Wine pirep

[Sac Arrow]

So right now in the Sac Cave there is two full bottles of wine, one full bottle of Jameson and another third bottle of Jameson. I decided to go for wine tonight because it's Sunday and communion and all.

Refer to the attached photograph. The wine on the left, Once Upon a Vine Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma, California) was on the top shelf rack at the grocery store, but priced at seven bucks a bottle, after the 30% discount for buying six bottles (mix and match.) It is really a very good wine.

For starters, I'm a cork guy. I really am. I've had decent whites that have screw tops, but I've never had a "best" in other than a cork. Please, please don't give me one of those stupid plastic fake corks. If you need to go there just do a screw top, it works fine. The absolute WORST horrible implementation of a fake cork was a Zinfandel called "Plungerhead" which literally (meaning not figuratively) had a rubber plunger-cork. You know what the wine tasted like? Rubber. I poured most of it out. So basically, the cork set the tone.

But that's digressing and all. This Once Upon a Vine Sauvignon Blanc was a real find. Kind of buttery tasting like a good Chardonnay, but without the acid bite that Chardonnay gives you. Almost like a good Fume Blanc, but real cheap. I've probably killed ten of those bottles so far in the last couple weeks.

Okay the bottle on the right. Murphey Goode "The Fume" Fume Blanc ("North Coast" California.) It was priced at nine bucks a bottle. Claims to be a Fume. I bit. Got bit. It's about in the right price range to have a screw top. It has one. I don't hold that against it. But I've drank box wines that were better than this crap. It's Badde. I can only describe the taste as... have you ever had a gum infection and had to gargle with hot salt water? Well, I'm thinking I can make my own salt water gargle a lot cheaper than eight dollars for three quarters of a liter.

I won't throw it out. But I'm starting with it. I've already choked down about a quarter of the bottle and I'm sure I'll finish it before I move on to the good stuff.

Anyway, so, yeah, there you go.

 

[PaulS]

Bleh white wine.....

 

[eman1200]

Bleh white wine.....

x2. but I do really like red wine actually. drinking me some cab right now.

 

[Sac Arrow]

Bleh white wine.....

Yeah, yeah I hear you, I'm more in to red wines, mostly Zinfandels and Cabs, but I do like a good Fume or Sauvignon Blanc. I can't stand Chardonnays. Rieslings are too sweet. I got turned on to Fume Blanc a few years ago doing a tasting at the Grgch Hills winery in Napa. Grgch was never a go to destination for me in the Napa Valley but I was taking some friends and they wanted to do something different. I was hooked on Fume's since.

 

[PaulS]

Yeah, yeah I hear you, I'm more in to red wines, mostly Zinfandels and Cabs, but I do like a good Fume or Sauvignon Blanc. I can't stand Chardonnays. Rieslings are too sweet. I got turned on to Fume Blanc a few years ago doing a tasting at the Grgch Hills winery in Napa. Grgch was never a go to destination for me in the Napa Valley but I was taking some friends and they wanted to do something different. I was hooked on Fume's since.

I like good cabs myself, but will drink Rieslings or other sweeter whites if no other choice. I generally just have a glass when I do imbibe, which tended to be wasteful until I bought one of these (below) now I can get a glass without wasting the bottle.

http://www.coravin.com/

 

[Sac Arrow]

I like good cabs myself, but will drink Rieslings or other sweeter whites if no other choice. I generally just have a glass when I do imbibe, which tended to be wasteful until I bought one of these (below) now I can get a glass without wasting the bottle.

http://www.coravin.com/

The technology looks interesting, but I drink wine by the bottle, not the glass, so I'm not sure that would be a useful stocking stuffer for me.

 

[Zeldman]

My favorite wine is champipple....

 

[frfly172]

Good choice in whiskey,go with a nice red wine.

 

[iflyvfr]

Sac, you mentioned buttery. The most buttery Chardonnay I've tasted is the Coppola. You say you hate it, but have you tried it? If I'm drinking Chardonnay that's my preference. But I've been drinking some reds; your post inspired me to taste a Merlot which I'm enjoying right now.

There's a wine-centric restaurant in our neighborhood that has allowed me to try some over-priced reds. I've found the Grenache and really like it. Also, the proprietor of a local store recently passed away and his daughter has brought out his favorite wines from the cellar. I bought a bottle of Cab Sav for $50 more as a way of showing support for a local business than anything. Not sure when I'll serve it. A check online shows its fetches an avg. of $94 so I'll look forward to trying it.

 

[flyingron]

I have several wine certifications and am about 2/3 of the way through another which is one of the more difficult ones I've attempted. I've got about 3000 bottles in my cellar. I've also produced two vintages of a limited run (28 cases) of wine.

Cork vs. Screw Cap: Other than the snickering "Would Monsieur like to smell the bottle cap" jokes, there's a lot to be said for Stelvin (screwcap) closures. I've got some very expensive wine that the winemaker has produced in both screwcap and cork. We'll see in a few more years if I can tell the difference.

White vs. Red: I still drink more red than anything else but white has it's place. Nice thing to have in a cellar is the ability when making dinner to say "Hey, Riesling would be good with that" and go get a bottle.

Chardonnay style: I have to admit I'm more into the Chablis, unoaked style. We're doing a lot of stainless chards around here. The "buttery" flavor is typically the result of two things: malolactic fermentation which coverts the tarter malic acid into rounder lactic and the presence of the oak aging which adds flavors from vanilla to smoke. All styles have their place. One of the things I've learned in my studying to be a wine judge is you gotta drink a lot of wine you wouldn't ordinarily drink.

Any of you in Northern Virginia on Jan 1 or North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend drop me a PM and I'll get you an invite to one of my open cellar parties.

 

[poadeleted21]

The technology looks interesting, but I drink wine by the bottle, not the glass, so I'm not sure that would be a useful stocking stuffer for me.

I had you pegged as a "by the box" guy.

I like a good Thunderbird from time to time. Night Train is my 2nd favorite. Though I usually wind up with Mogen David 20/20, Wild Irish Rose or Boones Farm around here. My favorite Boones is the purple flavored one.

 

[iflyvfr]

I have several wine certifications and am about 2/3 of the way through another which is one of the more difficult ones I've attempted. I've got about 3000 bottles in my cellar. I've also produced two vintages of a limited run (28 cases) of wine.

Cork vs. Screw Cap: Other than the snickering "Would Monsieur like to smell the bottle cap" jokes, there's a lot to be said for Stelvin (screwcap) closures. I've got some very expensive wine that the winemaker has produced in both screwcap and cork. We'll see in a few more years if I can tell the difference.

White vs. Red: I still drink more red than anything else but white has it's place. Nice thing to have in a cellar is the ability when making dinner to say "Hey, Riesling would be good with that" and go get a bottle.

Chardonnay style: I have to admit I'm more into the Chablis, unoaked style. We're doing a lot of stainless chards around here. The "buttery" flavor is typically the result of two things: malolactic fermentation which coverts the tarter malic acid into rounder lactic and the presence of the oak aging which adds flavors from vanilla to smoke. All styles have their place. One of the things I've learned in my studying to be a wine judge is you gotta drink a lot of wine you wouldn't ordinarily drink.

Any of you in Northern Virginia on Jan 1 or North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend drop me a PM and I'll get you an invite to one of my open cellar parties.

Fascinating Ron. I know nothing about wine, but like anything, it's interesting to learn a little bit. My brother lives in Fairfax and likes wine too, perhaps we can drop you a line. Would be fun to learn from a student of the subject.

 

[LoneAspen]

I had you pegged as a "by the box" guy.

Good friend of mine has a saying: "No wine that comes in a bladder will ever go in mine."

My favorite wines for the past few years have been Zinfandels from the Dry Creek area in Sonoma. Especially Seghesio, Mauritson, Ridge, and A. Rafanelli.

I'm probably going to go get a pizza from my favorite pizza place in San Ramon, and crack open a nice Zin to watch the midseason finale of The Walking Dead.

Amazing how well a great pizza, and great wine, go together.

 

[warthog1984]

I had you pegged as a "by the box" guy.

I like a good Thunderbird from time to time. Night Train is my 2nd favorite. Though I usually wind up with Mogen David 20/20, Wild Irish Rose or Boones Farm around here. My favorite Boones is the purple flavored one.

While "Three Buck Chuck" has some good bargains, anybody drinking Mad Dog for other than pure ABV is a sucker.

 

[Scrabo]

My favorite is a Pinotage from KMW vineyard, we had a stop over in London years ago and was recommended this with the steaks we ordered at the hotel....best red I have tasted in years.

Took me a while to find that particular vineyards brand ( thank you total wine and more !!) but when I did, several cases were purchased.

 

[ron22]

Cork vs. Screw Cap: Other than the snickering "Would Monsieur like to smell the bottle cap" jokes, there's a lot to be said for Stelvin (screwcap) closures. I've got some very expensive wine that the winemaker has produced in both screwcap and cork. We'll see in a few more years if I can tell the difference.

It will be interesting to here. A cork is not a perfect seal from what I have read the Stelvin (screwcap) closures do seal better.
Now how this will affect a wine aging in the bottle only time will tell.

 

[Hank S]

So right now in the Sac Cave there is two full bottles of wine, one full bottle of Jameson and another third bottle of Jameson. I decided to go for wine tonight because it's Sunday and communion and all.

Refer to the attached photograph. The wine on the left, Once Upon a Vine Sauvignon Blanc (Sonoma, California) was on the top shelf rack at the grocery store, but priced at seven bucks a bottle, after the 30% discount for buying six bottles (mix and match.) It is really a very good wine.

For starters, I'm a cork guy. I really am. I've had decent whites that have screw tops, but I've never had a "best" in other than a cork. Please, please don't give me one of those stupid plastic fake corks. If you need to go there just do a screw top, it works fine. The absolute WORST horrible implementation of a fake cork was a Zinfandel called "Plungerhead" which literally (meaning not figuratively) had a rubber plunger-cork. You know what the wine tasted like? Rubber. I poured most of it out. So basically, the cork set the tone.

But that's digressing and all. This Once Upon a Vine Sauvignon Blanc was a real find. Kind of buttery tasting like a good Chardonnay, but without the acid bite that Chardonnay gives you. Almost like a good Fume Blanc, but real cheap. I've probably killed ten of those bottles so far in the last couple weeks.

Okay the bottle on the right. Murphey Goode "The Fume" Fume Blanc ("North Coast" California.) It was priced at nine bucks a bottle. Claims to be a Fume. I bit. Got bit. It's about in the right price range to have a screw top. It has one. I don't hold that against it. But I've drank box wines that were better than this crap. It's Badde. I can only describe the taste as... have you ever had a gum infection and had to gargle with hot salt water? Well, I'm thinking I can make my own salt water gargle a lot cheaper than eight dollars for three quarters of a liter.

I won't throw it out. But I'm starting with it. I've already choked down about a quarter of the bottle and I'm sure I'll finish it before I move on to the good stuff.

Anyway, so, yeah, there you go.

No! No! Start with a good wine, end the evening with the cheap stuff. You'll taste and remember the beginning, but as the alcohol takes hold, your taste buds become less discerning so drink lesser wines then.

 

[ron22]

No! No! Start with a good wine, end the evening with the cheap stuff. You'll taste and remember the beginning, but as the alcohol takes hold, your taste buds become less discerning so drink lesser wines then.

That is how I was taught. Start with the good beer then go switch to the cheap stuff. Of course that was when I was young.

 

[flyingron]

Fascinating Ron. I know nothing about wine, but like anything, it's interesting to learn a little bit. My brother lives in Fairfax and likes wine too, perhaps we can drop you a line. Would be fun to learn from a student of the subject.

Also in the area are local chapters of the American Wine Society. They meet monthly (one in McLean, one in Bristol, one near Warrenton, and hear a new one is starting up in Sterling). They meet roughly monthly for usually educational wine tastings.

Information nationwide is at www.americanwinesociety.org.

 

[Sac Arrow]

I have several wine certifications and am about 2/3 of the way through another which is one of the more difficult ones I've attempted. I've got about 3000 bottles in my cellar. I've also produced two vintages of a limited run (28 cases) of wine.

Cork vs. Screw Cap: Other than the snickering "Would Monsieur like to smell the bottle cap" jokes, there's a lot to be said for Stelvin (screwcap) closures. I've got some very expensive wine that the winemaker has produced in both screwcap and cork. We'll see in a few more years if I can tell the difference.

White vs. Red: I still drink more red than anything else but white has it's place. Nice thing to have in a cellar is the ability when making dinner to say "Hey, Riesling would be good with that" and go get a bottle.

Chardonnay style: I have to admit I'm more into the Chablis, unoaked style. We're doing a lot of stainless chards around here. The "buttery" flavor is typically the result of two things: malolactic fermentation which coverts the tarter malic acid into rounder lactic and the presence of the oak aging which adds flavors from vanilla to smoke. All styles have their place. One of the things I've learned in my studying to be a wine judge is you gotta drink a lot of wine you wouldn't ordinarily drink.

Any of you in Northern Virginia on Jan 1 or North Carolina on Memorial Day weekend drop me a PM and I'll get you an invite to one of my open cellar parties.

That is an impressive cellar. Interesting stuff.

I had you pegged as a "by the box" guy.

I like a good Thunderbird from time to time. Night Train is my 2nd favorite. Though I usually wind up with Mogen David 20/20, Wild Irish Rose or Boones Farm around here. My favorite Boones is the purple flavored one.

Here's my thing: cheap box wines tend to be a) low in alcohol content, and high in sugars, and b) loaded with sulfites, more of which are needed to preserve them due to the low alcohol content. Precisely why I don't drink those "wine coolers", which aren't wine at all really, just a malted drink but I get this painful tingling in the jaw from the sulfites.

Good friend of mine has a saying: "No wine that comes in a bladder will ever go in mine."

My favorite wines for the past few years have been Zinfandels from the Dry Creek area in Sonoma. Especially Seghesio, Mauritson, Ridge, and A. Rafanelli.

I'm probably going to go get a pizza from my favorite pizza place in San Ramon, and crack open a nice Zin to watch the midseason finale of The Walking Dead.

Amazing how well a great pizza, and great wine, go together.

I'm a big Zinfandel fan myself. Not white zin, but real Zinfandel. Coppola makes one that isn't bad for a reasonable price. I have a few bottles of it.

No! No! Start with a good wine, end the evening with the cheap stuff. You'll taste and remember the beginning, but as the alcohol takes hold, your taste buds become less discerning so drink lesser wines then.

Yeah but the problem with that logic is I tend to chug the first bottle anyway, and spend more time with the second. I did that exact scenario last week and didn't finish the second bottle.