Wine Suggestions?

[OTD]

Laugh all you want, but Trader Joe's "three buck chuck" has always gone down real easy. It's their Charles Shaw line of wines. The cabernet was only ok, but the chardonnay is delightful. And it's only around three bucks a bottle.

You must have one of those snooty high-end TJ's where you are. It's Two-Buck Chuck here. And it's not bad.

CSC: I'm partial to California wines, especially cabernets. Look for some from the central coast (Santa Barbara and Paso Robles areas).

If you're looking for a nice light white, you can't go wrong with Shockey's suggestion of Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio. It's down to around $17 (U.S.) but you might actually find it cheaper up there. Chardonnay is the most popular white, but I don't particularly like the ones that are oak-barrelled--they have a real heavy buttery taste to me, which I don't like.

The cool thing about wines is that experimentation is half the fun. If it doesn't have a picture of Boone's Farm on the front, it probably won't be too bad.

 

[trifectarich]

Estancia makes terrific reds and whites at very reasonable prices . . . $9-$12. You will enjoy them; I guarantee it.

 

[Lester Bangs]

I'll second Woodbridge ... a nice mass-market, cheap option. You can usually taste the savings, but you really do not here, or at least I don't. I've been into this Australian wine called Banrock Station of late. Again, it's cheap but you don't taste the savings. Nothing worse than a red that makes you pucker or stings the back of your throat and both of these are smooth.

If you want to spend a little more, anything by Kendall-Jackson is nice and you can't go wrong with Ravenswood. Both are moderately priced -- Ravenswood goes about $12 a bottle and K-J is about $15.

 

[SoCalDude]

Stumbled upon an $8 wine called Big House Red from Bonny Dune Winery in Santa Cruz. Pretty damn good. Certainly the price is right. Found it at BevMo.

 

[Webster]

The Two/Three Buck Chuck is swill. I have a TJs in my town and people line up for it like it is manna from heaven. If you happen to go to TJs, they have an Amarone for $14.99 which tastes as good as a $40 bottle.

I agree on the Coppola Claret -- a very good value. I have been drinking a lot of red blends recently -- recently I've been into an $18 bottle called The Black Chook, an Aussie blend of, I think, Shiraz and a small amount of Vigoner. The Greg Norman red blends are very good as well. Found a bottle of the '97 Jordan in the wine fridge which I didn't realize that I had -- a great bottle of wine.

For years, the Escudo Rojo was my go to $12-15 bottle, but i haven't seen it in a little bit.

 

[ServeItUp]

Steele Winery from California makes a line called Writer's Block (appropriately enough). There are three or four different varieties and the Pinot Noir stood out. The other stuff wasn't bad, either.

From Canada, I had a good red when I was Penticton, B.C. Too bad I can't remember the name.

 

[Cansportschick]

Thanks for the suggestions thus far.

Has anyone tried Canaletto or Yamula? They are red wines and suggested to me by someone.

 

[Football_Bat]

"The tuck rule is so lame."

Oh wait ... this is about WINE ....

 

[Lugnuts]

Hey hey hey - I've got a question for you wine folk.

I uncork a bottle of red. I have one glass and re-cork it. It sits on the counter, unrefrigerated, obviously.

How long's it good for?

 

[expendable]

Once a bottle is uncorked, it should go straight to the fridge. Even then, I wouldn't let it go longer than a day or two.

 

[dooley_womack1]

NO ****ING MERLOT!


But definitely reisling. A white with extraordinary character, and every brand I've tried has had its own unique twist. And you can get quality for like $10-12

 

[User 1019]

Hey hey hey - I've got a question for you wine folk.

I uncork a bottle of red. I have one glass and re-cork it. It sits on the counter, unrefrigerated, obviously.

How long's it good for?

We have a rule in this house. When a bottle's opened, it's not re-corked. We just haven't had very much luck with it.

 

[shotglass]

Drinks before dinner, wine with dinner
After dinner drinks
Single entendre, help me Rhonda
Look for my cufflinks
Come with me and you will see
That it all will be all right
Rudolph the red nosed wino is gonna guide my sleigh tonight

 

[ralph wiggum]

Hey hey hey - I've got a question for you wine folk.

I uncork a bottle of red. I have one glass and re-cork it. It sits on the counter, unrefrigerated, obviously.

How long's it good for?

It depends a lot on the wine, but I'd agree that a day or two is usually as long as most opened wines will be good. If in doubt just give it a try, and if it doesn't taste right, pour it out (or cook with it). It's not going to make you sick or anything, it'll just start to taste funky.

 

[expendable]

Drinks before dinner, wine with dinner
After dinner drinks
Single entendre, help me Rhonda
Look for my cufflinks
Come with me and you will see
That it all will be all right
Rudolph the red nosed wino is gonna guide my sleigh tonight

You may have to change your handle to Wineglass.

 

[slappy4428]

Drinks before dinner, wine with dinner
After dinner drinks
Single entendre, help me Rhonda
Look for my cufflinks
Come with me and you will see
That it all will be all right
Rudolph the red nosed wino is gonna guide my sleigh tonight

Damn, that brought me back...

 

[Lugnuts]

Thank you guys. :) I think I need to start finding those half bottles, because Mr. Lugs doesn't drink it, and I only like the occasional one glass.

Speaking of Merlot... man, the prices on it have been great since Sideways. If you can deal with the cringes from pretentious friends... there's your bargain right there.

 

[expendable]

I keep some single serve bottles of white zin in my house for when my mother or mother-in-law visit. I'm not sure what labels bottle red wine by the single serve bottle (or if it's any good), but I'm glad they have them for blushes.

 

[HC]

Thank you guys. :) I think I need to start finding those half bottles, because Mr. Lugs doesn't drink it, and I only like the occasional one glass.

Speaking of Merlot... man, the prices on it have been great since Sideways. If you can deal with the cringes from pretentious friends... there's your bargain right there.

You can buy a wine closer that comes with a small pump to remove air. Your wine will last longer. The gizmo is dirt cheap and you can buy them at any kitchen gadget place.

 

[EE94]

If you can find a good Barolo, it's worth it.

And reds depend on whether you want heavy - a shiraz, even a cabernet, or something lighter, like a pinot noir

and if you can, decant your reds. makes a world of difference