Everything Wine

[mehastings]

We don't have a Trader Joe's near where we live but we do have a Total Wine and a Whole Foods. Each has a large selection and frequent tastings. We also have some smaller wine shops that I shop at some times. I'm actually off to Whole Foods in the morning for a couple bottles for this weekend.

I don't know if all Whole Foods trial the same stuff at the same time, but the one here was doing a decent Pinot from New Zealand, something white (didn't try it) and a sparkling that was OK. I almost bought a bottle of the pinot, but I already had two in the cart.

I bought a mixed varietal red to make sangria with and it had a screw cap. It also came with a funny little leaflet. I'll scan it later and post a link here.

 

[Dogmatix]

Muggle: No Durham actually

MeHastings: Post a good Sangria recipe. I've never made it before but I love Sangria in the summer.

Sophia: Me too I've been partaking since dinner and through about 200 pages of The Last Cato. (read it only if you enjoyed TDVC it's very-very similar) My hubby built me a new adirondak chair on the front porch and I've been sipping and reading in it all evening.

I love the weekends.

 

[muggle]

I just received an email from C-W this morning telling about their 2005 futures offering. I have copied a little and posted it. Comparing it to 03 and 82 is high praise. Even at my age I may have to look into it.


2005 Bordeaux Futures Offering

WE ARE PLEASED TO PRESENT OUR
2005 BORDEAUX FUTURES OFFERING


Having tasted well over 500 wines on a recent trip to Bordeaux we can say without a doubt that the quality of the 2005 vintage is outstanding.

Some first impressions from our trip:
- first and foremost, there is very good to excellent quality from top to bottom
- the top wines as are good as we've ever seen
- many very good wines for affordable prices ($10-15)
- wines are tannic with concentrated fruit which will make this a very long lived vintage
- tannins are ripe and sweet and the wines have good acidity and freshness (better than '03 and '82)
- excellent year for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac as well as for the dry whites of Bordeaux

 

[Balmy Westwind]

Muggle I noted that in an earlier posting you said that you enjoyed Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Villages. I have visited the Georges Duboeuf Hameau du Vin in Beaujolais. It was an interesting experience.

Beaujolais is a very pretty area. My favourite wine from Beaujolais is Moulin-a-Vent, but my husband prefers a Morgon Cuvee du Py from Chateau de Pizay.

I wonder if you have ever read Clochemerle by Gabriel Chevallier. It was written in 1934 and is set in the small town of Vaux en Beaujolais.

This evening we are having a Vista TN 2003 Touriga Nacional Reserva from Portugal. I am not at all familiar with Portuguese wines but we have a new wine shop open nearby and the young owner recommended this to us.

 

[Dogmatix]

This evening we are having a Vista TN 2003 Touriga Nacional Reserva from Portugal. I am not at all familiar with Portuguese wines but we have a new wine shop open nearby and the young owner recommended this to us.

Please report back. I've been buying a lot of Spanish and Portugese lately but I've not had this one. Do tell.....

Tonight we're actually having beer clams and lobster on the grill . Did I mention I enjoy a good beer almost as much as a good wine?

 

[muggle]

I enjoy most of the Beaujolais and especially the Saint Amour by Dubouef.

Do report back on the wine from Portugal....or any others that you enjoy.

 

[Sofia]

Please report back. I've been buying a lot of Spanish and Portugese lately but I've not had this one. Do tell.....

Tonight we're actually having beer clams and lobster on the grill . Did I mention I enjoy a good beer almost as much as a good wine?

try Vinho Verde....(translation: green wine...and no, it's not really green)a Portuguese wine that is light and really refreshing, goes well with clams and lobster....all staples in Portugal....I think about 10 bucks...not sure, my family makes their own.

 

[Balmy Westwind]

Dogmatix and Muggle

The Portuguese wine last night was very different from anything we have tried before. It was from the Beiras region of central Portugal, and was from a grape variety that we have never come across before - Touriga Nacional. It says on the label that it is “A powerful, richly flavoured red. Drink with roast meats or casseroles.”

As I said it was very different from anything we have tasted before, but it was very pleasant with our casserole. I think it would probably be equally pleasant drunk on its own while reading a good book on a warm summers evening. (Wish we had a warm summer evenings here in Scotland.) I do envy you Dogmatix sitting on your porch reading.

Sophia the Vinho Verde sounds good. I am always on the look out for recommendation on white wines.

 

[Robert]

Nice thread muggle!

Do you guys sip while you read? I enjoy NOTHING more than sitting on the front deck with a glass of wine and a great book.

So what are everyone's favorites?

If I'm on the deck with a book, it has to something light like a (dry) Riesling.

I think the only problem with screw caps is that they don't fit the wine tradition. It appears that many wine makers are introducing them on their high end wines. Corks are tradition, but wine with corks must be stored on their side to prevent the cork from drying out. The real downsides to corks are that they can introduce contamination to wine and can influence the taste if a wine.

Except for the Riesling, I rarely drink wine without food. I believe wine is best when it complements a favorite meal. When talking about favorite wine, it might be interesting if you mention what food you like to serve it with.

I rarely drink wine from France because the popularity of French wines has driven the prices up. In addition, I understand the French will take good wine and convert it to an alcohol used in industry. They do this to protect market prices.

Wines from Napa Valley are also a little high because of the popularity of the wines.

While I enjoy wines from around the world, most of my wines are made right here in Virginia. The wines here in the last few years have improved to the point of being world class.

 

[Robert]

I drink a toast to this thread with Two Buck Chuck, the wine for receptions at art galleries.

I have heard that the name is misleading, and that Two Buck Chuck is a decent low cost table wine. I will have to try it once to form my own opinion.

 

[Occlith]

Charles Shaw is not bad at all; I have not yet tried all the varietals for that label but some are better than others. They offer Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, and Beaujolais.

In the 28th Annual International Eastern Wine Competition, a 2002 Charles Shaw Shiraz won a double gold medal in competition against more than 2,000 wines.
2$C has also won awards in the 2006 West Coast Wine Competition against brands much higher in price.

 

[Carrot]

Excellent idea this wine thread.

Excellent idea this wine thread.
*There is nothing I like better than a glass (or 2) of red wine and sittting down to read on an evening.
For my tastes a good Californian Merlot or a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon. I can usually tell how good the book I am reading is by how much wine I drink. If I am really gripped by a book I will hardly touch a drop whereas I will drink more when I am reading a slow moving book.
A good funny book will actually get me through a full bottle though.

*Actually there are a few things I like better but this is hardly the time and place.

 

[muggle]

I have been studying the wine futures offered by Calvert-Woodley and these 2 offerings look interesting to me. They have a good rating, are also rated as sleepers witrh even better potential, and the prices are very low for these wines. I suspect these wines may sell fairly fast.

Being retired, prices are more important to me than when I was bringing in money.

2005 Caronne Ste. Gemme - $149 case
88-90 points (RP)
"Sleeper of the Vintage"

89-91 points (WS)
"Lots of berry and chocolate character with hints of vanilla. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and silky tannins. Impressive. Almost hard to believe, it's so good. Almost 92-94."

We were glad to visit our friend Francois Nony at his home and our tasting at his chateau re-confirmed what we already knew-that his 2005 is very good wine. Our first tranche allocation sold through and we were able to buy more, and at this price it represents an excellent value! (CW)


2005 Tour St. Bonnet - $129 case
88-90 points (RP)
"Big Time Sleeper of the Vintage"

Having tasted this several times while in Bordeaux we jumped on it as soon as it was offered to us. This wine has a dark purple color and well-balanced, bright fruit to go along with good acidity. Available in the Spring of 2007, this wine will be drinkable early while still ageing well for several years to come. Tour St. Bonnet represents another great value. (CW)

RP = Robert parker
WS = Wine Spectator
CW = Calvert-Woodley

 

[Dogmatix]

Sophia I took your advice and purchased the Vinho Verde. We'll be opening it tomorrow night. I'll let you know. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Sofia]

that's great!! I'll be waiting to see what you think

btw, in case your interested in a little more:http://www.portugal-info.net/wines/vinhoverde.htm

 

[Justin91]

Great Topic!!!

I Love Wine. Give me red, except on a hot summers day I like a soft, crisp white.

I am going to the Five Finger Lakes area in New York to visit some wineries there. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Dogmatix]

I don't have any wine suggestion for the finger lakes region, however I love it up there. Had some friends go to college in Ithaca. It's a beautiful place.

I do know of one New York winery called Bully Hill and they make some nice and whimisical goat themed wines. I'm just not sure where they are located in NY. You could probably Google then. I like their "Love Goat Red" wine but they make several varieties.

Have a great time.

 

[Prairie_Girl]

Right now I"m drinking a lot of Yellowtail Shiraz. It's hands down my favourite wine, and I always bring it with me to BYOB parties and such.

 

[Robert]

Great Topic!!!

I Love Wine. Give me red, except on a hot summers day I like a soft, crisp white.

I am going to the Five Finger Lakes area in New York to visit some wineries there. Anyone have any suggestions?

I've never toured that area, but it seems like the right climate for some good ice wines. Please let me know what you find.

 

[muggle]

Right now I"m drinking a lot of Yellowtail Shiraz. It's hands down my favourite wine, and I always bring it with me to BYOB parties and such.

Try a bottle of the Alamos Malbec wine. I think you may enjoy it.

We had crab cakes for dinner tonight and I was really looking forward to trying the Nora wine from Spain with dinner. Guess what, when I opened the refrigerator I found that I had forgot to put the wine in to chill. Oh well, I will open it soon.