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Mine is a red from Chateau Morrisette (VA) called "Black Dog" - doesn't matter which year!

I bought a 2001 Paretaio from Falchini when I was in San Gimignano which was wonderful. Just finished up the last of it the other night.

Up until about the last year, I would have sung love songs about any bottle of Coteaux du Layon, a sweet white wine from the Loire Valley of France. Loved that stuff with a passion -- saved it as though my retirement depended upon it. Any bottle from 1994-1997 looked like honey and tasted like an afternoon stroll hand in hand with romance.

Though it feels like blasphemy to admit, I am turning into more of a drinker of red wine. I haven't found *my* bottle just yet, though a contender at the moment is Toasted Head Shiraz.

check out Vampire wine from romania...oustanding!!

Chianti riserva - i'm not so good as to know which year, though.. -, porto ferreira reserva dona antonia and casal garcia (a portuguese "vinho verde", green wine). mmmmmh..if I have to choose among the three..chianti, I guess.

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Toasted Head Shiraz.

Is this one Australian?

No, it is a California wine from Esparto. About as far from the Napa Valley as one can get in California.

My favorite wine of the week is Hahn Cabernet, which is good and cheap. It goes for roughly $10.00 a bottle.

Has anyone heard anything about wine tasting tours on boats? Riverboats I think, up the Sacramento River? They stop at several wineries and you can buy cases at discount prices because you are in a large group. They last, I suppose, for several days. Anyone done this? Sounds very interesting...

I dont really splurge on high end wines(I would love to but they are out of my budget-plus I drink them too quick!). I love all Champagne and try and keep a bottle of Vueve Cliquot in my fridge at all times. You never know when you need a bottle. Plus Champagne is so festive to drink! I probably open a bottle once a month. As for staples- I adore Port Wine(Six Grapes is my favorite) and Barolos. Years dont matter. You can never go wrong with a bottle of Barolo or Six Grapes. I recomend decanting the Barolo for optimal flavor

I like valpolicella - I'm kind of partial to it bc I studied in Verona and this wine comes from the hills surrounding the city :-) So we had many nights with this great red...mmmmmmmmmm

My current favorite white is Nederburg Chenin Blanc Chard 2005. I love South African wine.

I'm a big fan of the Hungarian Egri Bikavert, aka "Bull's Blood of Eger." It's a heavy red that allegedly used to be drunk before going into battle. In Hungary, it goes for about US$2/bottle, but costs about $6 here in NYC.

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I'm a big fan of the Hungarian Egri Bikavert, aka "Bull's Blood of Eger." It's a heavy red that allegedly used to be drunk before going into battle. In Hungary, it goes for about US$2/bottle, but costs about $6 here in NYC.

Hmmmmm...sounds very interesting and cheap! I like cheap!

I must put in a good word for my favorite Trader Joe's wine, which is La Boca Malbec.
It sells for $2.99 here.

Christ, I've been thinking about this thread for days and I'm coming up against two major obstacles: First, it's hard to choose one, since wine is like music or art or women ... there's no "one best."

Second, I often don't remember the year and winery of some of my most memorable wines ... some were in the days before I cared much, I suppose. Had a magnificent late-90s Graves (red) in France once. Can't remember the winery for the life of me. Same goes for that 1998 Gewurztraminer Vendange Tardives. Divine nectar, that was. Who made it? Who knows?

A serious good wine tip, though: Check out Gainey Vineyards, a producer in Santa Barbara County. Almost anything they make is good, but their 2003 Limited Selection Pinot Noir is one of the best I've ever tasted. The 2004 ain't bad either, along with most of their reds.

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I must put in a good word for my favorite Trader Joe's wine, which is La Boca Malbec.
It sells for $2.99 here.

This one sounds very interesting. I love Argentinian wines and Chilian wines too. Oh, how I miss Trader Joes! My favorite place to shop in the whole world! Two Buck Chuck...

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Christ, I've been thinking about this thread for days and I'm coming up against two major obstacles: First, it's hard to choose one, since wine is like music or art or women ... there's no "one best."

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A serious good wine tip, though: Check out Gainey Vineyards, a producer in Santa Barbara County. Almost anything they make is good, but their 2003 Limited Selection Pinot Noir is one of the best I've ever tasted. The 2004 ain't bad either, along with most of their reds.

I probably should have narrowed this topic down to your current favorite red and white. I go through phases with wine, just like everything else! Gainey Vineyards sounds like a winner...I will surely check it out when I move back to CA! I may have already been there...just don't remember!

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Originally posted by Haci Richard:
I'm a big fan of the Hungarian Egri Bikavert, aka "Bull's Blood of Eger." It's a heavy red that allegedly used to be drunk before going into battle. In Hungary, it goes for about US$2/bottle, but costs about $6 here in NYC.

I brought back a bottle of Egri Cabernet Franc- it was quite excellent!

I worked in a Wine bar for 2 years so sometimes I can be a little snobby, and I usually buy in the $10-20 range. I'll leave out the year/vintage b/c these are generally always good, and mostly are young wines. But here are some favorites in varying price ranges:

Bubbly & White
Veuve Clicquot: A pricey champagne (45-50 in shops) but damn it's good! A cheap, good alternative is Cristaleno sparking wine, about $9 in stores.

Crios Torrontes, Argentina, about $17. My favorite White wine, totally unique, not too dry, not too sweet. tastes like peaches, slightly floral, good w/ spicy food. oh man... so good.

Kanu Chenin Blanc, about $8, south africa. a little on the sweet side, tastes like: minerals, grass, and grapefruit. excellent.

Reds
Anything by D'Arenburg, McClaren Vale, Australia. These people just know what they are doing. The whites are good too, but australians know their Shiraz.
*Stump Jump Red, $10 (Grenache, Shiraz, Mourvedre blend)
*Footbolt Shiraz, $15-18
*Dead Arm Shiraz, about $60

Renwood Zinfandel, $15ish, Amador County, CA. Jammy, bold, mmm mmm good.

Tikal 'Patriota' Malbec/Bonarda. $25ish. Complex, bold fruit, hints of chocolate and coffee, Amazing.

Cheaper alternative:
Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda, Argentina, $9. Big wine, dark fruit spice, hint of vanilla. and cheap!


I could go on all day, but i dare not give away all my secrets...

This is actually going to be one of the more exciting parts of my RTW. I can't wait to try some delicious wines from all over the world I might not get to try otherwise. YAY


And If I wasn't saving so hardcore right now I'd probably take your hints and try some great wines, but man, money is travel right now. world beer will be fun too!