What's your favorite red wine?

I live very close to the Napa Valley. Please recommend.

Valpolicella, Barbaresco, Barolo, Brunello, Chianti - all delicious!

I had a fantastic Griesvelt in Vienna. I quite like Austrian wines.

Originally Posted by Coho

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I live very close to the Napa Valley. Please recommend.

I don't normally seek out your local product, but over Christmas break was handed a glass of Pahlmeyer 2003 that was quite luscious.

Petrus? Haut Brion?

Drink the local stuff.

Originally Posted by johnapril

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Drink the local stuff.
+1 If your that close...take advantage! There are so many small (very good) wineries and makers in and around Napa.

South African Western Cape Pinotage

Originally Posted by johnapril

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Drink the local stuff.

+1.

I have a lot of favorites, but bein gwhere you are, definitely take advantage of the locale.

Also, look for some of the less common varietals if you can fin dthem locally. Grapes such as Marechal Foche (sp?) make for a great red wine, but get you out of the common boring pattern of merlot/cabernet/Pinot that too many people get caught up in.

Originally Posted by EL72

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South African Western Cape Pinotage

I'm JUST getting into red wine and I tried some Dumisani Pinotage-Shiraz a week ago that was easily one of the best I've had. Not sure how it compares to any of the over $12 bottles, but for an inexpensive wine it was very good to my inexperienced palette.

MASI makes pretty good red wines that are affordable

Originally Posted by johnapril

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Drink the local stuff.

+1. Get to know a few of the local winemakers. You'll learn a lot and maybe enjoy the wine a lilttle bit more.

--Andre

Re local stuff. IMO most of the good cabs are over-priced and most (not all) of the pinots are too straberry flavored

For california I'd say stick with a few premium houses and if you like massive go with the zinfindels. That's what they do best.

Hartford (also one of the few places that I think make good pinot but they're very pricey), Carlisle (sp?) and Turley are all very good.

having said that, the best advice is to pop a lot of corks and try a lot of things. I'm personally a big fan of Northern Italians, Burgundy and Rhone (mostly Northern)

Had some Opus 1 over the holidays..............yummy; also like Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Zinfandel from Sonoma; Chalone Vineyards Estate Pinot Noir - also a big fan of thier Chardonney; and Ride Zinfandels. I'm getting thirsty thinking here......