ok, so now that it’s spring and getting warmer, what kind of wine do you like this time of year?
list your favorites and great deals here!
(disclaimer: for the people who don’t like wine topics being discussed here, this is not a thread for you–alot of us enjoy it and is a part of our lifestyle in combination with enjoying this sport)
here’s three recents on my “favorites” list:
-Jacob’s Creek Semillon Chardonnay (2003), South Australia. only about 8 bucks in most grocery stores, and has the right blend of citrus fruit and some mineral–it’s very very light, but not thin. I’ll be drinking this all summer! It’s good and cheap–and alot different from the usual chards–especially ones from the US. goes with anything.
-Argiolas Costamolina, Vermentino (2003), Italy. about 10-13 bucks from a good wine shop. light with basically little to no oak, but good citrus fruits, some mineral notes and grassy flavors. Hmmm…
-Brancott Sauvignon Blanc (2003 or 2004), Marlborough, New Zealand. around 13 bucks from a good wine shop. grassy, a little citrus, mineral flavors. it’s too good to be true! Damn!
Any Seghesio Zinfandel. Nice value for the price. Not too jammy…good complexity. Any “Old Vine” is preferred, but even the Sonoma is pretty worth it at under $20.
Ferrari-Carrano Siena - a reliable old standby that’s just a good everyday drinking wine, again for under $20. Goes with anything, and most importantly, goes pretty well with nothing at all.
The first rites of spring are sitting in the sun, eating bread and cheese and swilling cheap wine. Go for the two buck Chuck at Trader Joes. Save the good stuff for later.
I’m a glutton for punishment, as I think many here are. After all pain, suffering, and misery is what we do for fun. As such I highly recommend a wine that allows you to get plastered while increasing your threshold for pain and suffering…
Mad Dog 20/20- $2.38, i suggest classic purple (you cant refer to screw on top wines by flavor, just color). Purple tasts alot like really really bad wine…
Green is ok its more like cool aid, and kids will think you are drinking cool aid…that is until you: a) urinate on your self (hey more Ironman training!)
b) fall out you lawn chair c) puke on your shoes (preparation for early season sprints) d) jump on you bike and start riding around the block screaming Lance armstrong is a wanna be has been.
What a fortuitous post. I almost picked up a gallon screw top jug of some red stuff ($10 on sale) last night at CVS but opted for a pint of Hagan Daz instead.
I found St Supery Sauvignon Blanc years ago and still love it.
“Intense varietal characters explode out of the glass: lemon, green lime and kiwi, along with slight gooseberry aromas. These are followed by signature flavors of ruby grapefruit, juicy lime and tangerine on the palate.”
Not a fruiffy-fruity wine, very clean and crisp. Priced mid-teens.
You’re gonna get real jeolous now. Saturday is the Carneros Vineyard 10K in Napa Valley. Hosted by Artessa Winery. About 10 of us from my Club are going up to run the 10K, then have a little breakfast and cruise on up the valley to the Pope Valley. We will park at the Rust Ridge Winery (fabulous Cab’s and Zin’s) and ride the Napa Valley 1/2IM bike course. After that we will have a picnic lunch and taste the fruits of the region at Rust Ridge and then hit a few wineries along Silverado trail as we wind our way back home. Should be a fantastic spring opener!
Since I know you are an anti-California wine snob, I recommend the 2003 Kim Crawford Marlboro Sav Blanc. I tried it a few weeks ago and it was the best damn Sav Blanc I have ever had. Something like $12/bottle at Costco. This is painful for me to admit since I live in the Russian River appelation of Sonoma County but those Kiwi’s know how to make a nice SB.
Now for a nice Zin to serve with your BBQ, just look for something from Dry Creek and preferably using older hillside vines. Nothing better than an old vine Zin with some grill meat and veggies…getting hungry already.
Mike
agreed, I like the chard/semillon blends better than most chardonnays… the NZ SB’s are uniquely delicious.
My favorites for summer aren’t available in the US, and I’ve run out… sobs into glass…
Klein Constantia Riesling, an off-dry white, usually lots of interesting fruit up front but a steely backbone.
Chant de Nuy, a white blend from a little co-op, Nuy Wine Cellar. This wine includes small quantities of a varietal Ferdinand de Lesseps, which gives it a characteristic nose of… pineapple ?? Yes indeedy, very fine on a summer’s day. They also make a white muskadel (muscat) which is good over ice.
Because I like spicy foods, I like the Okanagan region gewertztraminers. They are not sweet at all, but pair amazingly well with anything spice (thai green curries to indian curries to chili lime sauce tuna yum!). Sumac Ridge is very good bargain, about $15CAD.
For reds, the bargain I’ve been drinking lately is from Oz: Little Penguin Shiraz. Great with grilled steaks. Also about $15CAD.