Red Wine...

[ratcheer]

But usually when they rate a Bordeaux vintage they are talking about those bottles that cost hundreds of dollars and shouldn't be opened for decades. Does that also hold true for those under $20 bottles? Those are the bordeaux wines I actually buy, maybe not the Mouton Cadet, but the next step up.

Not this time. The Wall Street Journal dis a comparo article a couple of weeks ago and the 2005's across the board were said to be quite good.

I bought two bottles at Costco, one was $9 and the other was $15. My wife and I drank the $9 one and we both enjoyed it, a lot. I am looking forward to the $15 one.

Since Bordeaux ages well, this appears to be a great time to buy a bunch for future use.

Tim

[Barrel_Proof]

I like red wine too - good red wine. I would say 9 out of 10 reds I drink I don't like, regardless of price.

I am convinced a lot of European reds go half-sour in the bottle before we get them.

I'm not a big fan of 13.5% ABV and over reds full of extract, I find them undrinkable for most purposes.

I like a fresh-tasting, round, dry red wine that isn't half-sour, tannic, too alcoholic, too jammy or too sulphured.

What should I buy?

Gary

I'll second and third those here who have already recommended the 2005 Bordeaux that are now hitting the shelves. These early arriving petit bordeaux are of remarkable quality for the price. As many insiders have said, one had to work hard NOT to make good wine from the 2005 bordeaux harvest. The gems of the vintage will require a decade or more in the bottle to settle down and open up, but many, many lesser cru can be enjoyed right now, especially the Right Bank St. Emilions with a high percentage of Merlot in the blend.

I brought one of the very first 2005s to land to last year's Sampler dinner at the Gen. Nelson -- the Mathilde (second wine from Ch. La Fleur Morange) -- and though a bit tight, it was a very enjoyable pour that offered a taste of what is to come from this great vintage.

[Gillman]

Thanks and I'll check into these at LCBO.

Gary

[mythrenegade]

I don't believe you will find a good Washington Pinot, I don't think the climate is right. Pinot is a very difficult grape to do right. There are only a few regions in CA that do it well, and unfortunately they have been pulling up other grapes to plant Pinot in those areas since it's so profitable right now...

I buy only California wines, primarily because I live here. I figure if I live in one of the best wine regions in the world, why should I pay to have wine shipped from somewhere else? I also like supporting the state economy in this manner.

If you have it available to you, Trader Joe's sells a brand called "Black Mountain" that is, in CA, $5 per bottle. It is a steal at that price. Sure, it's not a Quintessa or Stag's Leap, but it's very drinkable and cheap. Unlike two buck chuck, it's actually worth buying.

If you are looking for a high end red, "Lot 1" is an amazing, amazing wine.

Joel

[T47]

I don't believe you will find a good Washington Pinot, I don't think the climate is right. Pinot is a very difficult grape to do right. There are only a few regions in CA that do it well, and unfortunately they have been pulling up other grapes to plant Pinot in those areas since it's so profitable right now...
I buy only California wines, primarily because I live here. I figure if I live in one of the best wine regions in the world, why should I pay to have wine shipped from somewhere else? I also like supporting the state economy in this manner.
If you have it available to you, Trader Joe's sells a brand called "Black Mountain" that is, in CA, $5 per bottle. It is a steal at that price. Sure, it's not a Quintessa or Stag's Leap, but it's very drinkable and cheap. Unlike two buck chuck, it's actually worth buying.
If you are looking for a high end red, "Lot 1" is an amazing, amazing wine.
Joel

Thanks for the info. I had been trying to find a Pinot Noir from a winery in WA called White Heron Cellars...but it must be a small release and I have had no luck with my limited search...
I will just have to cave and stretch my limits to buy some non-WA bottles. Really my only reason is that I live in WA...and from my limited reading the wines produced here have a fine reputation as well.

Am I correct that Bordeaux is just a region like Walla Walla? And that the wines will vary considerably between the wineries? Just a quick check I see they have both Reds and Whites and they all seem to be blends...so there are no Bordeaux wines that are just Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon?
One of the favorite wines I have tasted was a Long Shadows bottle called Chester Kidder (2002) it is a blend of Syrah and Cabernet and was wonderfully flavorful. I can't say much more than I really enjoyed the flavor...because my memory is pretty much like a sieve...

I have just discovered that there is a small wine bar nearby in a new shopping area. I think this will be the best chance for me to try some of these wines side by side.

I don't know if there is anything more than a psychological reason, but as I have posted before, prior to around June of 2005 I was pretty much just a beer drinker. Then out of the blue I discover that I enjoy Bourbon. Now it seems that most dark spirit's (Some Scotches-not those peat monsters, Dark Rum, Aged Tequila, Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey) and Red Wine agree are things I enjoy as well. I still don't seem to enjoy Vodka or Gin or the Light Rums I have tasted?

I don't plan to or have the room to store much if any wines...but as Vange posted...it sure does go well with dinner. Just completes the meal so well for me.

You are all a wealth of information that boggles my mind...

[texascarl]

I'm going to tout that unheard of thing...a couple of red box wines that taste good. Tastes good to me, at least, YMMV. The first is from the S.W. corner of France, made with a typical 'Rhone blend' of grapes (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan) and it's a very tasty - if fairly simple- quaff. I always enjoy this with dinner, it's not what I think of as 'cocktail'. The box will last for a month or two (they've recently improved the 'tap' and 4 months are not unheard of), local cost is about $20 for a 3 liter container. That would equal $5 bottles @ 750. BTW, it IS available in the bottle ($9 MSRP) if you'd like to sample it first.

http://www.winemerchant.net/pages/top40d.php?rank=03

If you like Cotes du Rhone...you'll like this. I have a glass-a-day with dinner, open a bottle of something different now and then. I don't get bored with this because I have another box of Vin de Pays (French) Pinot Noir from Toad Hollow.

http://www.toadhollow.com/pdf/bag_in_box.pdf

It's good with food and a better 'cocktail' glass of wine than the grenache blend above, but the grenache really goes well with anything that includes garlic. If you're afraid your friends will sneer at you for having boxed wine...get new friends. Seriously, they're missing out.

[texascarl]

If you want NW Pinot - look at Oregon now, rather than WA. Oregon has a great climate for Pinot, and during good years they turn out some great wine. Adelsheim is a personal fave, Domain Droughin if you're wanting to pay up a bit. WA excels at Syrah, Cab, Merlot...in fact, one of my favorite 'daily' WA reds is Hedges CSM red made from that exact blend. It reminds me of bordeaux wines, so try it if you get a chance. They're a VERY good winery, from Red Mountain (out near Prosser/Walla Walla). This is their least expensive wine, should go $10 or so in your area...recommended.
Yes, Bordeaux is a region, like Walla Walla. It is also 'shorthand' for the normal blend of wines they make there. Usually blends of cabernet Sav. with merlot, sometimes malbec, sometimes cab franc...sometimes just one of the above. Wonderful wine, tho' I spend MY money on Rhones. Everybody gets to choose their poison. The Rhone wines include many smaller 'regions' but if you say 'Rhone' you'll usually get a glass of Syrah and/or grenache (with carignan and mourvedre throw in for flavor). Try a cotes du rhone to see if you like the general flavour - try it with some grilled meat or some pasta with garlic in it. If you LIKE it, then move on to the spendier Rhone wines...Australia has been making some great wines for quite a while now, and many of the blends they make of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre rival the French originals. California has their own bunch of 'Rhone Rangers' who work with the grapes of S. France/Rhone to do their mojo. My personal fave is Bonny Doon...run by an amusing man named Randall Graham. He also makes some fine, inexpensive WA white wines, mainly rieslings, chenin blanc and gewurtz...but that's for another day.

[T47]

Carl,
Thanks for the information, I will keep my eye out for your suggestions.

[mythrenegade]

Thanks for the info. I had been trying to find a Pinot Noir from a winery in WA called White Heron Cellars...but it must be a small release and I have had no luck with my limited search...
I will just have to cave and stretch my limits to buy some non-WA bottles. Really my only reason is that I live in WA...and from my limited reading the wines produced here have a fine reputation as well.

Washington is an "up and coming" wine region. I personally have not ever had a good washington wine, but I don't for a second believe they are all like the ones I've had... Like you, I buy where I live and so I don't seek out the best that Washington has to offer. The ones I've had have always been poured for me and were inexpensive and not very good.

Am I correct that Bordeaux is just a region like Walla Walla? And that the wines will vary considerably between the wineries? Just a quick check I see they have both Reds and Whites and they all seem to be blends...so there are no Bordeaux wines that are just Merlot or Cabernet Sauvignon?

Bordeaux is a region that blends specific grapes. Rhone is a region that blends a different group of grapes. France refuses to allow the wineries to disclose the grapes that are in the bottle, you are just supposed to know what is in the bottle somehow. This hurts them greatly when people go to the store looking for a very nice Cabernet Sauvignon and they don't even consider the french wine because it doesn't say cab on it.

One of the favorite wines I have tasted was a Long Shadows bottle called Chester Kidder (2002) it is a blend of Syrah and Cabernet and was wonderfully flavorful. I can't say much more than I really enjoyed the flavor...because my memory is pretty much like a sieve...

I have just discovered that there is a small wine bar nearby in a new shopping area. I think this will be the best chance for me to try some of these wines side by side.

I haven't had good luck with wine bars. They are expensive, and you get what they have, and who knows how long it's been open etc. Take a trip and go to the wineries and go wine tasting. It's easy, and generally a lot cheaper. In some parts of california it's free, other parts they charge a small fee, usually between $5 and $10. You will be able to taste a lot of varietals side by side, and you can decide if you like them or not. This is my favorite way to buy wine.

I don't know if there is anything more than a psychological reason, but as I have posted before, prior to around June of 2005 I was pretty much just a beer drinker. Then out of the blue I discover that I enjoy Bourbon. Now it seems that most dark spirit's (Some Scotches-not those peat monsters, Dark Rum, Aged Tequila, Irish Whiskey, Canadian Whiskey) and Red Wine agree are things I enjoy as well. I still don't seem to enjoy Vodka or Gin or the Light Rums I have tasted?

I don't plan to or have the room to store much if any wines...but as Vange posted...it sure does go well with dinner. Just completes the meal so well for me.

You are all a wealth of information that boggles my mind...

Happy to help! Vodka, Gin and light rums are "summer drinks" to me, which is probably where you drink beer. I have noticed that as I have gotten into red wine, that my tastes shifted from things like Sam Adams to much more powerful beers like Stone Double Bastard and I went from drinking things like Margaritas to drinking Bourbon straight. You aren't alone!

Joel

[ratcheer]

Since Bordeaux ages well, this appears to be a great time to buy a bunch for future use.

I am trying to take my own advice and bought two more 2005 Bordeaux's, today at Costco. I think I will do this every time I go there until they are gone.

Tim