Wine Connoisseurs' Thread

Boundless said:
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?
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No way. I'd say above $10 is when you start getting into good wines, although I guess it could depend on where you live. Suckers assume expensive = good but that is not the case. By good wines I just mean not mass produced/frozen or mismatched grapes shipped long distances and made in large quantities. I suppose it may be different in an area without local access (i.e., within 1-300 miles) to vineyards where retailers can charge a premium.

As to European vs New World wines, that's another wine snobbery distinction. New World wines can be fantastic, and they can suck, just like European wines. There is nothing special about European grapes other than the vintage of the wineries and old school French and Italian pride (or snobbery depending on how you look at it), in fact alot of the grape strains currently in existence in France & Italy are actually hybrids mixed with New World strains, which was done in the late 19th century to combat the Great French Wine Blight in the 1850's that killed nearly half of French vines and decimated the European wine industry.
 
The XKCD is more about people who like to talk about wine for the sake of talking about it. That said, red wine is my favorite "sit down with friends and talk" alcoholic beverage. I've had some of my best discussions with red wine.
 
illram said:
No way. I'd say above $10 is when you start getting into good wines, although I guess it could depend on where you live. Suckers assume expensive = good but that is not the case. By good wines I just mean not mass produced/frozen or mismatched grapes shipped long distances and made in large quantities. I suppose it may be different in an area without local access (i.e., within 1-300 miles) to vineyards where retailers can charge a premium.

As to European vs New World wines, that's another wine snobbery distinction. New World wines can be fantastic, and they can suck, just like European wines. There is nothing special about European grapes other than the vintage of the wineries and old school French and Italian pride (or snobbery depending on how you look at it), in fact alot of the grape strains currently in existence in France & Italy are actually hybrids mixed with New World strains, which was done in the late 19th century to combat the Great French Wine Blight in the 1850's that killed nearly half of French vines and decimated the European wine industry.
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Correction... pretty much ALL varieties have American Root stocks as a result of the blight...

Some wines, like Carmenere, originally from France, were thought to even be extinct. Chile discovered they had it recently!
 
illram said:
By good wines I just mean not mass produced/frozen or mismatched grapes shipped long distances and made in large quantities. I suppose it may be different in an area without local access (i.e., within 1-300 miles) to vineyards where retailers can charge a premium.
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Yeah, this maybe why we are disagreeing. In the UK, there is very very little local produce! Thus everything is mass produced/long distance unless you are spending above £30.


But then again, my favourite wine is Blossom Hill White Zinfandel.. so you probably consider me a barbarian.
 
While I was in Austria for New Years, I got invited to a wine yard and wine cellar of my friend's family. Got to taste some really great wine there, and even got a few bottles with me as a gift when I left! :D

No idea what the price may be, but it tastes awesome. :)
 
illram said:
As to European vs New World wines, that's another wine snobbery distinction. New World wines can be fantastic, and they can suck, just like European wines. There is nothing special about European grapes other than the vintage of the wineries and old school French and Italian pride (or snobbery depending on how you look at it), in fact alot of the grape strains currently in existence in France & Italy are actually hybrids mixed with New World strains, which was done in the late 19th century to combat the Great French Wine Blight in the 1850's that killed nearly half of French vines and decimated the European wine industry.
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actually some experts have the opinion that the French winemakers are seriously slacking. They are to set in their ways and refuse to develop their wines.
Here in The Netherlands (I don't know how this is in other countries) wines from Australia and South Africa are on the rise, followed by wines from Chili and Argentina. Even wine from The Netherlands is on the rise and with the risk on sounding nationalistic, those are really good :)


I myself have become a huge fan of Meridiana, a vinyard/winery from Malta, when I was on holiday there 2/3 years back.
Still haven't been able to find a store nearby that sells these :(
 
Nice thread!

mak54291 said:
Kochman, you mean connaisseur ? Maybe with a s at the end, not even sure myself.
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That's the correct spelling indeed (well in french :lol:)... s in the end if plurial :)


I don't know much about foreign wines, but I can advice some good french ones:

-> anything from places close to Beaune in Bourgogne, really anything. Prices will be 15+ but those are really great. Best kept a good ten years before drinking. (My favorite in the area is "Chambolle Musigny"). Tasted a Chateau "Marsannay" this christmas (17 euros) which was great.

-> Cotes du Rhône are also nice wines (Condrieux, Cornas, Chateau neuf du pape, Hermitage, Saint Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, etc). Cheaper than Bordeaux/Bourgogne too (exception of Côte Rôtie which is amazing -specially with beef plates- but 30 euros minimum).

I am currently drinking a wine from Chile, "Casillero del Diablo" (Cabernet Sauvignon grapes) which is worth having a look at :goodjob:.

Oh if I remember that excellent spanish wine I got to taste last year I will link it here too!

edit: found it, Coto de Imaz! Excellent red wine.
 
RRRaskolnikov said:
I am currently drinking a wine from Chile, "Casillero del Diablo" (Cabernet Sauvignon grapes) which is worth having a look at :goodjob:.
.
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I second this. Casillero del Diablo does make a good wine, and affordable at that :)
 
I usually go for the italian wines...
Amarone and Barolo and they are usually around 30 dollars and upwards.
They seem richer to me than many of the others.
White wine I dont enjoy much, if I have it, I have it as sweet and as cold as possible and drink it to get pissed :)
 
warpus said:
You can't even get a bottle of wine cheaper than $11 or so here. I don't think, anyway.
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I can get real wine in the $7.50 to $8 range.


I pretty much drink anything imported from Italy/Sicily that is red, and pretty much anything Cabernet-Sauvign if it claims to be "fruity" on the label.


Mad Dog is Kool Aid for Adults.
 
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