Question for the wine experts

[equality72521]

How about Mad Dog 20/20? Is that considered good wine? I hear it put the wine in wino. Is it worth the $3 for it?

[kstar]

There's always Wine Spectator:

http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Home/

Best,

Kurt

edit: Here is their "Top 100" for 2006:
PDF file! http://static.winespectator.com/Wine/Images/Graphics/Top100/2006/Top100-2006.pdf

[Tobra]

Take a vacation to the wine country in California, spend a few days, mayber take the wine train or do a tour so you don't have to drive. If you had a group, you could chip in, rent a 15 passenger van and cruise up and down the valley tasting and buying wine you like. I once got a case of a truly outstanding '82 Vichon cab for $6 a bottle when they were closing out old stock.

There are several clubs where they will send a few bottles a month to you, kind of like book of the month.

Lunch at Domaine Chandon, pricey, but worth it.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by Don Plumley

Gotta narrow that down. You've just asked, "Can you recommend a car between $10,000 and $50,000?"

Ok, How about start at the low end and work your way up listing 1 or 2 of your favorites (and what you like about them) out of each price point; say by $15.

[Jeff]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Don't get me started,
Jeff,

Sterling, BV, Bogle, Kennwood, Kendal Jackson, Ravenswood, to name a few
All make good (not great but drinkable IMHO) reds in the $15-$50 range.

I hate to admit this but Dancing bull, Smoking loon, Estancia, can work in the $10-$15 range.

Scottmandue, I will look into some of the ones you recommend. Thanks.

[Jims5543]

In the past I have purchased from these guys and I have never received a bad bottle of wine.

http://www.windsorvineyards.com/windsor/index.jsp

I used to purchase cases and give them to clients. I always took care of my CPA too. She shared a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon with the owner of local 5 star restaurant and they went nuts over it.

I might order a couple of cases this year.

[trekkor]

Cartlidge and Brown has a fantastic line-up.

In South Napa County.


KT

[Jandrews]

Five Vintners from Krisi Raymond (5th generation Beringer). Absolutely sublime Cabernet...$28. For me, a top wine at ANY price!


JA

[stomachmonkey]

Stepdads surprise 50th. Mom charges me with getting the vino.

Co-workers sister is married into one of the larger/local vintners family so co-worker had a ton of stuff in her basement.

Go by the house grab 5 red and 3 white cases for $20 per case.

Day of the party the red is going like crazy, was really good.

Stepdad takes a case and hides it to save it.

Few weeks later I'm out in wine country and we stop by the vineyard.

Talking to the guy we complement him on the particular bottle.

His eyes light up, he tells us they won an award for it and it was their best vintage ever then asks me if we have any left. I tell him one case and a few loose bottles.

Offers me $100 a bottle

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by C U L8R

Scottmandue, I will look into some of the ones you recommend. Thanks.

If you want to get some good cabernet, Jordan, Kenwood, Sterling, Stags Leap, Kendall Jackson all pretty good. Smoking Loon is pretty good, but when I went to the vineyard, the lady was sort of *****y, so screw them. Folie a Deux is a small outfit run by a couple guys I met, decent vino, nice guys. Just go buy some and drink it man.

[Don Plumley]

Originally Posted by C U L8R

Ok, How about start at the low end and work your way up listing 1 or 2 of your favorites (and what you like about them) out of each price point; say by $15.

So I could be snarky and ask:
2 door or 4 door?
Sedan or SUV?
Power or Economy?
Blue or Orange?

But you get the idea. Best is to start with food - what kinds of stuff will you be eating?
White or Red - any preference?
Sweet or Dry
Floral, Mineral, Butter
Light, medium or full-bodied
More or less Tannic (astringent)
Fruit or Earthy
So back to my original post, drink what you like. If you have preferences from the spectrum of taste choice, then you can start making recommendations.

I'll fess up and say I'm not a big cab fan, nor am I much of a fan of any of the really large labels - they are drinkable and fine, but we're spoiled where I live so I we don't seek out KJ, Mondavi, et al. And I'm hugely partial to Sonoma County, then Mendocino, then Central Coast, then Oregon, then Europe/rest of new world, etc. before I do much in Napa.

But for what it is worth here are some of my favorite wineries:

Lynmar, Carlisle, Siduri, Davis Bynum, Williams Selym, Lambert Bridge, de Lorimier, Mayo, Meeker, Jordan, Rochioli, Seghesio (I'm just getting thirsty now)

My favorite (big) winery is Benzinger (not Beringer) at all price points. Followed by Chateau St. Jean, Gary Farrel.

Varietal, my love is Pinot Noir (that's what we make), but there's an increasing amount of cr@p coming out due to that movie. So I'm drinking more Syrah. Zin's have gotten way too big for me (high Alcohol). Most Chardonnay is cr@p - butterball cocktails. Very few new world whites worth the price. If you hunting for a red and don't know what to pick - look for a blend. You'll see this often as "Meritage" which is a branded name, but any "Red Table Wine" showing the breakdown of varietals (usually a blend of Cab, Merlot, Cab Franc, etc.) is a much better choice than a garden variety Cab. Better balance - you might know this a Bordeaux.

Best resource for great wine picks - the Wall Street Journal Tastings column. Out every Friday. Thier best picks are almost always winners and I give little weight to the Speculator points.

Best way to figure out what's what - a good local wine store. Give them $300 or whatever and ask for a mixed case with a little guidance.

Drink and enjoy!

[Jeff]

Tobra and Don, Thanks.

Don, I like the idea of having a case "built" for me. Great idea.