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

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

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Bunny

Quote from: Heather Harrison on May 22, 2008, 04:41:47 PM
There are many wines that are made from something other than grapes, and they are often found at these out-of-the-way wineries.  Wine is frequently made from apples, pears, peaches, cherries, many types of berries, plums, rhubarb, honey, and dandelions.  In the region near Grand Junction, Colorado, there are numerous fruit orchards; some of the wineries there make use of the fruit.  Cherry wine is a specialty of that region.  There is a winery in Mt. Pleasant, Utah, that makes dry wine out of a variety of fruits.  I'm sure I will encounter a number of fruit wines in the plains states.

Heather

This reminds me of my childhood when we would sneak tastes of blackberry wine (delicious) and Slivovitz (firewater distilled from sloes) at Passover. 

Btw, have you ever seen "Arsenic and Old Lace"?  Perhaps a little elderberry wine might be appropriate. ;)

SonicMan46

New Zealand 2007 Sauvignon Blanc (SB) - for those interested in a light, 'sour apple', refreshing white wine, the '07 SBs from New Zealand are arriving, so I'm sampling 'many' at the moment - these are made in fairly large volumes and are available at excellent prices; two just added two to my cellar:

Drylands & Kim Crawford - ignore pic dates - talking about 2007 offerings - both from Marlborough (top of the southern island), where a vast majority of these varietal NZ wines are made - about $15 each in my area (ratings are 88 & 91, respectively, in the Wine Spectator); plenty of others now (or coming) - enjoy!  :D

 

Sergeant Rock

Quote from: Bunny on May 22, 2008, 06:47:36 AM
Well, I love these wines and have for many, many years.  Heather, Chateau d'Yquem became a favorite of mine after a night in college when we feasted on Roquefort cheese accompanied a couple of bottles.  It was much less expensive then because, if you can believer this, sweet wines were not fashionable!!!

Sarge, if I'm ever in Germany, I'll be sure to look you up so that I can sample some of those trockenbeerenausleses! 


Please do! I have a dozen or so in the cellar (and a half dozen bottles of sauternes too, including d'Yquem) but no one to drink them with. Mrs. Rock detests sweet wines and our friends here aren't into them either.

Sarge
the phone rings and somebody says,
"hey, they made a movie about
Mahler, you ought to go see it.
he was as f*cked-up as you are."
                               --Charles Bukowski, "Mahler"

Heather Harrison

I'm back from the flat states, and I found a lot of good wine.  So far, I have a few recommendations.

Sugar Clay Winery (western Iowa).  Cedar Ridge Red (blend of Chambourcin, St. Vincent, and Frontenac).  It is a very flavorful and fruity dry red wine.  It is light-bodied, similar to a lighter style of pinot noir (albeit with different flavors).  I bought a few other wines from this winery (including their award-winning Cynthiana).  The Loess Hills region of Iowa, where a few wineries (including this one) are located, is probably worth watching; it seems to be an ideal location to grow hybrid grapes.  http://www.sugarclaywinery.com/index.html

Valiant Vineyards (southeastern South Dakota).  Vermillion Red.  This wine is made from a blend of hybrid grapes grown in South Dakota.  It is very aromatic, much like a Chianti, but has its own unique flavor.  Another interesting wine is the Wild Grape wine, a dry red made from wild Vitis riparia grapes picked on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.  For something made from wild American grapes, it has a surprisingly smooth and balanced flavor.  Their "Ameritage" series of dry red wines was made in 2004, 2005, and 2006 to commemorate the Lewis & Clark expedition.  It is a blend of wild South Dakota grapes with grapes imported from the west coast.  All three were good, but I liked the 2005 best; it is very flavorful and complex, and well-balanced.  Finally, for those who like sweet red wines with a bit of foxy flavor, their "Sweet Red" is a very good choice.  Any wine-lover who visits Vermillion (perhaps to see the excellent music museum) should check out this winery.  http://www.buffalorunwinery.com/

Morgan Creek Vineyards (southern Minnesota).  Saint John Reserve (blend of Millot and Marechal Foch).  This dry red has a good aroma, but it needs time to open up.  At first, it doesn't taste like much, but a wonderful spicy flavor gradually emerges after it has breathed for a few minutes.  Drink this wine slowly; it will reward patience.  http://www.morgancreekvineyards.com/

I tasted many others and found many good ones.  I'll post more recommendations in the future.  In general, I see a lot of potential in the regions near the Missouri River.  The nearby hills provide good places to grow grapes, and the river probably has a significant effect on the climate.  The wineries have learned how to make good use of the hybrid grapes that grow well in this area, and some are beginning to investigate the unique characteristics of small regions.  Perhaps the concept of terroir is beginning to develop here.  I encountered one wine with the regional label "Pierce County" (Nebraska) that was made from a new hybrid developed specifically for the climate there; after I have drunk a bottle I will post a review.

Perhaps sometime in the future, this region will be "discovered", possibly when a wine from a forgotten location near the Missouri River gets a 90-point rating and the critics begin to take notice.  I would like to see what happens in a few years as the best wineries match varietals to particular microclimates.  This wine region is still a work in progress, and there is a lot of experimentation going on, but every time I visit I see signs of improvement.

Heather

SonicMan46

Quote from: Heather Harrison on June 02, 2008, 02:16:28 PM
I'm back from the flat states, and I found a lot of good wine.  So far, I have a few recommendations......

Quote from: Heather Harrison on June 02, 2008, 02:16:28 PM
I'm back from the flat states, and I found a lot of good wine.  So far, I have a few recommendations........

Heather - thanks for that wonderful summary of your recent wine experience in the ´flat states´!

We have a trip planned to Jackson Hole in September - planning to visit the National Parks, but also I'm looking forward to sampling some of the wines of the surrounding states, such as the Snake River area of Idaho - have had only a few wines from Idaho, but many seem to receive great reviews!

But, the same 'learning process' is happening in North Carolina - now have over 60 wineries here, many centered around the Yadkin River AVA (the first and still only 'American Viticultural Area' in the state) - microclimate adaptations will be very important - personally, I think the more southern European/Mediterranean grapes will likely be the 'stars of the future' - Pinot Grigio & Syrah are two that I'm predicting will be commonplace; however, hybrids (and even the American varietals) have a future here - exciting stuff!  :D

Heather Harrison

Idaho has a lot of good wine.  Since I live nearby, I have encountered it often.  Most of the wineries are concentrated near Boise, which is some distance from Jackson.  There is a little wine shop in Pocatello that sells a selection of Idaho wines, and I would guess that stores in Idaho Falls sell it too, but I haven't searched that city for wine yet.

Wyoming and Montana have very few wineries, but it is probably worth watching these states in case more appear in the coming years.  However, the climate isn't exactly ideal even for hybrid grapes, so I would be surprised if world class wines emerge any time soon (unless they are made from imported grapes).  Utah has a few, but onerous state laws make it difficult to start up and sustain a winery.  Given that parts of Utah are suitable for European wine grapes, there should be a more robust wine industry here.

Given that the other states in the region have their problems, Idaho wine is probably your best bet.  Enjoy your trip.

Heather

SonicMan46

Well,  not much activity here most of June -  :o  Of course, the summer is a nice time to sip on some chilled whites or roses -  :D

Earlier this week, I received a half-case order from the Oregon Pinot Noir Club - usually order my Oregon Pinot Noirs from them, but whites are offered, esp. this time of the year.

Arrivals included an Oregon winery new to my 'taste buds' - Owen Roe - purchased a mixed half case of their 2007 Pinot Gris & Riesling - both refreshing & delightful (would rate them in the high 80s) - a little pricey (particularly w/ S&H added to North Carolina); but the Pinot Gris that I've enjoyed from Oregon have been just excellent -  :)

 

uffeviking

Have to tell you about my latest adventure with red wines! I am buying most of my wines at a local super market with a very big wine section; last week they had a shopping cart sitting in the isle, full of bottles, all on sale for $4.99. I was almost past the cart when the name Hoodsport caught my attention. That's the small town on Hoods Canal, way out on the West coast of our State of Washington, the Canal is just like one of Norway's Fjords. We lived uphill for three years and also uphill is a small vineyard and we became friends with the owner and spent many evenings in their home, always being treated to their products. They never produced enough to go into big time selling; that was more years ago than I am willing to admit to!

Now you can understand my surprise to find their Cabernet Merlot on Sale for a pittance, on the other side of the State. Of course I bought all 6 bottles available, all of 2003 vintage, and yesterday I opened the first bottle. Maybe my brain/tastebuds have been imprinted with the much earlier experience, but it's a good wine! I want to compare it to the red wine I had with meals at small trattorias on Lago di Como. Earthy, dry, and still enough whiffs off the lake to make it a bit mellow. Could the winds off Lake Como and Hoods Canal depart the same fragrance to the wine grown on their shores?

I doubt you'll ever find the Hoodsport wine in your neck of the woods, but then you might pass by it because it's only $4.99! Don't, it's not bad at all!  ;D


SonicMan46

Quote from: uffeviking on June 21, 2008, 08:27:46 PM
Have to tell you about my latest adventure with red wines! I am buying most of my wines at a local super market with a very big wine section; last week they had a shopping cart sitting in the isle, full of bottles, all on sale for $4.99. I was almost past the cart when the name Hoodsport caught my attention........

Now you can understand my surprise to find their Cabernet Merlot on Sale ....Of course I bought all 6 bottles available, all of 2003 vintage, and yesterday I opened the first bottle. Maybe my brain/tastebuds have been imprinted with the much earlier experience, but it's a good wine! I want to compare it to the red wine I had with meals at small trattorias on Lago di Como. Earthy, dry, and still enough whiffs off the lake to make it a bit mellow. Could the winds off Lake Como and Hoods Canal depart the same fragrance to the wine grown on their shores?

Lis - great story and I can relate to wines often tasting GREAT (even though it may not be true!) in certain situations or with specific memories.  One of my best (among many) examples is from a while back - after I graduated from medical school, my in-laws treated us to a 3-wk vacation in Italy (my first trip to Europe; that was back in 1971; the trip ended w/ a brief stay at Lake Como - beautiful!).

But in the middle of the stay, we took a train from Rome to Naples, then a car down the Amalfi Coast to Sorrento (for a boat to Capri) - but made a stop at Pompeii to visit the ruins - lunched at a wonderful country inn, sat outside, and had a view of Mt. Vesuvius - our wine for the meal was Lacryma Christi, grown on the slopes of the volcano!  Boy, we had been married just a year, young & adventuresome, and thoroughly enjoying the food & view - that wine tasted FABULOUS!  Well on our return back to the STATES, I must have purchased a dozen or more bottles of this wine, but could never 'relive' that experience - still not sure if the wine was just mediocre or whether I could not find a good example?  Still wondering -  ;) ;D  Dave

SonicMan46

Robert Mondavi (1913-2008) Dead!

Robert Mondavi died last month - the most recent issue of the Wine Spectator (July 31) has numerous tributes & stories (most of the editorial pages are devoted to him - an absolute rarity in this publication!) - he was an amazing individual and will be long remembered - if interested, checkout the Wiki Article or obtain/review a copy of the magazine!

From a personal perspective, Robert Mondavi was an early influence for me in starting to understand & appreciated 'fine' wines - he opened his Napa winery (pic below) in 1966 - I was just getting into wines in the late 60s & early 70s - Mondavi's Fume Blanc, an early 'claim to fame' for him, was one of my first introductions to the concept of 'varietal' wines (of course, the grape was Sauvignon Blanc; Mondavi cleverly reversed the grape's name, i.e. Blanc Fume, as known in the upper Loire Valley of France) - of course, he went on to produce other marvelous wines, esp. Cabernets & Chardonnays.

The first winery that I ever visited in California was that of Mondavi - been to plenty more since those early years, but the experience is still memorable - a great man & a major influence on modern wine history!  :)

 

DavidRoss

And the major donor for the Robert and Margrit Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts at UC Davis:

"Maybe the problem most of you have ... is that you're not listening to Barbirolli." ~Sarge

"The problem with socialism is that sooner or later you run out of other people's money." ~Margaret Thatcher

toledobass


The new erato

Quote from: SonicMan on June 24, 2008, 04:43:21 PM
Lacryma Christi,

Only one decent producer of this Vesuvian wine on Piedirosso grapes; Mastroberadino. Anything else is forgettable.

SonicMan46

Quote from: erato on July 02, 2008, 12:19:50 PM
Only one decent producer of this Vesuvian wine on Piedirosso grapes; Mastroberadino. Anything else is forgettable.

Hey, I believe you!  ;D  I've never looked for it again here; don't drink that many Italian whites anymore, there are so many others that satisfy my 'taste buds'!  :)

SonicMan46

Well, our wine thread seems to be in the doldrums again -  :'(

I've been drinking wine just about every day but our forum is so 'international' that it is difficult to post recommendations that are not available to all!

But tonight, I decanted one my 'older' Bordeaux, Ch. Pontet Canet, 1996 - below is a 'tasting note' that I found on the web from 2003; the wine has aged beautifully - for those just getting into storing & tasting Bordeaux, the better wines develop a wonderful bottle bouquet, fruit flavors disappear (but hopefully not completely) & complex aromas of leather/earth/tobacco/etc. add to the enjoyment - the tannins dissipate and the wine is lighter in color and smoother going down - now, this doesn't always happen but in this case (i.e. in my basement cellar since 1999), I must agree w/ the rating below on this particular vintage!  ;D

QuoteChateau Pontet-Canet (Pauillac) 1996: A moderate colour, and an impressive nose. An intense, complex medley of blackcurrants and other black fruits, with exotic spices and black olives. A lovely structure is the dominant feature on the palate, with integrated tannins and balanced acidity providing a framework for some still somewhat primary fruit, with touches of root liquorice. Developing. Clearly a very good, age-worthy vintage. 18.5+/20 (September 2003)

 

Lilas Pastia

I still recall Château Pontet-Canet as being one of the first really good wines I tasted. That must have been some 35 years ago  ::).

No great - or even good - wines tasted recently. It's just too warm to drink a good red. Over 22 degrees it quickly loses fruit and acidity. Thus June to September are typical beer and rosé months :D.

Domaine de Gournier, a vin de pays from the French Cévennes region. Crisp, yet soft on the palate and full of really subtle aftertastes (the 'finale' in wine parlance).

SonicMan46

Quote from: Lilas Pastia on July 19, 2008, 06:29:27 PM
I still recall Château Pontet-Canet as being one of the first really good wines I tasted. That must have been some 35 years ago  ::).

No great - or even good - wines tasted recently. It's just too warm to drink a good red. Over 22 degrees it quickly loses fruit and acidity. Thus June to September are typical beer and rosé months :D.

Fortunately, my basement corner stays in the high 60F, so the Ch. Pontet-Canet was quite good, but I agree that warm red wine just is not tasty!  :-\

Well, I was at Costco the other day and picked up some wine, including a bottle of the Mondavi 2006 Fume Blanc w/ a 40th anniversary stamp attached; a half dozen or so posts ago, I mentioned that Robert Mondavi had died - but 1966 was the year he opened his 'new' winery just off HW 29 in Napa Valley - one of the first Napa wineries that I ever visited!

Although this '06 Fume Blanc from Mondavi (which is no longer owned by the family) is nothing special (ratings of 86 & 88 in two of the three wine publications that I read), the naming of this wine was an early coup for Mondavi (in the upper Loire Vly in France, the Sauvignon Blanc grape is known as the 'Blanc Fume' - Robert just reversed the name obviously & barrel-aged the wine, and it became a hit!) - but for me this wine was really the beginning of my wine education and an understanding of 'varietal' wines & labeling - I probably first tasted this Sauvignon Blanc in the late '60s -  :D


uffeviking

I once talked about the Hoodsport Winery we had as our neighbours and friends some years ago. And further, you, Dave mentioned the difficulty of having wine shipped to your State. - Was it North or South Carolina? - Reading the Hoodsport web site I saw their list of States they are shipping to, quite expansive.

Of course I would love for you to try their products, but so far I only tasted their Cabernet Merlot and would hate to see you end up with a case of a collection of their other products and be disappointed. Would we still be friends if I refuse responsibility and give no guarantee to reimburse you? - I am kidding, of course! -

Try it, you might like it!  ;D

http://www.hoodsport.com/

SonicMan46

Quote from: uffeviking on July 23, 2008, 11:00:11 AM
I once talked about the Hoodsport Winery we had as our neighbours and friends some years ago. And further, you, Dave mentioned the difficulty of having wine shipped to your State. - Was it North or South Carolina? - Reading the Hoodsport web site I saw their list of States they are shipping to, quite expansive..............

Lis - thanks for the information - the state laws on wine shipping are changing quickly; my state, North Carolina, is reversing a lot of its previous policies (both being forced & wanting to!) - there are now over 60 wineries in the state, and the legislature has been 'pressured' into permitting shipment of wines 'out of state' (of course, the opposite must be permitted); so I can now receive wines 'legally' from a variety of sources.  The industry has grown to such an extent that a 2nd edition of the book below dedicated to NC wineries was just published a year or so ago!  :D

A great website for those interested in following and checking their state's wine shipment laws is Free the Grapes:)  Dave

 

(poco) Sforzando

OK, let me get some input from you wine aficionados. I'm co-hosting a medium-sized party on August 9 for 36 people, and I am buying the wine. These are not wine sophisticates; I just want some good but inexpensive wines. The food is being catered by a local Italian restaurant. Assuming 4 glasses per bottle, I am thinking of 7-8 bottles each red and white. I don't want to go over $200 in all, which means I'm looking for wines in the $10-12 range. And they should be easy to find in the New York City/Long Island area. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Sfz.
"I don't know what sforzando means, though it clearly means something."