Featured User: Conrad Green

Conrad Green is a multiple award winning television producer who has worked on numerous hit reality shows including Dancing with the Stars and, most recently, ABC's The Gong Show . Unlike host Mike Myers' alter ego Tommy Maitland, Conrad is a actually from the UK, where he began collecting wine twenty years ago. For the last fifteen years, Conrad has lived and worked in Los Angeles, where he drinks wine with a number of great friends and fulfills the role of unofficial Delectable stenographer. Delectable: What sparked your passion for wine? Conrad Green: In 1998, a great sommelier, Matt Wilkin, paired a 1990 Auslese Riesling with a foie gras boudin and I was entranced. Once I’d seen how wine and food could elevate one another I got much more interested in wine. D: What wine region are you wild about right now? CG: I’m loving Rioja right now. In the last few years, I’ve been enjoying wines more with age on them, and in Rioja and Piedmont, it’s still possible to get really good wines with bottle-age for semi-reasonable prices. But, you need to expect some misses with the hits. D: What is the most unusual wine you’ve ever tried? CG: I had a Georgian red from the ‘40s that was reputed to have been from Stalin’s personal cellar. Not sure of the provenance, but the palate was pretty grim. Fitting, really. D: What is your golden rule for wine? CG: My golden rule is to follow great producers in ‘off’ years. I’m more interested in an exceptional producer in a challenging year than just buying across the board in supposedly great vintages. You learn a lot more about the producer you love, and many, many great wines are relatively undervalued because of this. D: Say you’re not allowed to have wine, what is your second option? CG: If I can’t have wine, I’m usually drinking water as my penance. But being a Brit, a stiff gin and tonic (Monkey 47 is my current fave) is always welcome. D: Choose a movie, book, quote, or song and pair it with a wine CG: “Some Like it Hot” would go perfectly with a 1988 Krug from magnum. Effervescent and light, but beautifully made with real quality in all its components, and it has aged beautifully. The Champagne is good too. D: If you were a wine, what wine would you be? CG: I’d like to think I’m a Roulot Meursault—sharp, bright, vivid and exhilarating, but I suspect that I’m more of 1998 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape—a bit ripe, boozy, some character in the mid-palate and reasonable company for an evening.

Domaine Barville

Optimum Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2010

Quite alcoholic and high toned on the nose with bright plum and Black pepper. On the palate silky, with intense red fruit, sweetness and a hint of burn. Still young and quite hot, but could settle into something interesting. — 6 years ago

LM, Keith and 5 others liked this
Alan Weinberg

Alan Weinberg

Got to read it! Never seen this CNDP.
Tom Casagrande

Tom Casagrande Influencer Badge

Very interesting profile in the “Featured” section. I had no idea you were from across the pond. As to this wine, it will soon be nigh impossible to find a CDP that is not too high in alcohol, thanks to our ruining an entire fucking PLANET!
Conrad Green

Conrad Green Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Sadly too true Tom. Worth getting wines you love now as there’s a danger many could change beyond recognition.

Stony Hill

Napa Valley Pinot Chardonnay 1969

Marmalade colored. Like an aged tokaji. Orange peel notes with a soft middle and length. Sherry notes — 6 years ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Shay, Eric and 9 others liked this
Rick K

Rick K

Had a 71 blind a few months ago that was so good. Called it as old Stony Hill, but couldn't even venture a guess on vintage.

Pol Roger

Sir Winston Churchill Brut Champagne 1996

Beautiful. Poised. Deep fruit and lovely balance. Really gorgeous — 6 years ago

Chris ThalkenHoward HorwitzAlec Feinstein
with Chris, Howard and 4 others
Eric, Keith and 14 others liked this

R. López de Heredia

Viña Tondonia Reserva Rioja Tempranillo Blend 2004

A warm berried nose with soft oak and a gameyness. On the palate, a bit of sour cherry, blackberry and a whiff of licorice. Lovely balance with a long life ahead — 6 years ago

Tom, Keith and 12 others liked this

Blandy's

Verdelho Solera 1880 Madeira 1864

Intense nuttiness and sweet orange. This is so pure, intense and looong it’s crazy. Really spectacular. — 6 years ago

Paul Woolls
with Paul
James, Shay and 11 others liked this
LM Segal

LM Segal Influencer Badge

Would be cool to compare with your great, great grandfather’s tasting notes! 😜🍷

Bouchard Père et Fils

Montrachet Chardonnay 1998

Light but intense. Bright floral notes. Shiny. Very pure with a dusky note. Fresher than the Laguiche but less density and depth. Very classy stuff. From Mag. — 6 years ago

Matt Lichtenberg
with Matt
Eric, Keith and 6 others liked this

Dr. Deinhard

Deidesheimer Mäushöhle Spätlese Riesling 2012

Light lime and delicate floral notes on the nose. A glycerin sweet mid palate with resolved fruit and good balance. — 6 years ago

LM, Martin and 3 others liked this

Penfolds

Grange Hermitage Bin 95 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 1976

Lovely deep and intense. Noticeable oak with real heft and tangy midpalate. Very gorgeous fruit. 40 years? Wow. Spectacular — 6 years ago

BOT Matt LichtenbergPaul Woolls
with BOT, Matt and 1 other
Pazzu, James and 10 others liked this

Tua Rita

Rosso Toscana Super Tuscan Blend 2006

A nice nose of cool spicy fruit. On the palate strong tobacco and a leathery plum. The fruit is good and this is still dense and contained. A quality Rosso with some length and life ahead. — 6 years ago

Eric, Weijie and 4 others liked this