Wine. Again. :)

[Danoz]

I'm usually shooting for inexpensive bottles on my salary. Inexpensive but TASTY, like Pillar Box Red and Dancing Bull. If I'm really celebrating w/ my fiancee while go a bit better, Seven Deadly Zins-- and sometimes a good Ruffino. I love wine, but I'm happiest with a dark beer and/or a whiskey. For regular drinking generally white rum and diet coke.

 

[Danoz]

I'm just happy that I've converted my wife from a sugary white wine drinker to someone who enjoys a nice, tannin rich dry red

I think tonight will be a simple Sangiovese with the basil pesto fettucini and spicy italian sausage.

Generally though we top out at about $40 Cdn a bottle max for wine. Generally for a simple table wine we stay in the $12 - $20 range. Amazing some of the bargains you can find. There have been a couple $15 ones we get that easily surpass the quality of ones twice the price in the 'fine wines'.

White wine has its moments though. For instance, I love a good white with fish-- pan seared tuna or salmon. I also love white wine with a nice plate of sushi.

 

[Holdfast]

I recently met a lady and found we both have a strong passion for wine...

Lucky fellow!

These sound interesting, esp. the Sangiovese...

2007 Sinarra Sangiovese Fattoria di Magliano (Tuscany)
2005 Verget Macon Charnay Le Clos Saint Pierre
Alberto Longo Cacc'e Mmitte di Lucera (Puglia, Italy)

You're a brave man to try the Austrian red from later in your post!

The one I'd really like to try from your list is this one...

2007 Bodegas Acústic Vinyes Velles Nobles "Acústic" (Montsant, Spain) - £11.75 - Sold to me as "the most unspanish Spanish wine I've ever tasted" and made with French oak rather than American I was intrigued. "Is it New World style then?", I asked. "Oh no, more Southern Rhone" he replied. "Box it up" I demanded. I know bugger all else about the wine other than it's Grenache and Carginan and made from 65 year old vines. Honestly, enough for me!

I like both Gigondas & esp. CdP quite a lot, so this sounds very intriguing to me.


Hmm, what I have been having over the past couple of weeks...

A couple of SA Pinotages, more for educational purposes than anything else - last week a cheap supermarket Stormhoek (nowt special but reasonably nice) and just tonight a Kanonkop 2005. The latter was very dark red, lots of berries, and a nicely rounded mouthfeel and the oak wasn't as overbearing as I feared. Pretty fine stuff really. The bottle claims it's good until 2019, which made me raise an eyebrow, but definitely it's good for another 3-5 or so.

Oh yeah, I had some Terres Dorres Beaujolais Blanc today too (I forget the vintage, 2007 I think) - not really to my tastes despite a high recommendation from someone I trust. Too buttery, not enough fruit, wallowing in its own lasciviousness a bit too much for me! I like a decadent chardonnay as much as anyone, but it's got to be really balanced and structured, otherwise give me something simpler and sharper.

A white Burgundy that I had last week that I DID like (and I didn't when I first tried it a couple of years ago, so it's evolved nicely) - 2006 Domaine Laroche Chablis St. Martin. Drinking VERY nicely now. The overly tart/green notes of a couple of years ago have mellowed quite a bit (not completely though) and it's now much more complex).

What else...

Well, the other week I finally found a Zin I actually liked - Robert Mondavi Heritage Collection 2005. That was a milestone, of sorts!

Oh, and I confirmed that an old bottle of Pagodes de Cos that I'd forgotten I had was no longer good for anything apart from making Spag Bol with.

 

[Hugo Rune]

Hmm, what I have been having over the past couple of weeks...

A couple of SA Pinotages, more for educational purposes than anything else - last week a cheap supermarket Stormhoek (nowt special but reasonably nice) and just tonight a Kanonkop 2005. The latter was very dark red, lots of berries, and a nicely rounded mouthfeel and the oak wasn't as overbearing as I feared. Pretty fine stuff really. The bottle claims it's good until 2019, which made me raise an eyebrow, but definitely it's good for another 3-5 or so.

Get down to Oddbins and try their TUKULU Pinotage. They only get it in small parcels and it generally sells out within weeks of display. The staff love it and have been pushing it for years. I think it's one of the best value Pinotage's out there, but one which holds ALL the notes a classy 'tage should have. A difficult grape to love, for sure (especially with the tarry, burnt rubber nose), but the quality of fruit on this wine is supreme for £8.99. Nothing elegant either, but sometimes a bit of a monster is welcome.

A white Burgundy that I had last week that I DID like (and I didn't when I first tried it a couple of years ago, so it's evolved nicely) - 2006 Domaine Laroche Chablis St. Martin. Drinking VERY nicely now. The overly tart/green notes of a couple of years ago have mellowed quite a bit (not completely though) and it's now much more complex).

Mmm, I wouldn't have gone near that until at least 2010 (unless you're drinking to track evolution for note purposes). Laroche typically are pretty disjointed when young and also rather aggressive. Seems to be softening and pulling together nicely, but I'd imagine it doing its best by Christmas or next summer, personally

What else...

Well, the other week I finally found a Zin I actually liked - Robert Mondavi Heritage Collection 2005. That was a milestone, of sorts!

Go and find some of the mid-end "County" Ravenswood Zins - The best priced was the Lodi Zinfandel, probably about £10 now. Rich, pure, powerful, but actually quite elegant too. The top end wines are supreme and age brilliantly, especially the Teldischi. I had a 1996 back in 2006 and it felt like it was only then coming into its own. Who woulda thought a Zin could age more gracefully than Californian Cab? Ravenswood are available at Majestic I think... ity, unless you're buying a mixed case

Oh, and I confirmed that an old bottle of Pagodes de Cos that I'd forgotten I had was no longer good for anything apart from making Spag Bol with.

I know people who think that particular second wine is ONLY fit for making sauces with! Poor Pagodes...


Hugo - very much enjoyed a simple Ribera del Duero last night which opened up brilliantly after about an hour. Roll on another glass tonight

 

[Holdfast]

Get down to Oddbins and try their TUKULU Pinotage...

Go and find some of the mid-end "County" Ravenswood Zins

Thanks for the useful tips as always.

A white Burgundy that I had last week that I DID like (and I didn't when I first tried it a couple of years ago, so it's evolved nicely) - 2006 Domaine Laroche Chablis St. Martin. Drinking VERY nicely now. The overly tart/green notes of a couple of years ago have mellowed quite a bit (not completely though) and it's now much more complex).

Mmm, I wouldn't have gone near that until at least 2010 (unless you're drinking to track evolution for note purposes). Laroche typically are pretty disjointed when young and also rather aggressive. Seems to be softening and pulling together nicely, but I'd imagine it doing its best by Christmas or next summer, personally

Yep, there are a few little harsh notes left, as I noted, but it's like night and day compared to first tasting 2 years ago. It's really quite nice at the moment! Though yes, I can definitely see it improving more by next summer. I wasn't really thinking when I opened it though - I needed a bottle quickly to take to a friend's for dinner and that was what caught my eye. Still, I'm not disappointed to have opened it now. I thought I had another couple of bottles of it left, but it appears not.

Talking of white burgundy drinking windows, any advice on these? I've put my own estimate of a window alongside, based on what I thought on tasting some at time of purchase:

2005 Domaine Jacques Dury Rully 1er Cru Le Meix Cadot (2008-2011)
2006 Maison Champy Pernand-Vergelesses (2010-2014) (actually bought without tasting, but a friend happened to have a bottle as well, which we tasted last year and it was pretty damn harsh really so I'm hoping time solves the problem. Might just not be to my taste, I guess.)
2004 Domaine Marc Morey & Fils Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru En Virondot (2008-2012) (this was already deliciously wonderful late last year, but I suspect may be good enough to evolve more, but on the other hand I don't want to wait too long)

Oh, and I confirmed that an old bottle of Pagodes de Cos that I'd forgotten I had was no longer good for anything apart from making Spag Bol with.

I know people who think that particular second wine is ONLY fit for making sauces with! Poor Pagodes...

But it has such a pretty label...!

 

[K'riq Sa]

Yes, I too have recently started getting back into wines, and since Bloodwine is basically, well wine, it was a excellent opportunity to invite some of the California vintners to the upcoming Klingon Bloodwine Festivals wine tasting part of our event, and try some of the local offerings. It has been a while since I have been to a tasting at a winery, and it is interesting to see so many vintners interested in attending such an unique event as ours, something so seemingly outside there normal very schee schee , foo foo type of events they usually attend.



K'riq

 

[iguana_tonante]

Mmm.. gotta love dredging up old winey threads.

I recently met a lady and found we both have a strong passion for wine, so we went wine shopping together today - bargain hunting almost.

Here's what I scrounged up

Hugo Rune - Monetarily lighter, but spiritually richer

You know your post made cry with envy at the tasting experiences that awaits you, do you?

I just adore Italian sparkling strawberry wine... made only from strawberries and nothing else... it's about the same strength as champagne, but I could drink gallons of the stuff... far too tempting. Fortunately, or unfortunately, I have found a local outlet which sells the stuff for about £8.25 a bottle. Marvelous.

I'm surprised strawberry wine isn't really en vogue at the moment, as it's absolutely delicious. There's no law that says grapes are holy... What's wrong with strawberries? Granted, it's more like a dessert wine due to the sweetness, but still...

That would be Fragolino, I suppose. Very nice for a dessert, yes, or to introduce some ladies who usually don't like wines. Unfortunately, it's so easy to drink that I usually have more than I should and I end the evening under the table singing old Italian songs, alas.

 

[TheMasterOfOrion]

White wine has its moments though. For instance, I love a good white with fish-- pan seared tuna or salmon. I also love white wine with a nice plate of sushi.

Ever think your addicted?

 

[K'riq Sa]

What's the consensus on Organic wines. I had a sip of one recently, a Five Rivers Winery Merlot, a friend picked up on a recent jaunt up north. Not as heavy as I imagined and you can definatly taste the missing sulfides.





K'riq

 

[K'riq Sa]

White wine has its moments though. For instance, I love a good white with fish-- pan seared tuna or salmon. I also love white wine with a nice plate of sushi.

Ever think your addicted?

Hell can I be addicted too.





K'riq

 

[An Officer]

That would be Fragolino, I suppose. Very nice for a dessert, yes, or to introduce some ladies who usually don't like wines. Unfortunately, it's so easy to drink that I usually have more than I should and I end the evening under the table singing old Italian songs, alas.

Yes, that's the one. And you're right about the not liking wine part... if I had to drink the stuff, I would usually go for a fresh wine like a Raboso or a Beaujolais nouveau. "Introducing" poor innocent young ladies, huh? So it's true what they say about Italians...!

 

[iguana_tonante]

That would be Fragolino, I suppose. Very nice for a dessert, yes, or to introduce some ladies who usually don't like wines. Unfortunately, it's so easy to drink that I usually have more than I should and I end the evening under the table singing old Italian songs, alas.

Yes, that's the one. And you're right about the not liking wine part... if I had to drink the stuff, I would usually go for a fresh wine like a Raboso or a Beaujolais nouveau. "Introducing" poor innocent young ladies, huh? So it's true what they say about Italians...!

Who said anything about young ladies? All ladies deserve to learn the joys of Italian wines!

 

[An Officer]

^ Very good. I was more obsessed with the digestives... Averna - yum!

 

[Holdfast]

What's the consensus on Organic wines.

I'm agnostic, to be honest. I don't mind if my wine is organic or biodynamic or none of the above. What I care about is the taste. That comes from care, attention and insight/experience. Sometimes that correlates with organic, sometimes not. A lot of people seem to have jumped on the organic/biodynamic bandwagon recently. I doubt all of them have the experience and knowledge required to create good wine.

Having said that, I had some rather decent organic fizz last year so I'm not averse to the concept!