Wine Connoisseurs' Thread

[kochman]

So many out there... varieties, brands, price bands, etc...
How is one to decide?

I basically think the following... I separate wine into color first (I only drink red, so that makes it easy!), then price band (I won't pay much more than $50 for a bottle, but most purchases tend to be around or below $10), then variety...

Given that, here are some recommendations that I can make, and I would love to have others!

$20+
Any "Grand Cru" from Bordeux (France)... these are the cream of the crop for me, reserved specifically for special occasions due to price. They will be called "Chateau ________ Grand Cru", generally. Aged in oak to perfection...
The next highest level is Premier Grand Cru, I believe, and those bottles run hundreds of dollars!

$10-$20
Clos du Bois - Shiraz (USA)... amazing after taste that leaves the tongue tingling! About $15/bottle normally
Sella & Mosca - Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva (Sardinia, Italy)... much lighter taste, generally aged.

Below $10
Yellow Tail (Australia) is pretty much as good as it will get for your buck. You can get a bottle for around $7, or a 1.5L for $12 (I've seen them as low as $8.99 at Sam's Club). They make several varieties and blends, so it's an easy choice.

Beciul Domnesc - Feteasca Neagra (Romania)... sweeter than I usually prefer, it is something different from what you usually find. In fact, outside of Romania, it is very difficult to find. I get a bottle once a year when a Romanian friend of mine goes back to visit and brings me one as a gift.

Feudo Arancia - Nero D'Avolo or Syrah (Sicily, Italy), ... might make you pucker, but good! CHEAP... and bold tasting dry reds.

I intend to bring in my wine journal to add to this.

 

[warpus]

You can't even get a bottle of wine cheaper than $11 or so here. I don't think, anyway.

 

[Quackers]

I like the one which makes you drunk.

 

[Heretic_Cata]

I like the 2 dollar one we have here. (and no it's not the cheapest by far, it's what they serve in bars - you can get it a lot cheaper in wine shops)

 

[kochman]

I like the 2 dollar one we have here. (and no it's not the cheapest by far, it's what they serve in bars - you can get it a lot cheaper in wine shops)

Ah, that reminds me of a fine Romanian wine I have had several times.
The variety is Feteasca Neagra, Domnesc Biceul or something like that is the maker...

I love getting the home made, non regulated wine from small places when I visit Romania... for cheap!!!

 

[Heretic_Cata]

Ah, that reminds me of a fine Romanian wine I have had several times.
The variety is Feteasca Neagra, Domnesc Biceul or something like that is the maker...

I love getting the home made, non regulated wine from small places when I visit Romania... for cheap!!!

Oh yes, Feteasca Neagra from Beciul Domnesc - i love ordering that when i'm in the mood for non-cheap wine. (it costs around 5-6 dollars in restaurants)

 

[MjM]

I LOVE WINE!

I'll post some of my favorites when I look them up.

 

[JohannaK]

I don't drink wine. I don't even like it, but I say that at least an Spanish wine should be on that list (preferably Catalan )

 

[Boundless]

From my own experience, the price of the wine has no bearing on how much I enjoy it. It is merely a elitist pursuit to claim one wine is better than another.

Can anyone pull up the XKCD mocking wine connoisseurs?

 

[illram]

I did a wine tour once to see if the whole wine connoisseur thing is an act, and I concluded it is. But, there are better wines than others, this is true, but without years of training it is hard to tell the difference. To me personally I just care about where it is from based on my limited knowledge of the grapes I prefer and my limited knowledge of the wineries that grow their own grapes or the wineries that buy their grapes from some other far flung place, which makes the wine less fresh. For that reason I am a big fan of local Sonoma & Napa county wines. Napa gets a lot of play but Sonoma actually had the first grapes in California, most of which got uprooted during prohibition, and then everything went to Napa after alcohol was made legal again. So Napa likes to throw around the "oldest continually operated winery" claim but Sonoma was where it all started.

Anyways, rant over, try local wineries first, and then try anything you find from around here that's on your local shelf as I can attest to the general awesomeness of our local wine. We have great grapes in California and our climate is perfect for wine. Coppola (owned and operated by Francis Ford Coppola) is popular (sort of the Disneyland of wineries, but a nice place) I am also not above drinking Two Buck Chuck. A great way to try new wines is also to get on wine club lists, they will send you a box of bottles monthly for an annual membership rate that is usually a great deal. I would also heartily recommend Chile wine, and Australian wines are becoming trendy now too since they also have a great climate for grapes.

If you want to pretend that you are some sort of wine connoisseur and impress your friends (or, make them think you are a douche, these things are often related), pick up a "no added sulfites" bottle of wine. These are becoming trendy (the whole "natural" thing). Sulfites are a natural preservative byproduct in wine (particularly red wine) but most wine makers add additional sulfites as an artificial preservative due to the nature of retail. All "natural" red wines that do not contain sulfites are likely locally produced and might be fresher, and in any case you can pretend you are distinguished by actually having a real category to base your purchase decision on besides color or price or the label looking cool.

Also--do not think that a boxed or screw top wine is worse than corked wine. Boxed and screw top containers are actually superior to corks for keeping wine fresh. And final tidbit--when they pour out that little sip for you at the restaurant you're not deciding whether you like the taste of the wine, you're seeing if the bottle is corked. Which you do not need to taste to find out, because a corked bottle smells like rancid moldy wet socks and you can smell it a mile away, and the server should know when they open the bottle. The taster thing is a silly act to make you feel special.

 

[kochman]

From my own experience, the price of the wine has no bearing on how much I enjoy it. It is merely a elitist pursuit to claim one wine is better than another.

Can anyone pull up the XKCD mocking wine connoisseurs?

Well, anyone who thinks that has no idea what they are talking about.
Are there cases of wine being way too overpriced? Sure... based on appellation mainly...
Can you get a great bottle for $8? Sure.
Is every bottle costing $100 going to be better than that $8 bottle? No...

However, many factors influence the price of wine... the quality steps put into the production, the "terroir", etc. To say that price is a rule is wrong... but price can be a good indicator of quality.

There are certainly examples of people paying way too much for an inferior product, but the market generally will not support really expensive crappy wines for long. You have to build a reputation to get the money over the long haul.

I don't drink wine. I don't even like it, but I say that at least an Spanish wine should be on that list (preferably Catalan )

Oh, they are coming! Don't worry! I just have to refer to my journal.

I am a big fan of local Sonoma & Napa county wines. Napa gets a lot of play but Sonoma actually had the first grapes in California, most of which got uprooted during prohibition, and then everything went to Napa after alcohol was made legal again. So Napa likes to throw around the "oldest continually operated winery" claim but Sonoma was where it all started.

Anyways, rant over, try anything you find from around here that's on your local shelf. We have great grapes in California and our climate is perfect for wine. Coppola (owned and operated by Francis Ford Coppola) is popular (sort of the Disneyland of wineries, but a nice place) I am also not above drinking Two Buck Chuck. A great way to try new wines is also to get on wine club lists, they will send you a box of bottles monthly for an annual membership rate that is usually a great deal. I would also heartily recommend Chile wine, and Australian wines are becoming trendy now too since they also have a great climate for grapes.

If you want to pretend that you are some sort of wine connoisseur and impress your friends (or, make them think you are a douche, these things are often related), pick up a "no added sulfites" bottle of wine. These are becoming trendy (the whole "natural" thing). Sulfites are a natural preservative byproduct in wine (particularly red wine) but most wine makers add additional sulfites as an artificial preservative due to the nature of retail. All "natural" red wines that do not contain sulfites are likely locally produced and might be fresher, and in any case you can pretend you are distinguished by actually having a real category to base your purchase decision on besides color or price or the label looking cool.

Also--do not think that a boxed or screw top wine is worse than corked wine. Boxed and screw top containers are actually superior to corks for keeping wine fresh. And final tidbit--when they pour out that little sip for you at the restaurant you're not deciding whether you like the taste of the wine, you're seeing if the bottle is corked. Which you do not need to taste to find out, because a corked bottle smells like rancid moldy wet socks and you can smell it a mile away, and the server should know when they open the bottle. The taster thing is a silly act to make you feel special.

Actually, during Prohibition, home wine growing skyrocketed, because that was still legal! Go figure.

Regarding corks...
3 types... wood, plastic, screwtop.
Wood - classic style, lets air in at variable rates due to the uniqueness of each cork... can "taint" a wine.
Plastic - uniform air allowance, no taint
Screwtop - even better performance on air allowance, no taint

 

[IglooDame]

From my own experience, the price of the wine has no bearing on how much I enjoy it. It is merely a elitist pursuit to claim one wine is better than another.

Can anyone pull up the XKCD mocking wine connoisseurs?

You mean this one?

 

[Boundless]

Well, anyone who thinks that has no idea what they are talking about.

I've bought lots of wine, some cheap, some expencive... as I said, the ones i've enjoyed are unrelated to the cost.

@Igloodude
Bingo

 

[kochman]

I've bought lots of wine, some cheap, some expencive... as I said, the ones i've enjoyed are unrelated to the cost.

@Igloodude
Bingo

That's fine, but that doesn't mean that there is no real validity to pricing, in general.
I've had plenty of good, cheap wines... but the BEST have generally been the more expensive ones.

It's a guideline, not a rule.

 

[Maniacal]

I've still yet to really like any wine, I prefer vinegar tbh.

 

[Boundless]

I am a bit surprised you won't consider above $50.. I would have thought that entry level for any kind of bottle that actually matters?

 

[Crezth]

Going to Italy ruined American wines for me. [/firstworldproblems]

Good OP, kochman! Kindly break out that wine journal!

 

[kochman]

I am a bit surprised you won't consider above $50.. I would have thought that entry level for any kind of bottle that actually matters?

I can't currently justify the price! If I were offered it more often, I would!!!

 

[kochman]

Going to Italy ruined American wines for me. [/firstworldproblems]

Good OP, kochman! Kindly break out that wine journal!

When I lived in Italy I first developed my love for their wines... but there are MANY greats out there from the USA.

There was a judging done in France, some time ago... blind taste tests. USA vs France...
American wine actually won in more than 50% of the cases! It was a pretty big shock in France.

 

[Crezth]

When I lived in Italy I first developed my love for their wines... but there are MANY greats out there from the USA.

Yeah, I mean, the USA is definitely home to some decent wine, but Italy...

There was a judging done in France, some time ago... blind taste tests. USA vs France...
American wine actually won in more than 50% of the cases! It was a pretty big shock in France.

Hahaha no way! That's beyond hysterical.