Don Bowen
Posts: 8183
Joined: 7/13/2000 From: Georgetown, Texas, USA Status: offline
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Love the Rhones too. Especially North Rhone: Cornas, Hermitage, Cote Rotie, and one happy time, a Grange Hermitage. Had a few Guigal single vinyard Cote Roties back in my pre-divorce, wine-cellar days - wonderful. There were a couple 1981 Lafites in there too but my ex-wife's lawyer ended up drinking them. For alternatives, the Australians do an excellent job with Syrah. Not up to the best of the French but, for the price, very very good. Especially the 100% syrahs, that have the forwardness and bigness of a decent North Rhone. At about $6-$7 US a bottle, I'd recommend Yellow Tail Syrah. Comes in double bottles too but you'll need either a brace of thirsty friends or a nitrogen displacement system. For the harder stuff, Highland Single Malts. Occasionally a Springbank or other lowland but only in the best bottlings. I very strongly recommend cask strength (100 proof and up). The bottlers frequently release their very best at original cask strength and you can add water to your tastes. Beer. Well, something has to keep the pizza from burning the roof of your mouth. Do rather like the India or export ales and a good ESB. Porter over stout, thank you.
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