Starting to like wine
 

I have never been a wine guy. Most wines I have tried in the past had a strong vinegar taste and I didn't enjoy them. Recently my wife and I have discovered wines that we like and we want to learn more. We have been enjoying Moscato lately. I would like to learn more and can't go to a wine tasting yet because of small kids at home.

What other wines would you guys recommend if I like a sweet wine?

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Port.:tu

Re: Starting to like wine
 

for RED you might try a Dolcetto d'Alba. Relatively inexpensive ($12-25 per bottle).
for WHITE try Moscato d'Asti. :tu

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Caymus Conundrum

Re: Starting to like wine
 

:tpd:
The Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port 10 Year Old is my current favorite. I find that a nice glass of port and a great cigar is the perfect night cap!

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Although not overly sweet, I think most non-whinos would like Apothic Red. The complex flavors in this wine remind me of a cigar that changes flavors through different thirds. A word of caution, this wine is not for meals, it is to be enjoyed alone. I can find it locally for between $7.99 and $10.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Thanks for the suggestions. I am going to be on the look out today for something new based off your recommendations.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Moscato is a good, sweeter wine. A Riesling might pair well too.

With cigars I always like a nice cab :)

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Dolcetto, by default, is pretty acidic and dry. The OP stated he likes some sugar in wine? If anything, Amarone should fit the bill, if a red is considered, or Ports as already suggested.

German Reislings, either Spatlese or Auslese (more sugar content) are good, Austrian Reislings are all dry as a bone (although great wines).

Any Gewurtztramminer should be great as well, most have some sugar in them, they as fruity as Moscato (Muscat here in CA) and offer great complexity, smoky character and spice. California makes a few very affordable versions, although higher end Alsace versions (France, and the standard for the varietal) make some incredible wines, most relatively affordable.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Another sweet white wine that hasn't been mentioned is Sauternes. It's pretty pricey, but worth trying at least once in your life. Absolutely delicious.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Chalk one more up for Gewurtztramminer.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Sauternes, like most other wines, span a wide price scale.

There is actually a whole bunch of sweet white wines, most are not really "known" to general public. Sweet Vouvray (Loire), Soleras of Spain (try Toro Albala Pedro Ximenez), sweet versions of Viognier, sweet versions of Marsanne/Rousanne, etc. Canada makes a bunch of sweet whites made form a number of different varietals. Alsace makes some incredible sweet Gewurtztraminers.

If you like Sauternes, then you should track down a nicely aged bottle of Huet (Loire, he makes several, actually his son does now), between the two I'll take Huet hands down and its more affordable as well (if speaking of top notch Sauternes).

And almost nothing comes close to a 1961 or 1972 Toro Albala PX. You should be able to track down a 1979, and for the price it is outstanding. PX is probably the best wine to go with a cigar, IMO.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I am not a sweet wine fan, but I know a little about wines from a friend of mine who is a wine distribitor. He also suggested the Gewurtztramminer but there are dry ones and wet ones so check first.
There's a winery here in MA called Nashoba Valley Winery that makes their wines from their own grapes and uses a lot of their own fruits from the orchard in them too. I am not a huge fan but it's because they are very sweet. A lot of my friends and family love them and go to the winery at least twice a year to stock up.
http://www.nashobawinery.com/

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I'll toss another vote up for Gewurtztraminer. On the east coast here a lot of local wineries make sweet Vidal Blanc, Viognier, and Traminette (a Gewurtztraminer/Seyval hybrid).

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Thanks, I'll look into the Huet!

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Keep rocking the Moscato. In Portugal it's Mostcatel. Ice wines or late harvest wines you'd like to as well. Let's not forget Tokay or tawny port.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port is tough to beat IMO.


:tu


Chris.....

Re: Starting to like wine
 

Ramos Pinto, Ferreira, Noval, and Sandeman give Grahams a run for money. All are excellent products, but Graham (to me) isn't really a big tawny brand. 20 is a good balance of fruit to age.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I clearly drink too much wine lol. Zsazsa made me my own sampler. http://budurl.com/winesample

I'm stoked, there's a bunch of cool sounding new wines in this one I look forward to trying.

I'm always a big fan of 5-count samplers because you can try a few different kinds but you still get the bulk-buying discounts.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I don't drink much wine, but when I do, I like it fairly dry. Merlot, Cabernet, Chardonnay. A nice cold chardonnay or pino grigio is nice on a hot day. :tu
A good cheap pino that the wife and I enjoy is Cavit

Re: Starting to like wine
 

WOW, all the suggestions should keep us busy for awhile. I picked up some Gewurtztraminer and Riesling to try next. Thanks for all the feedback everyone. This is going to be fun trying all of these.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

I tried a Cavit Pinot Noir that was solid for the money; made in Italy.

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Don't forget Dow's and Taylor Fladgate.

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Probably from same sources Gallo got their "Pinot Noir". I' be extremely suspect of ANY "Pinot Noir" coming out in such quantities from ANY European country. If you like the wine, great, but calling it Pinot Noir is highly questionable and I hope TTB will start paying attention.

Re: Starting to like wine
 

How about Cabs and Merlot? What do you guys like? I've yet to buy anything over $12 for a bottle because I have yet to find anything that has tasted much better than what I have had. I enjoy Charles Shaw (sold at Trader Joes and $3/bottle) more so than some of the $10 bottles....seriously.

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Who knows? It was cheap and Cavit, so I thought I would mention it. I wouldn't stock my cellar with it.

What are your under $15 pinot picks you think I'd like?

Re: Starting to like wine
 

2005 Bordeaux- take your pick. Look for one's that come in the flat boxes, vs. the square ones. There are too many names to just say a few. Depends who distributes wine in your area. It's a buyer's market on the lower end from BDX right now.

BDX is primarly Merlot and Cab, so it should be win-win! BDX holds the largest percentage in my dry wine collection. Even at $15, you can buy BDX that will age a decade no problem. Also, I it's a great wine for a cigar; very traditional and classic.

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Not sure what's available in your neck of the woods. For $15 per, I would actually drink Gamay, some are really good. Pinot wise, it is difficult to name one since good Pinot starts in the vineyard and good grapes are now more expensive than Napa Cab (price per ton), main reason prices have escalated in recent years.

By far the best bet is La Crema Sonoma Coast, although a few dollars more than the target $15

Sebastiani (Sonoma)
Kenwood (Sonoma)


Outside of these 3, I'd rather drink another varietal or look at NZ Pinot, I've had some really good ones. Isabella is one, around $20?

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Lately, too many of them are made with way too high a level of VA, I simply can't stand it.

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I am a huge Loire and Beaujolais fan. Anyone who is at least not tried some good ones from both region are really doing a disservice to themselves. Great values. Under $25 gets home run wines that are easy to approach.

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:D

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Vella White Zinfandel in a box. Seriously. Its like Bartells & James wine coolers without the fizz. Drinks like Coolaid. Girls love it. ;)

Re: Starting to like wine
 

The missus and I had stopped by a wine bar for dessert & a port. They were out of what we wanted, and the server suggested an Australian muscat -- you may enjoy it: http://www.southernstarz.com/detail.cfm?sku=3372 ;)

Re: Starting to like wine
 

There's some good muscat from Austrailia. I had a great Israeli one recently too. Not expensive at all.