[Conissah]

Don't have an expensive taste or a very refined palate, but I have been enjoying Apothic Inferno recently. Good stuff. Semi sweet red, very subtle dryness, slight whiskey barrel / smokey taste. Love it.

[KenB925]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Drinking wine right now had few double IPAs at lunch

That would explain the picture size and orientation...

[hubbahubba]

Bottle is empty, and I feel pretty good! Also probably explains the orientation of the picture...

[bobowar135]

Originally Posted by m630

Simple rule for cooking with wine, dont cook with a wine you would not drink!

I luv making short ribs and I use a Chianti as I luv italian reds vs french.
A basic Ruffino chianti works great, paired with a Reserve or Gold label is perfecto!

While living with a mate years ago we returned from the pub on a sunday arfternoon drunk as usual. We proceeded to roast a joint of beef swimming in Penfolds Club Port. The gravy was very rich but the meat was to die for!

[m630]

^^ Ha! Sounds great!

[cmyx6go]

I tried this one over the weekend. I normally don't drink Merlot, but someone recommended it. He said the Sommelier at a steak house recommended it and he didn't even realize it wasn't a Cabernet. I enjoyed it.

[Darth One]

^it’s good stuff, also from the Caymus family.

I tried a “Barbaresco” for the first time over the weekend. It’s nice but super, super light - it almost looked diluted. I wonder if they’re all like this

[cmyx6go]

Originally Posted by Darth One

^it’s good stuff, also from the Caymus family.

I tried a “Barbaresco” for the first time over the weekend. It’s nice but super, super light - it almost looked diluted. I wonder if they’re all like this

Of course it's from the Caymus family.... Damn, I love their stuff. At least it's not as expensive as Caymus.

[hooligan_G01]

We enjoy pretty much everything that Frank Family Vineyards puts out.

Originally Posted by bd307

I drink more wine, specifically cabernet, than whisky but just a glass with dinner everyday.

Almost exclusively Cab from Napa regions.

We are hosting a get together party this weekend and a friend is bringing a Silver Oak Cab 2015. Can't wait to try it.

Tried Cab from Chile few years back rachat de credit info. Not too impressed, but I guess people who like lighter (or water down) red (such as Frances) would appreciate it more than those of us who like our Napa Cab to be on the thick side.

The most expensive Cab I have had thus far is Opus. Personally, I do not think it should worth the price but I did not pay for it lol

Me anyway, I prefer the blood red and with a little touch of black.

[KennySRFElite]

Originally Posted by Darth One

^it’s good stuff, also from the Caymus family.

I tried a “Barbaresco” for the first time over the weekend. It’s nice but super, super light - it almost looked diluted. I wonder if they’re all like this

Yes, they all look like that. And they're all good.
KP

[hubbahubba]

La Crema Pinot Noir. Cheap and yummy.

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by hubbahubba

La Crema Pinot Noir. Cheap and yummy.

Their Chardonnay is solid for the price point, too.

[MKSixer]

Originally Posted by cmyx6go

I tried this one over the weekend. I normally don't drink Merlot, but someone recommended it. He said the Sommelier at a steak house recommended it and he didn't even realize it wasn't a Cabernet. I enjoyed it.

Attachment 2217643

Grabbing a bottle today for the date tonight. Thanks for the suggestion!! This thread saves me quite a bit of time in research!!

[RickFLM4]

I (pre)ordered a few bottles of 2015 Valdicava Brunello this weekend. 2015 and 2016 are reportedly outstanding vintages for Brunello.

[skydiver]

Some tasty goodness from a friends birthday last night.

[kscarrol]

Love me some Diamond Creek, have several bottles in the cellar.

[SenorRoadRage]

I like Franzia and find the subtle hints of plastic and regret quite pleasing to the palate.

[bd307]

Has anyone tried bidding and buying wines from online auctions?

[kscarrol]

Originally Posted by bd307

Has anyone tried bidding and buying wines from online auctions?

No but I did sign up for a website called Last Bottle. They get deals on wines, likely selling inventory for for vineyards, distributors etc and sell the wine. Sign up and maybe once a week you'll get an email with the latest deal. Prices are pretty good and the offer some quality wines. WineExpress.com is another similar operation.

[GeorgeR]

As a Washington resident I am really enjoying the growth of wine in the state that now ranks second only to California. In my opinion you get a lot more wine for the dollar. As Washington State continues to grow the gap may change but like California was to French wines, maybe a blind taste contest is in order?

My problem is I keep joining clubs and never have time to sample the hundreds of other wineries that are also producing wonderful wines.

Favorite Clubs I belong to

DeLille Cellars
Long Shadows Vintners
Avennia
Fidelitas
Betz
aMaurice
Upchurch

Very Good but a notch below

Drew Bledsoe & Josh McDaniels, (well maybe equal to the above)
Passing Time is another good WA wine owned by a couple ex NFL QB's (Dan Marino, Doug Donnelly, Kevin Hughes, Damon Huard) I am not a club member but Bledso and Huard have hosted some Apple Cup dinners before the annual Apple Cup and it was a hoot, not to mention great stories about their wine and the game.

Pepper Bridge
Patterson
Mark Ryan
Dusted Valley
Sparkman
Charles Smith

Woodward Canyon – Great but no club
Leonetti Cellar – Great, on waiting list


I was a member of a few California clubs but even though I enjoyed them, have too many Washington Clubs and need to cut them back.
Chateau Montelena – Red Futures Club
As customers I have been able to purchase these two fine wines at a very steep discount, including Cask 23. Stag’s Leap and Col Solare are now owned by a partnership between Washington-based Ste. Michelle Estate and Tuscan vintner Piero Antinori.

I can’t disagree with many of the votes for California wineries already mentioned in this thread.

[AlpineWhite_SJ]

Originally Posted by GeorgeR

As a Washington resident I am really enjoying the growth of wine in the state that now ranks second only to California. In my opinion you get a lot more wine for the dollar. As Washington State continues to grow the gap may change but like California was to French wines, maybe a blind taste contest in in order?

I need to try more Washington stuff, but it isn’t as easy to find here outside of wine shops. Oregon is getting really good too, but I’m overweight on Pinot so haven’t picked much up. I do plan to open a magnum of Vidon Vineyards from Oregon next holiday season when family is in town though.