What's your favorite wine?

[Fire Me Boy!]

For us wine drinkers, I'm curious about your favorite "drinking" wine (as in, something uner $15 a bottle).

I'm partial to the 2002 Hill of Gold Shiraz (Rosemont Estates) and the 2002 Coppola Premium Claret. Right now, I'm drinking a 2003 Coppola Zin.

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I'm not a wine n00b - I generally stay away from whites as I like a dry red better, and I've had a few Pinot Noirs that I liked. But the wife likes whites. She was looking for a Riesling, and the wine dude put us onto the Moscato, which we both thought was too sweet.

I've got a number of Malbecs and Shirazes that I like. I've had a few Syrahs... never heard of "petite Syrah". I'm a huge fan of Rosemont's Hill of Gold Shiraz (I think that may be the wine I put in the OP, not sure). That's just a gorgeous wine for $15.

My bad.
Rosemont's was the first Shiraz I ever tasted - love it.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

My bad.
Rosemont's was the first Shiraz I ever tasted - love it.

No worries. Always interested in new wines. So what's the deal with the petite Syrah?

[MahiMike]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

I know this comment is from years ago, but in Mendoza I was talking to the lady that did our tour of the winery, and she was saying they'd love to get rid of corks, but their biggest export markets still "demand" it. But she showed me these massive stacks of ruined bottles of wine because of problems with the cork.

She also said Australia and one other place I can't remember have almost completely moved away from corks. But in other places it's associated with cheap wine still. Anyway, it was all very interesting.

I know it's moving that way but I too think 'cheap' when I see a screw top.

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

No worries. Always interested in new wines. So what's the deal with the petite Syrah?

Well I should say Petite Sirah rather since it's of Durif variety rather than a Syrah clone. I really can't speak too much of it as I'm honestly not as familiar as I am with others.
There is a fantastic steakhouse that I go to down here and they rotate the wines in their cuvenee weekly. We always have a glass or two of their higher end wines (thus being in the cuvenee) when we eat there. I've discovered some fantastic wines from this method.
Now the wine I buy at restaurants is much different from what I buy at a cellar.. Where I'd have a GLASS of Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir at the restaurant (Char), I'd be picking up a bottle of Elk Cove Pinot on the way home.
I should mention that I prefer Pinot Noir -- La Crema and Elk Cove are two of my favorites.

[ChiefGator]

Been drinking Cline's Ancient Vines Zinfandel. A real nice red and I can get it for around $14.

Chianti is usually good around the $14 - $15 a bottle range as well. Had a nice aged Ruffino Classico reserve tonight, but that is a bit pricier.

Another cheaper red alternative are Tempranillos. Many of the Spanish Rioja's have a good bit of that in there. Got a good amount of spice, which is nice.

Not that it is cheap always, but sometimes you can find real nice Cabernet Francs, which is like Cab Sauv's spicier/peppier cousin. Real good.

I still like a Pinot, but I find them generally not strong enough or bold enough in flavor for me. I prefer my Pinot's with a good bit of terroir, so I look to Anderson Valley area and a few other pockets in Napa/Sonoma. Some good French wines exhibit nice terroir and use a good bit of Pinot in them as well, especially in the Burgundy region.

[TimeForWasp]

[Fire Me Boy!]

Today is World Malbec Day, so go pick up a nice Malbec and enjoy the evening!

[Whoarethechefs]

Not much of a wine guy, I don't think I was born with the correct taste buds, I can stand most whites , but for the most part, reds just do not taste good to me, the tannin taste does my taste buds up, to me it tastes like liquid leather. well, anyway that is until i found this gem at Trader Joes. tastes great and only 4.99 a bottle =)

[blaise]

I know almost nothing about wine. The one we drink, when we drink wine, is something called Jam Jar, a shiraz from South Africa.

[L.A. Chieffan]

im really enjoying some good tempranillos right now. hard to find but well worth it

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

Well if you're into Pinot Noir but looking to branch out, I'll make a suggestion or two. I wouldn't have swayed you directly to a Moscato but maybe an alternative red instead: Petite Syrah or a Malbec

Gascon Malbec
La Posta Malbec
Guenoc Petite Syrah

I've also stumbled across a Shiraz that the lady friend and I have been enjoying quite a lot of -- Layer Cake

I had the Layer Cake Malbec last night. Pretty good.

[QuikSsurfer]

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I had the Layer Cake Malbec last night. Pretty good.

I haven't had the Malbec yet. What did you pay for a bottle?

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by QuikSsurfer

I haven't had the Malbec yet. What did you pay for a bottle?

It was the 2009, so it was their first year with the Malbec. Paid $14.99.

[Fire Me Boy!]

One of Michael David's reserve wines, the 2010 Earthquake Zinfandel is a bold, intense wine. It's very spicy with a long finish. The tannins mellow with some decanting, but this is one intense m-f'er. Notes of raspberry, cherry, plum, pepper and clove. Michael David Winery remains one of my favorite wineries, and this zin might be my new favorite from them.

[Rasputin]

In my hay day, I would drink Night Train. I was loaded like a freight train & flyin like an aeroplane & was feelin like a space brain.

Love that stuff

I could never get enough.