648036 Thu Aug 27 15:16:50 -0700 2009 24 34 Wine 0 4983898 Interpret as you wish. Thu Aug 27 15:16:50 -0700 2009 292347 vulber 1 4983942 My favorites tend to be available only at the wineries and often sell out within a month or two of release. Navarro still has some 2006 Cluster Select Late Harvest Gewürztraminer. http://www.navarrowine.com/shop/productdetail.php?prodid=673 Thu Aug 27 15:30:25 -0700 2009 4983898 11369 Robert Lauriston 2 4984001 I realize I was (intentionally) vague when I said "affordable", but I was kinda hoping for something a little cheaper than $40 for375mL. And while we're at it, maybe add to the original post, discuss both winery-only ones, as well as ones available in retail stores. Thu Aug 27 15:55:46 -0700 2009 4983942 292347 vulber 3 4984051 How about Quady Essencia available at Bevmo, about $16/750ml. Thu Aug 27 16:18:34 -0700 2009 4984001 105235 wolfe 4 4984061 Yeah, I LOVE Navarro, but Quady makes some great wines as well. Both the Elysium (Black Muscat) and the Essensia (Orange Muscat) are delicious and affordable. At the Alameda Meals on Wheels event, the Elysium was gone way before the Essensia which they were serving ice cold. Very refreshing! Thu Aug 27 16:24:02 -0700 2009 4984051 125609 BigWoodenSpoon 5 4984073 Same price $16, $12 for the split. Thu Aug 27 16:27:37 -0700 2009 4984061 105235 wolfe 5 4984098 Quady also makes low alcohol versions (different fermentation process) of the black and orange muscat, called Electra and Red Electra. They're delicious and not as heavy. Thu Aug 27 16:41:34 -0700 2009 4984061 10159 Ruth Lafler 5 4984125 Third the Essensia. Thu Aug 27 16:48:18 -0700 2009 4984061 14819 cookie monster 6 4984179 +4 and +5, as stated, serve well chilled Thu Aug 27 17:09:01 -0700 2009 4984125 18150 PolarBear 7 4984317 Quady is also a nice place to taste -- if you get tired of the overly-touristy wineries of the more famous wine regions of California, you might want to check out the Madera Country Wine Trail. A lot of the producers in that area do dessert wines (because of the climate and the varieties they grow there), the tasting rooms are not crowded, and the prices are much lower. Thu Aug 27 18:05:05 -0700 2009 4984179 10159 Ruth Lafler 8 4985753 Madera Wine Trail http://www.maderawinetrail.com/ Fri Aug 28 09:26:15 -0700 2009 4984317 18150 PolarBear 2 4988659 Drank a '85 Riesling CSLH Riesling last week, Oh My. Still feel Navarro is the king of the hill out there. Sat Aug 29 12:12:47 -0700 2009 4983942 71113 Delucacheesemonger 3 4989437 Chateau St. Jean also made some great age-worthy late harvests in those days. I think they discontinued them some years ago. Sat Aug 29 19:28:37 -0700 2009 4988659 11369 Robert Lauriston 4 4990158 Still have a half case of the '82's and yes they are very worthy as well. Sun Aug 30 08:36:35 -0700 2009 4989437 71113 Delucacheesemonger 4 5001522 Those were gorgeous little wines! Back when K-J was a nice little winery located in Lake County, they made a Sauternes-like number called Grand Finale (as well as some superb single vineyard Zins). Thu Sep 03 06:33:18 -0700 2009 4989437 16797 bogie 1 4984838 Navarro Cluster Select Gewurz (and the Cluster Select Riesling is pretty cool, too) Thu Aug 27 23:58:37 -0700 2009 4983898 50041 whiner 1 4988345 A Muscat Cannelli from Orfila in So. CA plays excellent with desserts and cheeses. Nice hints of peach, apricot and not too sweet. Also, ice wines do well in the category. Sat Aug 29 09:33:11 -0700 2009 4983898 149836 cstr 2 4988628 Randall Grahm has been known to freeze his own, hence "Vin de Glaciere." Sat Aug 29 11:55:12 -0700 2009 4988600 11369 Robert Lauriston 3 4988943 Speaking of, it's fairly respectable for about $17. There's fairly balanced acidity and nice peachy-honey notes. Sat Aug 29 14:33:59 -0700 2009 4988628 92744 invinotheresverde 1 4989502 On the affordable side, at the recommendation of someone on the SF board I picked up a bottle of Belo Muscat Gris, which according to the website is slightly fortified with muscat brandy. It has an almost sherry-like nuttiness combined with light orange and apricot from the muscat. I don't know what it sells for retail,. but at the under $5 Grocery Outlet price, I'm going to see if I can get some more. http://www.belowine.com/wines.html Sat Aug 29 20:08:07 -0700 2009 4983898 10159 Ruth Lafler 1 4989823 Here's a thread for more opinions. http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/516908 Sun Aug 30 03:29:17 -0700 2009 4983898 105235 wolfe 1 4996540 Just picked up a bottle of 2004 Unti grenache doux 500 ml for $20 that was pretty tasty at the winery. Tue Sep 01 12:37:31 -0700 2009 4983898 11117 SteveTimko 1 4999219 Zero retail distribution, but there's a small winery (in the Russian River area) called Harvest Moon, that makes really nice LH Zin and Gewurz 'ice-style' wine. Nice place to visit too. http://harvestmoonwinery.com/store/otherwines.html Wed Sep 02 10:33:06 -0700 2009 4983898 11405 Midlife 2 5001151 That's the bite with California dessert wines -- zero (or near zero) distribution. Wed Sep 02 23:30:30 -0700 2009 4999219 18222 maria lorraine 1 5006336 For very inexpensive, Rutherford Ranch Winery has a Muscat Canelli 375mL that runs $12 or so. I don't see it on the website so it must be sold at the winery only. Fri Sep 04 18:49:29 -0700 2009 4983898 273961 evernote