Knowing a Good Wine

Knowing a Good Wine from the Price Tag: Just Because a Wine is Expensive Doesn’t Mean It’s Collectible

When wine lover Dave McIntyre was invited to try a bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet with a close friend, he couldn’t believe his ears. The 2011 Screaming Eagle Cab costs more than $3,000 and was still in its infancy, yet McIntyre’s friend insisted on drinking it for a special dinner anyway. Curious whether the Screaming…

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Vinfolio wine bottle sizes

Wine Bottle Sizes from Magnum to Melchizedek: When Should Collectors Give Large Format Bottles a Try?

Portland-based collector Dave Smith used to be the proud owner of an almost mythical Melchizedek Champagne bottle, which held a whopping 30 liters of wine. Only 20 of these large-format bottles are made every year, so you can imagine Smith’s shock and disappointment when, one day, his Melchizedek exploded. No one knows for sure why…

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2005 Cheval Blanc

Hidden Gem of the Month: 2005 Cheval Blanc Offers the Best Wine Investment for Your Money

In the film Sideways, a character muses, “You know, the day you open a ‘61 Cheval Blanc…that’s the special occasion.” The main character in the film is obsessed with 1961 Cheval Blanc, and for good reason; in its best vintages, it’s one of the finest wines in the world. But the 2005 Cheval Blanc received…

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Ranking Burgundy Wines

Ranking Burgundy Wines: What the New Cremant de Bourgogne Ranking System Means for Collectors

When you think of celebrating the holidays, you probably imagine crystal flutes of fine Champagne, but writer Eva Weirich dreams of Cremant de Bourgogne. Her family originally bought this famous sparkling Burgundy to cook with, and over time they’ve realized they enjoy drinking Cremant more than Champagne, especially during the holidays. She says Cremant is…

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