Attention wine snobs.

[Doctor Zoidburg]

I recently enjoyed a Cabernet Sauvignon for Chile - Santa Carolina Reserva
It was quite good for the reasonable price of about $10 a bottle. This wine was quite smooth without the dry slighly bitter taste of other wines. Not being an expert on wines, I was told previously that this dry slightly bitter taste is nessesary for a good wine. I may not be a wine expert, but I know wha I like. So I put this question to the wine snobs.

 

[papasmerf]

I ahve seldom paid more than 20 bucks for a great bottle.

 

[Toke]

I have seldom paid more than 20 bucks for a great bottle.

Damn straight. I've worked in places that sell ridiculously expensive bottles ($250+) and was astounded to see people drink them. I'll never push them, but one night I saw a foursome spend in the neighborhood of $1,250 in wine alone. I remember one guy who didn't take my suggestion on a $50 bottle because it was 'too cheap' he then went on to select two bottles for a combined $300. He tried to act as if he 'knew wine' but wasn't impressing me. I think I know more than most, purely by exposure, but believe me, you can find great wines at very affordable prices if you're willing to try a few.

On the flip side, I hate when restaurants act like they know wine but don't. Case in point, the Keg. I've heard their staff, management included, try to go on about wine, but if you pay close attention, they're just trying to up what you spend by using a 'horse and pony story' that has may impress the ignorant, but I just see it as a flat out lie covered as a knowledgeable sales pitch.

There's my restaurant wine rant... I just hate when customers are being lied to.

 

[onthebottom]

All wine costs about $8-9 to make, the rest is margin. I'm not a wine expert but my GF is, she will avoid the high priced wines (Screaming Eagle) as trophy wines for fools with too much money, she finds small wineries that make great wine and buys them before they get too popular. Once the Wine Spectator (dictator) get's ahold of them it's all over.

We had a bottle on Sunday she paid $17 for that was worth $ 450 when we drank it....... crazy, but not a bad wine .

Chile and Argentina make some very good red wines at very reasonable prices. They are the new Australia....

OTB

 

[shakenbake]

I recently enjoyed a Cabernet Sauvignon for Chile - Santa Carolina Reserva
It was quite good for the reasonable price of about $10 a bottle. This wine was quite smooth without the dry slighly bitter taste of other wines. Not being an expert on wines, I was told previously that this dry slightly bitter taste is nessesary for a good wine. I may not be a wine expert, but I know wha I like. So I put this question to the wine snobs.

Drink what you like, like what you drink. Who are you trying to please when you drink wine? Yourself, of course!

I am no wine expert. However, I think that the slightly bitter taste might be tannins and non-esterified fatty acids. The fatty acids esterify with some of the alcohol to form esters that give the wine its bouquet and flavour. This happens as the wine ages.

Also, you should try a red wine like Cabernet Sauvingon after the bottle has been open for at least 15 minutes and has 'breathed' with the oxygen ni the air. That smooths the flavour out for a red wine. My favourite is a Baco Noir, which shows the breathing effect very strongly.

 

[ENCHANTED]

One of favourite cheap wines Fuzion Shiraz-Malbec, under $10. Give it a try.

 

[shakenbake]

One of favourite cheap wines Fuzion Shiraz-Malbec, under $10. Give it a try.

Or, try Magnotta wines for the price! They have an outlet in Mississauga, Dixie, east side, south of Dundas, as well as up in Woodbridge. I like the Dixie store, the staff is very helpful and friendly!

 

[onthebottom]

Nah, way too many wine snobs are simply showing off or deluding themselves with spending too much.

About the only expensive wines that I find are somewhat worth what you might pay are Brunello's and Chateau D'Yquem's

I'm with you, as fuck up as Italy can be, they can make some farking wine.....

OTB

 

[shakenbake]

Nah, way too many wine snobs are simply showing off or deluding themselves with spending too much.

About the only expensive wines that I find are somewhat worth what you might pay are Brunello's and Chateau D'Yquem's

Too bad for the snobs. They miss out on a lot of good stuff at a good price. The cost is not always a good indicator of quality in subjective things.

 

[Edifice]

Anybody here like Misterio or Fuzion?

 

[stang]

I've enjoyed all the Santa Carolinas. They make pretty good shit.

 

[Money$hot]

...I think I know more than most, purely by exposure, but believe me, you can find great wines at very affordable prices if you're willing to try a few.
...

Any recommendations?

 

[Toke]

Nah, way too many wine snobs are simply showing off or deluding themselves with spending too much.

About the only expensive wines that I find are somewhat worth what you might pay are Brunello's and Chateau D'Yquem's

Delusion is the perfect way to put it. Put some $7 wine in a $100 bottle and watch the rave reviews it will get. That's what they do with bottles that are not available in the LCBO. They can price it wherever they want and the customer can't 'check up' on their mark-up. I used to 'talk wine' with some customers just to find out if they really knew what they were talking about. In many years of service I only met two wine experts (sommeliers) and they admitted that most people who think they know, know nothing. Like a previous poster, who referred to his GF, 'good' wines can be found cheap, but just drink what you like.

In regards to Brunella's and Chateau D'Yquem's being more expensive, that is due to the varietal. Some grapes are more expensive than others, but some price is relative to the grape as the price ranges in Brunellos.

 

[Toke]

Any recommendations?

The Kenwood Cabernets are very nice wines. I also enjoy Kingston Estate's Shiraz. Shiraz if I want something with a more tannic/bitter taste and the cabernet for dry and smooth.

 

[Toke]

I like the St Catherines wines that are Kenworth aged on the QEW to Toronto.

Canadian wines, aside from ice wines, get a bad rap because they aren't imported. Many of them are more than drinkable, but their domestic origin, and relative price, make them seem 'cheap'.

 

[calloway]

I recently enjoyed a Cabernet Sauvignon for Chile - Santa Carolina Reserva

Basic... easy to drink... not complicated... made for North American tastes.

As mentioned there are some great wines under $20... it really depends on what you like and that's the most important thing.

I've purchased many wines... from $7 to $100 cost. Price should not be your determining factor. What I like... you may hate and vice versa. I've been hooked on Australian Shiraz these days or blends of Cab Shiraz. LCBO vintage stores have some great selections available under $20.

If you're into wine... search the reviews. The #1 website for wine lovers is Wine Spectator. http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Home/

Just started following this website from a Canadian reviewer... http://www.canadianwineguy.com/

 

[Geoff]

I recently enjoyed a Cabernet Sauvignon for Chile - Santa Carolina Reserva.

This was a very good choice. It came highly recommended even from the LCBO.

For the price it was defo a steel. I purchased 6 bottles myself.

 

[train]

This thread has developed into the typical wine thread with the majority questioning the sanity of anyone that has developed a bit of a palate. I never understood why they thought it was such sport to sit back and make fun of other peoples tastes while quaffing on cherry ripple Thunderbird from upper New York state.

After drinking "better wines" ($15 to $35) for several years your tastes actually change to the detriment of your wallet. It has been years since I've had a wine at $10 or under that was even remotely drinkable and I am no oenophile. There are plenty in the $15 range though and people are right they will most likely come from Argentina, Chile, South Africa or even Spain.

The bitter taste Doc referes to is most likely the tannins. These "relax" or disappear with aging so they are more noticeable with young wines that need further aging. They originate mainly from the grape skins and seeds and are more prevalent in reds.

Many oenophiles see natural tannins (found particularly in varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and often accentuated by heavy oak barrel aging) as a sign of potential longevity and ageability. As tannic wines age, the tannins begin to decompose and the wine mellows and improves with age, with the tannic "backbone" helping the wine survive for as long as 40 years or more.

Wines with little or no tannins will not age and will also have a short shelf life.

The LCBO publishes a vintage wine release booklet every 2 weeks which provides a listing of the new releases that week along with a 1 paragraph review. It's very useful and will help you discover the real gems in the lower price ranges. If the wine has been reviewed it will also give you the score out of 100. Anything at 90 or over will be pretty good and there are usually several in the $15 to $25 range. It will also tell you whether the wine is drinkable now or needs to be aged further. Most can be drunk now or held.

While the ratings have been questioned as being corrupt or political they are a decent guide for the rank amateur such as myself and, as silly as this sounds, you are pleased when you buy a 93 rated wine at $18 while some poor "sucker" is buying a 89 rated Tuscan wine at $63.

After awhile you develop a taste for what you like and develop favourites amongst the producers. My weakness, at the moment, is Aussie shiraz and Spanish rioja. Actually I have lots of weaknesses but in regards to wine I mean.

Other than golf what other hobbies do guys over 45 have ?

 

[Wizard Merlin]

I rarely buy wine under $15. Sure there may be some gems under $15, but most aren't. I tend to like full bodied Cab Savs and Shiraz. The best Cabernet I find are from Napa Valley CA. They are pricey but are so robust and delicious. For a special occasion you have to try one out.

Some Barrolos, Amerones, and Barbarescos (all Italian) can be really good as well. Again, The more expensive wines I tend to drink on special occasions, otherwise some VQA, Australian, and Chillean wines can be quite tasty at reasonable prices ($15-20).

 

[iprint]

I actually make my own wine at a ferment on premise business. They run me about $4-$6 a bottle and once aged 6-8 months are excellent wines as good as $15-$30 bottles plus I always have a good supply on hand.