To see more cellar defender videos, please check out the following links: Top Second Wines: Left Bank Bordeaux: ua-cam.com/video/lv6pW5dJyQs/v-deo.html and Top Second Wines: Right Bank Bordeaux: ua-cam.com/video/Cr1mGvG9MRw/v-deo.html
Very diversified group of wines 👍 spot on the 2 Riojas...my go-to if any casual drinkers asked to recommend "a good wine, not too pricey". Dependable and not too hard to understand
Good selection, John. Cru Beaujolais from decent years are real favourites of mine. I have one left of the 2015 Moulin a Vent and some mixed cases from 2019 and 2020. Ardanza is always great value, as is the special bottling La Rioja Alta does for the Wine Society - I have one bottle left of the '13 before I move on to the '18. Neither are favourable years but Pierre at TWS, who leads the blending, seems to come up trumps every time. Claret from slightly lesser years is a good bet, especially CBs and second wines: '14 Beaumont, Lacoste Borie, Grand and Angludet are drinking beautifully right now. It helps me keep my hands off the Branaire-Ducru and Durfort-Vivens, both from 2005. I am also enjoying Cote Rotie, Crozes and Ch9duP, '13s. Gigondas '16 is pitch perfect at the moment (I know you did a recent video on the subject). I recently bought Meerlust's entry level wine, so that I can leave my '15 and '17 Rubicons in the merchant's cellars for another year or two. I shall take delivery of '15 Brunello di Montalcino this summer as they should be starting to drink now.
Thanks very much for weighing in, Steven! Agree with your thoughts. Branaire-Ducru is such a screaming value. Yes, the 16 Gigondas does seem to be showing quite well now. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Enjoying this video! Cellar Defenders is one of my favorites among your wine topics. I will most probably watch this twice or thrice. Always such an interesting and useful topic. Thank you for making and sharing this video. Santé, John!
I greatly appreciate this video. For someone just getting started in wine, these "cellar defenders" seem like reliable starting points as I build my taste profile. I recently enjoyed La Rioja Alta's Viña Alberdi Reserva, which is their entry-level wine and priced at just 15 EUR in Europe (probably closer to $25 in the US). This might be interesting to viewers on lower budgets.
Very glad you enjoyed it! Completely agree with you. That is an excellent wine as well. PS, I have done a number of wine recommendation videos at price points from $15 to $100. You may enjoy the picks in the $15, $20 and $25 videos too. Happy to send links if that is useful. Cheers! 👍🍷
Nice tip about sinegal ! Thanks ! Vina Ardanza has a good price in Brazil . I find petit clos apalta a little bit nervous when opening : I think it’s really important to use the decanter to aerate to fully appreciate , and seems to be a good bet to age ! Greetings!
Love the term "cellar defender"! I am going to use this as MY DEFENSE when the better half complains about me wanting to snap up bargains for my everyday day wine cupboard because she thinks I have too much wine! "They're defending the 2005 Chapelle Chambertin and 2010 St Henri darling!" 😅😂🤣
@@AttorneySomm I much appreciate the video, also because I learned about some new wines I can try. Obviously I do have a few on your list already in stock but that only confirms my choice, right ? ^_^ anyway, have a great day !
Great to see so much love for spanish wine. Just wondering if you have a lead on great albarino. Apart from Pazo Senorans and Zarate I am struggling to find something comparable. Yes, the Portugal side has more to offer, but just curios if I haven’t missed any gems on the Spanish side. Keep up the great content! 🎉
Thanks very much! I have more Godello in my cellar, but I do enjoy some of the Albariño from Bodegas Granbazan. Have you tried any of those yet? They have a variety of styles.
Thanks! Have you tried the Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Montlouis Clos de Mosny? That one will age, but no harm in enjoying some a bit early. Also, if you have not seen it yet, my recent $30 wine video had lots of white recommendations: ua-cam.com/video/-_qwFuiErqQ/v-deo.html
Great video, thank you for the recommendations! Just to be an annoying nitpicker I think you may need to review your claim of Suckling giving the 2019 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos a 99 ;) I think you may find that it was only 95 and that 99 was his score for their first wine..
Great recommendations! Having followed your videos, I've seen the La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza before as well as Dominio de Pingus PSI. How would you compare the two? I am also contemplating purchasing one among these two and two Chateauneuf-du-Papes (Domaine du Pere Caboche Elisabeth Chambellan Vieilles Vignes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2021 and Roger Sabon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Olivets 2019). This would be my first time diving into CdP.
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoy the videos. Tempranillo from Ribera is more concentrated and structured with higher ABV. They are both excellent but the La Rioja Alta can be enjoyed sooner. I would probably pick the 19 Sabon of the CDP. The last Ardanza I mentioned was the 15. Mentioned it again since I just tried the 16. Cheers!
Thank you so much for your sharp analysis,@@AttorneySomm! If you had choose one from among the 2015 La Rioja Alta, 2016 La Rioja, and 2019 Sabon, which would it be? I'm trying to be disciplined in my red wine purchases.😀
@@mickeylee2624 You really can’t go wrong, but I enjoy wines with more complexity and to enjoy near term that would be the 15 La Rioja Alta (since it has more age).
Love your recommendations as always! Vina Ardanza is very compelling even though the 15 is relatively young, while Branaire-Ducru is quite easily found and is consistent in quality. Just wondering if you have any Italian cellar defender recommendations? I’m trying my best not to open my 16 and 17 brunellos and am struggling for an alternative
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the picks. Have you tried the San Giorgio Ugolforte? Sister property to Poggio di Sotto available at a fraction of the cost - often around $50 if you shop around.
@@AttorneySomm ah I recall it from one of your other videos! Sadly I don’t think I’ve seen it around in Singapore, but I’ll definitely keep a lookout for it! Thanks lots!
@@Docbyday Yes! I featured it in the dedicated Brunello video I did a couple months ago. You might keep an eye out for Cupano as well. By the way, I'm heading to Singapore in a couple weeks for the INTA conference!
@@AttorneySomm That’s awesome! I doubt I’ll be able to catch you in town, I leave in a week for Switzerland and Bordeaux. Would be amazing if you had some time for a few drinks with your subscribers from Singapore!
@@Docbyday Thanks! Yes, I'll have some obligations for the conference, but it looks like at least Monday, May 15 before dinner may be open. I know that many viewers are in Singapore and it would be terrific to meet some of them in person!
Excellent selection and you are quite right to state that cellar defender' represent fine quality at their price point. Some of these are very fine wines in their own right though. These days my real cellar defenders have to be great gems priced between £10-20 sterling. Very good wine for pairing with a nice meal most days of the week. I say this because like all things we enjoy the price of wine is going up. I've just returned from Spain and the depressing news is that everything to do with wine is increasing in price. The price of glass, cardboard packaging, energy, the alarming water shortage with drought and souring temperatures are a catastrophe. Producers in La Mancha accept that this years harvest is destroyed but think if things don't change their vine trees will die. Spain is not alone in this dilemma of course. WT
Yes there are certainly many factors raising prices for wine. Yes, some of these are collectible wines too. Glad that you like the selections! Sorry to hear the news about La Mancha. That is awful.
To see more cellar defender videos, please check out the following links: Top Second Wines: Left Bank Bordeaux: ua-cam.com/video/lv6pW5dJyQs/v-deo.html and Top Second Wines: Right Bank Bordeaux: ua-cam.com/video/Cr1mGvG9MRw/v-deo.html
Your cellar defenders are my cellaring wines, love your vids.
Thank you! I try to pick wines capable of filling both roles so everyone can benefit. 👍🍷
Very diversified group of wines 👍 spot on the 2 Riojas...my go-to if any casual drinkers asked to recommend "a good wine, not too pricey". Dependable and not too hard to understand
Thanks very much! Completely agree with you. Cheers!
Love these videos. Have you trademarked "cellar defender" ? :)
Thank you! Not yet! I should look into it! Definitely have a solid record of use though. 😅
La Rioja Alta is one of my favorite wine…..Love it…
Thank you! Definitely one of my favorites too!
Good selection, John. Cru Beaujolais from decent years are real favourites of mine. I have one left of the 2015 Moulin a Vent and some mixed cases from 2019 and 2020. Ardanza is always great value, as is the special bottling La Rioja Alta does for the Wine Society - I have one bottle left of the '13 before I move on to the '18. Neither are favourable years but Pierre at TWS, who leads the blending, seems to come up trumps every time.
Claret from slightly lesser years is a good bet, especially CBs and second wines: '14 Beaumont, Lacoste Borie, Grand and Angludet are drinking beautifully right now. It helps me keep my hands off the Branaire-Ducru and Durfort-Vivens, both from 2005.
I am also enjoying Cote Rotie, Crozes and Ch9duP, '13s. Gigondas '16 is pitch perfect at the moment (I know you did a recent video on the subject).
I recently bought Meerlust's entry level wine, so that I can leave my '15 and '17 Rubicons in the merchant's cellars for another year or two.
I shall take delivery of '15 Brunello di Montalcino this summer as they should be starting to drink now.
Thanks very much for weighing in, Steven! Agree with your thoughts. Branaire-Ducru is such a screaming value. Yes, the 16 Gigondas does seem to be showing quite well now. Hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend!
"Seven Stellar Cellar Defenders" - nice tongue twister.
Opening cellar defenders? My bank account is crying, but my taste buds are rejoicing!
Thank you! Yes, opening these hurts less than opening some other bottles and they will show better young! Cheers!
These seem to be very interesting wines! Thank you for this very useful video!👏👏👏
Thanks, Karl! Hope that you enjoy them as much as I do. 👍🍷
Enjoying this video! Cellar Defenders is one of my favorites among your wine topics. I will most probably watch this twice or thrice. Always such an interesting and useful topic. Thank you for making and sharing this video. Santé, John!
Thanks very much Margaux! Glad you enjoyed it! Appreciate the kind words. Santé!
@@AttorneySomm You’re welcome, John! Apologies for the late response; terribly busy lately. Bon weekend!
You did it! Thank you so much for this video sir.
Yes! Thank you. Appreciate the suggestion. A good idea!
I can't recall the last time I saw published critics' scores for any South American red where JS wasn't the critic who gave the highest score!
Yes, I think that is true! I don’t recall anyone else giving a higher score either.
I greatly appreciate this video. For someone just getting started in wine, these "cellar defenders" seem like reliable starting points as I build my taste profile. I recently enjoyed La Rioja Alta's Viña Alberdi Reserva, which is their entry-level wine and priced at just 15 EUR in Europe (probably closer to $25 in the US). This might be interesting to viewers on lower budgets.
Very glad you enjoyed it! Completely agree with you. That is an excellent wine as well. PS, I have done a number of wine recommendation videos at price points from $15 to $100. You may enjoy the picks in the $15, $20 and $25 videos too. Happy to send links if that is useful. Cheers! 👍🍷
@@AttorneySomm Thank you! Just found them!
@@danielfoster4216 Excellent!
Nice tip about sinegal ! Thanks ! Vina Ardanza has a good price in Brazil . I find petit clos apalta a little bit nervous when opening : I think it’s really important to use the decanter to aerate to fully appreciate , and seems to be a good bet to age ! Greetings!
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoyed the picks! Yes, many of these wines will benefit from a healthy decant if people open them soon. Cheers!
Love the term "cellar defender"! I am going to use this as MY DEFENSE when the better half complains about me wanting to snap up bargains for my everyday day wine cupboard because she thinks I have too much wine! "They're defending the 2005 Chapelle Chambertin and 2010 St Henri darling!" 😅😂🤣
Ha! Nice! It’s a fantastic concept! Really helps!
Thank you for another interesting video!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching and the kind feedback! Glad you enjoyed it.
@@AttorneySomm I much appreciate the video, also because I learned about some new wines I can try. Obviously I do have a few on your list already in stock but that only confirms my choice, right ? ^_^ anyway, have a great day !
@@rickwezenaar Thank you! Glad to hear it. Hope you enjoy your day as well!
Great to see so much love for spanish wine. Just wondering if you have a lead on great albarino. Apart from Pazo Senorans and Zarate I am struggling to find something comparable. Yes, the Portugal side has more to offer, but just curios if I haven’t missed any gems on the Spanish side. Keep up the great content! 🎉
Thanks very much! I have more Godello in my cellar, but I do enjoy some of the Albariño from Bodegas Granbazan. Have you tried any of those yet? They have a variety of styles.
All are great recommendations…
Thanks very much! Appreciate the kind feedback.
Thanks as always. White recommendations? My Huët Vouvrays need defending!
Thanks! Have you tried the Domaine de la Taille Aux Loups Montlouis Clos de Mosny? That one will age, but no harm in enjoying some a bit early. Also, if you have not seen it yet, my recent $30 wine video had lots of white recommendations: ua-cam.com/video/-_qwFuiErqQ/v-deo.html
@@AttorneySomm Many thanks, brilliant idea. I've ordered six of the TaL 2020.
@@angusmcmillan8981 Perfect! A fantastic wine.
Buy more Huet. 😂
@@BigBobDookie Ha! Also a good plan. 😂
Great video, thank you for the recommendations! Just to be an annoying nitpicker I think you may need to review your claim of Suckling giving the 2019 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos a 99 ;) I think you may find that it was only 95 and that 99 was his score for their first wine..
Thanks! That makes more sense. I got the 99 from a retailer site that included it with the description for this wine, but neglected to double check.
Great, La Rioja Alta is really a Great wine . Do you also like the Rioja Reserva by Crune?
Thank you! Yes, absolutely. I have featured that wine in several of my videos.
Have you done a video on daily drinkers?
Thanks for asking! I did this video on $15 wines. ua-cam.com/video/NOdPpbGCIQw/v-deo.html
I also have similar videos at $20 and $25.
Great recommendations!
Having followed your videos, I've seen the La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza before as well as Dominio de Pingus PSI. How would you compare the two?
I am also contemplating purchasing one among these two and two Chateauneuf-du-Papes (Domaine du Pere Caboche Elisabeth Chambellan Vieilles Vignes Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2021 and Roger Sabon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Olivets 2019). This would be my first time diving into CdP.
Thanks very much! Glad you enjoy the videos. Tempranillo from Ribera is more concentrated and structured with higher ABV. They are both excellent but the La Rioja Alta can be enjoyed sooner. I would probably pick the 19 Sabon of the CDP. The last Ardanza I mentioned was the 15. Mentioned it again since I just tried the 16. Cheers!
Thank you so much for your sharp analysis,@@AttorneySomm!
If you had choose one from among the 2015 La Rioja Alta, 2016 La Rioja, and 2019 Sabon, which would it be? I'm trying to be disciplined in my red wine purchases.😀
@@mickeylee2624 You really can’t go wrong, but I enjoy wines with more complexity and to enjoy near term that would be the 15 La Rioja Alta (since it has more age).
Again, thank you for bringing clarity to my conundrum,@@AttorneySomm!
@@mickeylee2624 My pleasure! Any time.
Love your recommendations as always! Vina Ardanza is very compelling even though the 15 is relatively young, while Branaire-Ducru is quite easily found and is consistent in quality. Just wondering if you have any Italian cellar defender recommendations? I’m trying my best not to open my 16 and 17 brunellos and am struggling for an alternative
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the picks. Have you tried the San Giorgio Ugolforte? Sister property to Poggio di Sotto available at a fraction of the cost - often around $50 if you shop around.
@@AttorneySomm ah I recall it from one of your other videos! Sadly I don’t think I’ve seen it around in Singapore, but I’ll definitely keep a lookout for it! Thanks lots!
@@Docbyday Yes! I featured it in the dedicated Brunello video I did a couple months ago. You might keep an eye out for Cupano as well. By the way, I'm heading to Singapore in a couple weeks for the INTA conference!
@@AttorneySomm That’s awesome! I doubt I’ll be able to catch you in town, I leave in a week for Switzerland and Bordeaux. Would be amazing if you had some time for a few drinks with your subscribers from Singapore!
@@Docbyday Thanks! Yes, I'll have some obligations for the conference, but it looks like at least Monday, May 15 before dinner may be open. I know that many viewers are in Singapore and it would be terrific to meet some of them in person!
Not to mention, if you are a fan of the short stories of Roald Dahl, you definitely have to get some Branaire-Ducru. 📖🍷
Agreed! Thank you.
Excellent selection and you are quite right to state that cellar defender' represent fine quality at their price point. Some of these are very fine wines in their own right though. These days my real cellar defenders have to be great gems priced between £10-20 sterling. Very good wine for pairing with a nice meal most days of the week. I say this because like all things we enjoy the price of wine is going up. I've just returned from Spain and the depressing news is that everything to do with wine is increasing in price. The price of glass, cardboard packaging, energy, the alarming water shortage with drought and souring temperatures are a catastrophe. Producers in La Mancha accept that this years harvest is destroyed but think if things don't change their vine trees will die. Spain is not alone in this dilemma of course. WT
Yes there are certainly many factors raising prices for wine. Yes, some of these are collectible wines too. Glad that you like the selections! Sorry to hear the news about La Mancha. That is awful.