle you actually have a good chance the bottle will not be wonderful. Time, travel and storage are not always kind to wine.
In fact, only one wine has consistently made it to the top of my list. Not because it was outrageous, but because it was notably good, and even more notably, inexpensive.
Houge Late Harvest White Riesling (it is less sweet than the name implies) is a summer sipper that goes well with a variety of foods. It has, year in and year out, been a nearly flawless wine that has stood out in every tasting I have run across it.
There are many other wines that bring out more poetry in my descriptions. That leave a greater lasting impression. That are simply better wines.
So why does the Hogue keep popping up on the top of my list? Price and consistency. Well under $10 (I paid $6 for the last bottle I tasted) and incredibly consistent, this is a wine you can count on, without breaking the bank.
Great vs. Consistent, I have prattled on about this before. In this case, consistent, well priced, and well made, wins out.
My favorite wine of all time? A hard question to answer, and perhaps not really a meaningful one. I think the real question people are asking is "what wine do I recommend?"
I can wholeheartedly recommend that you try the Hogue Late Harvest White Riesling, you will be glad you did.
2 Comments:
Sounds GREAT! I am going to put that down on my shopping list right now. Your favorite wine and it is less than $10 - count me IN! =:)
Thanks Kim, and don't forget to let us know how you like it.
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