Wine connoisseurs out there?

[RobertIngersoll]

I was recently given a nice Eurocave cooler, so I'd like to start researching to find some nice wines that are fairly inexpensive today but should age well over the next 3 to 5 years. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where to even start.

Does anybody here have advice?

[fuisu98]

Mad Dog 20/20 and Boone's Farm.

You're welcome.

[ThePracticalPundit]

Not all wines should be aged. The keys to aging wine are sulfites, tannins and acidity. These are what prevent the wine from turning too quickly to vinegar, and allow for the eventual settling/mellowing of the flavor. In general, you age reds more commonly than whites, though there are exceptions. Prime candidates for cellaring are Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Red Zinfandel... White Zinfandel should be poured into an innocuous wine punch or donated to a sorority.

[Mrs. G]

Not all wines should be aged. The keys to aging wine are sulfites, tannins and acidity. These are what prevent the wine from turning too quickly to vinegar, and allow for the eventual settling/mellowing of the flavor. In general, you age reds more commonly than whites, though there are exceptions. Prime candidates for cellaring are Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Red Zinfandel... White Zinfandel should be poured into an innocuous wine punch or donated to a sorority.

Solid advice (not that I claim to be an expert).

Gus and I bought a Silverado Cab in Napa Valley 10 years ago that we will be breaking open in a month or two. I hope it is decent as we haven't exactly stored it properly . . . . just tossed it in the basement.

[RobertIngersoll]

Not all wines should be aged. The keys to aging wine are sulfites, tannins and acidity. These are what prevent the wine from turning too quickly to vinegar, and allow for the eventual settling/mellowing of the flavor. In general, you age reds more commonly than whites, though there are exceptions. Prime candidates for cellaring are Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Red Zinfandel... White Zinfandel should be poured into an innocuous wine punch or donated to a sorority.

I understand the basics -- I'm looking for more specific suggestions; a particular vintage Bordeux, for instance, and perhaps a source for purchasing it.

[Shecky O'Malley]

Not all wines should be aged. The keys to aging wine are sulfites, tannins and acidity. These are what prevent the wine from turning too quickly to vinegar, and allow for the eventual settling/mellowing of the flavor. In general, you age reds more commonly than whites, though there are exceptions. Prime candidates for cellaring are Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Red Zinfandel... White Zinfandel should be poured into an innocuous wine punch or donated to a sorority.

I understand the basics -- I'm looking for more specific suggestions; a particular vintage Bordeux, for instance, and perhaps a source for purchasing it.

I've always found the buying guides in each issue of Wine Spectator to be a reliable reference. I think most of that content is available on their web site for a fee, but might be worth it if you're going to drop some serious cash.

[Perham1]

Not all wines should be aged. The keys to aging wine are sulfites, tannins and acidity. These are what prevent the wine from turning too quickly to vinegar, and allow for the eventual settling/mellowing of the flavor. In general, you age reds more commonly than whites, though there are exceptions. Prime candidates for cellaring are Cabernet Sauvignon, Bordeaux, Red Zinfandel... White Zinfandel should be poured into an innocuous wine punch or donated to a sorority.

I understand the basics -- I'm looking for more specific suggestions; a particular vintage Bordeux, for instance, and perhaps a source for purchasing it.

You're approaching this in a classically wrong way.

Get what you like, not what someone else tells you is good. If you don't know what you like then I can't help you there.

[Tonto]

if it ain't boxed, it ain't for me.

[Mrs. G]

I've always found the buying guides in each issue of Wine Spectator to be a reliable reference.

. . . . or finding a wine shop with a knowledgeable purchaser that works the floor.

I've found the #1 top misconception is that good wine must be expensive. Not true, I've had some very expensive crappy wine that was expensive simply because it was rare, and some fabulous wine that was priced at under $20 a bottle and easy to find just about anywhere.

The wine industry is large enough now that simple economics frequently hold true (i.e., relationship between cost and supply/demand).

[MoneyPit]

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a143/tymyshoes/boones.jpg

[hawkeyealum]

I am purchasing the parusso Barolo 2001 this weekend I think. It is supposed to age well over a couple of decades

[ThePracticalPundit]

Get what you like, not what someone else tells you is good. If you don't know what you like then I can't help you there.

Minus the snarky condescension, a rare moment when PeHa posts something intelligent. This is good advice, although there's nothing wrong with soliciting suggestions. I like the wine selection at World Market, and if you're looking for something to tip you in the right direction, Wine Spectator (http://www.winespectator.com/), as suggested, is a good resource, as is Robert Parker (http://www.erobertparker.com/) and Wine.com (http://www.wine.com/).

The Robert Parker site has a Vintage Guide (http://www.erobertparker.com/newsearch/vintagechart1.aspx) that can be useful. It doesn't tell you what wine to buy, but it charts what wine regions had a better or worse growing season in any particular year. IIRC, Wine Spectator has vintage charts as well, but I think you have to be a subscriber. (Membership also gives you the option of an iPhone or BlackBerry app, which could be nice. I'm not a member, so haven't used it.)

[RobertIngersoll]

Get what you like, not what someone else tells you is good. If you don't know what you like then I can't help you there.

Minus the snarky condescension, a rare moment when PeHa posts something intelligent. This is good advice, although there's nothing wrong with soliciting suggestions. I like the wine selection at World Market, and if you're looking for something to tip you in the right direction, Wine Spectator (http://www.winespectator.com/), as suggested, is a good resource, as is Robert Parker (http://www.erobertparker.com/) and Wine.com (http://www.wine.com/).

The Robert Parker site has a Vintage Guide (http://www.erobertparker.com/newsearch/vintagechart1.aspx) that can be useful. It doesn't tell you what wine to buy, but it charts what wine regions had a better or worse growing season in any particular year. IIRC, Wine Spectator has vintage charts as well, but I think you have to be a subscriber. (Membership also gives you the option of an iPhone or BlackBerry app, which could be nice. I'm not a member, so haven't used it.)

Thanks; those links are the kinds of things I'm looking for.

[coff]

I've always found the buying guides in each issue of Wine Spectator to be a reliable reference.

. . . . or finding a wine shop with a knowledgeable purchaser that works the floor.

I've found the #1 top misconception is that good wine must be expensive. Not true, I've had some very expensive crappy wine that was expensive simply because it was rare, and some fabulous wine that was priced at under $20 a bottle and easy to find just about anywhere.

The wine industry is large enough now that simple economics frequently hold true (i.e., relationship between cost and supply/demand).


This is good advice Robert. I don't think there is any substitute for establishing a relationship with a local wine shop, go to the tastings, and figure out what you like. Moreover, that is the enjoyable part. And yes, price is a poor predictor of what you may like. Good luck.

[Perham1]

Since Robert Parker was mentioned, here's the deal with him. A former attorney (hence, the Wine Advocate tag), he has a phenomenal sense of taste and, more importantly, memory. He is able to compare wines over time to an uncanny degree.

That does not mean you will agree with his tastes, however, but if you like what he likes (or can taste what he tastes) he should be a very accurate barometer for wine selection.

But the best start is for you to just go get some wine and taste it. See what you like. Take notes on year and vineyard or anything else you find interesting. There is no ultimate wine out there (certainly nothing worth storing for 10 or 20 years - for 99% of Americans) so don't bother going searching for it. Try wines from Chile, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

It's just a bottle of wine. Too many people get either intimated or overly taken in with all the details. Forget it. The point of wine is to complement a nice meal, lubricate conversation, and help you enjoy life.

Start with having a bit of wine with every evening meal. Make it part of your lifestyle. Drink it, don't store it. You'll probably screw it up and it'll go bad on you anyway.

[RobertIngersoll]

Since Robert Parker was mentioned, here's the deal with him. A former attorney (hence, the Wine Advocate tag), he has a phenomenal sense of taste and, more importantly, memory. He is able to compare wines over time to an uncanny degree.

That does not mean you will agree with his tastes, however, but if you like what he likes (or can taste what he tastes) he should be a very accurate barometer for wine selection.

But the best start is for you to just go get some wine and taste it. See what you like. Take notes on year and vineyard or anything else you find interesting. There is no ultimate wine out there (certainly nothing worth storing for 10 or 20 years - for 99% of Americans) so don't bother going searching for it. Try wines from Chile, Australia, New Zealand, etc.

It's just a bottle of wine. Too many people get either intimated or overly taken in with all the details. Forget it. The point of wine is to complement a nice meal, lubricate conversation, and help you enjoy life.

Start with having a bit of wine with every evening meal. Make it part of your lifestyle. Drink it, don't store it. You'll probably screw it up and it'll go bad on you anyway.

I believe you're missing my point. That is already my approach, as a casual wine drinker. For the most part, we go to a local winery each fall as part of an outing with several other families. Do do a tasting and we purchase a couple of cases of wine that we liked. At restaurants I've found that South American and Australian wines are generally to my taste at a good value.

I now have the ability, however, to pursue "young" wines that will benefit from aging and store them. It seems like an interesting "hobby" with a nice reward for my patience. I'm just looking for a few suggestions.

Ordinarilly I wouldn't have thought much of it. But the friend who gave the cooler to me (Eurocave, holds a couple hundred bottles) has been doing this for years and the one thing I know is that when he pulls a few bottles out of his cellar it is spectacular stuff. Mrs. Ingersoll, who ordinarilly is a White Zinfandel kind of wine drinker, will actually drink a Cabernet Savignon -- which is unthinkable for her.

Of course, we'll still buy our local stuff, as well as some other good-valued wine that can be consumed immediately. But I figure I can use half the cooler to pursue it at a more elevated level, which should be fun.

[hawkeyealum]

i read in one of the wine magazines that something like 90% of wine purchased in the US is consumed within 3 days. Thats the biggest reason why California wines are not made to age well....no market

[Mr. Hawk]

if it ain't boxed, it ain't for me.
One can buy acceptable every day wine in boxes. I'm not talking about Franzia.

[RobertIngersoll]

i read in one of the wine magazines that something like 90% of wine purchased in the US is consumed within 3 days. Thats the biggest reason why California wines are not made to age well....no market

When I lived in Hackensack my observation was that it was closer to 3 hours...

[Shecky O'Malley]

I've always found the buying guides in each issue of Wine Spectator to be a reliable reference.

. . . . or finding a wine shop with a knowledgeable purchaser that works the floor.



Agree, generally, but as Bob points out he is particularly focused on finding wines that will age well. You may well find someone at your local wine shop that can guide you in that direction, but you'll more likely find suceess by referring to a guide that is specifically focused on cellaring wines.

[RobertIngersoll]

I've always found the buying guides in each issue of Wine Spectator to be a reliable reference.

. . . . or finding a wine shop with a knowledgeable purchaser that works the floor.



Agree, generally, but as Bob points out he is particularly focused on finding wines that will age well. You may well find someone at your local wine shop that can guide you in that direction, but you'll more likely find suceess by referring to a guide that is specifically focused on cellaring wines.

I will only take your advice if you pledge to me that the shaker in your avatar is filled with gin, and not vodka...

[Shecky O'Malley]

. . . . or finding a wine shop with a knowledgeable purchaser that works the floor.



Agree, generally, but as Bob points out he is particularly focused on finding wines that will age well. You may well find someone at your local wine shop that can guide you in that direction, but you'll more likely find suceess by referring to a guide that is specifically focused on cellaring wines.

I will only take your advice if you pledge to me that the shaker in your avatar is filled with gin, and not vodka...

Oh, for god sakes, yes. Preferably Hendricks. With a reasonable amount of vermouth.

[Mrs. G]

Gin = yucky. Vodka = yummy.

[RobertIngersoll]

Gin = yucky. Vodka = yummy.

Shecky is a gentleman and a scholar. You, on the other hand, shall spend your declining years greeting customers at Wal Mart...

[Mrs. G]

Gin = yucky. Vodka = yummy.

Shecky is a gentleman and a scholar. You, on the other hand, clearly spent your younger years growing up where light beer was drank on back country canal roads in suped-up 4WD pickups...

Fixed.

[RobertIngersoll]

Gin = yucky. Vodka = yummy.

Shecky is a gentleman and a scholar. You, on the other hand, clearly spent your younger years growing up where light beer was drank on back country canal roads in suped-up 4WD pickups...

Fixed.

That's not so much fixed as expanded upon. I didn't know anything about your upbringing, but thanks for sharing...