Wine probation support group starts here

I guess that there are times when I should be glad I live in a liquor monopoly that levies the highest taxes and sets the highest prices in North America.

I see you guys talking about the 'deals' that come your way - we NEVER see deals, just the odd wine where they are ripping us off a little more lightly than usual.

All of which doesn't explain why I have too much wine and not enough space. To most, the obvious solution would be get more space. Already did that - the ancillary cellars now occupy a downstairs bathroom and enough of the laundry room to draw persistent adverse comment from SWMBO. I just tripped over a case in the living room that turned out to be wine (thought it was magazines or LPs wating for triage and/or a new owner).

I have sworn off buying and have been successful for the last month or so. My resistance is at a high point now. I shall overcome!

12 Steps
12 bottles in a case

Just coincidence?
I don't think so.

Charles

[David M. Bueker]

I just managed a trip to Table & Vine without buying anything other than cheese!

I drove to the library, picked up a book, and (though I contemplated it) didn't wander into the Whole Foods to buy some nicely marked-down 375s of 2001 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich "Junior" Eiswein.

[David M. Bueker]

I drove to the library, picked up a book, and (though I contemplated it) didn't wander into the Whole Foods to buy some nicely marked-down 375s of 2001 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich "Junior" Eiswein.

Congratulations. I would not have been so strong.

I drove to the library, picked up a book, and (though I contemplated it) didn't wander into the Whole Foods to buy some nicely marked-down 375s of 2001 Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich "Junior" Eiswein.

Jim,
Where was that Whole Foods? Er...I mean...way to go Jim!

I went into a local store to buy bread today too. "Only" bought 2 bottles of 2007 Gruner and 2 of 2000 Dow's VP; but those are already promised.
Charles

I was going to buy a few bottles of wine for sampling over dinner when Jake Parrott kidnapped me and we had several bottles of wine in the bar instead.

Does that count as restraint?

I just managed a trip to Table & Vine without buying anything other than cheese!

David,

And how exactly does one manage to enter Table and Vine, and then exit without actually purchasing a bottle of wine? I think that your "entry and exit" process may be patentable.

I want to buy a case of Clos Roche Blanche 07 Gamay
Less than $20 per bottle delivered to the left coast.
Talk me out of it.

I want to buy a case of Clos Roche Blanche 07 Gamay
Less than $20 per bottle delivered to the left coast.
Talk me out of it.

Can't talk you out of it. I just shared a bottle with a friend Thursday evening, and as your therapist I have to tell you that sometimes those voices in your head speak the truth. Order the wine today. Start probation tomorrow.

You guys are killing me. Since when it is a virtue to not buy wine? What else you gonna spend your money on? Gasoline? Medicine? Food, for heaven's sake??

Step away from the counter please, David. I see somebody behind you wants to take home a nice Pio Cesare Barolo...

[David M. Bueker]

I want to buy a case of Clos Roche Blanche 07 Gamay
Less than $20 per bottle delivered to the left coast.
Talk me out of it.

Ok...fake corks. Unless you plan to drink it all within the next 12 months you are taking a significant risk with the integrity of the wine. So unless it's the only Gamay in your cellar I wouldn't do it.

[David M. Bueker]

And how exactly does one manage to enter Table and Vine, and then exit without actually purchasing a bottle of wine? I think that your "entry and exit" process may be patentable.

Easy: bring the wife.

Ok...fake corks. Unless you plan to drink it all within the next 12 months you are taking a significant risk with the integrity of the wine. So unless it's the only Gamay in your cellar I wouldn't do it.

Oh. You're good.
You may have a future in talking people down from the ledge of poor wine buying decisions.
But I've got to say, given how much I liked the CRB, I'm not sure it would last 12 days, let alone 12 months.

[David M. Bueker]

John - step away from the credit card. We all say "it's great & I'll drink it all so fast", but we've got other wines we want to drink, meals that suit gruner veltliner instead of gamay, etc. You won't drink it up in 12 months.

Well, on one hand, my wife is pregnant. So I'm not drinking as much wine, which means I'm also buying less. Of course, I could just switch to half bottles...

But my wife sometimes contributes to the problem. We were looking at some '05 Bordeaux and Burgundy and she encouraged me to buy them because that's the year we got married.

But my wife sometimes contributes to the problem. We were looking at some '05 Bordeaux and Burgundy and she encouraged me to buy them because that's the year we got married.

Remember, a stash of burgundy or Bordeaux is permanent, like a tattoo. You'll never get married in 2005 again!

Charles

John,

Try to imagine that the act of wine purchase today has an equal negative reaction in the cellar, that is, of converting an already cellared treasure into an old, over-the-hill, lousy bottle of slog.

John,

Try to imagine that the act of wine purchase today has an equal negative reaction in the cellar, that is, of converting an already cellared treasure into an old, over-the-hill, lousy bottle of slog.

Now we're getting somewhere...

Birding tomorrow, so excellent therapy. Have to concentrate looking for Smith`s Longspur.
Mind you , err hum, might pop into Grapes and Grains on way home to spot new vintages. I can write them down on my days checklist.

Does that count as restraint?

Yes. Because you didn't take them home.

Well, on one hand, my wife is pregnant.

Congratulations, Mike and Wife!!

Does that count as restraint?

Yes. Because you didn't take them home.

Good logic!

Although financially I spent more money..

[David M. Bueker]

Bob is of course on to something. We need distractions. I don't buy anything while I am out hiking. Of course there are sometimes more specific deterrents on the trail:

Bear.JPG