Wine?

[MichelleCarmen]

Okay, my husband has gone insane. He''s become obsessed with exotic beers. . .one of the ones he''s now drinking has ***18 % alcohol***

I''m not a fan of beer, but this one is GOOOOD! see: http://www.dogfish.com/beer/worldwidestout.cfm

Anyway, my thing is wine and due to a bit of competitive nature, think it''s about time that I learn more about great wines so I can keep up with him. I''m wondering if anyone can recommend any good wine books?

 

[Jennifer5973]

I have always wanted to learn moreabout wine since I enjoy it so much

I love how different wines compliment different dishes. Maybe we can learn with you...start a wine update thread!

To start, there is Wine for Dummies

PS Before I get flogged, I am NOT implying you are a dummy!

 

[mightyred]

I am a bit of a wino myself (!!)

I like to read Wine Spectator magazine . They also have a website: http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Home/


We go to the Boston wine expo each year and a year ago we went to a seminar by Leslie Sbrocco which was fabulous - she's a very enthusiastic and dynamic speaker! She has a book out "Wine for Women: A Guide to buying, pairng and sharing" It's great - and men can read it too!

 

[movie zombie]

here in california it is almost impossible....note i said ''almost''....to not learn about wine. many restaurants do special dinners with wine pairings, there are wine ''bars'', classes at colleges, wine clubs, etc. personally, i think you can read all you want but you have to get out there and taste to develop your own pallet. diamonds and color stones you have to see, wine you have to taste. have fun!

peace, movie zombie

 

[movie zombie]

btw, thanks for the tip re the beer: i LOVE a good stout!

peace, movie zombie

 

[Mara]

Greg loves the cheapo Chilean wines and recently, the Argentinian Malbecs. My girlfriend just went to Argentina and came back swearing by the Malbecs as well.

I don't know much about wine, but G swears by wines under $20...hehee. He's such a BevMo lovre...he goes and comes back with $200 of stuff almost once a month! 'Oh this was on sale...'

Since I am not a huge wine fan (it's a bit too sour for me)....recently he got me a 1/2 bottle of Moscato D'Asti Santo Stefano in Mendocino for dinner and I fell in absolute heavenly LOVE. I brought home the cork, sniffed it daily, and searched for it high and low...our local wine place in Willow Glen carries it and should have more in next week...I am beside myself waiting.

In the meantime, I tried another one from Whole Foods which was very good as well...D'Asti is apparently an apertif and dessert wine, but I love sweet things so I drink it much as Greg would with his food and find it compliments the lighter items like fish and chicken very well....it's only 5% alcohol too.

 

[noobie]

Date: 5/31/2005 7:28:29 PM
Author: Jennifer5973
I have always wanted to learn moreabout wine since I enjoy it so much

I love how different wines compliment different dishes. Maybe we can learn with you...start a wine update thread!


To start, there is Wine for Dummies


PS Before I get flogged, I am NOT implying you are a dummy!

This is good place to start depending on your level of knowledge. I actually have that one myself, although I must confess I haven''t opened it in many years.

Janis Robinson is a good author. This one is good, although older.

You may wish to browse Robert Parker for Bordeaux. I''m not a huge fan of Wine Spectator. I''ve found their ratings to be inconsistent at times, and they are very commercial. Some articles in the mag are good though.

Have fun, I love it! Check out wine enthusiast for gear (glasses, openers, decanters, etc)

 

[hoorray]

As usual, I agree with Noobie...

Wine spectator ratings seem to be fairly biased by it''s advertizing. My wine snob husband swears by Robert Parker and his Wine Advocate newsletter and ratings. I bought him an online subscribtion a couple of birthdays ago, and the $100 was one of the all time best b-day gifts I''ve ever given him. We are finding all kind of great buys coming out of Australia these days (along with other countries, but the Aussie wines are there in force). It just doesn''t make sense to spend the BIG bucks on the pricey French and Ca red wines as it used to with the Austrailan wines being comparable quality for much less $$.

Our secret to success has been to find the local wine shops who have good selections and shop their specials and recommendations. They usually like it if you pick their brains and will turn you onto alll kinds of great finds that just don''t have the volume to have hit the big markets. Wine distribution has a lot to do with the volume they produce in. Many of the smaller wineries just don''t produce enought to be in the big chains. But oftenthe smaller productions are really the better ones. It''s another reason these local wine shops are such a great find.....

Many of these wine shops have online stores with a fair amount of information. But, wine is like diamonds... you have to see and tase them for real to know what you like. Just reading about them doesn''t do the trick!

 

[noobie]

Right on with Australia. I also like Spain for reds, particulaly Ribera del Douro. Just avoid the big names liek Vega Sicilia and Pingus. Southern France is good for reasonable reds as well.

And great recommendation with teh local wine shops as they taste quite a bit of their stock. One thing is to find a consultant with a palate similar to yours. People''s personal preferences vary.

Jennifer, try this simple fun taste test. I apologize if it''s too basic.

Find six wines, three white and three red. For the whites a light pinot grigio or similar, a heavier oaked chardonnay and a sweet white (dessert or white zinfandel (I know I hate WZ, but this is just a test) For red a beaujolais, a pinot noir and a cabernet

Get some food: a lemon slice, a peppered cracker, a sweet apple slice, blue cheese and some imitation crab.

Now in sequence taste each food item and work your way through the whites and then reds taking a bite of food each time. This will tell you how different wines behave with different food types (sour, sweet, savoury, peppered etc) and what you like. You can then match the style of the food to the wine by how it interacts.

 

[fire&ice]

I''m gonna go against the grain here - I haven''t been able to beat a good California Red. The smaller vineyards have the best handcrafted Pinot Noir''s & Red Zif''s I''ve ever tasted. It''s a great Southeast (read HOT - as in temp) summer wine. My fav - Greenwood Ridge Pinot.

I agree that Aussie wines can be a good buy - but the selection we have in my neck of the woods is less than stellar. It''s the same old stuff that the grocery store carries. Anly names to be on the lookout?

Decent Bordeaux''s under $15.00 is easy with a store called Total Wine (they are a chain - but they have fairly knowledgable management staff). They directly buy from some of the smaller French vineyards. I love a good Bordeaux for it''s earthy flavor.

My favorite wine - good Italian Barolo''s. Sadly, they are very expensive in the States.

As far as food, I just drink whatever wine I like w/ whatever.

Mara, if you like sweet wines - try an Italian desert wine that is bubbly - don''t remember the name - but it''s unique. It''s quite a treat.

And, I know nothing about Spainish wines - though I like their Bubbly. A friend gave us a bottle of 1998 Vina Pomal "Bodegas Bilbainas". What can we expect? I don''t think they knew either as it was a disclosed "regift" .

At the end of the day, the best way to "know" wines is to taste. If that is true, I must be an expert

Noobie - are you still collecting?

 

[noobie]

Hee hee F&I. Like I said wine is all about personal preference. I have friends that ask me what a good wine is and I say it''s what ever you like.

I am very atypical. I don''t drink in quantity at all. I like quality. We go through about a bottle a week, maybe every two weeks. DW stopped for 3 years with the kids and I don''t like driking by myself. So I just keep a small collection of about 500 bottles. I have a 10 year inventory turn at my consumption rate

. I only buy age worthy wines now to cellar since I have enough ready to drink wines. I used buy a few cases a month, now I just buy opportunistically but my average bottle price has probably crept to over $50 per bottle.

Total Wine is quite good but I mostly venture into DC. I can find anything I want in DC.

Just to prove how personal wine is I disagree on California pinot. IMHO nothing touches a good French Burgundy for pinot and I prefer Oregon to Cali. But I agree with Italy. Love Brunellos, Super Tuscans and Barolo. However, hard to find a good Barolo for less than $50 and they need cellar time.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 6/1/2005 5:35:58 PM
Author: noobie
Just to prove how personal wine is I disagree on California pinot. IMHO nothing touches a good French Burgundy for pinot and I prefer Oregon to Cali. But I agree with Italy. Love Brunellos, Super Tuscans and Barolo. However, hard to find a good Barolo for less than $50 and they need cellar time.

Have you tried Greenwood Ridge Pinot?

A friend has had success buying good Barolo''s at the big auction houses of all places. Sadly, I became hooked on them on an Italian cruise ship. The Barolo''s were cheap in comparison.

Yes, wine is very personal. Part of the enjoyment for me is the hunt. I love finding an under $15.00 which is as good as a $30ish wine. But, from my limited buying experience of bottles over $50.00 (except for Barolos as treats), that does seem to be a price point.

But, I do like a good micro-brew. Wild Goose & Gaelic Ale are fairly local brews.

 

[bopitaddict]

you should try the rubicon at: http://www.niebaum-coppola.com/site.php

smooth with a hint of blackberry...

 

[noobie]

Date: 6/1/2005 5:55:10 PM
Author: fire&ice
Have you tried Greenwood Ridge Pinot?

Yes, wine is very personal. Part of the enjoyment for me is the hunt. I love finding an under $15.00 which is as good as a $30ish wine. But, from my limited buying experience of bottles over $50.00 (except for Barolos as treats), that does seem to be a price point.

But, I do like a good micro-brew. Wild Goose & Gaelic Ale are fairly local brews.

Is Greenwood Ridge from Total? I''ll look for it. I need to make a trip to Total to get some Banfi Brunello 99 and some 2002 Shafer Cab and some champagne.

I used to enjoy the hunt for great $15 wines as well. I still do. But since I can tell the difference I stopped buying them except for casual quaffing. I justify my spends based on my consumption. Some of my friends drink a bottle every couple of days. Since my volume is 1:4 , I can pay 4 x for a bottle

 

[Mara]

F&I, the moscato d''asti''s are sweet and slightly bubbly from Italy so maybe that is what you were thinking of. Love them!!!

our local wine shop is doing a Spanish night next week which we signed up for, its free and they pair the wines with cheeses and some spanish foods, yum!

Greg was eyeing a Graham''s 1985 Port last time we visited, maybe I will surprise him. He does the port and cigar thing a few times a month!

 

[fire&ice]

Noobie, regarding Greenwood Ridge - they don''t carry it. We were able to get it in NC though. Not any more. They are a tiny vineyard on the Medicino Ridge App. - which may be somewhat similar to growing conditions in the areas you like. I can''t remember whether you are in MD or VA or DC proper. We could "import" it from our NC home. VA laws change sometime this year - but it''s still under debate about being controlled by ABC??? I''ll try to dig up their website. They are tiny & have won some majors in majors w/ their Pino N. grapes themselves supplyed some of the bigger boys.

Mara, sounds about right. And, they mostly sell by the 1/2 bottle.

And to Noobie again, I suspect you will go back on your hunt for the perfect $15.00 of wine when your children get older.

Most of mine have. I even have a friend who is trying to choose a wine for "her" rehersal dinner for her son. I''m glad you still have your cellar.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 6/1/2005 5:35:58 PM
Author: noobie

I just keep a small collection of about 500 bottles.

Hmmmmm. 500 bottles of good quality wine. Any Bollinger GA in that lot?
Oh, and where do you live again?

cheers--Sharon

 

[noobie]

Sharon,

My Bollinger GA 1990 is gone. It was wonderful. It''s a poor man''s RD (Although $100 is not reeally poor man''s anything) I''m looking at the 1996 now. I may bite the bullet annd get some RD.

F&I, I''ll try to find the pinot. Sounds promising. I''m in VA, need to wait for law change.

Mara, try soem German Riesling if you like sweeter wines. A Kabinett is very good and light. It one of the few whites I stock, and they age well. Had a 1994 Kurt Darting last week. Good luck with the 85 Grahams. 80, 83 and 92 are OK too. Of course then there''s 70,77, 63 and 94 for vintage port.

Anyone interested in starting a wine tasting and review thread to compare notes?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Anyone interested in starting a wine tasting and review thread to compare notes?

Yes, *please do* start such a thread!

Thanks for the book recommendations

 

[Dancing Fire]

my question is....which one will get me dunk the quickest?

never been a wine drinker but i love cognac.

one glass of champagne and it''s lights out for me.

 

[canuk-gal]

Date: 6/1/2005 10:25:41 PM
Author: noobie
Anyone interested in starting a wine tasting and review thread to compare notes?

HI:

Yes.

slb

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 6/1/2005 11:21:04 PM
Author: MichelleCarmen

Anyone interested in starting a wine tasting and review thread to compare notes?

Yes, *please do* start such a thread!

Thanks for the book recommendations

FANTASTIC idea!

Noobie, I wonder if VA law will change. I haven''t been following the drama; but, the VA wine industry must have a strong lobby. Sad, save the Jeffersonian Norton grape, I don''t know if VA will produce a good red. Williamsburg winery did in 94 - but not with VA grown grapes. What do you think?

 

[Jennifer5973]

Date: 5/31/2005 7:28:29 PM
Author: Jennifer5973
I have always wanted to learn moreabout wine since I enjoy it so much

I love how different wines compliment different dishes. Maybe we can learn with you...start a wine update thread!

To start, there is Wine for Dummies

PS Before I get flogged, I am NOT implying you are a dummy!

Noobie, great minds

, although I initially was thinking from a novice''s perspective. A wine thread in any form, would be wonderful.

 

[Mara]

noobie re: Port...do you know which would be more tasty...the Grahams 1980 or 1985? I read some stuff online and came away confused...

 

[hoorray]

Yes on the wine thread, but I may have to get DH to participate (oh dear...). I call him my personal sommelier. He loves to study it and read up on all the details. I''m more involved on the enjoying it front.

We really have been enjoying the Oregon Pinots in the past few years, and haven''t met too many French Burgandy''s that we''d turn down. IMO, the Ca Pinots, as a whole aren''t as robust, but there are probably some scattered good ones. I haven''t heard of, or tried Greenwood Ridge F&I. I''ll have to look for it. We do love the CA Cabs and occasional Meritages. (And don''t get me wrong a high percentage of all of our wine is from CA since that''s where we live, and it''s everywhere.) On the Aussi front, anything from Sarah & Sparky Marquis is typically going to be good. One of our favorites right now is Henry''s Drive Shiraz. Many of the Penfolds are good, as are many of the D''Arenbergs.

We tend to go back and forth on buying the great wines (which can be pricey) and the great finds (which means great, drinkable wines at more value prices.) We''re about to leave for the summer, so we have to pack it all up and take it to off site storage. It''s my least favorite part of being a wine lover.

 

[noobie]

Date: 6/2/2005 11:32:04 PM
Author: Mara
noobie re: Port...do you know which would be more tasty...the Grahams 1980 or 1985? I read some stuff online and came away confused...

Unfortunately I don''t have either. According to Robert Parket the 85 was higher rated than the 80. It''s probably a buy if reasonably priced. In fact Parker rated the 85 a "97 out of 100" but it was not recent and should be taken with a grain of salt.

I have tasted the Dow in those vintages and both were good. You probably can''t go wrong if it was stored well and reasonable

 

[noobie]

OK, I''ll start.

Last night I had a 2001 Chateau Montelena from California. It was still very tight but opened up with time. Excellent structure with good balance and finish. Full bodied. As with most Cali cabs a good hint of oak and vanilla nose from the oak. Will be a very nice wine in a few years.

A few weeks ago I had a 1993 Banfi Brunello. Very well rounded and drinking nicley. Medium bodied, just wonderful. In addition I also opened a 1995 Vigorello (San Felice). Vigorello is a poor man''s Tignanello. Nicely aged full to medium bodied. Not as refined as the Brunello, but tasty.

Two weeks ago, the wine was 1994 Ridge Geyserville. A Zin blend. Fully aged, maybe kept a year or two too long, but excellent none the less.

Last month we had a 1990 Arigano Brunello Riserva I was saving. My last one. I was in heaven!!!

recent whites: 1997 Kurt Darting riesling Kabinet Bettlehaus. I really like German riesling. Affordable, about $15.

That''s my recent tastings.

For more afforadable stuff, I like Spain, Pesquera and Condado de Haza for a full bodied red. The Priorats are nice and reasoanble as is a cabernet blend called Guelbenza Evo. This is not a big full bodied Cali style, more Bordeaux.

I sorry, I don''t mean to come across as a wine snob, but we only average a bottle every week or two. I''ll post more mainstream ones as we open. These were just ready. This weekend, I''ll try a spanish or aussie and post.

 

[Jennifer5973]

Noobie, at the risk of looking like a total wine newbie, what do you think of Yellow Tail from Australia?

 

[Mara]

Greg loves Yellow Tail! It has a cool label and it's cheap!

I think he bought one originally to try, and he likes it, so now I get it for him at the store when it's on sale...last week it was 2 for $11...hehe. He likes the reds.

We have friends who are very into wine, have cellars, subscriptions, and discussions and all that...I like to buy by the label

which I am sure is frowned upon by the people who really know wine!

Noobie, I'd love to hear your recommends under $25 as well as you go through your collection...if you have any around there!

 

[Jennifer5973]

Date: 6/4/2005 12:13:31 AM
Author: Mara
Greg loves Yellow Tail! It has a cool label and it's cheap!

Exactly!

At the risk of sounding like a complete "wino" we do drink a bottle or two during the week with dinner and then another one or two on the weekends when we go out...Yellow Tail has been our "during the week" wine for a year now...I like the Cab-Shiraz mix and the Shiraz and I just tried their Chardonnay--not too bad (but even my unsophistaced wine pallet can tell a difference between that the $20 Kendall Jackson Chard).