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What's a good wine?

Both Australian and Chilean wines have already been mentioned: Two red wines that are relatively cheap (just under NOK100, which is cheap here in Norway) but still highly regarded is the Chilean Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon and the Australian Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet.

When it comes to white wines, I usually prefer German wines. The name of my favorite escapes me right now (I just know how the bottle looks :eek:), but I'll edit it in when I remember it... Edit: It's the Moselland Ars Vitis Riesling.
 
Consider Bully Hill winery, from New York state.

Its heritage is from a "renagade son" from the Taylor Wine family, who was ousted for preferring quality over profits.

The Billy Goat Red is pretty good. The Space Shuttle Red was too, but I believe that its been discontinued. Make sure to read the message on the cork.

-hh
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
When it comes to white wines, I usually prefer German wines. The name of my favorite escapes me right now (I just know how the bottle looks :eek:), but I'll edit it in when I remember it...
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My wife (and a Sister-in-Law) really like some of the "Qualitatswein mit Pradikat" Spatlese and Auslese Reislings.

Lcally though, they're hard for me to find a store that carrys anything better than Blue Nun, Black Tower and other mainstream minimum quality offerings. On the occasions that I do find a real QmP, it pains me to spend roughly $30 per bottle to pick one up...especially when they go for $5-$7/bottle at the military Class 6 Store that my brother's qualified to go to. Fortunately, we've gotten him 'trained' to gift cases of nice QmP's at Christmas :)


-hh
 
-hh said:
My wife (and a Sister-in-Law) really like some of the "Qualitatswein mit Pradikat" Spatlese and Auslese Reislings.

Lcally though, they're hard for me to find a store that carrys anything better than Blue Nun, Black Tower and other mainstream minimum quality offerings. On the occasions that I do find a real QmP, it pains me to spend roughly $30 per bottle to pick one up...especially when they go for $5-$7/bottle at the military Class 6 Store that my brother's qualified to go to. Fortunately, we've gotten him 'trained' to gift cases of nice QmP's at Christmas :)
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The above mentioned Moselland Ars Vitis Riesling, is not an expensive wine at all (at least not here in Norway), it's just NOK89, which is well under the two mentioned reds, that also are quite cheap. But it's sweet and very fresh without the sourness that some cheap whites have. Highly recommended!
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
the Australian Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet.
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Actually have had this one and must say it is pretty good...I think it is around the 10 dollar price range or something as well...been a while since I had a bottle.
 
I thought i had replied to this thread, but apparently not. :confused:

Anyway, I recently went to Hunter Valley in Oz and stopped by Rosemount Estates. Rosemount is owned by Lindemans, I think, and since I don't like Lindemans, I wasn't expecting to like Rosemount.

Anyway, I enjoyed quite a few of their wines, but there was one bottle I tried that I think is one of the best bottles of ANYTHING I have ever had.

It was a dessert wine. Very sweet, but unlike all the other dessert wines out there, it was a bit thicker and tasted a bit more syrupy. Sounds gross, but it's not. Also, I believe there's supposed to be some brandy mixed in there as well. Tastes fantastic.

Horrible thing is that I forgot the name of that wine. :(
 
Two great reds for well under $10:

Goats do Roam, a South African wine in the style of Cotes du Rhone
le Jaja de Jau, a syrah-grenache from France

If you want to go cheaper than that, I'd suggest a Target (yes, Target) box wine. Much better than Charles Shaw, imho.
 
Ravenswood - any (California) The Vinter's Blend Zinfandel is an excellent value.

Rosemount - Shiraz (Australia)

Bonny Doon - Big House Red (California)

Two Brothers Winery - Big Tattoo Red (Chile)

Los Vascos - Cabernet (Chile)

Jacob's Creek - Shiraz (Australia)

Smoking Loon - Cabernet (California)

Rabbit Ridge - Zinfandel (California?)

Seghesio - Zinfandel (California)
 
--Ravenswood - any (California) The Vinter's Blend Zinfandel is an excellent value.
-Agreed.

--Rosemount - Shiraz (Australia)
-Okay, but I prefer the cab-shiraz

--Bonny Doon - Big House Red (California)
-Good choice. They also have a very nice Shiraz called "Blaguer"

--Two Brothers Winery - Big Tattoo Red (Chile)
-I'm not so hot on this one. Not much interest here

--Los Vascos - Cabernet (Chile)
-Yes, very nice.

--Jacob's Creek - Shiraz (Australia)
-haven't tried this one.

--Smoking Loon - Cabernet (California)
-Smoking Loon has never done it for me. It really tastes smoky, and to me, that's not good drinking.

--Rabbit Ridge - Zinfandel (California?)
-Another good one, though they seem to have gone downhill a bit in recent years.

--Seghesio - Zinfandel (California)
-Meh. Not so much.
 
wordmunger said:
--Ravenswood - any (California) The Vinter's Blend Zinfandel is an excellent value.
-Agreed.

--Rabbit Ridge - Zinfandel (California?)
-Another good one, though they seem to have gone downhill a bit in recent years.
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Rabbit Ridge has gone down hill. I don't even buy their stuff anymore. Ravenswood Icon Syrah is also a nice bottle of wine.

They had the Ravenswood Zin on sale for 7.99 a bottle at our local store on weekend and we bought three cases we like it so much.

Wine....Percocets....wine.....mmmmm. :eek:
 
St. Michelle winery (or vineyards or whatever they are) are quite good considering their price (which is their selling point to me). Depending where the OP is from, Meijer sells them for $7-$11 depending on vintage. I have liked the Pinot Gris and Noir, and the Riesling.

Applespider said:
Not a rosé fan tho it appears to have become alarmingly popular this summer... shudder!

I'd back up Blue's comments on Chilean wines although they can be very full-bodied with a fair amount of tannins so I prefer drinking them with food. I enjoy a good Zinfandel - Ironstone do a fabulous one.
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I abhor rosé wines, especially the über-sh** versions that are boxed that so many elders in my family drink. Franzia is complete sh**. Quit being so damn cheap and go buy a bottle that costs more than a dollar per liter.
 
iGary said:
Rabbit Ridge has gone down hill. I don't even buy their stuff anymore. Ravenswood Icon Syrah is also a nice bottle of wine.

They had the Ravenswood Zin on sale for 7.99 a bottle at our local store on weekend and we bought three cases we like it so much.
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Glad to hear it's not just me that thinks Rabbit Ridge is fading. I was beginning to wonder if something was wrong with my taste buds, like, eight years ago when I was drinking two bottles of the stuff a week.

I don't think I've ever bought three cases of wine all at once. Probably because I'd be tempted to drink it all at once. This is the same reason I don't generally buy boxed wine.
 
Jeez, some of you lot are snob's!!
My dad's been drinking wine for 40 years, he's got about 300 bottles of wine in his cellar.
He drinks White Zinfandel and White Shiraz.
They're just nice easy to drink wines.
I'd trust his judgment on wine way more of any of you lot.

Get over yourselves.
 
I have no idea what wines I like (don't drink it much), but what I don't like is when people who never drink wine say "I hate merlot" or "Merlot sucks" just because they've seen the movie Sideways.

I really don't find wine enjoyable, so I've never paid attention to what I was drinking (I take one sip and give it to my girlfriend), but - though most probably will cry foul - the one wine I actually 'liked' was a giant $6 bottle of Sutter Home.

Was cheap, and didn't taste like some sort of brackish.

Absinthe on the other hand, is something I truly enjoy. Nothing like a Un Emile or Nouvelle Orleans. ;)
 
gwuMACaddict said:
it would help us if you would tell us what *you* like in a wine...

then we would know where to stear the discussion
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Good idea. I'm interested in reds right now. Dry, oak, fruit base - but not too much. I'm steering clear of things like Mondavi Woodbridge. It's nearly like drinking fruit punch. Excessively tannic/bitter is bad.
 
Jon'sLightBulbs said:
Good idea. I'm interested in reds right now. Dry, oak, fruit base - but not too much. I'm steering clear of things like Mondavi Woodbridge. It's nearly like drinking fruit punch. Excessively tannic/bitter is bad.
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Pinot Noir can be quite good as a change from a classic (although rapidly approaching I think). Otherwise, just try going to an ethnic foods store or winery and asking for suggestions. Have you ever gone to a winery for a tasting? It can be an educating and enjoyable experience, highly recommended.
 
I like chilean wines. They aren't expensive, and I specially like Casillero del Diablo Merlot. Lately I've been drinking "Tri", which is a blend of several wines, by Concha & Toro (I think).

I love French wines. I don't remember any names, but they were really, really good.
I also liked the Italian wines.
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
Both Australian and Chilean wines have already been mentioned: Two red wines that are relatively cheap (just under NOK100, which is cheap here in Norway) but still highly regarded is the Chilean Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon and the Australian Jacob's Creek Shiraz Cabernet.
Click to expand...

The Casillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon is good. My boyfriend bought some home one night because he "liked the little devil on the bottle". Similarly "get that one with the koala stamp on it". Ahhh, bless. :) He's not really a wine drinker, but doesn't have bad taste in the ones he likes. We were both taken by a very nice Wolf Blass red a couple of years back, and have had a couple of their reds and whites since.

I'm a bit pissed* tonight, because we had a kind of opening of our new studios at college tonight, and there was a ton of wine. I was smart and went for the red, which, although harsh, was drinkable. Later on I tried someone's white, and it was really dreadful. Key tip - cheap red is better than cheap white, I reckon. Or sweet white <shudder>. Oh, and Applespider, I agree on the rosé - worst of both worlds. But, then, earlier this summer, I was given a bottle, and on severe chilling, and as long as it's dry, it was ok. If you're lumbered with a bottle of rosé, bung it in the freezer and drink it really cold. It's ok.

* Just realised, that from an American point of view I may mean "angry at the wine selection". I'm not. I'm just a bit pissed as in Brit speak for drink. :)
 
bartelby said:
Jeez, some of you lot are snob's!!
My dad's been drinking wine for 40 years, he's got about 300 bottles of wine in his cellar.
He drinks White Zinfandel and White Shiraz.
They're just nice easy to drink wines.
I'd trust his judgment on wine way more of any of you lot.

Get over yourselves.
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bleh - its all what you like - personally, i'm not interested in the sweet rosé (white zins).

If you have a Trader Joes near you, you can get some really good cheap wines there - some that are amazing considering the price.

D
 
puckhead193 said:
I'm not sure on price but i do like kendall jackson chardonnay. i forgot which one it is.. if i remember i'll post back :)

edit - i think its this one
http://www.wine.com/wineshop/product_detail.asp?PProduct_ID=RGL100312N_2003&Nu=p_family_name
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I think I've had that same Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, and its a pretty good one for when I don't have any Chaddsford Winery Chardonnay (Roth) in my stock.

Chaddsford is probably out of the price range of interest to the OP, but its a semi-local (we're 100 miles from the winery) gem that we've been buying from for more than a decade:

http://www.chaddsford.com/website/index.asp

FWIW, my all-time favorite Cabernet Savignon to this day remains Chaddsford's "John Moorehead", 1987 vintage. If I could go back in time, I'd easily buy three cases, price be damned. More recently, Eric's been bottling a pretty nice Pinot Noir, and he's recently put up a Cab Sav, which I've yet to try.


-hh
 
All this talk of pinot noir and cheap wines doesn't generally go well together. It's tough to find a good pinot noir under $10. My favorite cheap pinot is a French wine, Rodet (they have several grades of burgundy, but only one labeled "pinot noir," I believe). Got a bottle on sale the other day for $9.99, but usually they go for $11.99.
 
Clos Du Bois, Mark West and Sockeye are all really good pinot noirs. All around $15, which ain't bad, and I can usually get them for 3 or 4 bucks off at my local grocery.

Ravenswood and Rodney Strong are good (red) Zinfandels (wouldn't touch that pink stuff!)

Best bottle of vino I ever had was a Stag's Leap Cabernet. Ordered it in a restaurant, most coin I've ever blown on wine w/ dinner ($65). I honestly was worth it though.... Mighty tasty.

:)
 
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