I have been recently getting REALLY into wine like the different types, smells etc. I like primarily red wines and wanted to know if you guys hang out at any GREAT wine forums I can check out. Or if there are any website or magazines you can suggest? Being Portuguese I have had primarily experienced Portuguese table wines, which I do love for the record...
Any wine people here?
- Thread starter ChrisG
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If you're looking for magazine recommendations, Wine Spectator was always my go to guide. I canceled my subscription because the issues became too repetitive, though.
Its a personal belief of mine that everyone should have a good working knowledge of wines. Which one goes with the fish, which one goes with the red meat, etc. I have lots of favorites.
As for reading material, Wine Spectator is a good mag.
As for reading material, Wine Spectator is a good mag.
Being Portugese, you need to get a hold of some vintage Port! Some of the best sweet, rich red wine on earth (and great with a cigar or savory blue cheese. e.g. Stilton!). My favorite is Taylor Fladgate.
I'll throw a shoutout to Wine Spectator as well, but I also like Wine Advocate for many regions even with all of the controversy.
I'll throw a shoutout to Wine Spectator as well, but I also like Wine Advocate for many regions even with all of the controversy.
Regarding port, I posted this a while back. I hope it is helpful. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showpost.php?p=904817&postcount=36
Here is the entire thread. http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?p=904817#post904817
winelibrarytv is an amazing free resource. 
Port is great, but I find Madeira wine better...
Anyways, to answer the OP question. The magazines mentionned up here are great. I did most of the tasting by just trying it. Sure, I do read some stuff here and there and if something looks interesting, I will try it.
Depending on what you like, I have a weakness for Spanish wines (Rioja specially). I have to admit that I didn't try much wines from Portugal and I should. If you can find some down the street that's even better. The first vineyard is 25km from my place and the stuff is amazing. They unfortunatly run out...
I don't know of any wine forums, but ditto on Wine Spectator. I myself haven't tried them, but apparently wine from the Dao region has gotten some praise recently.
"Blauer Zweigelt" from Neusiedlersee/Austria. Yeah!
- Thread starter
- #10
Apparently my all time favorite wine so far Quinta De Cabriz is from the Dao region.
Cool - I'll have to see if I can find it and give it a taste.
I've recently been on a French kick lately, mostly southern Rhone Valley (Cotes du Rhone red blends) and Loire Valley (Chinon cabernet franc) and have found a lot of really tasty, but not too expensive bottles ($10-20).
That's one good region. Languedoc-Roussillon is also good. Try to get some Syrah/Shyra...
I don't do any reading on wines and never will. You must taste the wine to see if its for you. I love wine and drink a good bit of it. I am not a wine snob, but have sampled a ton of different wines. Two brands I always come back to and serve guests are Trader Joe's, and Yellow Tail.
I have seen my neighbor cover the bottle when she poured it for some guests (wine snobs). They always thought the Trader Joes wine was something much more expensive. I usually buy it buy the case and it comes out to 3-4dollars a bottle. Any type is safe, but the Merlot gets much praise.
Yellow Tail Shiraz is pretty good as well. Its usually 7 dollars on sale and has a good flavor.
I also like visiting different vineyards if I am in the area of one. We have a place in Atlanta called The Grape and it serves like 200? kinds of wine. Nice place but insanely expensive.
I have seen my neighbor cover the bottle when she poured it for some guests (wine snobs). They always thought the Trader Joes wine was something much more expensive. I usually buy it buy the case and it comes out to 3-4dollars a bottle. Any type is safe, but the Merlot gets much praise.
Yellow Tail Shiraz is pretty good as well. Its usually 7 dollars on sale and has a good flavor.
I also like visiting different vineyards if I am in the area of one. We have a place in Atlanta called The Grape and it serves like 200? kinds of wine. Nice place but insanely expensive.
- Thread starter
- #14
The bottle mentioned is about 12$ here and is by far my fav. I will check out the regions mentioned.
I warmly recommend the appelation "Saint Joseph", if you can grab a bottle at reasonnable price, you won't regret it
I went to a tasting of Saint Joseph wines a couple weeks ago, and to be honest, I was disappointed. Here's what I had:
2006 Saint-Joseph “Offerus” (J.L. Chave); 2007 Saint-Joseph “Vieilles Vignes” (Faury); 2003 Saint-Joseph “La Madone” (Chante Perdrix); 2005 Saint-Joseph “Offerus” (J.L. Chave); 2003 Saint-Joseph “Offerus” (J.L. Chave); 2007 Saint-Joseph (Saint Cosme); 2006 Saint-Joseph “Côte Belley” (Gaillard); 2006 Saint-Joseph (J.L. Chave)
The wines were too thin and acidic for my personal taste and didn't have much else. I'm not sure whether it's a factor of needing more age, just the selected wines, or my personal tastes, but perhaps I need to give them another shot.
Now, 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape's? Simply astounding.
2006 Saint-Joseph “Offerus” (J.L. Chave); 2007 Saint-Joseph “Vieilles Vignes” (Faury); 2003 Saint-Joseph “La Madone” (Chante Perdrix); 2005 Saint-Joseph “Offerus” (J.L. Chave); 2003 Saint-Joseph “Offerus” (J.L. Chave); 2007 Saint-Joseph (Saint Cosme); 2006 Saint-Joseph “Côte Belley” (Gaillard); 2006 Saint-Joseph (J.L. Chave)
The wines were too thin and acidic for my personal taste and didn't have much else. I'm not sure whether it's a factor of needing more age, just the selected wines, or my personal tastes, but perhaps I need to give them another shot.
Now, 2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape's? Simply astounding.
Hmm...I cant say that I can offer a suggestion on what to read, but I can throw my hat in the ring as a wine lover.
I learned from my uncle, who is a wine grape broker in Visalia, CA.
Come to think of it...I was offered an "in," but I'd have to move back to CA. And I'm not so sure that's worth it.
I learned from my uncle, who is a wine grape broker in Visalia, CA.
Come to think of it...I was offered an "in," but I'd have to move back to CA. And I'm not so sure that's worth it.
It's a specificity that comes from the nature of the soil, there is nothing anormal, this wine is great with cheeses, french pork cookeries or slightly fat meats like lamb, where acidity helps.
