Newbie Wine Recommendations

[bostoneo]

So the list...

Marietta Old Vine Red $14
Louis M. Martini Cab $14
Orin Swift Abstract $30
Orin Swift Saldo $30
Orin Swift D66 $35
Filon (Grenache) $8
Milbrandt Vineyards Traditions Cabernet $15
Goats Do Roam Red $9
Rodney Strong Knotty Vines Zinfandel $15
Sextant Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles, 2013 $18
Mascota Vineyards La Mascota Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 $14
Mascota Vineyards Unanime, 2011 $23
J Lohr Cabernet Seven Oaks $12
Courtney Benham Cabernet Sauvignon Napa, 2013 $18
Olema Cabernet, 2012 $23
Coastline Cabernet Reserve $13
14 Hands Cabernet $9
Dominican Oaks Cabernet Napa $18
Muirwood Cabernet, 2013
The Calling Cabernet Alexander Valley, 2012 $32
Michel Gassier Cabernet Les Piliers $14
St Francis Cabernet $16
Perry Creek Winery Zinman $10
Marques des Carceres- Rioja
Chateau st Michelle- Cab
Sandeman Tawny Porto $15
Dow's Tawny Porto $15
Dow's 10-Year Tawny Porto $32
Taylor-Fladgate 10-Year Tawny $34
Michael David winery - freakshow cab $15
Earthquake zin $20 and cab $20
Wild Horse Merlot $16
Ghost Pines Cab $19
Justin Cabernet $20
Tobin James Cab - $16
Opolo Cab - $30

 

[klovett]

Only a $640 list.

 

[bostoneo]

Found two for tonight with the Mrs! $18 for martini and $19 for j lohr

 

[plumber1965]

OK so two vineyards that I have a wine club with. First is http://sawtoothwinery.com/our-wines love all there reds. The red blend is excellent and the cab, malbec and carmenere are exquisite the second is 3 Horses ranch http://www2.3horseranchvineyards.com/press/product-category/wine/red-wine-wine/# these are both in Idaho and producing some yummy stuff

 

[bostoneo]

OK so two vineyards that I have a wine club with. First is http://sawtoothwinery.com/our-wines love all there reds. The red blend is excellent and the cab, malbec and carmenere are exquisite the second is 3 Horses ranch http://www2.3horseranchvineyards.com/press/product-category/wine/red-wine-wine/# these are both in Idaho and producing some yummy stuff

What is a Malbec compared to a cab

 

[plumber1965]

More robust more tannins. "heavier"........ Malbec is one of my favorite varitetals.

 

[bostoneo]

Grabbed 2 more on the list

 

[Cigary43]

I Typically enjoy beer, but recently had the opportunity to try some CA Cab's and found that they good immensely well with cigars, borderline crack combo. Some of them were totally out of my price range, cant see how some people pay $80 plus for a single bottle of wine. I did pick up a $25 dollar bottle of Roots Run Deep: Educated Guess Cab last weekend, and I must say, wow... it was an excellent bottle of vino.

Now I don't know much about wine at all, and there are so many differently priced bottles... cult wines... etc.... I am assuming its kind of like the cigar market... small batch/boutique, high priced limited editions, regular production.... I am trying to find the sweet spot $ range for a good bottle of CA wine, but don't know this market. Perhaps recommend a few vineyards/bottles, online stores to purchase.

I noticed the $25 bottle I bought retail was $14 a bottle before shipping, and even after a case purchase of it, would still be $8 a bottle cheaper than retail. You know me, I like to find the best deal I can w/o feeling like I got bent over. I've also had a organic grocery store brand (Earthfare's Big Tomato) wine which is made in CA, was decent/drinkable for $85 a case. Orin Swift caught my eye (good marketing), but havn't tried it yet.

Any recommendations would be appreciated to start this slippery slope

Oh boy....you have no idea how slippery this slope is...wine or whiskeys paired with cigars is like crack on steroids. I made the mistake of trying wines with my cigars because my wife loves wine...we travel all over the world and she is a wine shopper for sure...Ports, chardonnay, merlots, pignot grecio, et al and some combos are like so good its scary. Then you add food to the mix and it's an orgy of epic proportions and your wallet gets so thin that you feel like you are part of Caligula's family where you are trying so many different things that you feel you need to call a help hotline.

 

[bostoneo]

So far out of the 4 ive tried from the list, j.lohr is def my fav thus far

 

[btort]

So far out of the 4 ive tried from the list, j.lohr is def my fav thus far

If you like J Lohr and Louis Martini, you should give Joel Gott, Chat. St. Jean, Ferrari-Carano Siena, and Franciscan (all Cabs or Cab blends in that price range) a try. For a real sleeper try Rosemount Shiraz (Australian under $10) for a nice red.

After you've cut your teeth on California Cabs, come back and ask about Bordeaux. That's when the slope gets really steep!

 

[bostoneo]

Think I need to invest in a decanter? I've read that letting them decant for an hour helps open them up. Or maybe one of those aerator pourers

 

[bostoneo]

Had these cabs from a tasting last night to decide a wine bars house cab. Ranked them based on preference.

 

[plumber1965]

Have you tried any of your local wines??????

 

[MyFathersKeeper]

Valley of the Moon has a very approachable Red Zin. Good value at ~$15 bottle.

 

[bostoneo]

Have you tried any of your local wines??????

I don't think any locals grow their own grapes

 

[plumber1965]

Gotcha.

 

[Romulus Cogswell]

They would probably source their grapes from elsewhere in the region. There's a very good reason why you only hear about wines from a handful of states. There's a LOT of shit wine out there.

 

[MyFathersKeeper]

There's a very good reason why you only hear about wines from a handful of states.

 

[Erikcooper]

Think I need to invest in a decanter? I've read that letting them decant for an hour helps open them up. Or maybe one of those aerator pourers

It doesn't have to be a costly investment either. They all serve the same purpose


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Nacho Daddy]

decanting for an hour is good,but the whole idea of decanting is to let the wine breathe.
Try decanting for 8 to 12 hours,and if there is any left overnite,try it 24 hrs after decanting.
Also,if you run into any rambunctious young Italian reds (which WILL happen regularly),they absolutely scream for decanting.
Several hours in a decanter will turn an unruly Italian into a wine you will cry over when drinking,and cry about when it's gone.
By the way,I would not hit a hog in the ass with Sandeman port,it is the Gurkha of the wine world.
Smith Woodhouse,Dow,Taylor,Ferriera,Croft,Fonseca,all make better,and try a Late Bottled Vintage port while you are sampling. 95% as good as Vintage,at 20% of the cost..........
The wine aereator pourer turns wine into bubbly wine that still needs decanting.worst item ever for wine,but makes a bundle for the inventors.
We experimented with these at the wine shop I worked in,impossible to properly clean,useless to improve wine,but made the company a happy $$.........