any wine fans?

[tapakeg]

I'm almost finished with my wine cellar.  It's been coming along piece by piece.

I just got back from Napa / Sonoma (again) this past week.  If you haven't been there, it's worth the trip.  

It's an interesting hobby.  I recently took a different job so I could finish school, and my wine cellar isn't what it used to be.

Any other Vino fans out there?
What type / region / brand names of wine do you all like?

Any good bottles you want to brag on?

Any good inexpensive wines that great everyday drinkers?


"I like Carlo Rossi,  Thunderbird, Mad Dog 20 / 20 kiwi strawberry. any box wine" .........There, I gave some smart prettythang replies on wine for you all.  I know they were definitely on the way.  











Tapakeg

[JB88]

mmmmmmmm.  yummy.

tonight, i am drinking a cheap bottle of loius jadot beaujolais.  

not great.  but always great to be drinking wine.

i have found a few chilean wines that i like
though i most often drink merlot.

most recently i have rediscovered port wine.

[Storm7]

I am a firm believer that you can find some of the best wines in the world under $15 a bottle.

I like full bodied red wines (prepare for a barrage of "full bodied" jokes). My favorite is Beautiet Vinyards out of California (sp? I don't have a bottle in front of me to spell it). It has a red BV on the lable. I like their Coastal cabernet. Their Napa Valley wines are good but more expensive.

If you get any red wine from the Roija region of Spain, you are in for a nice treat.

There is also a very good Malbec from a lable out of Argentina called Trumpeters. It is cheap but a little hard to find sometimes.

If you are in for the bubbly stuff, I suggest a brut from Korbel if you like it dry. They have a blend called "Natural" that is not as dry and has a nice fruity under lying taste.

If you go to a liquor store, they will probably give you up to a 10% discount if you buy your wines by the case. Some, but not all, will give you that discount even if you mix different kinds of wines to make that case. Try to find these ones. Then again, if you have built a cellar, you probably know this already.

Enjoy,
Storm7

[Siaf__csf]

I'm a wine lover too, but I'm not a hobbyist enough to start my own cellar.

Many times I've made a firm decision to start a collection but the darn bottles get empty somehow. HOW? I don't know. Don't remember..

I find it quite funny that the only place you can taste the original French wine is California these days. The imported plants are all that's left from the big disaster.

There are many good wines coming from Chile and even South-Africa. France in spite of the destruction of the plants still produces good wine, they have a long tradition to back it up.

One of my best friends is the sales manager of one of the biggest wine factories of Greece. Surprisingly enough(), he has showed me that the Greek wines can also be very enjoyable.

[tapakeg]

So far Ravenswood Zinfandel is our favorite budget drinker.


Beauleau Vinyards BTW   yeah,  BV for short.


Yup, the gem is finding great wine under 15 dollars a bottle.

It's fun to taste wine blind, not knowing what it is or how much it costs.  You can be easily pursuaded by an image of how good the wine is "supposed to be"

What's cool is my collection of wine from all over the world.  I have wine from China, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Hawaii, Kansas, Tennessee, Florida,    some I wouldn't cook with, but it's fun to have

Tapakeg

[tapakeg]

I'm a wine lover too, but I'm not a hobbyist enough to start my own cellar.

That's ok,   95% of wine bought is drank that night

Once my collection got big enough, I had to get a temperature controlled cellar so I could keep them a couple of years


Tapakeg

[Silat]

Ive been drinking my late 70's and my 80's wines. YUMMY:)

Madame Lily Bollinger's philosophy:

"I only drink champagne when I'm happy, and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone.
When I have company, I consider it obligatory.
I trifle with it if I am not hungry and drink it when I am.
Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty."




This list is about 2 yrs old. So prices will not be correct.


OREGON
Owen Roe  
Sineann
Terra Blanca from Red Mt.
 Pepper Bridge from Walla Walla.
============================================================
Stephen Ross Wines
============================================================

For Zin thrill seekers (under $20)
Dry Creek Heritage Clone 1999, 2000 and 2001
Ballentine 1997 and 2001 should be dynamite

Over $20
if you can find theses, they will change your preception of Zin: Turley
Martinelli (esp the *******) and Hartford (esp the Highwire).
Tres Sabores - any of the three
Carrole Shelton - Wild Things (wow!)
============================================================
GERMAN
 Graf van Schonborn-Erbacher Marcobrunn Kab $16  Rheingau
 Schonborn Pfaffenberg Spaetlese 99/01  
 Schonborn Pfaffenberg Kabinett  01
 Cousino-Macul Antiguas Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 99  $12
2002 Hermann Dönnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Kabinett    $24
2001 Robert Weil Kiedrich Gräfenberg Riesling Spätlese $45
Rudi Pichler - Austrian
============================================================
Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia 1997                                      $145
1998 Fattoria Petrolo Galatrona (Toscana IGT, Ch. Colli Aretini)  $90
1998 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia Masseto                                       $240
1997 Le Macchiole Messorio (Toscana IGT, Bolgheri)           $600
============================================================




2000 Domaine Combier Crozes Hermitage Clos des Grives

1999 Chateau St. Martin de la Garrigue Coteaux de Languedoc or Bronzinelle $9 could pass for a top quality Cotes du Rhone or a medium weight CdP.
==============================================================
1999 Gary Farrell "Russian River Valley" Pinot Noir.
color: pale garnet, quite light in color, with no sign of browning at
the edges
nose:  smoke, minerals, cherry fruit and a slight hint of mushrooms(lovely!)
palate: Bright fruit on entry, rich sense of velvety fruit in the
midpalate with excellent structure and a beautiful finish.   There is no lack of fruit, but it's kept in careful balance by the acidity.
This is his lowest level bottling from an outstanding vintage. To me, this is what New World Pinot Noir is all about.
======================================================

============================================================
 
2001 Milz Trittenheimer Leiterchen Auslese (was $31.99) $22.99
2001 Monchhof Erdener Pralat Auslese (was $39.99)         $29.99
2000 Bernadotte, Haut-Médoc                                            $18.99

========================================================


Maume Gevrey Chambertin    2000

AMARONE
1997 Agricola Arana Amarone della Valpolicella ($63)
1997 Tenuta Sant'Antonio Campo dei Gigli Amarone ($54)
1997 Cesari "il Bosco" Amarone della Valpolicella ($46)
1997 Corte Sant'Alda Amarone (US$59)
1997 Masi Amarone Classico Costasera (US$44)
1997 Masi Amarone Classico "Serego Alighieri Vaio Armaron"
(US$54)
1997 Masi Amarone Vaio ($46)
1997 Monte Daniela Amarone Classico ($45)
1998 Nicolis Amarone "Ambrosan" (US$45)
1998 Trabucchi Amarone della Valpolicella (US$50)
1998 Venturini Amarone Classico ($42)
1998 Allegrini Amarone (US$57)
1999 Le Salette Amarone "Marega" (US$45)

============================================================
Champagne
1) Large negociants that make truly great stuff: Bollinger, Roederer, Ruinart, Deutz

2) Medium sized houses that also make great stuff: Jacquesson, Gosset

3) the smaller récoltants that I love, our AFW friend Francis Boulard, of course, but also De Sousa, Diebolt, Egly, Fleury, Gatinois, Gimonnet, Larmandier, Pouillon, Prévost, Selosse, Tarlant
==============================================
SMALL CHAMPAGNE HOUSES SINGLE GRAPE

 Larmandier-Bernier's Terre de Vertus
 Vilmart & Cie
 René Geoffroy
 Chartogne-Taillet
 Pierre Gimonnet et Fils
 Godmé Père et Fils
 Michel Genet
José Dhondt
 Egly-Ouriet

More Bubbly
Col Sandago Prosecco Extra Dry Valdobbiadene D.O.C. 2002
Gruet
Icardi Moscato d'Asti (lightly sweet)
Nivole Moscato d'Asti (lightly sweet)
Roderer Andersen Valley $13
Seaview Brut, a GREAT QPR






==============================================
PARTY WINES AND CROWD PLEASERS

Bogle Old Vine Zin and Petite Sirah ($8 per, each)
Beckmen CdR blend ($15)

Cave de Lugny, Macon-Lugny Les Charmes 2001
Chateau Thebot
Cline Zinfandels
Columbia Crest Grand Estates Syrah, Washington State  2001  ($12-$14)

Dom Cantarelles  $11.95
Domaine la garrigue, cuvee romaine, cotes du rhone 2001 (RMP 91), $10
Dom. de la Petite Cassagne, Costieres de Nimes 2000

Fat Bastard Syrah $10

Guigal Cotes du Rhone $9

Jewel  Viognier and PetiteSyrah
Jaffurs

Ojai NV Red $12

Penfold's Bin 2 $9
Powers

Reds by Laurel Glen $9
Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz $9
Rosemount GSM
Ridge zinfandel (they have many, pick your price)
Ravenswood Zin

Ste. Michelle and J. Lohr Seven Oaks $15

Taurino Notaparano $12
Yvon Mau Merlot
2002 Leitz "Dragonstone" (Rüdesheim Drachenstein) Qba (Rheingau) $9
J.C. Pichot 2002, 1990 Vouvray
2002 Leitz "Dragonstone" (Rüdesheim Drachenstein) Qba (Rheingau) $9
J.C. Pichot 2002, 1990 Vouvray
2002 Thomas-Labaille  "Les Monts Damnés" Sancerre Chavignol










SHERRY and PORTS


Manzanilla Papirusa (delicate, stone dry, mervelous)
Puerto Fino (delicate, stone dry, mervelous)
Palo Cortado Almacenista Vides (unparalleled, like a "light" cognac)
Oloroso Eperatriz Eugenia
Old East India

BTW, also try some Jamon Iberico Pata Negra Bellota, together with a good fino/manzanilla its unbeatable.

[Siaf__csf]

Oops this post rocketed faster than I thought while I was editing my first post..

Wine is a matter of passion for many.

[rpm]

The BV "Rutherford Estate" is my favorite Cal Cab. Perfect match for a Rib Eye off the grill.  Hard to find, but worth the hunt. Sells for $24+/-. A steal.

[Leslie]

I go tjrough about 5 to 7 bottles of Syrah per week.  Easy to drink, very good wine.



Les

[JB88]

i once had a commemorative bottle of
"always ELVIS" wine.

we decided to open it up on the millineum.

it was crap.

too bad.  the bottle was way sexy.

[Saintaw]

Brunello di montalcino. Try that.

You should be SHOT for mentioning boxed wines though...

[ygsmilo]

I have been collecting for about 20 yrs, my cellar has about 900 bottles in it now.  I started out with Bordeaux with the 89 and 90 vintage.  But Bodeaux got way out of my price range so I started going to Oregon in the Pinot country and got hooked on them.  

We make a trip out there every year and have built up good relationships with many wineries.

Last few years the Rhones have been really good.

The advice I give folks who what to get into it, find a local wine tasting group and get involved. It is the best way to meet like minded folks and get to try wines you would not usually try.  That is how I got started on German wines, imho  some of the best wines in the world with a good QPR.

And if you have not seen the move Sideways, go see it.

[Krusher]

We have been buying Chiliean Wine for about two years now.  

Theses two are inexpensive and very nice.

Primus Veramonte
Memorias

[JB88]

Originally posted by ygsmilo
I have been collecting for about 20 yrs, my cellar has about 900 bottles in it now.  I started out with Bordeaux with the 89 and 90 vintage.  But Bodeaux got way out of my price range so I started going to Oregon in the Pinot country and got hooked on them.  

We make a trip out there every year and have built up good relationships with many wineries.

Last few years the Rhones have been really good.

The advice I give folks who what to get into it, find a local wine tasting group and get involved. It is the best way to meet like minded folks and get to try wines you would not usually try.  That is how I got started on German wines, imho  some of the best wines in the world with a good QPR.

And if you have not seen the move Sideways, go see it.

great movie.

my college sweetheart's father was a winemaker by hobby.  a close friend of mine just started.  looking forward to the experiments...though not the initial ones.  those scare me.

88