Does anyone like Wine? Wine tasting?

[kneifl]

I do :mj14: :mj14: Going to a winery in Middleburg, Virginia tomorrow. Until then, I would like to recommend a few to my Madjack friends:

Fauna 2004 Sauvignon Blanc

Sonoma Loeb 2003 Sonoma County Chardonnay Rated highly

Bridgeman 2003 Chardonnay (great with food off the grill and a baragin at $9.99 - my favorite Chardonnay)

Terre Di Rubinoro 2001 Cabernet

Monticello Crianza 2000 Cabernet

Kendall Jackson 2002 Vinters Reserve Chardonnay

Kendall Jackson 2001 Cabernet

Feel free to add. Cheers guys :mj14: :mj14:

kneifl

 

[bjfinste]

Franzia 2005 has always been a favorite of mine.

Actually, I lived off Franzia for about my last month in South Dakota back in 2003. Fond memories.

I like wine, but don't know much about it. I hardly drink at all nowadays, but earlier this summer I had some run-of-the-mill Merlot and thought it was pretty solid. Much better than the boxed stuff was! (although you couldn't beat the price if you were just trying to kill an afternoon with a buzz)

 

[kneifl]

bjfinste Franzia is a very good wine. I've always enjoyed their Riesling's. I'm surprised we don't have more wine drinkers in this forum. Sort of become a hobby of mine since I got married, probably because she is European.

Here is where I am going on Sunday. Anybody ever been there who lives in Virginia or on the East Coast? I know they have some really great wineries in the Sonoma region in California - that would be a treat to be able to visit some of those

kneifl

 

[saint]

Franzia? :mj07:

I'm no wine expert but wine out of a box?! HAHA

 

[kneifl]

:lol: Duh, My bad I thought he meant Fetzer....lol...

kneifl

 

[saint]

Louis Martini Sonoma County Cabernet (~$12-13)

MacMurray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (~$13-14)

Ravenswood Zinfandel (~$10)

Rancho Zabaco Zinfandel and also the sauv. blanc (~$10 for both)

McWilliams Hanwood Shiraz (australian) (~$11-12)

Indigo Hills Merlot (~$8)

Alexander Valley Cabernet (this one is a little pricey like 20 bucks but very good)

Mirassou Pinot Noir (~$8)


My fiance works for a winery (gallo) so we get to try a nice variety. I was never into wine but since she's worked with them the last couple of years I've acquired the taste.

 

[kneifl]

Which one is your favorite White and Red?

kneifl

 

[saint]

I prefer reds, whites are a little too fruity/sweet for my taste but I do enjoy a good bottle with fish every now and then.

Out of that list I would definitely try these two first:

Louis Martini Sonoma County Cabernet (~$12-13)

MacMurray Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir (~$13-14)

 

[kneifl]

Wife loves the reds I love the whites.

My favorite is Chardonnay. You've got to try Bridgeman Chardonnay, much better than KJ Chardonnay which is considered to be a decent commercial chardonnay - pretty popular from all of the advertising.

I like the Reds too, but I like to drink them when I eat dark meat. Like steak, ribs, lamb, etc.

My favorite Reds are probably KJ cabernet, pretty standard and some of the high end italian ones I don't drink too much of (listed). The wife likes those a lot.

kneifl

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

Checking Jack's from Napa right now. Heading to Mondavi and Coppola estates today. Can't stand white wine, but love reds. Cosentino's The Zin and Cigar Zin are my favorites but you've got to like full-flavored wine and they are a bit pricey for everyday consumption. My favorite cheap wine is Sterling Vintage Reserve Cabernet or Kendall's Collage mixes.

 

[bjfinste]

I just went and looked for the merlot I was referring to earlier. It was Bella Sera Merlot. I think it was $12.99. I found it to be quite good, although it might just be because my primary basis for comparision is the really, really cheap stuff.

 

[MadJack]

i prefer the wine from the box on my rare wine drinking moods

the white ziffendel (sp?)

i know, i know

that other chit gives me heartburn though.

other than that, when at home it's budweiser or mickeys but i have a chitload of KMX energy drink that goes good with vodka that i'll be working on for awhile.

out at dinner i drink marguaritas on the rocks no salt. in the casino it's usually jack & coke.

:mj14:

 

[chickenman]

Might I suggest a great wine.

Boones Farm (2005) Strawberry Hill.
A little pricey at $1.99 a bottle but well worth it.


CM

 

[kneifl]

Might I suggest a great wine.

Boones Farm (2005) Strawberry Hill.
A little pricey at $1.99 a bottle but well worth it.


CM

:mj07: :mj07:

kneifl

 

[Hoops]

MD 20/20- Kiwi Strawberry is always a good selection.

 

[saint]

Sterling Vintage Reserve Cabernet

Yeah that's a good bottle i agree
:mj14:

 

[Got Nutz]

Four Vines makes 5 varieties of Zin. The Sophisticate is excellent

 

[Captain Crunch]

Two cabs I like are.......

Liberty School and Smoking Loon, both in the $12 range.

 

[dawgball]

whites are a little too fruity/sweet for my taste

This completely depends on the variety and maker. When I drink white, I prefer Pinot Grigio over Chardonnay. Pinot Grigio is typically crisepr (more crisp?) than other whites but still has more of a fruit base than others (hay, grass, etc.).

My favorite reds are Pinot Noir and Cabernet. If you can find a good Meritage (blend), then those can be excellent as well. I used to prefer Zinfandel but for some reason over the past two years I have been moving to less robust reds. Zins still play a great role with certain foods, but they are not my favorite for drinking.

Some of my favorite bottles:

D2 by Delille Cellars (sp?) (~$30)
Hill of Content Grenache/Shiraz (somehwere in the $13 range)
The Hattirck (~$35)

But there really are too many to count or list.


Someone here mentioned boxed wines. This is what we consume for our daily drinking. Our favorites are:

Black Box Merlot (we have not been able to find a Pinot Noir by them) -- this is about $18 and that is equivalent to 4 bottles
Corbett Canyon Pinot Grigio -- this is about $10 for about 4 bottles :eek

These are both very acceptable table wines for everyday drinking or non-formal dinners.

I used to work at a restaurant in Atlanta who was writeen about in Wine Spectator for their selection. I have had the pleasure of having wine from bottles upwards of $500 with the owner and his friends. :eek These wines are almost always great, but there is no way you can convince me that they are worth it! BUT I certainly never turned them down when it was offered!

BBC-- I am jealous! That is the next trip for my wife and me.

 

[lowell]

chateau st michelle merlot is my favorite. the quality varies with the year but i think it was 2001 that was the best.