The Wine Thread

[Evan R]

I'd love to try some decent reds from the USA but not sure what to buy and also what's available in the UK.

Any suggestions would be most welcome

What are some of the retailers you typically use/ where are you located? I'd be happy to recommend some!

[Jaydog]

Appreciate the info, Jay! I guess that will save me some time and money trying to hunt one down for the old man

Yeah sorry!
Check this website.
Not sure about delivery but the PX is wonderful if you like that sort of thing.
1956 is available.
It isn’t bottled in that year as its held in a massive solera of barrels and bottled occasionally in 20cl.
Its like sweet engine oil
Had the 1955 for my wife this year and I have my 1965 in the “cellar”.
https://www.vintagewineandport.co.uk/vi ... 1956-wine/

[Evan R]

Might be fun to try. Never been a fan of the sweeter stuff, myself. But that link also had a 1956 Barbaresco listed that is intriguing...

[Jaydog]

Might be fun to try. Never been a fan of the sweeter stuff, myself. But that link also had a 1956 Barbaresco listed that is intriguing...

Yes saw that. Top producer but
My wife & daughter were not a fan of the PX tbh but I enjoyed it. Definitely sweet!

[Jammy 07]

What are some of the retailers you typically use/ where are you located? I'd be happy to recommend some!

Usually I'll use Lay & Wheeler etc etc rather than a retail outlet. However I'm just outside Leeds if that helps.

Once I have names then winesearcher usually can find them, or just a simple Google search.

Thanks.

[Jaydog]

Don’t buy much from supermarkets especially Fat Asda but this is a cracker. CNDP blanc. 13%
£20 (down from £25) and good value tbh.
Very moreish.
Bottle gone

[Jammy 07]

IMG_4396.jpeg


Don’t buy much from supermarkets especially Fat Asda but this is a cracker. CNDP blanc. 13%
£20 (down from £25) and good value tbh.
Very moreish.
Bottle gone

Seems you like your whites Jaydog

[Jaydog]

Seems you like your whites Jaydog

I do Jammy
Especially Southern & Northern Rhone.
And Spain.
And the reds from the aforementioned.
So much wine so little time

[Jammy 07]

I do Jammy
Especially Southern & Northern Rhone.
And Spain.
And the reds from the aforementioned.
So much wine so little time

As we've discussed before Spain is producing excellent wines at a fraction of the cost of their French counterparts.

My personal favourite at the moment is La Rioja Alta 904 Grand Reserva 2005 which is a fully mature absolute belter in my opinion.

Also as Victor recommends there are some lovely Rioja Reserva's out there that can suit every budget and very quaffable.

[Victor_OTT_17]

All this is a level or 20 above my pal in Thringstone's favourite: Jamshed

[Evan R]

Usually I'll use Lay & Wheeler etc etc rather than a retail outlet. However I'm just outside Leeds if that helps.

Once I have names then winesearcher usually can find them, or just a simple Google search.

Thanks.

As always with wine, there's the consideration of price range and preference, so a lot of my recommendations will be ones that I like/drink (mostly reds) and in the $30-50 range.

Oregon Pinot Noir

Arterberry Maresh, Evesham Wood, Ken Wright Cellars, Adelsheim, Patricia Green, Drouhin. These are some of my favorite producers, but honestly anything you can find from Willamette Valley, and ideally Dundee Hills AVA, will give you a good sense of the style and region. They tend to drink like younger burgundies. All those producers will have their entry level, usually around $20-25 and then their nicer vineyard bottlings in the $40-50 range.

California Reds

This is obviously a massive grouping, and really could be split into several regions with their own specialties. But for the sake of starting somewhere, I'd start with the classics which would be Cab Sauv and Merlot from Napa Valley, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County. Often you will see red blends, and varying ratios of the main Bordeux grapes- Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, some Petit Verdot. There are so many big producers, and frankly they are a bit overpriced. But they are also excellent wines. La Jota, Duckhorn, Stag's Leap, Shafer, Freemark Abbey, to name a few. There are just so many. But I think to start, I might seek out Duckhorn as it is very representative of the style and usually around $50-70 range. Which sadly, is pretty much the entry point for a solid Napa Cab these days. Occasionally you can find some around $35-40 that punch above their weight.

There's so many more to explore in California, of course. But I'd probably start there. If you happen to be able to track down anything from Bedrock Wine Company, they are wonderful and amazing QPR. Their Old Vine Zinfandel is an amazing wine for about $25. I usually get a case of it each year around the holidays. They also make really nice Syrahs, but those get into the $50 plus range.

If you are a Pinot lover- California also has excellent regions for pinot, but again the higher price tags. Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Santa Rita Hills are all really nice areas for Pinot. Williams Selyem, Paul Hobbs, Kistler, Liquid Farm some of my favorite producers there. These tend to be $50+, unfortunately.

Washington State Reds

Excellent value Cabernets, but I'd imagine they may be hard to track down in the UK. Columbia Valley, specifically, is what you want here. Walla Walla AVA if you can find it, even better. Gramercy Cellars is one of my favorites, usually around $30-40 range. L'Ecole, Woodward Canyon, Matthews Winery a few others. The word is slowly getting out there, so they aren't quite the value they were a decade ago, but still- for $30-40 they can be superior to Napa Cabs that are twice that price.

Hope this helps to start! Please feel free to reach out with questions, specific bottles etc. Will be interested to see what all you can track down over there. I'd imagine London would have a decent bit since it's such a large city, but wonder what sort of options are closer your way.

[Jaydog]

As we've discussed before Spain is producing excellent wines at a fraction of the cost of their French counterparts.

My personal favourite at the moment is La Rioja Alta 904 Grand Reserva 2005 which is a fully mature absolute belter in my opinion.

Also as Victor recommends there are some lovely Rioja Reserva's out there that can suit every budget and very quaffable.

100% Jammy.
Buy a lot of Spanish wine these days.
Especially from Rioja & the Canaries.
Is that from L&W? The 904?

[hector]

When in Cyprus on detatchment we used to drink a very cheap white wine that we called St Pandemonium..... Like rocket fuelled vinegar but hell didn't take the whole bottle to wipe you out.... Happy days

[Jammy 07]

Is that from L&W? The 904?

Can't remember to be honest but Winesearcher will find you some if you're interested. Just be aware though that there is a huge difference between vintages. Not so much in quality but style. For example recently I purchased the 2009 and it's heavily oaked compared to the fruitier style of the 2005. The 2011 on the other hand hits you with vanilla right from the off and is still a bit brutish but should be amazing in a few more years. Great wines in my opinion.

[Finnatic]

All this is a level or 20 above my pal in Thringstone's favourite: Jamshed

I don’t mind Jamshed Shiraz

* hangs head in shame*

[Jaydog]

Can't remember to be honest but Winesearcher will find you some if you're interested. Just be aware though that there is a huge difference between vintages. Not so much in quality but style. For example recently I purchased the 2009 and it's heavily oaked compared to the fruitier style of the 2005. The 2011 on the other hand hits you with vanilla right from the off and is still a bit brutish but should be amazing in a few more years. Great wines in my opinion.

Sounds like I would prefer the 2005.
Cheapest single bottle is at the Wine Trove.
£85

[Victor_OTT_17]

I don’t mind Jamshed Shiraz

* hangs head in shame*

Even the homeless don't drink Jamshed in England

[Jammy 07]

Sounds like I would prefer the 2005.
Cheapest single bottle is at the Wine Trove.
£85

Too expensive at that price.

Think I paid around £55 a bottle but that would have been for a box of 6.

[Jaydog]

Too expensive at that price.

Think I paid around £55 a bottle but that would have been for a box of 6.

That would be a big chunk for me on one wine (6 pack).
I like to spread the net far & wide.
Sometimes you have to pay more to try a single bottle.
I will contemplate it

[Jaydog]

Even the homeless don't drink Jamshed in England

I’m not even sure it is wine.
The process involved in making cheap wine is dubious to say the least.