I love to drink fine wines, and I’m always looking for something new. I tend to stick to Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noirs, and of course blends (Bordeaux, other combinations) in terms of reds, and whites I’ll only do with fish or some spicy foods such as Thai. On whites, a Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio is usually what I’ll go for. Some of my favorite Napa wines: Insignia, by Joseph Phelps Caymus Far Niente Nickel and Nickel Sherwin Family (small winery on Spring Mountain in Napa….awesome wine) Silver Oak Pride Mountain Probably the best bottle I’ve ever had was a Chateau Margaux, 1997. What are some of your favorites? I’d like to try some new stuff.
From California, hook yerself up with: Zinfandel from the Dry Creek Valley Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley If you like more complicated Pinot Noir, go for something from Oregon's Willamette Valley. I actually am developing a taste for white wines from time to time, but nothing fruity, which means almost exclusively French whites (to me at least.) Have fun.
there are dozens of grand cru pinot labels you can get, with the particular year depending on whether you want them for storing or immediate consumption: nonetheless, imo 2 to look for would have to be chambertin and echezeaux.. not a fan of the blends at all... whites? lol are u kiddin :grin:
Caymus usually make really good wines. Let me preface by saying I don't like most whites, and usually like the bolder full bodied reds. I'm not sure which wines you'll be able to find, but some high quality ones from California that I enjoy and are comparable to Caymus (some a little better and some slightly less but all within the same range) Most anything by Justin will be good. Staggs Leap is great but hard to find. And my favorite my be L'Adventure
Racist. I love a great Merlot or Bordeaux, and tend to gravitate towards the sweeter wines. Sadly, the wife can't have 'em (the flavanoids and tannins cause her migraines to flare up) so we usually end up having to go with white wines. Yes, there ARE good white wines out there. Fratelli Moscato d'Asti is a very nice desert wine, and surprisingly affordable.
I usually drink Italian wines. White (in summer or with food that calls for it): Gavi di Gavi Sancerre (French... ) Red: Amarone Brunello di Montalcino
I will try to post a pic of a riddling rack we have with some of our favorites. Agree with the Pinot Noir's from the Willimatte valley. Decoy - Cab Sav is great. La Crema -Chard from the Russian River Valley Trefethen Chard - Napa Catillo di Amerosa - anything from there James Cole vinyard is a boutique one in Napa - great stuff I also like some Texas wines. Woodrose has some excellent blends Becker has a nice Chard Just so many to name... DD
I'm not much of a wine drinker. If I'm going to get drunk I don' t want to spend all night doing it. (Paraphrased from A Good Year)
Calera makes some of the best single vineyard Pinot Noirs in CA, in my opinion. Try the Selleck or the Mills. Frank Family Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford Palazzo Cab Franc Robert Young Estate Scion (Cab) Athair Pinot Noir Sonoma Ojai Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Star Lane Cabernet Sauvignon Astral Opolo Grand Rouge Red Sean Thackrey Andromeda Europe Domain Amiot makes great Cru Bourgognes (white and red) Reverdy Sancerre Bottex Bugey Cerdon Cuvee Rose NV Palladino Barolo Serre Gagliardo Barolo Cannubi Caldaro-Kaltern Pinot Bianco Vial Terra Rossa Brunello di Montalcino Rodano Chianti Classico Riserva L'Arco Amarone della Valpolicella Caprai Sagrantino Collepiano Cantine Barbera Nero d'Avola Luberri Biga Sastre Roble Nadal Cava Avinyo Brut Do Ferreiro Albarino Ameztoi Txakolina Xarmant Txakolina Buil & Gine Pleret Garciarevalo Tres Olmos Verdejo Bassermann-Jordan Riesling Feinherb QbA (...been in the wine business for over a decade...)
Was in napa a few days ago, went to far niente, caymus, silver oak, BV, and several others....Far Niente was our favorite. Actually joined their wine club, probably a rip off, but its just money right?
Far Niente - Chard Cakebread - Chard - both are higher end but very good for a chard J Lohr - 7 Oak Paso Robles - Cab - good value play Fraciscan - Cab Sav - low $20's in store - outstanding body and flavor Fraciscan - Magnificat - great blended wine - a bit pricy
We're lucky in Houston to have Spec's Warehouse downtown, which has the most SKUs of any wine retailer in the US. So, if it's out there, Spec's is likely to have it. Stag's Leap is very common, as is Justin. I'm not familiar with L'Adventure. The rib and I took down a Reguschi cab last night -- which is also from the Stag's Leap district in Napa. It was quite good. We just got a new decanter with faces inside it...it's about the height of three wine bottles
My best investment ever was a bottle of wine. I keep my collection on vinfolio, and although I've never actually sold anything, I keep it listed just to see if anyone is interested in anything. Every year (about this time) Costco will get in some nicer wines, and if you time things right and keep in touch with their wine guy, you might be able to pick up some good investment quality wines. I bought a 2001 Lafite-Rothschild there for about a hundred bucks back when it was released (I'm guessing around 2003), and I just got a bid for it the other day for $860. Of course, nobody wants (or at least, nobody is bidding) on the vast majority of what I have.......but at least I can be proud of that one bottle. It's my only first growth Bordeaux, and I don't have any grand cru Burgundy. Still, here and there, I've got some good juice. The best bottle of wine I ever had was a Kistler Pinot Noir. Can't remember the vintange or the particular vineyard, but I remember the night we had it. Four couples and we all brought wine to the dinner......one guy brought a 94 Opus One and a wonderful white Burgandy (and I usually hate Chardonnay), but my Kistler was the wine of the night. Been chasing the dragon ever since. Even stayed on Kistler's mailing list buying allotments up until last Fall, but I've yet to have a Pinot that good. Now we're down to the very last mailing list (Sea Smoke), and I imagine we'll drop out of theirs pretty soon..........just don't drink as much as I used to.
How is this one? I bought a bottle of this and its just waiting to be opened...It was pretty expensive if I remember correctly... Some of my favorites: Shafer Cab Norton Malbec (I've been drinking nothing but this stuff since I got back from Argentina) Santa Rita Merlot (Chile) There is a bottle of Sparkling wine that I like for about $20 but I can't remember the name...i'll have to research it and get back with you guys... Not to be a snob, but when people order white zinfandel, i throw up a little bit...
