The funny thing is that when many young Americans (college-age) go to Europe, they all want to try absinthe, since it's illegal in the US. I see it all the time, especially in eastern Europe. Never tried it before though.

Cigar ain't for me, can't stand the smell. Whisky... might have a sip here and there. Wine is more my thing though. Been collecting fine wines for 11 years, have >80 bottles now

French Bordeaux:
Margaux (1995 + Pavillon Rouge 1998), Cos D'Estournel (1 case 2005 + 2 bottles), Leoville-Barton, La Mission Haut-Brion (2 bottles 1996), Angelus (2 bottles), Figeac, Duhart-Milon-Rothschild, Rauzan-Segla, Lagrange, Pichon-Longueville (Comtesse de Lalande), d'Yquem, de Suduiraut, la Conseillante (1 case 2007 en primeur + bottles)

USA (mostly Cab Sauv, some Pinot Noir, White Zin):
Robert Mondavi, Stag's Leap, Beringer, Kendall-Jackson

Canada:
Inniskillin (Cab Franc, Pinor Noir)

Germany (all Riesling Auslese or Spatlese):
Monchhof, Dr. Loosen, Peter Nicolay

NZ:
Cloudy Bay (Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc)

Hungary:
Oresmus (Tokay)

Chile:
Errazuriz (6 bottles of various types)

Argentina:
Nicolas Catena (6 bottles of various types)

Austria:
Umathum (Zweigelt)

Also various bottles from Australia, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, Czech Republic, Slovakia. Used to have wines from South Africa (ok) and China (yuck!) but drank them already.

My Cos and Conseillante cases are bonded, currently stored in the UK. Mostly for investment, but I only buy what I like to drink anyway, and I like both chateaux, especially after visiting both of them last year. Currently looking to pick up a few cases here and there, as I expect prices to come off this year. Maybe get a few cases of '08 en primeur.

The single bottles like the Margaux and MHaut-Brion are for drinking.. usually on special occassions at home or a nice restaurant. Recently opened a Pavillon Rouge '94 over a dinner at Lafite. It was great. Chef Damon is funny and cool, and makes real tasty food.

My en primeur is via Berry Bros & Rudd in HK. They are a UK company, with proper bonded storage facilities in UK. Lafite food is pretty good now, very innovative thanks to the current chef. Imagine some influence along the lines of Fernan Adria in presentation and you will know what I mean.

http://www.bbr.com/

Cool... Lafite is very nice. How much did it cost? You can PM me, we can compare notes on prices that we paid

Anyone interested in the 2008 vintage on en primeur basis (delivery 2011)? I just bought 4 cases: 1 each of la Conseillante, Pichon-Lalande, Leoville-Barton and Alter Ego de Palmer. The first 3 for investment (and drinking if the investment don't work out), the Alter Ego, for drinking. Am also trying to secure a case of the Lafite, Latour, Ausone, Mouton-Rothschild or Leoville Las-Cases (depending on price and availability) for investment. On top of that, probably get a case of either Angelus or Cos D'Estournel because I like them.

Palmer is interesting this year because its a majority Merlot (51%) when usually it's majority Cab Sauv, and that's unusual for a Margaux blend. I was tempted but since I am already getting their Alter Ego, I thought I should give Palmer a miss this time.

I've been hearing great things about d'Angludet making their best vintage ever and that it's a great deal since it's so cheap relative to the others. I was tempted to get a case, and upon reaching the right age, start opening it one bottle a year, but I've already gone and bought the Alter Ego for that, so I gave it a miss. I wonder if I will regret it later.

As I will be going to Paris later this year, am thinking of making a 2N stop in Bordeaux and squeezing in a quick tasting at Pape Clement and Haut-Brion (both are very near to the city of Bordeaux), so I can pick up some cheap Pape Clement and related wines. But then again, maybe I can get the same by just locating a good wine shop in Paris (there should be many!).

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Added on April 25, 2009, 2:11 amFYI, Robert Parker is giving out his scores next week.

This post has been edited by Traveler: Apr 25 2009, 02:11 AM

I just bought a case of the 2008 Latour, seems to be real popular, and I only managed to get the 2nd tranche (1st tranche sold out in 2 hours). Still looking for 1 more top-end (Lafite, Ausone, Margaux or Mouton) and 1 very good near-top-end (Cos D'Estournel, Figeac, Angelus). Am still tempted by Palmer because it's an unusual vintage thats also on the top 10 lists of many wine experts.

Pape Clement was around EUR40-50 for vintages in last few years (excluding 2005) per bottle at the Pape Clement chateau shop. I would expect prices in Paris to be a little higher than that. HB, I really have no idea. What really interested me was the 2nd wine of Pape Clement, as well as their white. Both very nice (and around EUR 25-30 at the chateau shop).

Being a non-smoker I can confirm that... can't stand the smell of cigar... any cigar.

I am using a Haier with about the same capacity as you mentioned. Got it for about RM1450 or so, been using for 2 years, no problems. Has a light (always on/always off/on when door open), and a glass door. I saw it at Best Denki but I actually got it from my uncle who has some contacts with the distributor.