559804 Wed Sep 24 06:57:13 -0700 2008 16 34 Wine 0 4057434 Our 10th anniversary is coming up, and my husband and I are looking for special ways to celebrate. We don't know a lot about wine, but lately we've been learning some, drinking more, having wine with dinner, etc., and enjoying it a lot. Mostly we buy $10-$15 bottles. So far we like rieslings and gewurztraminers for whites and riojas, cabernet sauvignons and malbecs for reds. Champagne and prosecco are always delicious. We're also interested in port and sherry. I'm looking for recommendations for a lovely wine from 1998, probably in the price range $50-$100. And suggestions for what to eat with it would be most welcome, too. Thanks! Wed Sep 24 06:57:13 -0700 2008 153422 PhillyCook 1 4057500 I would go for a 1998 Priorat. Either the Rotllan Torra Tirant or the Finca Dofi. You could also get a really good Rioja -- you already know you like those. Roda I, Ramirez de Ganuza, Lopez de Heredia Bosconia Reserva, and, if you can find it at the right price, Artadi Pagos Viejos should all be great. Different styles from one another, though. The Heredia is deffinitely a more rustic wine than, say, the Ramirez de Ganuza. You say you like Riesling... 1998 was also a good year for Germany and a good Auslese should be in your price range. I think Muller Catoir was really firing on all cylanders back then, but you have a ton of good options if you go this route. On a different route, I happen to think the 1998 Chapoutier Hermitage La Sizerrane is a tremendously good (and oft overlooked) wine. Wed Sep 24 07:19:08 -0700 2008 4057434 50041 whiner 2 4059966 I sincerely love Lopez de Heredia, but I'm afraid it might be tough to find any '98's at the moment - the current vintages in the reservas are 1999 and 2000, and the youngest, and most recently released gran reservas are the '87's - (however, the Gravonia Reserva is on 1998, but not sure if you want a white...) And I would definitely concur on 1998 being a banner year in right-bank Bordeaux and the southern Rhone (Chateauneuf de Pape, etc.), but another area that was truly outstanding - that you don't seem to hear much about - in 1998 is Champagne - but more specifically in the Cote des Blancs - the chardonnay-based wines - e.g. Salon, various blanc de blancs, and R.M. (grower-producer) Champagnes from villages in the CdB, especially Le Mesnil sur Oger, Cramant, Oger, etc. Pierre Peters, Diebolt Vallois, Jean Milan, Pierre Gimmonet, et al. Wed Sep 24 22:47:15 -0700 2008 4057500 56801 georgempavlov 3 4060411 Huge Rioja fan here and Lopez is fantastic. They age their wines for you and release them when they are ready (although they usually can be aged another 10-15 years after that)...so 1998 is the current release of their Viña Tondonia Reserva. Only $34 at PJ Wine www.pjwine.com 1998 Lopez de Heredia Viña Tondonia Reserva "Dark red. Penetrating, complex bouquet of red berries, cherry skin, minerals, dried rose, tobacco , cured meat and baking spices. Youthfully taut, but opens slowly to show deep cherry and plum flavors with suggestions of succulent herbs and graphite. This medium-bodied wine broadens on the back, the intensely flavored fruit softening and sweetening. A remarkably elegant, balanced and complex wine that's still very young..." IWC93 Thu Sep 25 06:36:10 -0700 2008 4059966 16728 kenito799 4 4060953 Ah... I've only had older vintages (recently had a white from the '80s that was awesome.) I thought the '98 was the current release for the Bosconia Reserva red. I guess I was mistaken. Love thier wines, though. Thu Sep 25 09:30:29 -0700 2008 4060411 50041 whiner 1 4057565 In general, 1998 was a good year for the Right Bank of Bordeaux (Pomerol, St. Emilion, Fronsac). You should be able to find some of those wines in your price range. Also a good year for the Southern Rhone (Chateauneuf-du-Pape). These might be harder to still find on retail shelves, and you may have to search online. Whiner metnioned GErmany for the 1998 vintage. I agree, in particular the Pfalz (where Muller-Catoir is). But seek out auslesen. You can also still find some vintage Champagne from 1998, and that might be the best way to celebrate an anniversary. Wed Sep 24 07:41:59 -0700 2008 4057434 196217 Brad Ballinger 1 4057867 If I was in your shoes I would go to a reputable wine store in your city and ask the staff what they recommend in the price range you've stated. Give examples of past wines you've liked so they get an idea of your taste. Tell them the bottle is for a special occasion and ask for a senior salesperson so you don't get the guy or gal who just started that day. Wed Sep 24 09:23:50 -0700 2008 4057434 74451 vinosnob 2 4058016 Aabalat has a nice link on their website for anniversary wines: http://www.aabalat.com/stores/page.cfm/pageID/81/storeID/143 Wed Sep 24 10:07:45 -0700 2008 4057867 28703 RicRios 1 4058081 If you're actually in Philadelphia, then you're stuck with what the Pennsylvania wine Gestapo has chosen for you to buy. A lot of the 1998 Rhones are drinking splendidly now. Have you ever tried Chateauneuf-du-pape? I don't see any listed on Wine Searcher but your stores might have it. Wine searcher does list a decent 1998 Rioja for sale in Pennsylvania. http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=278817 Wed Sep 24 10:23:25 -0700 2008 4057434 11117 SteveTimko 2 4058099 OH... If you live in Philly then drive to NJ for this purchase. I'm serious. It is worth the gas $. Wed Sep 24 10:29:10 -0700 2008 4058081 50041 whiner 3 4058273 I'm planning a trip to the Total Wine in NJ, absolutely. Great store. http://www.totalwine.com/StoreList.aspx?state=NJ&store=301 Wed Sep 24 11:14:01 -0700 2008 4058099 153422 PhillyCook 4 4059021 Hey, congratulations! 10 Years! I'd be tempted to get a 10-year-old bubbly! Here's a list of the 1998s from Total Wine, and a few quick notes. Perhaps others can add more thoughts. 1998 Chateau La Papeterie Montagne Saint Emilion $19.99 1998 Bodegas Montecillo Gran Reserva Rioja $24.99 -- past its prime 1998 J. Vidal Fleury Gigondas $29.99 1998 J. Vidal Fleury Chateauneuf du Pape $32.99 -- ?? 1998 Nervi Gattinara Vigneto Molsino $34.99 1998 Chateau de Ferrand Saint Emilion Grand Cru $35.99 -- nope 1998 Bodegas Muga Rioja Prado Enea Gran Reserva $44.99 1998 -- wonderful Chateau Climens Barsac (half bottle) $44.99 -- love this wine 1998 Chateau Musar Red $46.99 1998 Vine Cliff Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley $49.99 -- a little vegetal 1998 Sena Red Table Wine Aconcagua Valley $59.99 1998 Arns Winery Cabernet Estate Grown Sauvignon Napa Valley 67.99 1998 Pine Ridge Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Stags Leap Napa Valley - $69.99 -- needs more time. 1998 Lokoya Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford $129.99 1998 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin La Grande Dame $149.99 1998 Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino $149.99 -- oh my oh my 1998 Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne Gfit Set $159.99 1998 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut $159.99 1998 Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon (in magnum) $349.99 1998 Chateau Latour Pauillac $349.99 At first glance, I'd go with the Climens, but only because it's one of my favorite Sauternes/Barsac producers. If you have a bit of money, then the Biondi-Santi Brunello. In-between, the Muga Rioja. My brother lives in Philly, so I have access to the PLCB listings -- if I have time, I will check those. Wed Sep 24 15:11:31 -0700 2008 4058273 18222 maria lorraine 5 4059128 Keping within the price range I totally agree with the Muga rec; always classy stuff. As a former fan of Pine Ridge, I'm skeptical that the '98 Stag's Leap "needs more time". I've tasted several of their older cabs over the past year and many of them were tired and showed poorly. Wed Sep 24 15:51:21 -0700 2008 4059021 74451 vinosnob 6 4059196 From that list I also need to voice my approval for the Muga. That is the way I would go. Wed Sep 24 16:18:11 -0700 2008 4059128 50041 whiner 6 4060980 Agreed. I recommend the OP staying away from '98 CA cabs in general, as the vintage in general didn't exactly inspire age-worthiness. Thu Sep 25 09:36:32 -0700 2008 4059128 92744 invinotheresverde 7 4061045 ^^^ It didn't inspire anything. I mean, '98 Hillside is ok. '98 Maya is passable... as a $70 bottle of wine. But, um... Thu Sep 25 10:47:43 -0700 2008 4060980 50041 whiner 1 4059204 I'm going with the Southern Rhone suggestion. 1998 is a very good year for most Rhones. A Chateauneuf-du-Pape is perfect. Beaucastel, Pegau, Clos des Papes and Vieux Donjon are all good producers with bottlings that are in your price range. Cheers. Wed Sep 24 16:21:52 -0700 2008 4057434 10578 RCC