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Wine Advise
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550025 Offline
#1 Posted: Fri, Nov 22 2002, 5:00 AM EST
Joined: 08-08-2001
Posts: 153
Are there any wine aficionado's out there that can lend some advise for the holidays? I'm generally looking for some good value in the $10 - $15/bottle range. I usually keep both whites and reds around and may try a red zin this year.
I'm sure it's alot like recommending cigars. i.e. what are your tastes? I shoot for the drier red wines and I like the vanilla flavors in a chard. I lean toward Italian and Aussie reds and CA chards.

KV
Danny Offline
#2 Posted: Fri, Nov 22 2002, 7:08 AM EST
Joined: 06-21-2002
Posts: 613
for the money, in a red, especially if you like them oakey, you can't go wrong with Penfolds. The Koonunga Hill Shiraz/Cab from Penfolds is about 10 dollars. A little thin for my taste, but a great value. The more expensive Penfolds will be similar, but with fuller body. The William Hill Chards are a good value too. The Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc is very full of fruit, apricots, very tasty. The Alsatian whites are a great value also.
rleaverton Offline
#3 Posted: Fri, Nov 22 2002, 1:31 PM EST
Joined: 09-11-2010
Posts: 273
Try a zinfandel from Ravenswood. The most common is their Vinters' Blend, for around $8 a bottle. They have several others, (my favorite is San Giacomo) but they may be difficult to find, depending upon your area. For a chard you might try to find Arrow Wood. If there is a Trader Joes in your area, get your hands on the Charles Shaw they have for $2 a bottle. It's not Chateau Mouton Rothchilde, but for an every day wine you can't beat the deal. As a general rule, just about anything that is made from fruit grown in Napa or Sonoma counties will be good, and with the glut of fruit hitting the market, prices should be going down.
RknRmnd Offline
#4 Posted: Fri, Nov 22 2002, 1:50 PM EST
Joined: 10-16-2001
Posts: 407
A wine we drink here in our circles. I have not gotten any complaints from anyone on is Luna di Luna the merlot/cab mix. For about $10 per bottle it is a great buy! The bottle is a plastic coated red with embossed lettering near the stem with black & gold oval label. all in all a nice and elegant looking bottle as well.
jjohnson28 Offline
#5 Posted: Fri, Nov 22 2002, 2:39 PM EST
Joined: 09-12-2000
Posts: 7,914
Anything from Wild Horse Vineyards.You can even order online from them.

http://www.wildhorsewinery.com/home.html

http://www.wildhorsewinery.com/pdfs/pricelist.pdf


Aphrodite Offline
#6 Posted: Fri, Nov 22 2002, 4:02 PM EST
Joined: 11-06-2002
Posts: 36
My recommendation is, considering the time of year, George Duboeuf's Beaujolais Nouveau. (That's pronounced George Da-BOOF bo-ja-LEI new-VO). It's fun, it's flirty and it's not meant to be taken too seriously. It is a red that is on the dry side, but not as dry as a shiraz. Beringer also makes a beaujolais nouveau, but this California version, in my opinion, if far inferior to the French George Duboeuf version. Beaujolais Nouveau arrives just before Thanksgiving and you should drink it by Christmas. If you have a bottle after New Year's Day, just throw it out. This wine always makes it to my Thanksgiving table because the tannins are strong enough to cut through most of the seasoned dishes, yet light enough not to overpower the turkey. This is the wine I judge the year's vintage by for the French wines so that I have an idea what I have to look forward to. For some strange reason, it seems that the even numbered years have a tendency to be better than the odd numbered years. This year, being 2002, I am anticipating a pretty good wine. Last years was ok, but not necessarily terrific. 1995 was definitely worse.
Claytonbahr Offline
#7 Posted: Mon, Nov 25 2002, 7:16 AM EST
Joined: 07-24-2001
Posts: 28
I'm not sure of prices, but Alexander Valley makes a Sin Zin and a Cigar Zin that are both excellent. Also, you might try Beckman's Syrah. Another excellent wine. 1996 Chateauneuf du Pope (sp?). These wines go great w/ a cigar. Fonseca Bin 27 Porto is a great, inexpensive Port that complements a cigar nicely.
Spiny Norman Offline
#8 Posted: Mon, Nov 25 2002, 2:50 PM EST
Joined: 09-04-2002
Posts: 899
Try Ca' de Solo Big House Red out of California. Way to go if you are serving a big crowd. Around 9 to 10 bucks a bottle. Might try some of the reds out of South America, sometimes you can get some great deals on them.
match Offline
#9 Posted: Tue, Nov 26 2002, 9:46 AM EST
Joined: 11-18-2002
Posts: 47
Ravenswood & the 2002 Nouveau are both decent choices, but for great value track down Bogle Petit Syrah and/or Merlot. You also can't beat Coppola Diamond Claret for the grocery store price.
sammydaddy Offline
#10 Posted: Tue, Nov 26 2002, 10:21 AM EST
Joined: 10-29-2001
Posts: 201
For about 7 bucks you can get a whole gallon of Gallo. It goes great with a nice Lone Wolf torp.
Enjoy
SteveS Offline
#11 Posted: Tue, Nov 26 2002, 10:27 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
Sammy ... that'd sure be a step up for my non-discerning neighbor ... he's happy with wine in a box and a Centurion ...
rayder1 Offline
#12 Posted: Fri, Nov 29 2002, 11:25 AM EST
Joined: 06-02-2002
Posts: 2,226
I agree with JJ on the Wild Horse wines. Excellent. Just a few hors away from here.

BTW Kenwood is Gallo. If you like box wine, then any of the Gallo offshoots will make you happy. Kenwood, Turning Leaf etc.

This turkey day we had a Rayel Reserve Merlot (St Helena CA). Zaca Ridge Chardonnay (Santa Maria CA) and real good Fresno State Merlot (they have a great vintaculture program). None of these wines topped $12.
The first two were less than $10.

SteveS Offline
#13 Posted: Fri, Nov 29 2002, 8:04 PM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
We had a Kendall Jackson Pinot Noir ... excellent wine, goes well with turkey ... also less than $10 per (on sale at Safeway) ... I'm spoiled by living near the heart of California wine country ... so many,. many choices, so many of them good ...
tarheel4lyf Offline
#14 Posted: Sat, Nov 30 2002, 5:49 PM EST
Joined: 09-23-2002
Posts: 2,543
a 40 of Cisco does just fine......
Timinator Offline
#15 Posted: Tue, Dec 3 2002, 4:13 PM EST
Joined: 11-09-1999
Posts: 218
Shoot me your email address. I got a great little PDF of $15 and under vines that are 'outstanding'.
Timinator Offline
#16 Posted: Tue, Dec 3 2002, 4:20 PM EST
Joined: 11-09-1999
Posts: 218
ROSEMOUNT ESTATE SHIRAZ!!!! (Aussie wine at it's finest!)Approx $15.00
Also try: Delicato Shiraz (Calif wine) $8.00
**Both have gotten high marks in the "Snob Guides". I just really liked them.
550025 Offline
#17 Posted: Thu, Dec 5 2002, 12:45 PM EST
Joined: 08-08-2001
Posts: 153
Back after a fews days off in AZ. The Aussie Red wines are always a favorite and I keep a few bottles around all the time. I prefer the Wynn's and the Greg Normans are premium. I cracked open an Italian Pallazo del Torre that I picked up at Costco for around $11 and it was wonderful. The Italians and Aussie wines have great value. Any opinion on Caywood?

KV
550025 Offline
#18 Posted: Thu, Dec 5 2002, 12:46 PM EST
Joined: 08-08-2001
Posts: 153
Timinator, too quick with the send button. my email is: kenven0901 at aol dot com. Thanks for the PDF.
KV
Timinator Offline
#19 Posted: Sun, Dec 8 2002, 7:03 PM EST
Joined: 11-09-1999
Posts: 218
Email Sent
Tobasco Offline
#20 Posted: Mon, Dec 9 2002, 8:00 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2003
Posts: 2,809
Best bet is to ask a 49ers fan. They are experts at sipping of the wine & cutting of the cheese. Hehehe!! Mag
[email protected] Offline
#21 Posted: Thu, Dec 19 2002, 6:39 AM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 9,719
Woodbridge
THL Offline
#22 Posted: Thu, Dec 19 2002, 9:33 AM EST
Joined: 10-22-2002
Posts: 3,044
Aw c'mon, let's go to Miami.
DrMaddVibe Offline
#23 Posted: Thu, Dec 19 2002, 10:12 AM EST
Joined: 10-21-2000
Posts: 55,489
Just wondering what kind of wine goes with those little cocktail weinnies? They'll be swimming in BBQ sauce if that matters. I've got some friends coming over to watch some games, and they might want to drink some wine.

Hey, it's cool. It's scotchguarded.
SteveS Offline
#24 Posted: Thu, Dec 19 2002, 10:26 AM EST
Joined: 01-13-2002
Posts: 8,751
Get a red ... guys coming over to watch football and drink wine while eating BBQd "weenies" (and probably smoke cigars too) aren't good candidates for anything TOO terribly expensive ... get 'em a decent red ... a Cabernet Savignon or Merlot ... maybe a Syrah (or Shirazz) that are all the rage right now ...

Montpelier makes a great Syrah that doesn't cost much ... I'd recommend it highly if you can find it ... (don't bother with their other varieties though)
[email protected] Offline
#25 Posted: Thu, Dec 19 2002, 10:26 AM EST
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 9,719
.... Wild Irish Rose ..... or Ripple ....
tailgater Offline
#26 Posted: Fri, Dec 20 2002, 3:30 AM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
Guenoc Cabernet .
Recent years are excellent (2000, 1999, etc).
There are two similar versions: One from "CA Northern Coast" and the other from a particular valley (I can't remember which one).
The coastal "blend" is about half the price ($12 vs $20) and the difference is minor.
I usually stick to CA Cabs and Aussie Shiraz. Both are very forgiving in the $10 range.

In particular, don't forget the Gallo of Sonoma Cab. Changes dramatically from year to year, but overall one of the best bangs for the buck. Can be found on sale for $8. (even in Taxachusetts)
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