I have an opportunity to buy a case of this wine at a very discounted ( employee ) price. However I am not a very experienced wine connoisseur and I don't know if this is a good year or if it even matters. Any suggestions?
Can you return if corked? Because BV suffered from systemic TCA in the winery from basically '97-'00. Lots of discounts, because high percentage show TCA (and probably many others are "fruit scalped." The BV GdlT has a very honorable history, but I personally would not chance this unless the price is incredibly discounted (like under $20).
BV George de Latour is one of my favorite wines. I have not had the 2000 and passed on most Napa 2000's.
Can you try a bottle and see if its to your liking before taking the entire case? BV is a favorite...one of the best wines I have had was a BV GdL from
1986, 1987 and the 1997 which I still have some in cellar.
Dale mentioned BV and cork contamination. All I can say is #1, BV would likely stand behind if you had an issue. In fact when I saw the article I had a full case in my cellar of 1997 and was concerned. I wrote them and they assured me that they would stand behind if any issues. Then in the mail a few days later I received a letter from the wine maker and a really nice, leather bound book, on the history of the valley showing the contributions of George De Latour.
Do you have a source for the idea the GdlT was not in the infected cellar? Because the reports I read at the time said that BV had found contamination in the cellar where the GdlT, Tapestry, Clone 6 etc were produced. The wines that weren't effected were the low level reds and the whites.
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I've been batting about 40% noticable TCA on BVs from that period. Some of the others were muted and probably had "fruit scalping." I have one '98 GdlT left (plus some older ones '60, '88, '94). The '98 will not be a centerpiece of a dinner. :(
Most of us use the term "corked" for any TCA contamination, although in cases like BV its likely the problem was the winery (although of course there's still the 5%!).
Diageo said they would "stand behind" the wines. But the hassle of returning bottles bought years before limits how much they will have to. I doubt seriously if that '98 is infected I go to trouble to try and recoup my losses (I only paid $35).
I had a full case of 1997 and NO PROBLEM. Truely outstanding wine.
When I contacted the winery when I heard the news they were great...if there was a problem they would take back and return for another bottle or refund.
If I did not have a receipt they would work on that also with exchange for a differeing vintage.
Do you have a source for the idea the GdlT was not in the infected cellar? Because the reports I read at the time said that BV had found contamination in the cellar where the GdlT, Tapestry, Clone 6 etc were produced. The wines that weren't effected were the low level reds and the whites.
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I've been batting about 40% noticable TCA on BVs from that period. Some of the others were muted and probably had "fruit scalping." I have one '98 GdlT left (plus some older ones '60, '88, '94). The '98 will not be a centerpiece of a dinner. :(
Most of us use the term "corked" for any TCA contamination, although in cases like BV its likely the problem was the winery (although of course there's still the 5%!).
Diageo said they would "stand behind" the wines. But the hassle of returning bottles bought years before limits how much they will have to. I doubt seriously if that '98 is infected I go to trouble to try and recoup my losses (I only paid $35).
I had the the same experience Dick. A full case of GdlT showed no TCA and I have 7 bottles left of a second case and so far no TCA. In fact, the first "corked" wine I've had in months I just had last night and it was an Usseglio CdP Deux Freres 2005 and it was whoppingly corked. I just received the wine from Zachys so I'll see what kind of response I get to my email.
no, i do not, as the conversation was the better part of 10 years ago, and since i don't drink the stuff(i have thought it overpriced) i forgot most of the conversation.
i do recall that my interpetation of the conversation was that gdlt was made by a different wine maker at a different site and using highly selected grapes.
Gerald, I cannot speak for the 2000, but the 1997 that was supposed to be affected was one of the best wines I have ever had...and still have a few bottles remaining from the case.
Those I have had did NOT have any issues that I could notice.
Gerald, The GdlT is an estate wine, selected grapes from their Rutherford vineyards,. Definitely supposed to be produced at same facility as the Tapestry, etc. The low -level reds (Signet) I think are mostly non- Napa and may be produced elsewhere.
Bill, since the admitted vintages with problems are '97-'00 (not sure re '01), my guess is that the level of contamination grew with each year, so '97 likely to be least affected. Maybe Mark could correct me, but I think that in most cases the issue is chlorine based cleaners on wood in a humid enviroment. It would make sense to me that initial levels would be low, and the latter years more heavily affected. I also think it was one of the rooms used, so you might have gotten a case that didn't pass through that room, I'd still pass on the 2000 at close to $40 (and if anyone wants the '98 at the $34 I paid I'll happily sell or trade!). :)
I was aware of the problem...after I had purchased the wine and was lucky to have avoided the TCA problem so far. My recollection of the problem was similar to your re: the chlorine bleach cleaning issue. FWIW, so far I haven't found a bottle of Chateau Montelena that's been corked in recent years dispite Jim Laube's assertions. I think that I have normal perception levels of TCA and certainly can pick out a wine that suffering from fruit scalping.
Ditto here. I think as usual the press on this situation was overblown.
I was aware of the problem...after I had purchased the wine and was lucky to have avoided the TCA problem so far. My recollection of the problem was similar to your re: the chlorine bleach cleaning issue. FWIW, so far I haven't found a bottle of Chateau Montelena that's been corked in recent years dispite Jim Laube's assertions. I think that I have normal perception levels of TCA and certainly can pick out a wine that suffering from fruit scalping.
(posted this on another thread, but wanted BV's response on record here, too) Credit where credit is due: talked to David Chu from Diageo, he assured me they stand by every bottle, and sent me a '04 BV GdL as a replacement- and a bottle of Tapestry (I did promise to let them know how the '60 has held up when I try in 2 years). Excellent response!
(posted this on another thread, but wanted BV's response on record here, too) Credit where credit is due: talked to David Chu from Diageo, he assured me they stand by every bottle, and sent me a '04 BV GdL as a replacement- and a bottle of Tapestry (I did promise to let them know how the '60 has held up when I try in 2 years). Excellent response!
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