the plcb gets some taste!
t says: I’m not a huge fan of the PLCB – the selection is very often limited and the people who work in the stores are of no help. That said, even the blind squirrel finds an acorn … or five … While these are some of the pricier wines that the PLCB offers at its 19th and Chestnut store, I have to say that I was impressed to see them there. It’s not that I’ve had any of them (as a matter of fact, I’ve had none of them), but it’s the first time in a while that I’ve actually been excited to see something in a state store! No, I didn’t buy any of them (I’m not made of money!), but I’m hoping that in seeing these, it’s a sign that some more-better wines are in the pipeline …
So you need Bordeaux, but you’re stuck in a state store? Go for an ’09 or ’10. Supposedly fabulous vintages in Bordeaux, the saying goes, “If you couldn’t make a good Bordeaux in ’09 or ’10 … you shouldn’t be making Bordeaux.” I spied a bottle or two hanging out with some recognizable names. It’d be worth a shot …
Tucked away behind all those distracting chianti was this bottle. You see, the 2009 Sughere di Frassinello was a phenomenal wine at ~$17. Well … this is that wine’s older, more sophisticated brother who went to Ivy League school, is a tennis phenom, and drives a Porsche. What does it taste like? I have no idea. But this is the first time I’ve ever seen it on a shelf, so I’m VERY intrigued. Am I $40 intrigued. Oh-so-very-close …
Dunham Riesling. One of a’s favorite American Rieslings, this is a great bottle to try to see if you’re down with Riesling (beware, it is going to be off-dry). I’m actually wondering if, upon reading this, a will “stop by” tomorrow on the way home and pick up a bottle or two …
2011 Ayoub Memoirs. This is the more plebian version of the estate bottle below. Ayoub makes some fine Oregon pinot, and a previous version of this that I’ve had was pretty darned tasty. For $34, it’s not exactly a “steal”, but I’m glad to know it’s there in case I need something for a “nicer” weekend BYO dinner.
Ayoub 2011. It has a big-ass bottle with a stupidly ostentatious waxed cap. But I love it. Or at least, I haven’t had this one yet, but I have had other Ayoub (2008 and 2009) that have all been beautiful very elegant pinots. Now, I know that 2011 was a rough year in Oregon (which is probably why the PLCB had a shot at attaining ANY of these Ayoub wines at all), but if I needed to find a $50 bottle of pinot in a hurry at a state store, this is what I’d get (P.S. never have I EVER had to find a $50 bottle of ANYTHING in a hurry …)
after dinner sneeze 
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