Simply...The Wine Thread

[flyboyx999]

hanzell makes great pinot noir for the money

[incontrol]

Originally Posted by flyboyx999

hanzell makes great pinot noir for the money

I really like Hanzell's Pinot and Chards! Really tasty and they will both age for years.

[Runnin' Rebel]

Most medium priced chardonnays will improve significantly over two to three years in a controled wine cellar. Lower priced chards should be consumed as soon as possible. Generally the more flavoursome the wine when young the less time you should age it for.

I've had Chardonnay that turned to mush after 5 years, so be careful. Most are ready to drink right off the truck.

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

Most medium priced chardonnays will improve significantly over two to three years in a controled wine cellar. Lower priced chards should be consumed as soon as possible. Generally the more flavoursome the wine when young the less time you should age it for.

Well Said! Tonight's choice should be a winner. You have to know your cellar and rotate wines in and out...

[flyboyx999]

Originally Posted by incontrol

I really like Hanzell's Pinot and Chards! Really tasty and they will both age for years.

I like rochioli, seasmoke and kistler for cali pinot noirs and peter michael, kongsggard, aubert for cali chardonnay

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

Generally the more flavoursome the wine when young the less time you should age it for

I don't find that there is a hard and fast rule that resembles your assertion so I'll politely disagree, very often Burgundian Chardonnay can be absolutely quaffable when young and transcendent with a decade or two, I think you need to consider terroir and pedigree when assessing a wines age worthiness. This is especially true of new world wines where the style is predominantly structured towards immediate satisfaction. However if you were to drink a Harlan Estate 2012 before 2025 it would be a tragedy, Bond, Diamond Creek, Lewis Reserve, Humdred Acres, I have tasted all of these from vintages 2010 on and they are all stunning now, but it would be a crime to crack any of them now. JMHO

[G8RDPM]

Question for my fellow wine lovers.
How do you guys preserve an unfinished bottle for a day or two? I bought a Coravin for a friend,but never for myself. Is there a reasonable alternative?

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

Generally the more flavoursome the wine when young the less time you should age it for.

Originally Posted by wantonebad

I don't find that there is a hard and fast rule that resembles your assertion so I'll politely disagree, very often Burgundian Chardonnay can be absolutely quaffable when young and transcendent with a decade or two, I think you need to consider terroir and pedigree when assessing a wines age worthiness. This is especially true of new world wines where the style is predominantly structured towards immediate satisfaction

Now that sounds like someone that actually "knows" something about wine...not just how to buy what "friends" think.

[incontrol]

When we visited Hanzell's winery, they had Chards and Pinots aging for 20 years. I have bought some from 2005 I am about to open at Christmas. I can not wait!

[BNA/LION]

IMHO- Wine like a lot of things is not cut and dry. You can find many different opinions on when the best time to drink a bottle of wine. Chardonnay from California Vs. France may age differently. To generalize and make assumptions on others taste would not be appropriate in the case of wine and personal preferences. I prefer to buy multiple bottles and open them at different years to see how the mature and like most wine collectors I have unfortunately waited a little to long on a few bottles.

I guess the real point of drinking wine is to find wine you like, drink it when you want to and enjoy it!

Chardonnay: A few of the very best California Chardonnays can age and even improve with up to 15 years of aging — the likes of Hanzell, Long Vineyards, Mount Eden, Matanzas Creek, and Stony Hill, for example. But generally speaking, California Chardonnays more than 10 years old can be disappointing. Therefore, you may want to drink Chardonnays within 10 years of the vintage — with the exception of those few Chardonnays that have a proven track record for aging.

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by G8RDPM

Question for my fellow wine lovers.
How do you guys preserve an unfinished bottle for a day or two? I bought a Coravin for a friend,but never for myself. Is there a reasonable alternative?

We use one of these (see link below) if we don't finish the bottle. Helps the wine last for the next day or two.

http://www.amazon.com/Vacu-Vin-Vacuu.../dp/B00004SAF4

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

Now that sounds like someone that actually "knows" something about wine...not just how to buy what "friends" think.

Now now Trace, be nice. I know just enough about whites to know that white from Burgurdian region is totally different then Napa. Napa is usually more fruity, more acidic and mostly ready to drink right away. France is more earthy, mineral flavored, not so acidic and can age a lot better. I don't drink white.

And you can't cherry pick my statement about aging when I was talking about white wine, not red. I know much more about red then you might think except for Pinot Noir.

I've been talking about red wine on the forum for quite a while, no reason to get snippy. And that's the 2nd time you are implying that I buy for my friends, when in fact I buy for myself.

But it's all good, you can join in and explain your visions on your certain likes of wines as well.

[incontrol]

Originally Posted by flyboyx999

I like rochioli, seasmoke and kistler for cali pinot noirs and peter michael, kongsggard, aubert for cali chardonnay

I have had Peter Michael Pinot and Chards, very good. I have a several bottles resting now. The others I have not, but I will be looking for them!

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

Now now Trace, be nice. I know just enough about whites to know that white from Burgurdian region is totally different then Napa. Napa is usually more fruity, more acidic and mostly ready to drink right away. France is more earthy, mineral flavored, not so acidic and can age a lot better. I don't drink white.

Plenty of age worthy whites from Napa, but if you don't drink whites why speculate on their age worthiness?

[flyboyx999]

Wine for dinner

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by BNALION

We use one of these (see link below) if we don't finish the bottle. Helps the wine last for the next day or two.



http://www.amazon.com/Vacu-Vin-Vacuu.../dp/B00004SAF4

We have one of these as well. Though we very rarely leave an open bottle.

One of the best cheap cabs out (IMHO) there for us tonight. Had some primer at dinner.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Plenty of age worthy whites from Napa, but if you don't drink whites why speculate on their age worthiness?

Your right. I shouldn't speculate on all whites from Napa, but I will stipulate to you that there are whites from Napa that can age. But a lot should be poured at around the 5 year period for best taste. Those are the ones I've tasted, never had a 20 year old white. I've had white, just been a long long time. Certainly didn't mean to get everyone wound up

Should've listened more in class when we got to Napa Chardonnay instead of drinking more of the red

[Runnin' Rebel]

Originally Posted by bdex75

We have one of these as well. Though we very rarely leave an open bottle.

One of the best cheap cabs out (IMHO) there for us tonight. Had some primer at dinner.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wife likes that William Hill, but the Chardonnay

[bdex75]

Originally Posted by Runnin' Rebel

Wife likes that William Hill, but the Chardonnay

Mine hates it out of the bottle. Too much "alcohol" smell. But let that air off for a couple hours and like magic, she's a cheap date.


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[flyboyx999]

seems like a lot of wine connoisseur here, any sommelier in here?

[BNA/LION]

Excellent Merlot! Recommend it Highly... Picked up 3 bottles and I am glad I did!

Production Notes Varietal Content 88% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec Cooperage 100% French Oak Château-style Barrels (60 Gallons) Barrel Aging: 16 Months Age of Barrels: 25% new, 75% second vintage.

Winemaker Notes With its temperate weather and lengthy hang time, the 2012 growing season was ideal for our style of Merlot, yielding a wine that combines exceptional structure and depth with velvety tannins and alluring fruit. From its aromas of Santa Rosa plum, crème de cassis, violet and Herbes de Provence to its enticing flavors of olallieberry, sticky toffee and vanilla bean, this is a complex and compelling expression of Napa Valley Merlot.

[wantonebad]

Curious Leon, how do you feel about Merlot as a varietal usually, I tend to shy away from it. No not because Paul Giamatti hated it in Sideways, but actually because it always seems to by it's nature lack a finish. Great fruit usually but always lacking in memory or trace. Again JMHO

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by wantonebad

Curious Leon, how do you feel about Merlot as a varietal usually, I tend to shy away from it. No not because Paul Giamatti hated it in Sideways, but actually because it always seems to by it's nature lack a finish. Great fruit usually but always lacking in memory or trace. Again JMHO

I really am not much of a Merlot fan but the little Lady is. My preference is a Cabernet Sauvignon with big bold berry flavors and nice finish. I also enjoy Cabernet Franc but haven't met a lot of others who do.

This Duckhorn Merlot is good, a little light for me, has a mild finish but has full berry flavors and great color for a Merlot.

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by BNALION

I really am not much of a Merlot fan but the little Lady is. My preference is a Cabernet Sauvignon with big bold berry flavors and nice finish. I also enjoy Cabernet Franc but haven't met a lot of others who do.

This Duckhorn Merlot is good, a little light for me, has a mild finish but has full berry flavors and great color for a Merlot.

My mother in-law will only drink Merlot, no mater what I suggest she insists on Merlot so I would always get Shafer Merlot because like Duckhorn it was a Meritage, and usually at least 12% Cab, and I'll take 12% Stag's Leap Cab-fruit!!

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Merlot tends to be one of those " mouth-feel" wines. Novice drinkers tend to gravitate towards it because of its approachable, soft, buttery attributes, that aren't as dry, or big, as say a Cab, hence the exact reason why the French have been using it there Bordeaux blends to soften up big Burgundian wines for centuries. When blended, only about 20%+ or- Merlot is used. Check your Napa Valley Silver Oak bottles, that's a Bordeaux blend! Blending is done by using any number of the 5 varietals(in any %s) allowed by French law (Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec) Here in the USA we can only call it a "Meritage" by law. It's the same laws put on us by the French when it came to Champagne...that's why we have "sparkling wine" in Calif. Truth is "Meritage" isn't even a "real" word! We Americans made it up! Don't be fooled though, some Napa( and plenty other regions) Merlots are as big as any Cabs thought of being, depending on the fruit, and how it's "built". Happy searching!

[wantonebad]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

Merlot tends to be one of those " mouth-feel" wines. Novice drinkers tend to gravitate towards it because of its approachable, soft, buttery attributes, that aren't as dry, or big, as say a Cab, hence the exact reason why the French have been using it there Bordeaux blends to soften up big Burgundian wines for centuries. When blended, only about 20%+ or- Merlot is used. Check your Napa Valley Silver Oak bottles, that's a Bordeaux blend! Blending is done by using any number of the 5 varietals(in any %s) allowed by French law (Cabernet, Cab Franc, Merlot, Petite Verdot, Malbec) Here in the USA we can only call it a "Meritage" by law. It's the same laws put on us by the French when it came to Champagne...that's why we have "sparkling wine" in Calif. Truth is "Meritage" isn't even a "real" word! We Americans made it up! Don't be fooled though, some Napa( and plenty other regions) Merlots are as big as any Cabs thought of being, depending on the fruit, and how it's "built". Happy searching!

http://www.meritagealliance.com/what-is-meritage/

I do love a Pomerol Merlot, but then again since I can't really afford one I choose to drink other varietals. LOL

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Originally Posted by BNALION

I also enjoy Cabernet Franc but haven't met a lot of others who do.

I love a Cab Franc If you are a fan of big, dry, "color like ink"Cabs, please try a Cab Franc. Most can be bought at sub-Cabernet prices. I like Napas Clos Du Val. It's a solid representation of a Napa Cab Franc.

[TheRolexKingofLV]

Originally Posted by flyboyx999

I like rochioli, seasmoke and kistler for cali pinot noirs and peter michael, kongsggard, aubert for cali chardonnay

Every single winery you mentioned are "hitters"! Congrats on "getting it"! Those Pinot Noir producers are as good as it gets. Some hard to get, but worth the search. My family has been friends with the Joe Rochioli family since there vineyards were used first for growing tobacco. They do a wonderful Pinot Noir.. And if you can get on the Peter Michael from Knights Valley list ...do it! Kistler is world class Pinot made the right way, with vineyards consulted by world class winemaker Greg LaFollette, and made NOT in a Calif "fruit bomb " style that "tastes like cherries, and strawberries" rather built like a Burgundian style Pinot Noir.

Get out there and search, it's half the fun

[returntorolex]

I'm going to start a Napa/Visit thread - the experts can chime in with the "not to be missed" spots for a visit in 2016.

[flyboyx999]

Originally Posted by TheRolexKingofLV

Every single winery you mentioned are "hitters"! Congrats on "getting it"! Those Pinot Noir producers are as good as it gets. Some hard to get, but worth the search. My family has been friends with the Joe Rochioli family since there vineyards were used first for growing tobacco. They do a wonderful Pinot Noir.. And if you can get on the Peter Michael from Knights Valley list ...do it! Kistler is world class Pinot made the right way, with vineyards consulted by world class winemaker Greg LaFollette, and made NOT in a Calif "fruit bomb " style that "tastes like cherries, and strawberries" rather built like a Burgundian style Pinot Noir.

Get out there and search, it's half the fun

Yea I been on rochioli list for a long time now. love their sweet water vineyard pinot. I am huge burgundy fan, so i drink a lot of pinot noir and chardonnay