Wine
 

Ok, just started getting into the "wine thing"....like Barola, but it is a little pricey for me at about $40 per bottle, so I am now drinking Merlot Yellow Tail.

Just tried a great Pinot, Santa Margharita..

Anyone have any suggestions?

Katkeeper is away right now or I'd ask her to check in. She has a large temperature-controlled/humidity controlled wine cellar and I'm guessing about 300 bottles or so.

I was greatly interested in the hobby for a while, but I couldn't keep up and paying the prices wore me down.

My favorite wine? I like: --snip-- But George says it's ... hhhaaaarrrrddd.--snip--

paraphrasing from the movie Sideways...
lifes too short to be drinking Merlot.


Look for Renwood Zinfandels particularly Jack Rabbit Flat and Fiddletown should be ~$25-30 per. And please! Pretty please... let 'em 'open' for at least 15 min before tasting! 30 min would be even better.

A less expensive alternative would be South African Pinotages. The pinotage is a hybrid of Pinot Noir and a native African grape. You should be able to find some good choices in the <$20 range.

I really enjoy the Black Box Wines - yes, they are in a box, but they are really really good. My fave is the cabernet, but I also like the Merlot.

Last night at dinner I had Beaulieu Vineyard cabernet (has a big "BV" on the label, so easy to spot). Yum. Will set you back about $20, and worth every penny.

A few wines.
 

Beringer Knights Bridge Cabernet ($20 or thereabouts) is a good bet. I've had their ~$100 Cabernet on a few occasions, but it's only been good enough to justify that price once.

"Lan" Rioja Reserva (actually available at the PA state store but not at Total Wine.. go figure!) is tasty.

Several of the Australian Cabernet/Shiraz blends are decent.

Has anyone tried Barolo? It's Italian (duh?), heavy and GOOD!

Greg Norman is another good wine, about $20 per bottle.

Rutherford Hill Merlot. Great flavor, somehow avoids that used gym sock woodiness that characterizes most moderately priced Merlots

Yes, it's a Merlot. I don't know why they dissed it in Sideways, a movie I am unlikely to see because no one's head explodes.

Sycamore is a big fan of the Boones Farm family of screwcap wines.

I fell sound asleep watching sideways.

I think I have tried Rutherford Hill and it was a good wine.

Never really got on with Merlot, maybe it's my tastebuds but whenever I've tried it it has always been heavy on the tannins so tastes a bit mouldy (have you seen the wine wheel - become an instant connoisseur with all the right words to use to describe the flavour of your wine).

Red - enjoy a good cabernet Shiraz (Chileans are good and fruity - plus will help with the old shut-eye), or else a claret like Haut Medoc

White - like tenchards* from cote d'or - Chablis, Challonnais, Montagny and the favourite, Rully

Sorry not up on US wines...

* tenchards, what the hell are tenchards? Finally worked out my own typing - please read as 'the chards' (short for chardonnays) - back to typing school!

Amen! April and I went through...*thinks*...4 or 5 bottles last weekend: Orange Hurricane, Strawberry Hill and, of course, Blue Hawaiian. I think there's also a half-bottle of Arbor Mist chardonnay left.

I'm not an expert on wines, but I know enough to get by and know what I like. As far as "real" wines, I like cabernet sauvignons, chardonnays and rieslings. I generally prefer reds over whites, but if I'm with April, reds are out of the question--they give her migraines.

I'm liking Cotes du Rhone wines, or the appelation dodging, (South African I think) knock off -Goats do Roam. I pretty much only drink bottles under $20, up to $30 in a restaurant. Plenty of good affordable wine!

mmmm... sweaty sauerkraut (at about 10:30 on the wheel) :headshake