Anyone here drink red wine?

[TomBrady#1]

I am happy with a "Bud". Corona a little happier.

 

[fhmesq44]

We like similar wines - my only problem is I buy a bottle every other day - and these Italian wines or French wines for the most part cost $70 for the good ones - I have been drinking some Shirazs the past month and there are some good wines for under $40 - I mean wines in the low 90 point range - in fact, one Epsilon costs $23 and rates a 94 by WA - maybe I'll try that Pinot Noir someone mentioned - I'm not a huge fan of Noir or Merlot but maybe I have not had anything good - for the most part I look bigger wines.

You can find plenty of French and Italian wines that are good for less than that. Depends on the vintage. Right now the exchange rate is poor so the European wines are more expensive than in year's pass. E.G., 2000 was one of the best years for Bordeaux ever and you could get futures of first growths for ~$300-400 when they were offered. Now, 2005 is supposed to be another great year and b/c of the exchange rate futures are $500-800 for first growth 05s. Mainly b/c of the exchange rate.

I would recommend buying both wine to put down and wine to consume. Typically if you consume immediately or shortly after purchase you are drinking wine that may be too young, hot or tannic. That may suit your palate and if so, great, keep on keeping on. However, if you buy some to put down you can in future years pull the wine out and it will taste entirely different, maybe better to you, and you will be drinking say a $40 bottle of wine that would now sell for $60 or $80.

Price and points aren't everything either. Typically, if you like a producer's wine you will like it in most vintages. Everyone will run after the 89,90, 00, 03 and 05 Bordeaux, but you can find good values in the 01, 99, 95, 96 vintages. An 00, 03 or 05 Chateau Montrose will run you upwards of $200, but I have had 95 Montrose, paid $50 for it and loved it. I guess my point is, if you find a producer you like you can often get "off" vintages for lower prices and enjoy them just as much. Port is probably the best example of this, current vintages of Port are ~$90/bottle but you can get great vintages from the past (70,77, 83, 85, 94) that are more ready to drink and literally the same price, sometimes cheaper. I have stopped buying current port vintages in favor of the older ones. I can drink them sooner (more suited to my palate and like 20 years sooner) and the prices are the same.

Wine Spectator also has issues where they recommend their bargains, which are typically lower priced and still score well (usually in the 88-91 range). You should check it out if you don't already get it.

Some wines are just more expensive too, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Chateaneauf du Pape, Brunello, Barolo and Barbarescos are just more expensive wines and if that is where your tastes lie, you are going to drop more cash on wines. However, if you like CDP, check out some Cote du Rhone, Australian Shiraz or wines from Languedoc. They are cheaper (not the same quality), but they may suit your palate as well. If you like Barolo/Barbaresco, check out some Barberas instead, similar and cheaper, again, not the same quality but there are a TON of great Barberas for a fraction the price.

Oregon makes some nice Pinots, I like Argyle and Bethel Heights and they are pretty reasonably priced.

 

[maxdemo]

Italian wines or French wines for the most part cost $70 for the good ones -

Your spending way too much $$ for wine if you find $70.00/ Bottles are the only thing that are good for your tastes. I can find a $10.00 bottle that are just as good..JMO

 

[1cheater]

Best I've ever had, but sweet...Incredible value for a (97 rating Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate)

Yalumba NV Museum Reserve Muscat (half-bottle) Our Price: $18.99


Barossa Valley, Australia

http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_Id=GWC73425_0



Love Chianti Classico Reserve

Shriaz, Shiraz/Merlot

Also Barrolo/Barbaresco


I know this is about reds, but I also love a good reisling (Columbia Winery has not failed me yet)

Love German whites also

 

[1cheater]

Forgot to mention, my favorite Shiraz is from Rosemount Estates 98'

 

[Seymour]

Best I've ever had, but sweet...Incredible value for a (97 rating Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate)

Yalumba NV Museum Reserve Muscat (half-bottle) Our Price: $18.99


Barossa Valley, Australia

http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_Id=GWC73425_0



Love Chianti Classico Reserve

Shriaz, Shiraz/Merlot

Also Barrolo/Barbaresco


I know this is about reds, but I also love a good reisling (Columbia Winery has not failed me yet)

Love German whites also

Any time I can get a 95+ win for under $50 I'll do it - I take it this is a shiraz like 99% of everything out of the Barossa Valley? - and does this come in 750ml?

 

[sean1]

I have a really good book I'm gonna recommend when I get home.

I've got about 20 books on wine, but one basically goes region by region world wide and then type by type and recommends the best 3-5 producers in each one. I think it is a great to try different areas...

Sean

 

[fhmesq44]

Any time I can get a 95+ win for under $50 I'll do it - I take it this is a shiraz like 99% of everything out of the Barossa Valley? - and does this come in 750ml?

It is a Muscato, which is a sweet dessert wine. They typically come in 375 ML and would be twice the price in a full bottle.

 

[NorthernStar]

La Creme

Pinot Noir for around $20. It's money.

I like that too!

 

[NorthernStar]

You know, a screwtop used to be a sure sign of a shitty wine. Nowadays, however, a lot of the top vineyards are switching to corkless screwtops by choice.

I saw a show that said the vineyards lost 20% of their production because of spoilage from the cork, that is why they are trying to get the industry to change.

 

[VaultedTreehouse]

Can anyone tell me how I can get wines without sulfites? In the U.S. I hear they are hard to find.

 

[sean1]

The Pinot I really like is Davis Bynum. They sell out every year. You can buy on their website for about $40.

I am a member of 4 wine clubs - One small vintages of the world, one international, one italian, and one random. I just had a wine called Velo Red - it's cheap, from oregon, and excellent...

I don't like real sweet, but not into real tangy or oaky either... Kind of a middle blend and smooth for me.


Book wise, I love the book the Wine Bible by MacNeil. I also am a fan of The Wine Access Buyer GUide by Tanzer and the Wine Report by Stevenson. I've become correlating a spreadsheet from the three books. Using all 3, I can pick out 5-20 wines in each major area that I'd like to try someday.. Then as I travel, I always try to taste and keep track of the ones I like. If I really like, I ship a case or two home.

So far, Oregon, Italy, and Australia are my favorites although I'm growing a taste for Chile and S AFrica.

Sean

 

[Woody0]

Forgot to mention, my favorite Shiraz is from Rosemount Estates 98'

I'm also particularly fond of Australian Shiraz. Almost all our wine is handled by government and the '98 would require a special order of at least a case and I'm quite happy with the more recent vintages, which fit my pocketbook better anyway. Hardy's have a pleasant Nottage Hill Shiraz and even BC produces some worthwhile examples of this varietal.

Otherwise I enjoy Cabernet, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Rioja, Barolo, Barbaresco and Chianti. I don't go for Bordeau (Cabernet Sauvignon blended) since I find it pricey to get something above vin ordinaire.

Due to our excessive taxes on wine I also make my own from California juice. Typically my wife and I consume a bottle most nights with supper.

 

[FatTony]

I'm also particularly fond of Australian Shiraz. Almost all our wine is handled by government and the '98 would require a special order of at least a case and I'm quite happy with the more recent vintages, which fit my pocketbook better anyway. Hardy's have a pleasant Nottage Hill Shiraz and even BC produces some worthwhile examples of this varietal.

Same here.

Don't laugh, everyone who I turn on to Rosemount Shiraz loves it and it's only a $13 bottle of wine.

 

[Seymour]

You can get good shiraz for under $25 - try get a good barollo, brunello, amarone or bordeaux for $25 - I guarantee you will poor it out.

 

[Salsantorre]

Yeah

 

[StevieRay]

 

[Seymour]

thats on par with burgundy

 

[5teamparlay]

Yeah

I think you have found a new call Sal, Good work today!!!-5TP

 

[Salsantorre]

I think you have found a new call Sal, Good work today!!!-5TP

Since most here enjoy your bumps I figure I'll try it too.