The Official Wine Thread

I forgot to ask.

Does anyone have any recomendations for an everyday table wine?

Originally Posted by BP348

Click to expand...

I forgot to ask.

Does anyone have any recomendations for an everyday table wine?

nero d'avola. Carmigniano. Dolcetto d'Alba. Berbera d'Asti. Endless possibilities from Italy...

Originally Posted by BP348

Click to expand...

I forgot to ask.

Does anyone have any recommendations for an everyday table wine?

Here are my daily drinkers. All approx CAD$20.00.

1. J Lohr Cabernet (Paso Robles)
2. Perrin & Fils Les Christins Vacqyueras (Rhone)
3. Penfolds Thomas Hyland Shiraz (Adelaide)
4. Ruffino Lodola Nuova (Montepulciano)
5. Kenwood Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley)

IMO, all have character and balance. They are not fruit bombs. If I had to pick just one, the Vacquyeras is a monster wine, especially after a two hour decant.

Enjoy.

Originally Posted by BP348

Click to expand...

I see a lot of posts about Pinos, Shiraz and cabs but nothing said about merlot. Is there a reason for this?

I'm REAL new at wine so I'm going to try and find some of the recomended wines here. One of the problems I have is living in a smaller town so I'm sure finding most of the recomendations is going to be tough

Maybe I'm showing my inexperience but I was at a local store and a couple recomended Lindemans to me. I tried it and I really liked it.

Another thing I was wondering about does everyone like red & white wine or just one? I tend to like the reds. I can drink a white but I prefer the reds

My other problem is I am really starting to like red wines but the only thing my wife likes is Zifendel (sp?)


Wine, thankfully, is a lifelong study. I began two years ago and am truly in love with it. Enjoy the journey. Don't listen to obnoxious bullshit. If you enjoy the wine, good for you. Enjoy it.

That said, my wife and I began our journey (after two lives without drink -- no taste for it) with a Franciscan Merlot. We went nutz for good merlot. Tasted and enjoyed lots of CA merlots. Atalon, Rodney Strong, Mondavi, etc.

Then we discovered Shiraz, and enjoyed that. Now, we discovered Zinfandels, Cabs and our favourite, Pinot Noir. Look, I'll drink any balanced red wine. Love the Rhones (Granache), the blends like Bordeaux and 'Reds'. The lot.

We treat ourselves to three bottles a week. A midweek date and Friday and Saturday night dinner. Two are daily drinkers, and one we chose something we've read about or one of the lads around here have suggested. Rarely, have we been disappointed (Arrowood Syrah/Rodney Strong Pinot) or corked (Lenko Old Vines Merlot and Gemtree Uncut Shiraz).

Anyway, welcome to the thread and cheers.

Pio, How long did it take you to 'pose' your wine? LOL I know you did. When will you drink the '05s?

Originally Posted by audiophilia

Click to expand...

Pio, How long did it take you to 'pose' your wine? LOL

I know you did.

When will you drink the '05s?

I usually just take them out of the case, snap a picture, add them into Cellar Tracker, and toss them into the cellar. Drinking a few select 05s now, will have them all gone by 2012.

Did I hear Zin? Turley anyone?

How would you rate the Turley? Have not heard of it, but by the website, waiting list only?

Originally Posted by BP348

Click to expand...

I see a lot of posts about Pinos, Shiraz and cabs but nothing said about merlot. Is there a reason for this?

I'm REAL new at wine so I'm going to try and find some of the recomended wines here. One of the problems I have is living in a smaller town so I'm sure finding most of the recomendations is going to be tough

Maybe I'm showing my inexperience but I was at a local store and a couple recomended Lindemans to me. I tried it and I really liked it.

Another thing I was wondering about does everyone like red & white wine or just one? I tend to like the reds. I can drink a white but I prefer the reds

My other problem is I am really starting to like red wines but the only thing my wife likes is Zifendel (sp?)

Personally I don't think Merlot is worth talking about. I wouldn't go out of my way to spend any money on a bottle, given all other options. I only drink red too, for your other question.

Maybe you can get a list of wine from the store, or write down a list of ones that you think could be good, and post it here for suggetions too.

Originally Posted by killua

Click to expand...

Personally I don't think Merlot is worth talking about. I wouldn't go out of my way to spend any money on a bottle, given all other options.

oof! Some of the world's most prized wines from Bordeaux are merlot-based. I personally don't bother with most merlot from California, but it is a magical varietal in St. Emillion and Pomerol.

Originally Posted by audiophilia

Click to expand...

How would you rate the Turley? Have not heard of it, but by the website, waiting list only?

Turley is pretty much credited for making Zin a "serious" wine. For quite some time, it was the standard for Zin.

+1

But, I think higher of CA merlots. Shafer and Duckhorns make excellent merlots.

Friday night!

2006 IN OPTIMIS Minervois. 40% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 30% Syrah

This little ditty set me back a whole $11.00 and it had Blueberry jam with undertones of soft damp clay on the nose and was very luch, rich and earthy with big round dark fruits, warm soft tannins that led into a rather nice finish with nuances of cherries (ala Dr. Pepper), dark chocolate and coffee beans.



Saturday night!

2006 Claar Cellar Cabernet-Merlot (60/40).

This tastey pour hails from White Bluffs in the Columbia Valley of Washington and was a mere $13.99!
Glass #1 poured through the Vinturi: Woody mushroom, blackberry and hits of licorice and spice warmed the nose. Bold flavours of dark berries balanced by soft chewy tannins and subtle notes of dark chocolate caressed the palette. Nice long finish with many flavour notes repeated.

Glass #2 poured from bottle about an hour and half later: Warm spicey notes came to the forefront with more dark fruits such as cherry and raspberry joining the song. The tannins really opened up to sooth but not overwhelm the palette, which led into an even longer finish. I really enjoyed this wine and will buy more.



Sunday night!

2006 Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec

30 year vines, 12 month French oak aging

Deep ruby red with hints of violet and brown around the edges. Dark cherry, oak and spices on the nose allude to the lush dark fruit flavours to come. Lucious blackberries, plum and cassis dance with subtle tones of dark ripe cherries with hints of toasted oak, while warm tannins round out the song.

Now I am partial to Malbec. It is my favourite varital. However, though I really enjoyed this pour and it wasn't too pricey, (coming in around $14.99) I will return to the 2005 Luigi Bosca first everytime if I can.

Okay my n00b thoughts on Tempranillo:

I love my Spanish wines but the problem I've found with 100% Tempranillo wines is that they can be overly sweet fruit bombs (love that term ) such as Red Guitar or Marco Real (both from the Navarra region). So, I suggest look for a Crianza or a Reserva where the wine has been oak barrel aged for 6 months to 12 months respectively. This adds some body and complexity to the Tempranillo grape, but the alcohol percentage with still be in the 13% to 13.5% range. If you’re looking for a descent 100% Tempranillo crianza at a descent price try a Montecillo Crianza (Rioja). I prefer when Tempranillo is the major component of a blend, especially with Grenache! This adds body and complexity as well as some alcohol to really round out the wine. I love either the Crianza (95% Tempranillo and 5% Grenache)or Reserva (95% Tempranillo and 5% Graciano) from Luis Canas (Rioja). These wines have great body and complexity with plenty of bold dark fruits (blackberry, dark cherry) but also have lovely oak and spice notes and warm velvety tannins.

This is the 2002 Luis Canas Reserva:


I also really like Argentinian Temps when blended with Malbec...something to try as well. Urban Uco is pretty good pour for the price.

Hope that was of some use/help...

Enjoy the journey!

Two great posts, Pand. Your love of wine shows through the prose and the care in your descriptions shine. I have the former and I shall try to replicate the latter.

Cheers, Anthony