The_Jazz

There's a 5-year old thread kind-of, sort-of on the same topic, but rather than bump it, I'm starting new. Call it a cleansing of the palate.

In the past 10 years, I've realized that wine can actually be fun. It's no longer the passtime of wine snobs, and anyone with a mouth and a nose is qualified to render a judgement. I thought I would share a few of my favorites that I've discovered over the years and ask for opinions or other suggestions - sort of like some of our music threads.

Castellano di Amoroso Pinot Grigio - I am really into this one right now. You can only buy it directly from the winery (which means that they can ship it to you regardless of where you are, provided that's not Utah). I am not a fan of sweet or buttery wines, and this one is very crisp, especially when it's served cold.

Cakebreak Cabernet - I admit it's dropped in value as the price has risen, but it's still a damn good cab. It used to be a great buy when you could get it for $15/bottle in a store, but it was "discovered" and now everyone wants it. Nice mellow finish.

Overture - Opus One's off-brand. Basically these are the extras that they have left over. And it's about half the price and it's pretty much the same taste.

Fortitude Cabernet - this may actually be a meritage - I don't have a bottle with me here - but's shockingly affordable and quite good.

So what are your favorites? Why? Are they easily available or do you need to know someone to get a bottle or two?

And please, no wine coolers. I know you're a high school sophomore girl at heart, but that's out of bounds.

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"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
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"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

Willravel

Spenker Zinfandel, 2002. I've still got several bottles, and it is by leaps and bounds the best full-bodied, true zinfandel in the world. Take that, France. (Try it with chocolate, seriously)

Joseph Phelps Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, 2005. I'll admit I opened the first one a bit early, back in October '07, but I could tell immediately that it was the best Sav Blanc I've ever had. I have several more bottles I plan on opening early '09.

I've got a few more bottles at home, but those stuck out in my memory.

Poppinjay

What-ever!

Blackstone Merlot, it's inexpensive, easy to find, and tastes rich.

Columbia Crest Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Very low acidity, dark, slightly musky taste, but in a good way.

De Bouef's Beajolais Noveau. We get it every year, and every year a sniffy guy tells us that it's not a mature wine and not worth tasting. It's just a tradition with us. And it usually is pretty decent.

If you want something that makes you feel like an old world fuedal lord, eating your people's offering of nearly bloody mutton, and washing it down with gulps of in-your-face red wine, Bully Hill Meat Market Red. I'm not thinking refined experience here, more like if you would be the type to use peasants as foot stools. it's a gluttony thing.

Kind of off the subject but related, a friend gave us a bottle of Dom Perignon in return for a favor. We chilled it properly, got out the flutes, and found out that it tastes pretty much like champaign at half the price. Maybe we just have trailer park palates.

One wine I warn against: Papio. It has a monkey on the label. It tastes like monkey piss.

__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

Willravel

You really don't. Dom Perignon used to earn such a great reputation, but quite frankly it's gone the way of Cristal. Personally, I feel like champagne is for kids, but if you really want to have a decent bottle, you might want to try this. As I understand, it's very good.

MSD

I developed a taste for Yellow Tail wines a few years ago when my mom got 4 leftover cases of it after a fundraiser for the museum where she works. It's not something that wine snobs are going to rave about, but it's under $15 for a magnum at BJ's liquor, and it goes well with everyday food and nice dinners at home. The Cabernet is complex and fruity, but not overwhelmingly so. Merlot is similarly good but less complex, pretty much what you'd expect from a decent Merlot. I go back and forth on their chardonnay -- 2005 was too smoky, 2006 was pretty good, and 2007 was a bit to acidic and dry for my taste.

For super cheap in bulk, I'll probably be looked down on for saying this, but Franzia (yes, the stuff in boxes) Chianti is as good as anything you'll get in a cheap bottle, and goes perfectly well with a simple pasta dinner (especially if you're serving a lot of people in an informal setting; put out some decanters at a buffet and nobody will ever know.) Not very complex, on the sweet side, tastes good and gets you drunk.

guccilvr

I have no real clue when it comes to wine. I just drink what's there usually.

However, I'm not a fan of Grigio's, or Cabernet's. I pretty much stick to Merlot's or blushes. I think the one my wife buys all the time is Duplin Carolina Red. It's cheap. $10/bottle maybe.

I usually just stick to the vodka so yeah.. my tastes and experiences are few.

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Bill O'Rights

"But Daaaad, I don't waaannna go to school today."

Oh...wines.
I thought...never mind.

Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill.

Seriously, I tend to stick to the Merlots and Cabernets. I'm not a huge fan of white wines, and find zinfandel to be rather...Kool Aidish in it's sweetness.

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indebut

I have been a wine and beer salesman for the past 2 years. Before working here, my experience with wine was pretty minimal. I have definitely come to appreciate wine a lot more and have gotten to try some really nice wines (and beers) over the past couple years. My budget for wine these days is next to nothing, but it's nice to get some free samples through work every now and then

I think my favorite wine that I have had is Franciscan Magnificat. It goes for around 50 dollars here, so it's not something I'll be buying everyday, but for a special occasion I'd indulge in a bottle.

Another perk of my job is getting to try some wines I wouldn't normally try on my own. I've found a couple Pinot Grigio's that I really enjoyed..one sticking out in my mind is Houghton.

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onesnowyowl

I really like Yellow Tail's shiraz. But then most Aussie shiraz is all right by me.

The problem with me trying to list off all of the wines I like is that you will probably be hard-pressed to find some of them in other parts of the country, and vice-versa. You see, I live in Oregon, which has become wine country. Given the vast array of local wines available from small producers, they often dominate the shelves here. If it's from California, Australia, Washington, or Oregon, I might have a chance of finding it to try.

Oregon is becoming well-known for its pinot noir, and I've got to say I've really enjoyed Sweet Cheeks Winery's pinot noir. I can't afford a bottle myself, it's too spendy, but my future mother-in-law likes to serve it at parties. She is a good source of wine for me to try, otherwise I will keep on buying the same bottles of Aussie shiraz over and over again (damn I love that shiraz).

I don't believe you have to spend a lot of money to get a good bottle of wine. Most blind taste tests I read about comparing cheap wines to pricier bottles illustrates that people cannot tell the difference between the two. Furthermore, I'm constrained budget-wise. Therefore, I am a big fan of two cheap but good wine producers--namely Two-Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw) and Barefoot. I also really like Pepperwood Grove, which is at only a slightly higher price point that the other two. Typically...I buy the shiraz (are we noticing a theme yet?) but sometimes will purchase the Pepperwood cabernet.

If people could note which bottles they like that are under $10, I would appreciate that--it helps me know which recommendations to take seriously.

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roachboy

i like red wines from burgundy.
there are some lovely malbecs as well, but it's also the case that many taste like parker-wines, so like crappy california reds.

like burgundies that are a little earthy and that have a long flavor to them---one that changes as it moves through your mouth and that has a bit of an aftertaste--cali wines tend to go HI THERE and disappear. thin and overpriced. though i'm willing to do fieldwork and be proven wrong.

i'm not sure that i'm smart enough for good bordeaux yet. i'm working my way toward them.


o yeah---i like la veuve cliquot for champagne.
i've had their millésimé and it's tremendous.
but it's kinda a pain to find and it's alot of money.
a regular bottle of the widow is about 40.00
you want to drink enough so that the old lady smiles.

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spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

Willravel

I hate to say it, but very few people outside of California ever get our best wines. We're proud of the good stuff, and hoard it. You almost have to know someone to get the truly good California wines. The better vineyards are very private, very much family owned, and don't produce a lot of volume.

If you ever get the opportunity, give the 2002 Spenker Zin a shot. I happen to know the family which is why I was able to purchase such a decent collection from them (I drove up there to buy it on the vineyard and take the tour).

Charlatan

Any alcohol in this is city is expensive. What would be a $10 bottle of wine in Toronto is typically $25 here. As a result, I've started to buy whatever's cheap. I couldn't tell you what's on my shelf at home.

When I am willing to spend, I have to admit that I not enough of a connoisseur be able to tell you vintage, or labels, etc. with any accuracy. I know I've had some nice Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz (alone or blended) from Wolf Blass. There are some whites that I like Viognier and I will even drink a nice Rose, but I prefer the Roses from Bandol which I can only find while I am in France (I know that sounds pretentious but it's an occupational thing).

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Poppinjay

Blackstone can be had on sale at $9, or at Total Wines for $8. I think they also do a shiraz or syrah. Bully Hill is generally all under $10, but they either taste really hearty or just totally suck.

__________________
I think the Apocalypse is happening all around us. We go on eating desserts and watching TV. I know I do. I wish we were more capable of sustained passion and sustained resistance. We should be screaming and what we do is gossip. -Lydia Millet

onesnowyowl

Blackstone I can find here, I'm sure, since they're out of California. I'll have to take a look next time I'm at the store. Bully Hill is from NY though, and they don't have a distributor in Oregon. Oh well.

I picked up a bottle of Two Vines Red Wine from Columbia Crest that is a blend of syrah, sangiovese, and cabernet sauvignon. I'll be trying it this weekend and let you all know how it goes. It was a nice bargain at $6.99 on sale.

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If I am not better, at least I am different. --Jean-Jacques Rousseau

YaWhateva

I'm not really a good wine connoisseur, mostly because I've become more of a beer geek but I went to a wine festival and bought a bottle of a plum wine from Anasazi Fields Winery and it was really delicious. I found out that the winery is based in my home state too which is cool.

Other than that I really enjoy dry, red wines. I really want to try getting into wines more so I will definitely be looking up some of these in the coming weeks.

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TheNasty

I cook with Barefoot Chardonnay and Merlot, they're both under $10.00 a bottle and are really nice in recipes that call for wine. I use the Chardonnay to make chicken/shrimp scampi and the Merlot for beef stew and pot roast.

I never really found a wine that I really enjoyed drinking. I enjoy beer more.

CinnamonGirl

I really love Black Swan Shiraz... it's very cheap, and very good. I'll admit to not knowing a whole lot about wine, though, so this thread has given me some ideas for future purchases.

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"She realized that the only war worth fighting was the one that raged within; the rest were all diversions."

The_Jazz

Does anyone know of a nice crisp white for a hot summer's day? I've had some really good ones from South Africa and New Zealand that are quite affordable, but I can't remember the names. I'm hoping someone jars something lose in my head.

__________________
The proud dad of Max since 2/15/06 and Andrew since 1/9/08!

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - B. Franklin
"There ought to be limits to freedom." - George W. Bush
"We have met the enemy and he is us." - Pogo

roachboy

on a hot summer day, i generally opt for a few bottles from the chateau red stripe.

__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear

it make you sick.

-kamau brathwaite

amonkie

Actually Jazz... my sommelier recommended a White Merlot, and tec and I took that on our vacation - it was delicious, and the first time I had ever heard of such a thing. For someone who wants Merlot drinkable chilled without having the bitter flavor that comes with doing so, it was quite enjoyable. I'm racking my brain to remember the name.

One of my favorites is Innocent Bystander. Mmm Mmmm Mmmm. I often have to wait a couple months at a time, as at $15 a bottle I normally only buy what I will drink, and it is very hard to get, making it run out quickly in my area of the country. I think I will have to stock up next time.

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Calling from deep in the heart, from where the eyes can't see and the ears can't hear, from where the mountain trails end and only love can go... ~~~ Three Rivers Hare Krishna

little_tippler

The best white wine I have ever had comes from Spain. From Barcelona, in Cataluña to be exact.

It is called Gessami and is pretty wonderful. It's really fruity but not overly sweet, and it's crisp. This is a little secret imparted to me by a friend from this region. Whenever I go there now I always buy a bottle to bring back.

Here is a rather good review:

Gessami wine review

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We are ever unapparent. What we are
Cannot be transfused into word or book.
Our soul from us is infinitely far.
However much we give our thoughts the will
To be our soul and gesture it abroad,
Our hearts are incommunicable still.
In what we show ourselves we are ignored.
The abyss from soul to soul cannot be bridged
By any skill of thought or trick of seeming.
Unto our very selves we are abridged
When we would utter to our thought our being.
We are our dreams of ourselves, souls by gleams,
And each to each other dreams of others' dreams.

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TheNasty

Hurray Beer!

kurty[B]

Sokol Blosser Winery (Oregon) - Evolution Wine - I really enjoy this Reisling. I know it's lame to come out and say I enjoy a Reisling, but watching the sunset and enjoying this crisp wine is an all time favorite of mine. I first found this at a small winery when the owner hugged it while showing me white wines to go well with sushi. It used to be hard to find, but I can find it all over nowadays.

Garfield Estates Winery (Colorado) - S2 - I am not sure on the distribution of this wine. But, if you're ever driving I-70 through western Colorado, veering off at Palisade to find this winery. The S2 is great. Carlson Vineyards (even further off the track) is great also.

Van Der Heyden Winery (Napa) - Late Harvest Cabernet Sauvignon - Is my favorite vineyard in Napa. Just a little hole in the wall place (not super fancy, owned by a Dutch man who just likes to make wine). I enjoyed all his reds, but his late harvest was particularly great. I have not been able to find it outside of Napa (wish I could).

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mixedmedia

This is my very favorite beer.

Oh, yeah...wines....I don't know the names, eh-heh, I pick them up by recognizing the labels...

I prefer pinot noirs or pinot grigios.

Crispness is what I like.

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onesnowyowl