I will preface this by saying that with all the dietary restrictions that have come on since I turned 60, wine is one of my last indulgences along with dark chocolate. After 5 years of this I have drunk and sorted through all the wines I like and/or don't favor now.
Wine is a matter of personal taste and not everyone's tastes agree. As for me: I lean heavily in favor of red wine. I am starting to lean in favor of Italian wines. French Bordeaux and California Cabernets are close, but behind in terms of what I'll grab first if given a choice.
When it comes to Italian wines I am not fond of Super Tuscans at all. They have an edge to them that bothers me. They are too pretentious. I love the simplicity of the Sangiovesi grape, with it's honest earthy, grapey taste/fragrance, and definitely prioritize Chianti Classico regionally. That is the main type of wine I buy and drink now, and within that region, when I can afford it, Vino di Nobili is my favorite finer wine. Brunellos are a little too strong for my taste.
Interested to know what others who appreciate wine are enjoying drinking. Do you have any favorite suppliers. Thank god they now have companies that allow you to buy directly from the vineyard deliver directly.
yep...
We've been in the area in Tuscany that Villa Antinori is in, and have had their Chianti Classico. It was pretty good.
Don't know if you have Binny's in your hood but they have wines from all over the globe.
I have been working my way through the Cabs from Chile and Argentina
I agree with regard to the Italian reds and will go with a Chianti almost every time over an unknown.
I have my eye on some Reds from New Zealand and will soon be testing them out
In the summer my wife and I drink Rose by the case. Dry and fruity, not sweet. Also a slightly chilled Pinot in the summer works- light and fruity.
As fir white wines, the only one I like are Gruners from Austria.
Our go-to moderately price pinot is La Crema
"I am not drinking any fucking Merlot!" - ( New Window )
My wife loves red wine and I partake sometimes. When we visited Italy in 2014, we toured the Antinori winery in Tuscany. The meal and wine was fantastic. We have shared several bottles of Villa Antinori Toscana since although I still prefer a beer or whisky/bourbon.
Try Paso Robles - great wines coming from DAOU Winery. Off the chart growth, Cabernet is really good.
Drinking a Cabernet Franc from Lake County, California - Steele Winery - excellent
All reds, no whites in general for me.
Brunello is probably third. If you're looking for good cheap Italian, go for Rosso de Montalcino (note that this is NOT Montepulciano). It's the same grape as Brunello, just a smaller percentage. It's probably around 15-20 a bottle. Rather than the 40-150 the Brunello can go for.
Port is always good. I prefer ruby to tawny. If you like Port, you might like Eiswein (ice wine) for a white version of fortified wine.
IMHO the standard dry Italian white is Santa Margherita pinot grigio. I prefer chardonnay though.
My go to table wines are Villa Antinori and J. Lohr Cab. Both run about $15-$17 a bottle.
Lately I’ve been a bit down on wine, though. Been more into scotch/whiskey and bourbons. I’ve been drinking Balvenie Doublewood and Bulleit.
There was going to be a major glut of wine grapes/juice/wine in California. I believe consumption will be going way up.
People are stressed, not driving(sequestered at home) and not going out to imbibe at local water hole.
For non-Italian I like Pinot Noir.
Not really a wine guy though.
Except white zinfandel!
An overall favorite we always have is 7 Deadly Zins - Michael David has some great wines in general but that is what I'd consider our house red to be.
Rioja, montepulciano, malbec, pinot - really I'll drink anything.
My go to table wines are Villa Antinori and J. Lohr Cab. Both run about $15-$17 a bottle.
Lately I’ve been a bit down on wine, though. Been more into scotch/whiskey and bourbons. I’ve been drinking Balvenie Doublewood and Bulleit.
ah alas -- I still have a bunch of Balvenie in my larder which I used to ove -- I wish I could drink it - but not allowed. Sounds like a lot of similar tastes my friend
Brunello is probably third. If you're looking for good cheap Italian, go for Rosso de Montalcino (note that this is NOT Montepulciano). It's the same grape as Brunello, just a smaller percentage. It's probably around 15-20 a bottle. Rather than the 40-150 the Brunello can go for.
Port is always good. I prefer ruby to tawny. If you like Port, you might like Eiswein (ice wine) for a white version of fortified wine.
IMHO the standard dry Italian white is Santa Margherita pinot grigio. I prefer chardonnay though.
I do like St Emilion -- a lot -- it's become very pricey although I just bought a case of it I got a good deal on -- definitely give me earthy : )
... and don't diss the screw-off cap. Many good wines -- maybe not great but good -- use them in place of corks now, and I'm all for it.
I like crisp whites, less fruity than Sauvignons.
My go to table wines are Villa Antinori and J. Lohr Cab. Both run about $15-$17 a bottle.
Lately I’ve been a bit down on wine, though. Been more into scotch/whiskey and bourbons. I’ve been drinking Balvenie Doublewood and Bulleit.
J Lohr is made in Paso Robles.
If you really want an excellent California Wine - Try Tablas Creek - they are out of Paso as well.
Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastle and the Haas Family, venture.
Top California wine I have had. (and I have had thousands - in the wine business). * I have never worked with it.
White burgundy for white.
A few others that I love are cote de Rhone and priorat.
White burgundy for white.
A few others that I love are cote de Rhone and priorat.
White Burgundy is something I also like as far as whites go.
Quote:
And my favorite Cab is Freemark Abbey. It used to run about $40 a bottle but it’s gone up in the past year or two. I’m part of their wine club along with Il Brigante, Red blend also from Napa. Freemark also makes a fantastic Merlot.
My go to table wines are Villa Antinori and J. Lohr Cab. Both run about $15-$17 a bottle.
Lately I’ve been a bit down on wine, though. Been more into scotch/whiskey and bourbons. I’ve been drinking Balvenie Doublewood and Bulleit.
J Lohr is made in Paso Robles.
If you really want an excellent California Wine - Try Tablas Creek - they are out of Paso as well.
Perrin family of Chateau de Beaucastle and the Haas Family, venture.
Top California wine I have had. (and I have had thousands - in the wine business). * I have never worked with it.
Thanks for the recommendations. If I can find them locally I’ll check them out.
Reds: South African anything, Cali cabs, Mendoza/Argentina malbec
As an equal-opportunity lush, I really enjoy whites too with Alsatian rieslings and riesling vineyard blends being at the apex - if I want a more fruity version, I move over to the german riesling, I am partial to the Mosel. A good white burg is always a treat but they are getting out of range too.
2. Cote rotie/ st joseph
3. Ribera del duero
3. Southern cote de Rhône
4. Pinot noir from Russian River
As an equal-opportunity lush, I really enjoy whites too with Alsatian rieslings and riesling vineyard blends being at the apex - if I want a more fruity version, I move over to the german riesling, I am partial to the Mosel. A good white burg is always a treat but they are getting out of range too.
Paulliacs are good -- but mostly pretty expensive - every once in a while I get a good deal on them