You do like wine, don't you?

Fall and cool weather tend to shift my drinking from beer to wine, hence this thread.

Red, Merlot mainly.  There is one particular label out of California, the name of which I'm forgetting at the moment, which combines a good flavor with relatively low cost.  I'll report back later.

Not really a white fan, generally too sweet for me.

"It's not so bad as long as you can keep the fear from your mind." - D. Cooper

"I must not fear. Fear is the mind killer." - P. Atreides

"Whoever can see through all fear will always be safe" - L. tzu

Kendall Jackson merlot.

I'm blue collar when it comes to drinking, hence my usual domestic beer consumption.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

Oh dear, surrounded by Merlot drinkers. Well, as long as nobody mentions white zin as a fave (or even a drinking option), I'm still in the discussion.

I don't have a specific favorite in terms of one varietal/blend or one producer. I know I have at least 30 different varietals and blends in my cellar at the moment (maybe more; I haven't pulled a cellar report in a while). In the last couple of years, I've found myself picking up more Petit Verdot and Pinotage than anything else. At times my cellar can get a bit weighty on Sangiovese and Tempranillo, though. Way back in the day, I used to have a shitload of Cab Sauvs, but who can drink that stuff regularly? My mouth would feel like a wool coat after a few days. Now I'm down to a mere 20 bottles of Cab Sauv; I actually have more Cab Franc than Cab Sauv if you can believe it!

As far as whites, I'm always most interested in what someone's Viognier can do for me. Pinot Grigio/Pinot Gris (same damn thing) is a regular go-to for me. And there's nothing quite like a good dry Riesling (now THAT one I can name a favorite...Wildhurst Vineyards).

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

Cab Sauv?  Amanda's a wine snob!!!!  

On a serious note, I wish I knew as much about wine as you folks.

I am a simpleton when it comes to wine for the most part (and a lot of other things too for that matter).

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

LOL I am not!  That's how people differentiate between the Cabernets. It's Cab Sauv or Cab Franc. (or cab sauv and cab franc if you're talking grapes)

I've grown up with a mother who is extremely adept with wines and probably should have trained to be a sommelier at some point, or at least turned to viticulture. I didn't just pull my wine knowledge out of my butt one day. This is 30+ years of learning by osmosis.  Plus I live in California. So don't feel bad if you don't know as much as the next guy. Growing up in one of the premier wine regions of the world will do this to you.

I've made my own wine. If you're really going to be at the fest next year, I'll bring you a bottle or two. I've got Sangiovese and Syrah. I'm hoping to start on either Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling next fall. Probably Sauv Blanc as I don't have to do as much dicking around with residual sugar and brixing as I would with a Riesling.

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

OOOO. I knew that this would be an Amanda topic as soon as I saw the subject.

I'm sure she's licking the screen as we speak. :D

Kelly

How Do You Live Your Dash?

Check out the Kids' blogs:
The CaleBlog and the Zoe Blog

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

Well, if I had a dollar for every time I heard that.

Anyway, I don't know a damn thing about wine -- anything better than Not Awful is pretty much lost on me.  I will usually buy either Folonari Valpolicella or Casillero del Diablo, left to my own devices.

Actually considering a wine tasting class, I think it might be fun.

Chateau Ste Michelle in Washington, where Chris Isaak played this year before the Fest, actually makes a damn good Gewurtrzminer.

I'm also partial to Hunt Country Vineyards in New York, my family has property across the street, and their Late Harvest Vignoles. 

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

I'm a dry white wine man, myself. Occasionally i'll get a bottle of dessert wine, as it's sometimes reeally quite nice to have after a wholesome meal. Reisling is usually my dessert wine of choice.

Other than that, i'll take Chilean, South African or New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, French or American Chardonnays (i picked up a 2004 Vintage French Chardonnay the other week which is one of the best wines i have ever tasted), and Italian Pinot Grigios.

I luuuuuuurve wine!

A good French Chardonnay can make my toes curl. :D One of my favorite California Chardonnays is from Kunde. It's the right balance of butter and oak. I once uttered the phrase "creamy wood" while describing the palate I like in my Chardonnays, not realizing what I'd said until the other people in the room burst out laughing.

Speaking of Chardonnay...my friend Tom, who is a lovely person but about as blonde as they come, went to Italy for the first time last year. The first night he's there, he goes into a nearby restaurant/bar and asks for Chardonnay.  Incredibly enough, he didn't understand why, in the entire time he was in Italy, he couldn't find a Chardonnay. He then went over to France for a few days and was able to get his beloved wine, and he complained to me afterwards about how he couldn't find any Chardonnay anywhere in Italy and said how obviously France was far superior in their wine selection.

I gave him a book on Italian wines for Christmas that year. He was much wiser upon his return to Italy this year.

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."

What, no Thunderbird?!

I frequent a bar that serves shots of the pink and purple Mad Dog 20/20.  The purple in particular makes Boone's Farm tastes like manna from heaven.

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

~ Amanda

"Just fear me, love me, do as I say and I will be your slave..."