Dude…where is this?!? Looks so sick!!

That’s an insane price!!!

Excellent wines and write up. Sounds like a lovely evening.

Start slow and cautious. No one is looking at you and how you ride, we all remember our first time on a board and how weird we looked.

You’re going to fall. It’s going to hurt. You’re going to get back on the board, and you’re going to fall again. It’s still going to hurt, and it always will.

Once you can ride it effortlessly, you will never want to stop.

Most important: just go skateboarding and have fun!!

So please inform those of us who “don’t know great” what is…not offering an alternative doesn’t answer the question posed by OP.

This is the answer

My first thought hahaha

I snagged a bottle last week at my local Costco. They only had 2.5cs left. I’m excited to pop it, and will decant for a couple hours after reading your notes.

Wine is rarely, if ever, a “good investment.” Something as commonly available as Opus is the complete opposite of that. No one is going to buy this wine from you years from now. If you really want to enjoy it, let it sit in a cool, dark place for a few years and then drink it.

Personally, I would buy the best possible steak from whatever quality butcher is in my town and drink the whole bottle tomorrow night with the grilled steak.

First, congrats on getting your degree!

Second, FANTASTIC choice in wine. Love Elio Grasso. Also, a great year that is probably singing right now.

Lovely tasting notes!

Rioja and Ribera del Duero also could do the trick

Assuming you are associated with the winery, will this be available for public purchase or is it wine club only?

Beautiful color!

Dude that’s sick!! Nice work!!

Oui

You should check out r/overemployed

This is such an objective question that it’s difficult to answer. I’d agree with fontinalis that it’s more of a “thought that counts” situation as opposed to what wine specifically.

Without a price point, style, region, etc…you are opening up a giant conversation with few guard rails.

Well….don’t leave us hanging!! What’s the wine?!

Some of the best wines I’ve had in my entire life have been a few ounces a kind guest left me, drank out of a porcelain coffee mug in the dish pit of a restaurant. Yquem included.

This is the answer.

I’ve worked in restaurants for 20+ years. No one cares how you order anything, as long as you are polite. Mispronounce it, point at the menu, even say “the less expensive California Chardonnay.”

We don’t give a shit what you order, as long as you’re happy with what you get.

Nah, you don’t want that stuff. It’s awful.

Luckily, I run a wine disposal company. Just send it to me and I’ll get rid of it for you.

The Sito Moresco should be drinking nicely right now.

The Brunello and Barolo could probably benefit from some age to mellow out, but definitely worth trying both.

Gaja’s wines are stylistically accurate and of very high quality. The Barolo will be tannic and dry. If you were to purchase some, I’d recommend opening a bottle at home and tasting it gradually over the course of a few hours to let it open up. When it gets to a spot where you like it, pour a glass and enjoy! Save a few bottles and do the same over the course of the next 3-5 years.

Honestly, this is mostly big names with nothing overly exciting to me. That being said, it is definitely a great chance to expand your palette, and try a wide variety of wine without having to buy bottles you might not like. If I had to pick some stand outs, they would be:

2016 Taittinger Brut, 2023 Tornatore Etna Bianco, 2019 Heitz Cellars Cabernet, 2020 Hall Cabernet, 2022 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir, ALL of the Gaja wines

My advice: take notes, don’t feel bad about spitting, ask lots of questions about the wines you like and have fun!!

Edit: punctuation

Pairing a ‘76 Petrus with burgers is legendary. 👏