Bucket List Wines: California

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Bucket List Wines: California I’m moving on with my bucket list wines with a nice follow up to the last installment, one which featured super expensive wines that most of us will probably never be able to afford. Today’s installment features wines that might not be overly expensive, just super hard to find. That’s part of the fun of this wine collecting game!

Truth is, these are some of the greatest wines from all of my bucket lists. Some of the fun comes from the hunt that’s involved, but let’s face it, just being expensive does not a bucket list wine make. These wines represent the golden age of California wine making, a time when a handful of grape farmers began to revolutionize the wine scene in California and almost unwittingly produced wines that competed with the greatest wines of the world.

The combination of history, great wine and the challenge of finding them makes this my favorite bucket list yet!

Photo courtesy of the_tahoe_guy via Flickr/cc

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tomglip

502946 25

MY BUCKET LIST - CHOSEN FROM WINES I HAVE HAD BUT WOULD LOVE TO HAVE AGAIN, IF THE WINE AND I WERE IN PERFECT CONDITION:

1970 BV GEORGES DE LaTOUR RESERVE CABERNET
1982 OR 1991 BERINGER RESERVE CABERNET
1985 INGLENOOK REUNION
LONG VINEYARDS LATE HARVEST RIESLING (any vintage from the 90s)
1992 SUMMIT LAKE EMILY KESTREL CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1990 RUBICON
1983 DUNN HOWELL MOUNTAIN CABERNET SAUVIGNON
1978 RIDGE YORK CREEK PETITE SIRAH
1987 BERINGER BANCROFT RANCH MERLOT
1978 OR 1985 INGLENOOK CHARBONO

Jul 12, 2012 at 4:47 PM
pinot N

1035167 18

Y piensan dejar fuera de la lista a Robert Mondavi y su famoso fume Blanc ?

Jul 12, 2012 at 9:27 PM
Howie-
Schwartz

1119421 33

Jordan Cab 78
Marcaisson any year
Ch. Neuf d'Pape Beaucastel any year
Turley Zinf when she made it. Old vines.
Mt. Veeder Cab 89
Silver Oak 89 99 2001

Jul 14, 2012 at 1:13 PM
homestar

512161 83

Have you done a piece on Petite Sirah? My apologies if I missed it, but given your comments it would seem odd if you haven't. I have had several I enjoy a great deal, but they tend to be huge wines and probably overpowering for many people and many occasions. Would love to read about your wider tastings from California.

Jul 15, 2012 at 7:44 AM
DOCTOR T

152537 36

I AGREE I HAD THE 1978 AT BURNS STEAK HOUSE BACK IN AROUND 1999. IT WAS FABULOUS.

Jul 16, 2012 at 2:41 PM
gmatt01

298451 1

1974 Heitz Martha's Vineyard

Jul 18, 2012 at 11:58 PM
Sherrie-
Perkovich

1120360 41

A MUST try Petite Sirah in California comes from Concannon Vineyard...they have a whole flight.. after all, they were the first to produce it 50+ years ago! Be sure to try Captain Joe's PS. Cheers.

Jul 19, 2012 at 3:16 PM

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1. Ridge Petite Sirah Spring Mountain District York Creek (1975)	List It
2. Stony Hill Napa Valley Chardonnay (1978)	List It
3. Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (1978)	List It
4. Beaulieu Vineyard Special Burgundy (1968)	List It

Bucket List Wines: California

Sometimes the best wines are the hardest to find