Starting to like wine...the Red version

[kgoings]

So I stole the idea from the recent thread

http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showthread.php?t=28654

I too have recently started drinking wine. Started with whites and moved along to reds, I am liking Merlots, Cabs, and this cheap Shriaz-Merlot. But I dont really know what to look for. I really like the red wines with cigars. Any suggestions? There should be a Wine MAW/PIF..

[TheRiddick]

Well, its like saying I like Maduro, Corojo, Criollo, etc. Any more specifics as to what you're actually drinking?

As for PIF and such, consumers are not allowed to ship wine. Sorry for bad news.

[kgoings]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Well, its like saying I like Maduro, Corojo, Criollo, etc. Any more specifics as to what you're actually drinking?

As for PIF and such, consumers are not allowed to ship wine. Sorry for bad news.

I really have no idea, I will have to pay more attention. I have been just buying stuff that say it is from 03 or something like that. I know nothing of the brands.

[hornitosmonster]

Originally Posted by kgoings

I really have no idea, I will have to pay more attention. I have been just buying stuff that say it is from 03 or something like that. I know nothing of the brands.

I see that your in Phoenix. Total Wine, Bevmo, and Magnum's Cigar Wine and Spirit have frequent beer and wine tastings.

[kgoings]

Originally Posted by hornitosmonster

I see that your in Phoenix. Total Wine, Bevmo, and Magnum's Cigar Wine and Spirit have frequent beer and wine tastings.

Cool I will have to try some

[bobarian]

Look at the regions(appelations) for the wines you like and try others from the same area. Dont let price tell you what to like either. There are good inexpensive wines and bad high end, just like cigars.

[Mugen910]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Well, its like saying I like Maduro, Corojo, Criollo, etc. Any more specifics as to what you're actually drinking?

As for PIF and such, consumers are not allowed to ship wine. Sorry for bad news.

Technically I think we are not suppose to ship cigars either..

The only wine I can recall recently was something called Duckhorn. It went great with my steak

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by Mugen910

Technically I think we are not suppose to ship cigars either..

Except that you cannot conceal wine in a shipment even if you try. The old, I am shipping olive oil to my grandpa" does not work any longer, the best that could happen is you are either refusd to ship or get the wine back. In most cases it is simply confiscated.

Duckhorn is one of the best known names in Napa, for decades they were the top name in Merlot (been bypassed lately).

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Well, its like saying I like Maduro, Corojo, Criollo, etc. Any more specifics as to what you're actually drinking?

As for PIF and such, consumers are not allowed to ship wine. Sorry for bad news.

They aren't allowed to ship cuban cigars either last I checked

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by SilverFox

They aren't allowed to ship cuban cigars either last I checked

Tell you what, since no one is listening.

Start the PIF. Let me know how far you get

[Sauer Grapes]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Well, its like saying I like Maduro, Corojo, Criollo, etc. Any more specifics as to what you're actually drinking?

As for PIF and such, consumers are not allowed to ship wine. Sorry for bad news.

Not exactly true. It depends on the laws of the state for both the sender and the receiver. Also, it cant's go USPS, but FedEx or UPS are fine as long as the state laws OK it. It is illegal in some states.

[G G]

I just started drinking wine a few month's ago on the advice of my doctor for the cardiac benefits. I have found I tend to the Red wines as well cause the whites just aint "heavy" enough.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by ggainey

I just started drinking wine a few month's ago on the advice of my doctor for the cardiac benefits. I have found I tend to the Red wines as well cause the whites just aint "heavy" enough.

Try a nice German Reisling AUSLESE with some spicy Asian dish, let me know what you think

There is a place off the strip in Vegas called Lotus of Siam, considered one of the best Thai places in States. Their entire wine list is German Reisling, all at RETAIL prices and not a penny more, and the list is built on some of the best names in business. You order your food and tell them how spicy you want it, 1 to 10. I was OK at about 7 and I love spicy food... But the combo of spicy and sweet wine is the real deal and not to be missed.

No red wine would be able to play along with such a cuisine, so white wines do have a good place for certain foods. Although I am about a 95% red wine drinker.

[Razorhog]

For a nice BCR (big cheap red as we call it in my family) try Little Penguin. The Cabernet Sauvignon is a favorite.

[G G]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Try a nice German Reisling AUSLESE with some spicy Asian dish, let me know what you think

I am an admitted complete idiot when it comes to wine. I have found I do like cabs and port. I have a wine that a lady from my church gave us called Mission Hill Reserve Riesling Icewine 2004 that is awesome. Am I tasting olives? Or is that my imagination?

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by ggainey

I am an admitted complete idiot when it comes to wine. I have found I do like cabs and port. I have a wine that a lady from my church gave us called Mission Hill Reserve Riesling Icewine 2004 that is awesome. Am I tasting olives? Or is that my imagination?

Greg,

Icewine is usually sweeter than Auslese and by law it has to be picked when berries are frozen. They literally grow these in colder climates (Germany and Canada) and simply let the grapes stay on vines until winter hits. What that does, the cold snap I mean, is evaporate most of the liquid out of berries in turn concentrating what's left with the sugar inside (they usually pick in snow). Imagine raisin like berries (deflated) full of sweet juice. Then they pick and press.

Have not tasted that particular wine. If you taste olives, then olives it is :-)

Italians do something similar with red grapes, Amarone wines. They pick, destem the fruit (picking berries off the stems/clusters) and lay them on special mats under the sun. Achieves same thing: water evaporation and sugar concentration. When berries get raisiny they are pressed and fermented, same as ice wine. The biggest difference may be the use of oak in Amarone to age wine versus stainless steel tanks for icewine.

Best Canada made icewines are pricey, but I've seen some at Costco at decent prices. German Reislings made from frozen grapes are really expensive as are Alsace Gewurtztramiers. But if there is a time to splurge, once a year or whatever, they can be mild blowing experiences, you simply pour some in a glass and sit back sniffing the wine for all its complexity and concentration.

Try a few more affordable German Reislings with spicy cuisine. I've seen some at Trader Joe's and Costco. Just make sure they are at least Spatlese (shoul be on the label) or Auslese. Trader Joe's sold some Beerenauslese (next step up) for $20 per, a 375ml bottle.

[shilala]

I do a lot of wine shopping for Lisa. She likes Cabs and Merlot.
Bob is right on the money, someone told me the same thing when I asked in the liquor store.
Seems like Lisa likes Napa Valley stuff the most, Australian stuff the least. I'm trying to pay attention to what I buy so I can guess a little better. The year doesn't so much seem to matter, but 2005 seems to be where it's at, so far.
We have bunches of wineries around here, I'm hoping to find something local that she likes a lot. I'm guessing it'd be better, and better for her.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by shilala

Seems like Lisa likes Napa Valley stuff the most, Australian stuff the least.

There is a reason for that :-) I am sure there is an old thread on the subject, but in simple terms: Napa - clean, well made wines, OZ - all sorts of manipulation and additions plus way to much oak and at prices we're discussing, not oak barrels but oak chips to simply flavor the wine...

Just to put things in perspective, Michael Twelftree, the Two Hands guy, was bad mouthing CA wines and winemaking expertise big time in press. Take a wild guess where he is making wine now, or rather, who makes it for him and where...

[rlmedic]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

There is a reason for that :-) I am sure there is an old thread on the subject, but in simple terms: Napa - clean, well made wines, OZ - all sorts of manipulation and additions plus way to much oak and at prices we're discussing, not oak barrels but oak chips to simply flavor the wine...

Just to put things in perspective, Michael Twelftree, the Two Hands guy, was bad mouthing CA wines and winemaking expertise big time in press. Take a wild guess where he is making wine now, or rather, who makes it for him and where...

Lots of napa wineries also use oak chips for their less expensive wines along with egg shells so its not that Napa makes clean wine its a different grape different taste different expirence all around.

As to some inexpensive Napa cabs on of my favorites that is easy to get is called "the show" by joel gott/rebel wine company about $12.50/btl

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by rlmedic

Lots of napa wineries also use oak chips for their less expensive wines along with egg shells so its not that Napa makes clean wine its a different grape different taste different expirence all around.

As to some inexpensive Napa cabs on of my favorites that is easy to get is called "the show" by joel gott/rebel wine company about $12.50/btl

Just curious, do you know what egg shells are used for? And if we're on the subject, it is egg whites, not egg shells, easier and "cleaner". I have seen milk used as well. What's so bad about egg whites or milk?

How many cheap Napa reds do you know? Say, compared to the zillions of "animal label" cases that come out of OZ? Have you been to any Napa cellars and seen nothing but acres of barrels? There is a reason for that OZ Cab to be priced at $15 or below and there is a reason many Napa Cabs cost $50 and up, barrels are sold in EU (currency), price per ton goes up to $15K (per ton). On the other hand, oak chips are cheap, harvesting 15 tons per acre (as opposed to 3 tons per in Napa) also makes for bland taste, main reason the big boys in OZ have some interesting "research" chem labs in place. To be fair, so does Gallo.

Better OZ Cabs cost same as Napa Cabs and the reasons are listed in the paragraph above. There are no miracles and no short cuts in wine world. BTW, many top end OZ Cabs (and reds in general) still use American oak barrels, they are about half price of European barrels.

Cab a different grape? Different taste? How? Have you done blind Cab tastings? Try a BLIND tasting of Cabs from whatever regions you feel like, let me know how much of a difference you will be able to pick up. Then do a similar BLIND tasting of, say, Pinot Noirs and red Burgs, and let me know just how easy it will be picking them apart. Same for Chardonnay and Chablis. German Reisling versus Austrian. I can go on... Cab is Cab until you reach into upper price range and this thread is obviously not there. Cab is a "pedestrian" and very hyped up grape, main reason so many are now moving to the likes of Portugal reds, Agentian Malbec, Grenache based reds, Syrah based blends, Petite Sirah and others. I stopped buying Cab years ago and am down to maybe a couple of cases.

Joel Gott makes no NAPA CAB, it is labeled CALIFORNIA CAB for a reason.

Let's talk apples and apples...