What's your favorite red wine?

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by madbulk

I'm looking forward to a 1997 RM reserve this evening as it happens. Fully expect it will be quite drinkable.
For me tonight, one of my favorite PN wineries:

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=8544

 

[vinouspleasure]

yes, the plain old $20 wine is a pretty good napa wine in most vintages. Most reviewers, vintage to vintage, will rate it around a 90...fwiw.

 

[Johnny_5]

Where would the wine experts of this thread recommend someone to start in learning and developing a palatte for wines? I have tasted many wines varying from sassicaias to brunellos to california cabs. It would be nice if I could really develop my palatte and appreciate the complexity of fine wine.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Dragon]

I am nowhere close to an expert on wine, but the way I started was by trying all the different regions of France (or most of the major ones). By the time you drink from all the regions, you should start getting a good idea of the different tastes, etc. Another good way might be to try by grape variety. Mostly, the grape variety determines the taste of the wine, so by learning (and tasting) all the grapes you should get a really good idea of different types of wine. I guess if you live in the States, it would be easier to try by grape variety because that`s the way the wines are labelled (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.). Also, it`s cheaper to buy local wine instead of imported. Another thing...in my early days of wine drinking I tried GOOD (and at times, expensive) bottles too. This way, I thought I could an idea of what the real stuff should taste like