WINE - Red, White, or Other - Discussed Here!

Started by SonicMan46, April 07, 2007, 06:14:18 PM

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XB-70 Valkyrie

If you really dislike Bach you keep quiet about it! - Andras Schiff

Brian

#1041
Quote from: Baron Scarpia on February 08, 2018, 02:49:21 PM
It seems you have slighted our Central Coast producers in favor of Northern California. The Paso Robles and Monterey vineyards produce some very attractive wines, including Cabernet Sauvignons and Syrah's.
Visited Bonny Doon in November and I have a half-case of Rhys lying around somewhere. But you are correct, this is an area less well-known to me; I've tended to prefer lighter/cooler-climate styles, and more acidic rather than heavier-bodied reds, but know of at least a few really great wineries as far south as Santa Barbara (Jim Clendenen)...

Any particular favorites?

Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on February 08, 2018, 02:42:32 PM
Speaking of Burgundies, can anyone recommend some not-blindingly-expensive (50$ or less) red burgundies that are widely available (i.e., in the U.S.)?? I have very little experience with these and am curious!
Joseph Drouhin is reliable in that price range. Some regions to look for might include Cotes-de-Beaune and Marsannay. Honestly, you should also look to the very best wines from Beaujolais - from Fleurie and Morgon, for instance - these are gamay rather than pinot noir, so a little lighter in style, but the very best can still age 7+ years and have a bit of spice to them. And the very best bottles are about $40, with really really really good ones starting around $18-20.

Passetoutgrains is a word you may see on labels - this means a blend of grapes (otherwise verboten for Burgundian reds, I think). I like 'em because I find in general that any French winemaker who's breaking with tradition is doing it because they want to make something cool.

XB-70 Valkyrie

#1042
We went to Sonoma and Marin counties back in July/Aug for two fabulous weeks of beachcombing, hiking, redwoods, stargazing, and great food and wine. (and some great secluded AirBNBs--screw hotels!)

Here are a few thoughts.

Copita Restaurant, Sausalito. Johanna Wier's restaurant. Geezus, 200$ for Mexican food, but nonetheless, it was very, very good. Lobster ceviche, tacos, lamb, papas bravas, and one helluva margarita (I hate sweet margaritas, but this was nice and dry!) Bunwaylos  :laugh: for dessert. Excellent ambience. A short drive back to our pad in Mill Valley.

Kenwood: near Santa Rosa. Nice tasting room, but we were underwhelmed with pretty much everything. We bought a bottle of some reddish stuff. Forgettable. Servers seemed as if they could almost give a damn.

Kunde: Near Santa Rosa. I have always liked their whites, so we thought we'd try this out. Everything was pretty good, but nothing to set your hair on fire. Tasting room and grounds were quite attractive. We bought a bottle of Red Dirt Red, which was quite spicy and full-bodied--a wonderful accompaniment to our taco truck dinner in Guerneville! If ever in Guerneville, check it out (next to the Safeway). Everyone here LOVES this truck, and I can see why!

Russian River Brewing Pub. Santa Rosa. Really good pub food, but I have decided for once and for all ***I DO NOT LIKE IPA BEERS.*** Had Pliny the Elder on tap finally, and to me it tasted as gimmicky and pucker-inducing as nearly all other IPAs. I've given IPAs enough of a try, and I'm looking elsewhere for my beer satisfaction.

Rodney Strong: Near Healdsburg. DAMMIT, DAMMIT! DAMMIT! We drove around quite a bit trying to find this one, and then got lost. Then, we got back on the right road, and it was CLOSED due to construction within a quarter of a mile or so of the winery. I was so pissed. There was no place we could find to park, or we could have walked. They must be losing (or as some people would say "loosing") a lot of business.

Silver Oak: Near Healdsburg. Very beautiful grounds and tasting room. Cheapest offering of cab was about 100$. I knew it would have to be astounding for me to be willing to pay that much. Was not astounding--not even close. I know a lot of people think highly of this wine and winery, but as for me, I've had 10$ bottles that were far more satisfying than anything they had here.

Raymond's Bakery. Cazadero. LOVED their Friday night pizza night. VERY popular, with lots of cool people, live music, and a very laid-back feel. Very nice pizza, baked goods, and wine. We really liked the local Wild Boar syrah. LOVE this area!!!

Littorai and William Selyem: Legendary Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays, but are you worthy? Tastings are very expensive, and apparently you have to know someone to get in. Not my scene at all, no matter how good it is. Pass.

Russia House No. 2. Near Jenner. A gorgeous site by the Russian River, staffed by two Russian women who make whatever they want. You come in and eat all you want and pay what you want. Food was not the greatest, but we enjoyed the ambience and the idea behind it. It was almost like being back in Russia (were there for two weeks in St. Petersburg in 2007). We even found a wooden toy (bear playing drums and rabbit dancing) we passed up on in Russia because we had flat run out of room to bring anything else back.

Fort Ross: Fascinating history of the Russians in California. A very beautiful and interesting place to spend an afternoon.

Sonoma Coast Vineyards: Near Bodega Bay. This was our favorite. Pricey, but exquisite Pinots. Our favorite was the San Antonio Mountains Pinot. Incredible minerality and complexity in a Pinot, the likes of which we have not had in some time.

The Fishetarian: Bodega Bay. WOW, super, fresh seafood with all the trimmings. Very casual. A fish market and restaurant (lunch only I believe) in one. Will be back!

Pasta Moon Half Moon Bay. Great as always. We were planning to eat at the Happy Taco the first night, but ended up eating here two nights in a row. Wonderful home-made pasta with all the trimmings.

Swanton Berry Farm. Near Davenport, CA. The greatest place in the entire world. Just go there and taste the jams, berries, and look out across at the ocean.

Ano Nuevo Park/Cove Beach: One of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful things I've ever seen. The way the sunlight was shining on the water was phenomenally beautiful. When the lighting is just right like this, it's like being in another world.

Rideau Vineyards: Solvang. Some very nice, reasonably-priced offerings, of mostly Rhone style reds and whites. Server was far from friendly, but we had a nice time anyway, and sat on the patio for a while enjoying the grounds. It looks as if they have some killer events (All u can eat oysters + Viogner)

The Hitching Post, Buellton: Good BBQ steaks, but not the greatest I've ever had. Very good sauce. All other side-dishes and desserts were mediocre at best. One of the worst glasses of Cabs I've ever had (After a tasting flight).

And then, back to HELL A (Pasadena, actually, we do have SOME standards!)  :'(

As I've always said, The Bay area is effortlessly cool and awesome and beautiful in a way that SOCAL could never dream of being in an hundred million billion trillion octillion years.












If you really dislike Bach you keep quiet about it! - Andras Schiff

Sydney Nova Scotia

I went to Blue Pyrenees (originally set up by Remy Martin in 1963) and both the reds, whites and sparkling's were fantastic
Sydney is my name and games is my game

The new erato




Some nice drinking with friends at my home Saturday. Leif Ove Andsnes was invited but he was doing the Brahms 1 With Gewandhaus/Blomstedt in Dresden this Saturday. Great Burgundy fan.

SurprisedByBeauty

Quote from: The new erato on November 12, 2018, 02:13:28 PM



Some nice drinking with friends at my home Saturday.

Good lord, what a lineup. Especially envy you the experience of the Portuguese and the Alsatian wines. Got my shipment (traveling parents with a motorhome as couriers helps, where there aren't imports available  ;D) of the Alsatian wines from Bruno Sorg/Eguisheim that I picked out with the wife when we stopped there on our summer bike-tour. After some ten, maybe even twenty years of aiming at greater sweetness than what I prefer, they're back to how I know them... and are delicious -- from simple to very storable vieilles vignes big leaguers.

The new erato

#1046
Yes, I've been at the Sorgs (and Beyers) in Eguisheim several times. Great village.

The Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 06, Roumier Cras 01 and Prager GV Stocckultur 07, perhaps also with the Raveneau 09 and Drouhin white Clos des Mouches 10 were the best for me. The Clos the Ducs were the 95, a rare occurrence of a d'Angerville wine being actually mature, though the vintage is actually slightly problematic. Very good though.

A Gouges  Nuits-St-Georges Clos des Porrets 99 and a Tondonia Reserva 01 were also very worthwhile, though mysteriously managed to avoid being photographed. A Mackle vin jaune also appeared withe the cheeses, though I never got the vintage. Thankfully we were 11 present.

André Le Nôtre

#1047
Time to thaw this thread out of deep freeze.

We have really been enjoying this Valserrano Crianza Rioja (2016) lately (~18$/bottle)--when we can find it. Quite complex with intense minerality and herbs--great with meats, pastas/tomato sauce, etc.

We tried the more expensive Reserva, but did not like it nearly as much. Tempranillo is one of my recent favorite varietals to explore. We have had a few very good ones from the California Central Coast in the last few years (Bonny Doon, Hearst Ranch). However, like all wines I fall in love with, they are no longer available.









The new erato

Covid under control we are drinking again. :) (though we never relly stopped)

A rather world famous pianist living i Bergen brought the Magdelaine

The new erato

And a couple of weeks later we did 15 mature Burgundies in the wineclub, som highlights.

Of course Covid hve put some brakes on things, but there has been a rather vivid social life within the confines set.


Spotted Horses

Quote from: André Le Nôtre on May 02, 2021, 06:58:14 PM
Time to thaw this thread out of deep freeze.

We have really been enjoying this Valserrano Crianza Rioja (2016) lately (~18$/bottle)--when we can find it. Quite complex with intense minerality and herbs--great with meats, pastas/tomato sauce, etc.

We tried the more expensive Reserva, but did not like it nearly as much. Tempranillo is one of my recent favorite varietals to explore. We have had a few very good ones from the California Central Coast in the last few years (Bonny Doon, Hearst Ranch). However, like all wines I fall in love with, they are no longer available.

Hearst Ranch Tempanillo not available? Brings back memories. Until two years ago we lived on the California Central Coast and the stuff ubiquitous in the area stores.
There are simply two kinds of music, good music and the other kind. - Duke Ellington

André Le Nôtre

#1051
The Hearst Ranch tasting room has moved out of Sebastian's market into the empty warehouse across the dirt road--the original building is very old and undergoing major renovation. The incredibly good hamburger stand that also occupied the building has retreated to one location in Templeton. The new tasting room does have a nice area outside with full ocean view, but the building has zero character, the people pouring the wine seemingly may as well just be laying bricks, and the wines were very disappointing last time we were there--pre-pandemic. We feel little motivation to go back. We used to love the tempranillo, cabernets, and the late harvest zinfandel (dessert wine). We vacation around there in a seaside cottage three or four times a year--to escape the horror of living in SoCal. (We might retire early, move to that area, buy a small place, and await the apocalypse.)

A few hours up the road, Bonny Doon is no longer owned by Randal Grahm, who sold it to some huge company. The tasting room just south of Davenport is closed!

In HMB, the famous old San Benito House nearly burned to the ground but is being rebuilt.

Our favorite restaurant in Berkeley closed.

Our favorite jazz show, Rise, on KPFK, went off the air after 25+ years.

And, by far worst of all, my parents both died this year.

Things suck.


Lately, we have been drowing our tears am Wasserflüssen Babylon in this Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz Bin 28 (about 25$)