BristolUK

With xmas approaching maybe we can talk about wine again.

Feel free to make recommendations but try to say a little about why you like them. We all have different tastes and if you say what you look for in a wine then the recommendation might mean more.

For example I've always preferred Aussie wines, mostly Chardonnay and Shiraz.

I don't place much value in 'tasting notes' (for reasons I'll go into in a minute) although I'm sure those experts really do know what they're talking about, but I have found that where melon or peach is applied to whites or plum and dark cherry to reds, I will often enjoy them more than when there is supposedly a hint of apple, pear, spice, liquorice

I've always been a fan of Rosemount Estate Diamond Label wines but first the whites disappeared from the shelves and now all but one red has gone. I understand that one's going soon too.

I seldom enjoy my old stand-bys anymore. Jacob's Creek, Hardys, Lindemans...

I am now left with Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir from Chile as my only reliable.

Tasting notes. How the hell can "the nose is filled with ripe blackberry, toffee and a bit of clove. Flavors of juicy dark berry fruit are abundant. The round dense wine has a mocha finish which is absent of any astringency" mean anything while "an appetizing hickory-smoke aroma and bold fruit flavors make this one stand out, yet it doesn't go too far with the woody character. A hint of bacon blends well with the ripe blackberry flavors" describes the same wine?

Dark berry in one and blackberry in the other, that's fair enough. But toffee, clove and mocha from one with hickory-smoke and bacon in the other?

dbd33

This evening I shall be drinking Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon. Why? Because I like to chug a cab on a Sunday and this one was heavily discounted so I bought all they had.

caretaker

Maybe not tonight but I'm in. Does anyone else use the Delectables app?

Stinkypup

Is that a wine app or or really a single man looking for lady friend app?

BristolUK

You made them an offer they couldn't refuse.

dave_j

This evening, like most evenings, I shall be drinking dave_j's finest.
Wine kits continue to improve in quality. Indeed, whilst I have bought some really dreadful bottled wines in the past, I have yet to plumb those depths with wines I have brewed myself.
But it's each to his own. I know of some who wouldn't touch a drop of my wines, even without tasting them simply because they don't come with a fancy label.

dbd33

Me, for example. No one can make passable red wine at home.

Piff Poff

My favorite wine at the moment is Cupcake Red Velvet. I like smooth reds, not harsh dry ones such as chianti, I also enjoy a malbec, anything around the10 to 15 dollar mark is ok by me as OH doesnt really drink and I feel like a lush if i have more than a glass or two. I do like a white or rose occasionally or if I need some for cooking, I'll buy what looks pretty. German wines make me ill.

caretaker

The peer pressure around here is incredible! I know there is a small selection in the cabinet but I feel the need to go buy a clutch of bottles so I can contribute more..... What pairings should I be looking at for the various flavours of chicken wings? Hearty reds for hot wings and something rosier for the lemon pepper with dill dressing? If I made some with mint and citrus (and cilantro?) a chilled white may not even be out of the question. What wine goes with hot dogs? Any merlot I suppose.

Almost Canadian

Passable for what? If it's simply chugging at home, I'll take that bet.

Clearly, it's not going to feature on some fancy sommelier's "wine of the year" list but, as I have never had such a person at my home, who cares.

BristolUK

There don't seem to be "rules" anymore. Some even chill reds

Just the other day I read of a red wine recommendation with Salmon Ceviche. Not that I'd heard of Ceviche before but while I happily have a red with poultry I can't imagine it with fish, even salmon.

caretaker

For raw red fish I want to have a vodka or ouzo prior to any wine, just for the appetite.
re: chilling reds, I think it's all situational, depending on the food, the mood, and the wine itself. We expect rose' to be well chilled and in some cases it's appropriate for more full-bodied wine as well.

dbd33

I'm very dubious about this claim but I'm certainly willing to give it a go over the internet, please tip a couple of glasses into the keyboard.

Almost Canadian

I thought that you regularly travelled to my neck of the woods. If so, I would be happy to pour you a glass or two and permit you to leave with some bottles under your arm, purely to see if you used it at a later date in a casserole.

While I can accept that some may not believe it is possible for home brewers to brew a passable "heavy" red, why do believe they cannot achieve something passable from a Gamay?

dave_j

There's a lot of ill informed snobbery surrounding wine.
We have to be honest with ourselves. Drinking wine in company is generally a social experience and so long as the drink is pleasant, the underlying reason for drinking is the consumption of alcohol leading to a reduction in social barriers and a more enjoyable experience.
But... as I said, it's a snob thing with most people who worry overmuch about how others view their status. The quality of the wine is immaterial, it's the reflection of how much it cost that's apparently much more important. Placing a bottle of home made wine on the table welcomes the comment 'cheapskate'. However, I choose to accept the title of cheapskate with some pride and offer the comment 'pretentious fool' to those who buy expensive plonk.