Booze The wine thread

[Bogey]

After sampling a few different wines, I have come to the conclusion that (at this time) I still can't tell the difference between "good" expensive wines and cheap wines.

I'm liking the two buck chuck shiraz at this time.

I have a Nickel & Nickel "Lightning Strike" in the "wine cellar".
Waiting for it to age and smooth before I whip it out.

I hope I can tell the difference between the two by the time I open it.

 

[VCRW]

eRobertParker.com: The Independent Consumer's Guide to Fine Wine

A belated thank you for posting this link. I also remember that this site originally was viewable via membership only. Parker's commentaries and ratings have consistently helped expand my knowledge and experience.

In the last 20 years the great California reds have become so expensive that my taste has migrated to Italian, Spanish, French, Australian, Argentine and Chilean reds. Parker has a great understanding of and appreciation for these wines. His site is a fantastic resource.

Thanks, again, Annapurna.

 

[Hipcheck]

After sampling a few different wines, I have come to the conclusion that (at this time) I still can't tell the difference between "good" expensive wines and cheap wines.

I'm liking the two buck chuck shiraz at this time.

I have a Nickel & Nickel "Lightning Strike" in the "wine cellar".
Waiting for it to age and smooth before I whip it out.

I hope I can tell the difference between the two by the time I open it.

Try the Ghost Pines cab. Its only 20 bucks at most per bottle but really has a much higher end taste. Comare this to any random 5 dollar cab at TJs and you will at least have a ball park idea of what it and what isnt quality grog.

 

[sonnyboy11]

I have been delving into NZ Suavignon Blancs of late. If anyone has some recommendations for that region/varietal let me hear em!

To date I have tried

Babich '06

Brancott '07

Jibe '06

Matua Valley '07

Monkey Bay '07

Really young wines I know but that's ok for Blancs, right? Most of these are Marlborough Valley afaik. I am also open to some other Blanc suggestions. I've tried a few Chilean ones and like them as well.

 

[Annapurna]

My favorite NZ SZ to date is the '06 Dog Point. The '07 Kim Crawford is pretty tasty as well.

 

[VCRW]

My favorite NZ SZ to date is the '06 Dog Point. The '07 Kim Crawford is pretty tasty as well.

I strongly agree with both these selections. Kim Crawford Sauv Blanc consistently makes the Wine Spectator Top 100. Dog Point is always right up there too. Another, yet more expensive, option is Cloudy Bay Chardonnay.

 

[ChilledAgua]

I have been delving into NZ Suavignon Blancs of late. If anyone has some recommendations for that region/varietal let me hear em!

To date I have tried

Babich '06

Brancott '07

Jibe '06

Matua Valley '07

Monkey Bay '07

Really young wines I know but that's ok for Blancs, right? Most of these are Marlborough Valley afaik. I am also open to some other Blanc suggestions. I've tried a few Chilean ones and like them as well.

I like the various vintages I've had of "House of Nobilo" Sauvignon Blanc over the years. It's also from Marlborough Valley.

No oak, with good (not excessive) acidity. It's enjoyable both as a food or cocktail wine.

 

[sonnyboy11]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I was never much of a Blanc drinker till I started in on these New Zealands. They have a nice flavor with some actual body, something I've found lacking in the CA Blancs I've tried.

One thing I have noticed though is that most everything I've found is Marlborough Valley. Has anyone tried anything from Wairau Valley or Nelson Valley?

 

[OTTo VoN BLoTTo]

Really young wines I know but that's ok for Blancs, right?

I love this quote by British Master of Wine and writer Jancis Robinson... regarding holding wines, when asked "when is the best time to open a sauvignon blanc?", she answered "yesterday". Pretty much says it all.

I absolutely LOVE the Kim Crawford. It's def. my favorite of teh NZ's. Also agree that Monkey Bay is an awfully good bottle at that 8 dollar price point. With a little salad of arugula and watercress, torn dill or parsley, smoked salmon, goat cheese, kiwi, thin sliced red onion, olives, tomatoes and capers, and a little grapefruit vinegarette, those NZ S/B's sing like CRAZY.

I think we have the Dog Point locally, but never tried it. I'll take the advice here and pick one up this week.

Oh yeah... I really liked the Mulderbosch S/B from South Africa, but their Chenin Blanc knocked me flat on my arse. DAMN it was good!!!

 

[gescom]

all RIGHT, activity!

dudes and dudettes, they are totally blowing this bad boy out at my local Cost Plus for i think 10 bucks.

it'll put serious hair on your balls!

 

[sonnyboy11]

all RIGHT, activity!

dudes and dudettes, they are totally blowing this bad boy out at my local Cost Plus for i think 10 bucks.

it'll put serious hair on your balls!

An Aussie fruit bomb, eh? I'm always down for those. Hearty meats, like smoked ribs, typically works well there.

 

[VCRW]

all RIGHT, activity!

dudes and dudettes, they are totally blowing this bad boy out at my local Cost Plus for i think 10 bucks.

it'll put serious hair on your balls!

I love d'Arenburg. I am drinking (as a special treat) a beautiful bottle of this wine's big brother, a 2005 "The Dead Arm", as I write this post. The same year of "The Laughing Magpie" (about $25) is an excellent choice as well.

 

[VCRW]

I also highly recommend a 2005 Byron Chardonnay that is selling for around $18 at the Costco here in Las Vegas. We have loved the 2 bottles we've had so far. It carries a 93 point rating to which it certainly seems to live up.

 

[lunchbox]

all RIGHT, activity!

dudes and dudettes, they are totally blowing this bad boy out at my local Cost Plus for i think 10 bucks.

it'll put serious hair on your balls!

hmmm... i just got this on my wine run today:

have you had it?

i'll post my thoughts once i have it, which won't be for a little while since i usually have simple french table wines with dinner. this was $18 onsale (originally $22).

 

[VCRW]

The Costco in Burbank (and perhaps other SoCal locations) is selling 2006 d'Arenberg The Laughing Magpie for $18.99. That's a very good price on a 92 point wine that is very drinkable now if left open for about 1/2 hour.

 

[Bogey]

Alright, I'm a little tipsy right now so I'm gonna let you all on a little secret . . .

The best bottle of wine you can semi-afford to buy at this time . . .

Joseph Phelps Insignia 2004

About $200/bottle but GD really good S!

 

[No One]

Well, at least it is what my wife has been drinking lately..

and a Chateau st. Pierre ros

 

[VCRW]

Just finishing a bottle of 2005 Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz. WS gave it 91 points and rated it a Best Buy. Costco is selling this wine for $12.99 so I gave it a try - and it has been a very pleasant surprise.

 

[OTTo VoN BLoTTo]

Uncorked one of these last night:

Our first time tried, and won't be the last. A blend of 50% Merlot; 49% Cabernet Sauvignon; and 1% Cabernet Franc. This is a KILLER bottle---and a steal for 35 bucks. Perfect balance, wonderful concentration and complexity, soft velvety tannins, and loooong on the finish. Was heaven with thick, char-grilled Prime dry-aged rib-eyes smeared with gobs of sweet roasted garlic.

 

[lunchbox]

hmmm... i just got this on my wine run today:

have you had it?

i'll post my thoughts once i have it, which won't be for a little while since i usually have simple french table wines with dinner. this was $18 onsale (originally $22).

i had this with dinner last night finally. it had berry flavors with a completely different, hard to describe aftertaste that in combination made it a very strongly flavored wine. i didn't mind it so much but mr. box did not like. i get the rest of the bottle to myself. heh.