Wine

[LukkyKnight]

Somebody asked for a wine thread.

Here's Lukky's opinion of reds from the west coast of North America:

If you're after Calfornia wines, consider that in general the 97s from Napa Valley are among the best they've released.

Further north, I'd make the same assertion about the 99s from Washington state's Columbia Valley. My favorites are probably various of the reds from Chateau Ste. Michele offerings, the Windy Ridge Merlot, and Hedges "Columbia Red" (which is a more european approach, blending about half cabernet sauvignon with a nice assortment of other red grapes including merlot, syrah, and cabernet franc to get a very dry wine which will probably age VERY gracefully in the bottle - IMHO.) If you prefer single varietals, as many north americans seem to, stick to the first two - and read the labels, since Chateau Ste Michele will release blends.

Got any questions you dare ask me? There are others here who are into wine, and doubtless some know more than I do, but if you don't mind discussions from people who's authority rests on invisible, unverifiable experiences this thread may last awhile.

 

[IrishWolfhound]

Oh hell...

I thought this was a whine thread. I wanted to complain about the quality of threads lately.

And by the way...I agree with you on the Windy Ridge Merlot.

 

[Allexus_TN]

Now I guess we need a cheese thread. Then we'll have our wine and cheese party.

 

[IrishWolfhound]

Add a loaf of bread...

and thou singing beside me in the wilderness and I'd be in paradise.

 

[LukkyKnight]

Now I guess we need a cheese thread. Then we'll have our wine and cheese party.

I think we need a Brit if we're going to talk cheese. Either that or somebody from Wisconsin.

 

[Soblue]

I just got back from Wisconsin. Mmmm cheese

 

[miles]

My palate has changed over the years, but there was a time when I was partial to the reds you could get for $2 a hit. They made you see God.

 

[LukkyKnight]

~LOL~

You can get some amazing wine for under $10/bottle, but under $5 you need a different adjective.

 

[mig]

I've always preferred white wine myself.

A good Vouvray from the Loire.A German Piesporter Kabinet if you
like it sweeter.

Cheese,Greenes organic Glastonbury farmhouse Cheddar,or
Bresse Bleu,or vintage port and Stilton.

 

[Vilac]

Anyone here have any experience at all with the "Ice Wines"?

I've been waiting to delve into one of these and try them for myself....but unfortunately I haven't found anyone near me that sells them. (I live in the sticks). Luckily, though...I can order them for my own store and try them that way.

Throw out some ideas. It would be appreciated.
V~

 

[LukkyKnight]

Drink them young, they are not meant to store.

Jimi swears by them, so I'm sure next time he swings through the thread he'll have some opinions. He may assert they're a national treasure of Canada.

Meanwhile, as with anything from Ontario, look for "VQA" on the label, it means "Vintner's Quality Assurance" and all their best offerings have this designation.

 

[Vilac]

Re: Drink them young, they are not meant to store.

Jimi swears by them, so I'm sure next time he swings through the thread he'll have some opinions. He may assert they're a national treasure of Canada.

Meanwhile, as with anything from Ontario, look for "VQA" on the label, it means "Vintner's Quality Assurance" and all their best offerings have this designation.

Hmm...I live just across from Ontario. (Sarnia, to be exact)...so a trip across the bridge may be in order.

At the very least, I can check them out at dinner when I'm over there.

Thanks, Lukky...
V~

 

[ExLimey]

My folks are visiting in two weeks and just had a case of Cab shipped up here from V Sattui in St. Helena. I told them I was drinking it with 7-up and ice! I have very specific instructions on where to store it before they arrive. I was thinking out in the sun? LOL

 

[LukkyKnight]

Out of the light is good, ExJester... ~LOL~

The genuine secret to wine storage is not really to keep it cool, but to keep it from changing temperatures rapidly. It's wild fluctuations that may cause problems more than anything else (although storing it long-term above 80F will surely change how it ages if you're talking about something you plan to keep for many years.)

In other words, a closet that's fairly stable at 75 is better than beside the freaken hot water heater, see? For that length of time there's no worry if you're not boiling it.

 

[ExLimey]

Out of the light is good, ExJester... ~LOL~

Hehe, I like that.


I'm just going to throw it in my spare bedroom, it stays a pretty consistent temp in there (usually a little cooler than the rest of the house).

My folks are mild "wine-snobs". My old bedroom now houses a wine fridge which probably isn't big enough to fit everything they have. Their annual pilgrimage to Napa will be at the end of September to stock up again.

As for me, I rarely, if ever, drink. Usually it's gin, never wine. I guess this apple fell a long way from the tree. (probably bounced off a root or something!)

 

[LukkyKnight]

Many would say to serve a Cab at about 65F if you can arrange it... a short while in the fridge would be nifty, if it didn't scandalize them. For a real eyebrow-raiser decant it an hour or so ahead of time. Wine doesn't always need to breathe, but it usually helps and it sounds snobby as hell.

No, it won't really breathe in the bottle, there's almost no surface area for the air to work with. Really old and really young wines benefit the most from this...

 

[Guest]

back in the good old days when I was living in upstate new york, I became addicted to the local Wagner vineyard's ice wine. Ice wines are made by leaving the grapes on the vine until after the first freeze. They're pressed when fronzen which makes the wine very sweet (they're desert wines) and you either like 'em or you don't. Canadian ice wines are supposed to be some of the best...especially those from Ontario.

Me, I love them.

 

[*bratcat*]

 

[Guest]

The virgin is back

 

[BigDawg69]

One of the best white wines I have ever tasted is by the Caymus Vineyards in California.

They have blended 8 different grapes to make a very light, yet fruity wine called Caymus Conundrum. It runs about $65/bottle in Vancouver...we have one chilling in the fridge right now. It isn't sweet, which you would normally think with a fruity wine. It tastes best if it is ice cold and goes great with everything.

OMG! I was just going to post about Caymus Conundrum! It is my favorite white! That is the wine of choice when I dine at Victoria & Albert's at the Grand Floridian! An excellent wine!

 

[LukkyKnight]

You always have to be wary about equating fruity with sweet, they're not synonymous.

 

[Vilac]

back in the good old days when I was living in upstate new york, I became addicted to the local Wagner vineyard's ice wine. Ice wines are made by leaving the grapes on the vine until after the first freeze. They're pressed when fronzen which makes the wine very sweet (they're desert wines) and you either like 'em or you don't. Canadian ice wines are supposed to be some of the best...especially those from Ontario.

Me, I love them.

I guess I'm going to have to plan a trip across the bridge and do some research. I would think that being so close to the border here, that we'd have something from Ontario locally, but as far as I've seen so far I'm out of luck.

I'll report back when I have done some sampling.

Thanks everyone!
V~

 

[IrishWolfhound]

I think we need somebody from Wisconsin.

Cest moi!

 

[Jellybeangirl]

Robert Mondavi makes the best wines...my favorite being the Napa Valley Fume Blanc

 

[Vilac]

Robert Mondavi makes the best wines...my favorite being the Napa Valley Fume Blanc

I'd tend to agree with you. I first tried the Mondavi line about two years ago...and it's quite good.

V~