Trail Talk Uncorked

“With all the other topic-specific threads out there, I thought it was time for a wine thread.



I'll start it off with a recommendation I posted on another thread:



I recommend a 2002 shiraz called "The Gate", McLaren Vale vineyards in Australia. It's around $15 at Costco, which means it's $50 at a restaurant.”

“Aqua Velva 7oz for $6. Loaf of White Bread. 1.19....you gots a party anytime...or heck Sterno and strain it through a tshirt (squeze) and filter through bread......”

“As I mentioned in the other thread, that is a good one. Here is another...

Los Vascos 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon
Chile, South America

I shared a bottle of this stuff at Fogo de Chao with a friend and we paid like $65 for it. A few days later, I found it at Trader Joe's for $12.99”

“Penfolds 2002 Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz

This is one of my favorites. A little pricey at $25 a bottle, I plan to purchace a case of this stuff as the 2005 vintage is released to put aside for my daughter for her 21st birthday.”

“Jon never thought he would be a winer either. When I met him he liked Coors Light or rum and Coke. We have a blast together now trying out new beers and wines. The problem is that as you try more expensive stuff, the cheap stuff starts to taste crappy. I guess it's analagous to when you're young you think McDonald's cheeseburgers are the best food ever prepared and then as you broaden your diet you realize how much better something like a medium rare rib eye is.”

“2 Buck Chuck (Charles Shaw) is pretty respectable for an inexpensive wine.

I like the White Merlot by Beringer (I think)”

“What do you mean, off-topic? I was under the impression that most people on TT were drunk 24/7.

That is totally true about restaurants, WK! I can't stand paying at least double the actual price.

My fave so far is Toad Hollow pinot noir.”

“I always seems to have a bottle of Ravenswood Vinter's Blend Zin in my win rack. And Coppola Rosso is a tastey cheap blended wine.”

“I am trying to remember the name of the one we tried this past weekend. It was called Toasted Head and the label had a picture of a bear with flames coming from its mouth. It seemed kind of silly. I think it was around $25. Really didn't think it would be any good, but we got it on a lark. Turned out to be the better of the two we bought. I think it was a cabernet.


I know $25 seems like a lot. But had the two of us gone to a bar, we would have spent that much easily in drinks and tips. So it's easy to justify the price.












Just found it on-line:



Taste
A bouquet of cherry and blackberry fruit, with notes of chocolate, leather, roasted coffee, and sweet oak. Tannins are mouthfilling but soft, with a hint of smoke.

Winemaker Comments
The art of blending played an important role in creating this wine. Blending is a tool used to develop a more complex, finished wine. The weak points of one varietal can be counteracted by the strengths of another. The harsher tannins of the Cabernet are softened by the addition of the Merlot. Malbec adds a hint of anise and plum; the red berry flavors of Petit Verdot round out the wine.
last edited: 2/24/06 1:24:48 PM”

“Livingston Burgundy, $10/3L bottle with my Kroger card.

Livin' la vida borracha!”

“Last week I tried Ravenswood Shiraz from south eastern Australia. It was about $12 and very very yummy! I have liked just about every wine from southeastern Australia i have tried so far.”

“DDX and Embear, I like that one, too.”

“My SO has a preference for Wishing Tree Shiraz @10/btl. Yes, it's Organic.

For nice wine we go for a Good Ruffino Chiante Reserva or Amarone Della Valpolicella, classico or reserva.”

“I like Turning Leaf Pinot Noir for my everyday wine. Get it for about $6/bottle at Smiths with my customer card.”

“And,

Thanks for the reminder! I need to restock.”

“http://www.vsattui.com/

Excellent varietals, but not sold in stores.”

“Ruby you have very good taste. I too am a big fan of Shraz. For good cheaper Shiraz try "Yellow Tail" from Australia and cost around 7.00”

“We have a new favorite. It's Pine Ridge - Rutherford 2001 Cabernet, Rutherford - Napa Valley. Oh...my...GOSH!!!!!!!!!!! My most favorite ever. Unfortunately, it's not cheap though.”

“So what's your definition of "not cheap?"”

“I think Jon is paying around $35/bottle.

But it is so worth it.”

“cheaper than a clean hooker.”

“"Clean" Hooker...



isn't that an oxymoron?”

“Ya can't put a price on good booze. Well, OK, ya can but it's worth it. There's nothing I like better than showing up with a $50 bottle of scotch to share with a friend. Soldiers in the foxhole have not bonded as close as two buddies and a good bottle of scotch have.”

“Thank goodness I haven't seen Johnny Walker Blue in a while.

That was some good stuff, but I was afraid I was going to have to remortgage the house to afford it.”

“That stuffs like $250 a bottle isn't it?”

“Two bills for a blend? I just couldn't do it. Not with so many great single malts out there.

But this is Ruby-Doobie's wine thread so I'll have to get back on topic here. I can't drink wine because of all the Mad Dog 20/20 I drank in my younger days. Blech!”

“Nigal, the next time I see you, I am going to treat you to some really good wine. You might rethink you're I-can't-drink-wine thing then. =D”

“A fine beverage! RIGHT!

I have had a few evenings ruined because of this crap.”

“"I have had a few evenings ruined because of this crap.”

I can just imagine it. One second WK is drinking wine at the karaoke bar and the next thing he knows he wakes up surrounded by pink flamingos in someone’s yard and he has a condom hanging out his butt. LOL!

Now that’s a party!”

“That's a deal Ruby! You bring the wine, I'll bring the scotch and WK can bring the camera. LOL! Mixing is fun!”

“N - Are you making WK bring his own condoms?”

“Unless he wants to go brokeback, I mean bareback. LOL!”

“I was at a bar this weekend singing my arse off! I picked a few songs to start with, then the entire bar started selecting songs without my knowledge to sing.”

“Hey WK, today I was on a job and grabbed an old tape to use (I reuse them over and over). Out of curiosity, I played the beginning of it to try to figure out what I had used it for originally.

Guess what it was????? It was a recording of WoundedKnee belting out "I Touch Myself" at a Chicago karaoke bar. Sure made me chuckle before I started working.”