Armat Posted July 20, 2004 Report Share Posted July 20, 2004 (edited) I am savoring this wine "Obsession" and honestly I could not believe I paid $5.99. If you like Riesling you’ll fall in love with this one. Lots of fruit, citrus floral, grass- apple-perfect summer hot day wine. Crap! I should work for Ironstone! Ironstone’s Obsession has youthful aromas that are markedly floral. Extremely drinkable, this lusciously brilliant and fanciful wine is full of fruit flavors, and finishes crisp and clean. It’s great with spicy dishes, like Asian and Cajun foods, or simply sipped on a deck. Made from Murphys and Lodi vineyard Symphony grapes, is a white wine cultivar developed in 1948 by Dr. Olmo (University of California, Davis). It’s been the most thoroughly tested of all new cultivars. Of plebeian ancestry, Muscat of Alexandria was crossed with Grenache Gris. The result is a wine with delicate Muscat flavor and aroma. Symphony shows an unusual resistance to oxidation. At cellar temperature, Obsession maintains its light color, flavor, and bouquet for 10 or more years in the bottle. Down to my last glass in half an hour 5.99 at Trader Jones. Great cheap wine $2.99 Charles Shaw Sauvignon blank. This one drinks like a young white Boudreaux without the price tag Edited July 20, 2004 by Armat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted July 20, 2004 Report Share Posted July 20, 2004 Armat, you are fired!!! Guess who else is going to join this discussion? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armat Posted July 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2004 I just want to dispel few wine myths which lot of amateur wine drinkers adhere to. You tell the waiter I want dry wine. Fine! But understand that a particular wine like Riesling or Gewurztraminers are mostly dry but their fruit flavors trick you into thinking that they are not dry. Most are dry!!! One can get easily confuse by residual sugars in wine and its flavor. Most sugars in grape juice convert into alcohol and if the sugars are high in the grape then the alcohol is high in the wine as well exception would be ice and dessert wines -Good example is red Zinfandel ,on average 13-15 % alcohol. If all the alcohol in the wine has been fermented then it is a dry wine meaning there is no residual sugars left so enjoy your Rieslings and gewürztraminers since most are perfectly dry By the way drinking one glass of red wine can extend your life according to Harvard Uni study.Enjoy life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sip Posted July 21, 2004 Report Share Posted July 21, 2004 Guess who else is going to join this discussion? I have no idea who that could be. Maybe we should ask Thoth I know people always make fun of box wine ... but one time I got pretty loaded off that stuff at my uncle's house. I was about 16 I think and I kept mixing it with coke!!!!! It went down pretty smooth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anileve Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Can you please recommend a few cheap but outstanding wines to tease the taste buds with? I want to go on a mission rather than randomly choosing. I am ready to receive my first lesson Master THOTH, Master Armat, Master Azat and Master Gamavor. Wow, I didn’t realize the number of masters before I started listing, afterwards it was too late to stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Ani jan if there is a trader joys near where you are, get some el boca, argentinian nice cheap wine, melbec is what I like, spicy and very plesent cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Can you define cheap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anileve Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Can you define cheap? I forgot whom I was asking.... For me cheap whould be under $15. Eddo, I'll try. I don't think I've ever tried Argentinean. I've tried so many, but I never remember their names. Love shiraz, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, South African wines are awesome. Also I don't know if any of you tried "Kadarka" I think it's Hungarian, semi-dry and very good and exceptionally cheap. I think about $7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Okie dokie. Try to get Neyers Syrah from Napa. It is about 16 bucks at TJ and I am sure probably the same in the wine shops in Jersey. If not I think now there is a TJ in Morristown NJ and also in Connecticut. Worth the drive. 8 out of 10 Ridge - California Coast Range - this is a terrific wine especially when you see the price. 15 dollars at TJ. it is a mix of few blends including petit syrah. I love it. Ridge usually makes Zins(all Zins suck ) but this is good. 8.5 out of 10 Handley Pinot Noir - There are no bad Pinots, but this is better than the average. 15-18 dollars Qupe - 8 out of 10. Maybe a bit on the higher end in the price. but under 20. Look for Australian and South American Reds. They are mostly produced by California wine makers(especially Chilean) Excellent values and good wine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 let me add couple of more Bonny Doon Syrah - 12-15 dollars 8.5 out of 10 MacMurray Pinot Noir 15-16 dollars 9 out of 10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armat Posted August 13, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 (edited) let me add couple of more Bonny Doon Syrah - 12-15 dollars 8.5 out of 10 MacMurray Pinot Noir 15-16 dollars 9 out of 10 Azat nice list.I also recommend Bonny Doon Syrah.great wine for the price. few of my faves. 1.Number 1 my favorite cheap wine under $15. Chateau Ste. Michelle/Dr. Loosen, "Eroica", Columbia Valley (Off-Dry I saw it in TJ $12-This wine is incredible pure pleasure…lots of melon, apple ,cherry, acidic just superb! 2. Sauvignon Blanc, Saint Clair, New Zealand-citrus, melon, lot of grass, think of it like fresh cut grass fused with citrus overtones. This is a gem. Please don't say I don't drink white wine You'll miss out a lot of great wine.It actually annoys me when people say I only drink white or red.Each has its own place.Eating steak with big Cabarnet is a perfect match and eating Oysters with Champagne or crisp souvignon Blank is a total experiance.So please try everything. typo Edited August 13, 2004 by Armat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azat Posted August 13, 2004 Report Share Posted August 13, 2004 Armat, I hardly ever drink white wine. I know it should be the other way around but I get a headache after the second glass of white. But for whites I highly recommend the Rudd family of wines(actually for reads as well, but the reads start in the mid 40 and go up). You can get them from anywhere 15-25 and they are superb. (dude, I am glad that teh family did not get hurt) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 I am ready to receive my first lesson Master THOTH, Master Armat, Master Azat and Master Gamavor. Wow, I didn’t realize the number of masters before I started listing, afterwards it was too late to stop. Ahem Just got back from a trip - but I'll post my suggestions a bit later. Unfortunately, up here in Canada, the gov't pretty much has a lot to say about what's available to drink and what's not - unless you go through private importers, and then the $$$'s go way up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 Please don't say I don't drink white wine You'll miss out a lot of great wine.It actually annoys me when people say I only drink white or red.Each has its own place.Eating steak with big Cabarnet is a perfect match and eating Oysters with Champagne or crisp souvignon Blank is a total experiance. So please try everything. Great point Armat! Agreed fully. I would also extend that statement to inlude sweeter wines/dessert wines etc. Many folks avoid the syrupy sweet dessert wines, having never tried any! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted August 16, 2004 Report Share Posted August 16, 2004 (edited) OK just saw this....cheap but oustanding wines....hm - not sure..depends what constitues cheap and what one may consider "outstanding" versus perhaps mearly very good.. There are a few cheaper wines that I drink that I really think are very nice drinking wines for the price. Now this may vary depending on vintage - where a cheaper wine may excell in an exceptional vintage but not be so good in a weaker vintage - and this is very important to consider IMO. So here goes - a few recs off the top of my head... I find some real red easy drinking value with Barberas from Piedmont in Italy. Icardi Barbari d'asti Tabarin (I think thats the name) - 2001 vintage - around $12 bottle - simply a wonderful drinking wine. Many other Barberas - from d'asti and D'alba primarily drink very well. Vietti is ussually laways nice and Spinetta (though can be more expensive - but for perhaps $20 or so some truly nice wine) Another great (reletively cheap) Italian is Falesco. Their basic Merlot (perhaps $17-20) can be great and they have a Cab-Sangiovese (I think) blend called Vitiano - that runs about $8-10 can sometime taste right up there with a $40-50 red...(there is sometimes bottle variation so I would recommend trying a few...) Allegrini and Zenato make some nice Ripasso wines in the $14-20 range. Allegrini's Plazo del Torre and Griolo single vinyard reds can often be delicious... Many nice (cheap) Australian Shirazs (and shiraz/cab blends) as well - Paringa and Marquis Phillips come to mind (others as well - some of the Penfolds wines...etc) - each perhas $10-16...recent vintages have been good...lots of good fruit... Red Zinfindels can be powerful and fruity and drink well - Seghisio has a very nice basic Zin that runs about $12-14 thats simply sublime...Cline, Rosemount, others... Value can also be found with some Spanish wines. One I would recommend that I've seen around for about $17-20 it Numanthia Termes. Nice fruit... Other very nice (very full bodied) Spanish wines include wines from the Monstat region...Les Terraces (sp?) is one that is nice..others... Many Spanish Riojas and Ruberras offer nice drinking value in a softer style red. Monteccillo has had some nice ones recently - 94 Grand Reserve for about $20 if you can still find it is outstanding.... You can find some great Merlots and Cabs - pretty cheap from Washington State - Chateau St Michel comes to mind - particularly their Canoe Ridge and other single vinyrd sights - whcih ussually can be had for under $20... And there are plenty of nice Oregon Pinots in the $15 -20 range..Ponzi and Adelsheim come to mine...others as well - Bethel Heights, Errath....etc For whites - I generally recommend German Rieslings - particularly from the Mosul-Saar-Rhur region. You can buy an excllent Kabinet or a slightly sweeter Spatlese for well under $20 - best white wine values in the world IMO. Other nice whites include New Zealand and SOuth African Savingion Blancs. (I could recommend some of these - but not off the top of my head - names are elluding me)... Oh and for some inexpensive syrupy desert wines - Austrialian Tokats - such as Chambers and several others - great stuff..also some nice Aussi Ports - tend to run around $15 or so...or French Monballizacs - much the same as a Sauternes - but cheaper - a bit less body - but still nice...you can even find some nice half bottles of Sauterenes in the $12-16 range - well worth it for the drinking pleasure... Anyway - hope this helps....(more to come perhaps...if any interest)... Edited August 16, 2004 by THOTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anileve Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Thank you for all of your great recommendations, THOTH especially, due to the overwhelming amount of information. Vavachka, I didn’t forget you, but lately you haven’t had the time and were running out somewhere according to your current posts, so I figured not to bother you. And I was right since you quickly ran off. Recently I tried “Castillero del Diablo” Casablanca Valley Chardonnay from Chile. Surprisingly I found it very yummy and I usually don’t like Chardonnays. I’ll start by trying out your suggestions one by one. The liquor store owner knows me very well, and I am not sure if it suggests a positive popularity status. I must be there quite often for him to know me so well, thus it could mean only one thing.... although I am not red in the face YET.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 No problem Eve - enjoy....(I certainly do)... Lets see - I'm recalling a few names - Bullers Tokat is a very nice Aussie "sticky" ... The las Terrasses I mentioned as being from Monstat in Spain is actually a Piroat wine (normally more expensive/more prestigious region - though this one is of more value then most there [my favorite Spanish wines BTW..but not at all cheap......and drinks pretty well) - I was thinking of Larona from Monsta - a similar - and a bit cheaper wine. Lets see - some more - Ok - German Rieslings which i really like (note - may not be te cheapest ones - but their value is still great) - JJ Prum - of course, Selbach-Oster, Christophel, Robert Weil, Dr Thanisch, Shloss Sarrenstein...etc (what was a real thrill for me this summer was actually to get out to some of the vinyards [along the Rhine and Mosel primarily] and see where these wines come from!) I also sometimes can find some values even in Bordeaux - but we are ussually talking upper teens to mid-high twenties (at best). Still some very nice wines to be had from the Laland du Pommerol and Montaigne and Lusaac St Emillion areas - primarily Merlot & Merlot blends - simply delicious (in a good vintage) - try 1998 if you can still find them or - of course 2000 (great vintage for Bordeaux). I also like the quite tannic Cab based wines from St Estephe - though they are not ussually as readily accesible - values can be found...look for Lafron Rochet, Ormes de Pez...others...and some/most name Chateaux put out 2nd wines - ussually thiner and with less character then the #1 wine - but often quite good none the less. Bahans Haut Brion is a favorite. Another is Haut Bages Averonous (both probaly can be found in the mid 20s to mid 30s range...) Oh and Zins - Seghisio - Sonoma County - their most basic wine I think - mid/low teens at most and simply wonderful - 2001 & 2002 vitages both drinking great. Other Zins to look for are Renwood, Rosenblum (lots of small single vinyard plots - but even the vinters cuvee - a cheaper blend - is ussually pretty good - and cheap)...and my all time fave (though more expensive) - Ridge Lyton Springs - a magnificent Zin blend - probably upper 20s to lower 30s but drinks much much richer...(again get the good vintages...just avoid 98 for anything California and your probably at least OK...) And funny - speaking of inexpensive wines...(knowing my wine interests) a coworker of mine gave me a bottle of Concha Y Torre Merlot to try (2003 vintage) - he was raving about it...can't say I was overly thrilled...though I did manage to finish most of the bottle....it had a funny sour initial note - a bit of sweetness - no real depth of flavor or distinction - but i guess it went down smoothly (no tannins to speak of...but sometimes I really like thoose -teeth coating - tannis - what can I say...) and it was certainly sweet... I have to say the all time bargain wine value has to be the Trader Joes Charles Shaw Cabernet. Again - it is benefiting from an excellent series of vintages...I would recommend the 2001 if you can still find it..but the 2002 should be nearly as good I imagine (haven't tried it yet)...the merlot is not up to the standard IMO. The CS cab is not bad - a bit thin and on the sour side - but drinks pretty well considering... Still there is the old adage - you get what you pay for - and while it may not always be true in wine - it is very difficult to find a truly outstanding wine for under $30-40 IMO (except for perhaps some outstanding German Rieslings which can be found in the low to mid 20s) - but once you breach this price point there are some real fine wines. I would highly recommend Chateauneaf du Papes - such as Pegau, Beaucastle, Vieux Donjone, Janese, Charvin..and of course there are more. There are also many Southern Rhone wines from Cotes du Rhone, Cotes du Nimes, Vaqyues etc - that offer nearly as good (early) drinking in the $10-18 range that you may want to try first to see if you like the style...(I love it - mmm Grenache, Syrah, Mouvedee, Cinsault - etc - yum yum) - and pure Syrahs from St Joseph in Northern Rhone are ussually innexpensive and drink well (again in good vintages) And here is a rec for a wonderful Cab based wine from Cali - while not cheap per se (mid 40s) - its just wonderful - a very very special wine - Ferraro-Carano Tressor (very pretty bottle too) - nice wine for a hot date.... enjoy! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vava Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 (edited) ...but lately you haven’t had the time and were running out somewhere according to your current posts, so I figured not to bother you. And I was right since you quickly ran off. Unfortunately, yes. It's been far too hectic for me have given you valueable input. However, I suppose we all have prioroties in life (and helping you is, of course, one them ) But you're in good hands here. Edited August 17, 2004 by vava Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamavor Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 Lindauer Rose Wine, from New Zealand. Goes well with almost all kinds of yellow cheese. Good for afternoon drinking, lots of flavours, but do not abuse!!! Try also Rose from Aix-en Provance. They should be less than $10 but very drinkable. Also check out these and when you make your choice we can discuss it. À votre santé http://www.thewineman.com/tws_9_99.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted August 17, 2004 Report Share Posted August 17, 2004 addendum.. I just thought of another real value wine that drinks quite well - the Smoking Loon California Cab (2001/2002 vintages)...to be had for under $10 I think. World Market has this wine as well as the Falesco Vitiano (and sometimes the Merlot) and the Seghiso as well as some other nice wines. Bith the Vitiano ad the Seghisio are on sale now I think...The Bonny Doon wines are ussually fun to check out as well. The Big House Red (blend) ussually drinks very nice. (its a wine I often give to plumbers, electricians, carpenters, heating and air guys etc who do work at te houese - as a tip...always goes over well...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ED Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Hey Winston I just opened up a bottle of BOGLIE 2001 Calif. marlot , got it at locall cost plus store, wonderfull and very smoth and full body wine under 10 bucks, not bad at all. what was the name of that shiraz? the one we had and where can i get that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THOTH Posted August 18, 2004 Report Share Posted August 18, 2004 Hey Winston I just opened up a bottle of BOGLIE 2001 Calif. marlot , got it at locall cost plus store, wonderfull and very smoth and full body wine under 10 bucks, not bad at all. what was the name of that shiraz? the one we had and where can i get that? I've heard people praise Bogle before - but I've never had any myself... The Shiraz we had was a 1998 Penfolds RWT (red wine trial) - (also known as "baby Grange" as it is made from younger grape vines of the same - very famous vinyard - where Grange is from...)....the 98 has been the pinnacle for this wine so far I think - its a magnificent wine - and we drank my last bottle...when I realized how great they were drinking...well I drank all of mine! lol I originally paid about $40 for the bottle (maybe $45) - several years back - a great price...but I recently did a search for the wine and the best I could find it for was about $120 a bottle...and I think it will be tough to find...(and would you really pay that much for it? Great wine - sure...but..) - I would suspect that the 2001 and the 2002 vintages will drink as well as the 98 (probably not available yet...) - but the word is out i think (so it likely will be perhaps in the $60-80 range right off the bat - my guess...) There are some very righteous Aussie Shirazs to be had in the $30-40 range...I could perhaps recommend a few if your interested. 2001 vintage was great.....2002 even better (for Mclarean Vale - where the best Shrazs are from...and Barrosa and the other prime Shiraz areas) I need to check (again) that exporter who was offering Ararat wine from Australia....they had a very extensive Aussie offering - some prices were quite good...others were just OK... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anileve Posted September 3, 2004 Report Share Posted September 3, 2004 Ok, so I haven't really tried any of the wines you guys have listed but that is only because I had to go through the bottles I already had. Now I have a question, I understand that there are certain years when the harvest is better. The recent wine I have opened I can't really find much information on the internet, all of the years prior to 2000 and after are available in large quantities, but there is only one result for 2000 on the internet. And the label states that it's a special reserve "Especial Reserva," what exactly does that mean and did I just open a bottle of rare wine? By the way it's excellent, and cheap ($8.99), so due to the price I doubt that it's as valuable. It's still great. So really how important is the year of the wine? This is the link. http://www.beaconwine.com/Merchant2/mercha...uct_Code=GWVUR8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Armat Posted November 29, 2004 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 I am savoring this Armenian semisweet pomegranate wine named “aigevan”.This wine is very seductive ,smooth complex bouquet. It will remind you about that special kiss… $7.00 to $10.00 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anileve Posted November 29, 2004 Report Share Posted November 29, 2004 I am savoring this Armenian semisweet pomegranate wine named “aigevan”.This wine is very seductive ,smooth complex bouquet. It will remind you about that special kiss… $7.00 to $10.00 style_images/master/snapback.png I've always wanted to try pomegranate wine. You are very poetic these days, all about kisses and seduction....except it's very to adjust looking at that sheep hat the old geezer is wearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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