Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
Was it in the Fiasco basket? Thats always a fun indicator
Best wine for under $40
- Thread starter DeacWatcher
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ConnorEl
Well-known member
Nope, just in the wine section.
I ended up trying 6 different cheap wines.
The Chianti was awful. The Müller-Thurgau and Spanish rosé were actually OK.
I ended up trying 6 different cheap wines.
The Chianti was awful. The Müller-Thurgau and Spanish rosé were actually OK.
tigerswood
Well-known member
- Eat at the CIA-Greystone. Got married there and can't speak highly enough. Way more reasonable than any other nice Napa restaurant too.
- Vincent Arroyo is our favorite, local, unassuming winery with great grapes and a ton of varietals in Calistoga. Travel and Leisure rated it the number one winery in the US several years back, but you'd never guess given how chill/inexpensive it is.
- Our favorite area for wineries is Spring Mountain above St. Helena, but it got hit pretty hard by the fires a couple years back. I think Pride Mountain escaped mostly unscathed though, and has incredible views and a great tour/tasting.
Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
Have an orange wine from Sardinia, Rose Cremant, and a 2013 Mexican Bordeaux Blend for the weekend. Probably do the orange wine tonight watching some football and then the sparkling tomorrow before the red with burgers for Labor Day. I've had a glass of the Mexican wine before when we brought it into the shop and even though I'm not normally a big Cab Franc fan, this was in a fantastic spot. I'm excited to try it again and spend some more time with it so to speak. I'll report back
thatguy2016
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don't know if you have any wine caves booked, but recommend you check one out. We enjoyed both Jarvis and Caldwell. Both are great stories from the 70's regarding the conversion of Napa from farms to vineyards.
Right on the way from Yountville to Calistoga is Peju winery - low cost (for Napa, especially) tastings and good juice. And hopefully you are planning to eat a burger at Gott's.
ConnorEl
Well-known member
We enjoyed a visit to Peju years ago and joined their club for a few years getting wine shipped regularly.
It’s been awhile, but was a fun visit and good wine.
It’s been awhile, but was a fun visit and good wine.
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deacondamo
El Jefe
Not sure what you lunch plans are, but stopping at Oakville grocery for a sandwich or pizza and eating outside is a pretty good experience. I love Napa. We went for our anniversary in 2019 right before COVID. Skip Rombauer, that place blows.
I would also skip Joseph Phelps since the owners tried to swindle their Wake CEO out of millions while he was dying with brain cancer (https://www.pressdemocrat.com/artic...ards-seeks-review-of-order-to-pay-24-million/). He built that brand for them.
Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
Mexican Bordeaux Blend was a little disappointing. Sharp acidity and round tannins with a lot of earth and leather notes but the fruit never really opened up to balance the wine out. I imagine it was slightly past peak drinking window (2013).
The orange wine from Sardinia slapped. Apricots and baking spices, medium body.
The orange wine from Sardinia slapped. Apricots and baking spices, medium body.
Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
Fun Italian wine tasting last night:
Bibi Graetz Casamatta Bianco 2020: sub $25, absolute banger for a white wine, mostly Vermentino; only weird thing here was supplier opened the first two bottles and they were both totally oxidized (just smelled like sherry). Highly recommend this for an "everyday" white and worth snagging a bottle if you see it.
Donnafugata Grillo 2021: not the best Grillo I've ever had but representative of the grape, also in the $20-25 range, tropical fruit, a little minerality, and very fresh.
Bruno Giacosa Arneis 2021: plenty of age and life ahead of this, but drinking well right now. This is probably the fourth or fifth time I've had this wine in the last year and it showed the best last night. Medium body, apple, pear, and that distinctive nuttiness towards the end and lingering on the finish. 5-10 years from now this wine will have a great complexity with honeysuckle notes. $30-35
Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo D'Alba 2020: took a while to open up but licorice, strawberry, blackberry, cocoa, and a smooth integrated finish by the end of the tasting. I wouldn't mistaken it for Barolo but Giacosa probably makes the best Nebbiolo out of this smaller part of the Piedmont and it was on point quality wise with plenty of Barbaresco. $50-$55
Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva 2019: gorgeous nose, red fruit, strawberry, light earthiness, a hint of balsamic showing just a little bit of age. Maybe like orange peel alongside the red fruit. Very smooth finish, medium body. I'd drink this now or the next year or two. Maybe the best QPR of the night. $35-40 and this would be ridiculously tasty with just a classic spaghetti and meatballs.
Donnafugata Tancredi 2019: weird partnership that the Sicilian winery did with Dolce + Gabbana on the label (charity it seems). Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Nero d'Avola and 10% Tannat (Bordeaux blending grape that's probably most known for Uruguayan wine in 2023). It wasn't my favorite style overall but black fruit, meaty, almost had a Syrah type note and plenty of earthy/smoky presence. $60 - it was fine.
Bibi Graetz Testamatta 2020: most expensive but also the best wine of the night; SuperTuscan but 100% Sangiovese. Age-worthy for sure but smooth red and black fruit, shockingly light on the palate; red cherry, almost would've expected some Cab blended in because it had almost a Bordeaux type of graphite going on. Would pair wonderfully with red meat and absolutely even better with food. $90-120 depending on the market.
Bibi Graetz Casamatta Bianco 2020: sub $25, absolute banger for a white wine, mostly Vermentino; only weird thing here was supplier opened the first two bottles and they were both totally oxidized (just smelled like sherry). Highly recommend this for an "everyday" white and worth snagging a bottle if you see it.
Donnafugata Grillo 2021: not the best Grillo I've ever had but representative of the grape, also in the $20-25 range, tropical fruit, a little minerality, and very fresh.
Bruno Giacosa Arneis 2021: plenty of age and life ahead of this, but drinking well right now. This is probably the fourth or fifth time I've had this wine in the last year and it showed the best last night. Medium body, apple, pear, and that distinctive nuttiness towards the end and lingering on the finish. 5-10 years from now this wine will have a great complexity with honeysuckle notes. $30-35
Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo D'Alba 2020: took a while to open up but licorice, strawberry, blackberry, cocoa, and a smooth integrated finish by the end of the tasting. I wouldn't mistaken it for Barolo but Giacosa probably makes the best Nebbiolo out of this smaller part of the Piedmont and it was on point quality wise with plenty of Barbaresco. $50-$55
Ricasoli Brolio Chianti Classico Riserva 2019: gorgeous nose, red fruit, strawberry, light earthiness, a hint of balsamic showing just a little bit of age. Maybe like orange peel alongside the red fruit. Very smooth finish, medium body. I'd drink this now or the next year or two. Maybe the best QPR of the night. $35-40 and this would be ridiculously tasty with just a classic spaghetti and meatballs.
Donnafugata Tancredi 2019: weird partnership that the Sicilian winery did with Dolce + Gabbana on the label (charity it seems). Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Nero d'Avola and 10% Tannat (Bordeaux blending grape that's probably most known for Uruguayan wine in 2023). It wasn't my favorite style overall but black fruit, meaty, almost had a Syrah type note and plenty of earthy/smoky presence. $60 - it was fine.
Bibi Graetz Testamatta 2020: most expensive but also the best wine of the night; SuperTuscan but 100% Sangiovese. Age-worthy for sure but smooth red and black fruit, shockingly light on the palate; red cherry, almost would've expected some Cab blended in because it had almost a Bordeaux type of graphite going on. Would pair wonderfully with red meat and absolutely even better with food. $90-120 depending on the market.
deac_tracy
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Gonna be staying in Mendoza proper but planning on spending at least one full day in Valle de Uco.
Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
These just came in last week. Still most excited for the Pinot. Gonna hold the Difese for a while and do the Sauternes around the holidays.
Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
Opened the Kalin Cellars Pinot last night watching Halloween.
Wild wine. Like with other Kalin Cellars wines the cork was very soft and I would use an Ah-So. Garnet color with pretty heavy bricking towards the rim. Super intense on the nose: cranberry raspberry and just a little bit of earthiness. On the palate TONS of tart cranberry which contributed to the acidity and like some mushroom notes driving a definite umami experience (which they talk up on their tech sheet and production notes). I was worried about how it held up for 24 years but I now wish I had another bottle because it's gonna be able to go for another decade or more - absolutely had lost no fruit at all. High acidity, medium body, smooth finish. Honestly a fantastic experience. If I see another one I'm gonna snatch it up for sure.
Wild wine. Like with other Kalin Cellars wines the cork was very soft and I would use an Ah-So. Garnet color with pretty heavy bricking towards the rim. Super intense on the nose: cranberry raspberry and just a little bit of earthiness. On the palate TONS of tart cranberry which contributed to the acidity and like some mushroom notes driving a definite umami experience (which they talk up on their tech sheet and production notes). I was worried about how it held up for 24 years but I now wish I had another bottle because it's gonna be able to go for another decade or more - absolutely had lost no fruit at all. High acidity, medium body, smooth finish. Honestly a fantastic experience. If I see another one I'm gonna snatch it up for sure.
Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
The (Unofficial) Thanksgiving Wine Post. More to come
If you're going to do a turkey when your in-laws are over and you're looking to pair something reasonably well with your feast you've got a handful of "classic" pairings. Your beaujolais, your pinot noirs, your GSM blends, your champagnes, your sauvignon blancs. I am a firm believer that since you're going to stuff your fat fuckin piggy faces with food that you're erring on the side of lighter wines. That said, anything that has a little earthiness/spice is gonna be pretty slutty with fall flavors that traditionally accompany the turkey.
Random producers/regions to look for that are going to satisfy this requirement (this is not an all inclusive list):
Yann Bertrand (Fleurie or Saint Amour) $30-$50 range. His Fleurie is one of the best gamays I've had period. AF Gros Moulin-a-Vent, Lapierre Morgon, Foillard Cote du Py (Morgon)...you can stick with the traditional stuff here and go Cru Beaujolais and stay well under $100. Bargain. Banger. Bring to your table.
Any Willamette Valley/Sonoma Coast Pinot (not you entry level La Crema, do better wine drinkers - go Decoy if you're in this price point): Ken Wright (more normal), Lemelson, Citation, Soter, Williams Selyem, Gary Farrell, etc. - not Sonoma Coast but Au Bon Climat doesn't miss. These prices are all over the map but plenty sub-$100.
Alain Voge (entry level multi-vineyard Syrah, high end is Cornas) - this can be $25 up to like $200 depending on vintage.
Champagne: I mean just skip the Veuve and find either better wide production stuff or go with grower: Billecart-Salmon, Lahertes Frere, hell Dom/Krug/whatever (don't mix it with orange juice you heathens). This is gonna be $50+ for the most part - champagne prices go up.
OR be trendy and hip and cool and go with Franciacorta - Champagne method from Lombardy. There's the entry level which can be delicious in its own right and then there's a higher DOCG classification for Saten - must be estate grown, must be 50% Chardonnay, 24 months in the cellar before release (regular requirements are 18). If you tossed some of the $50-75 Saten Franciacorta in as a ringer in a Champagne tasting you're not going to find the Franciacorta. Best I've had this year is from 1701 (producer, not the year..come on now) 100% Chardonnay, this is sourdough, this is brioche, this is fresh fruit, this is probably going to be what I'm drinking while I watch Santa ho ho hoing his way down 5th Avenue.
Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc...doesn't have to be Sancerre...central Loire produces plenty of solid stuff that doens't have the Sancerre surcharge. Menetou-Salon and Quincy for appelations are going to give you the same thing at a lower price.
We will be back sometime with more out-of-the-box pairings. But these are the wines you're going to want to stick to if you have folks over who want you to play the hits. If you have to because you have a dad/uncle/brother/father figure in your life who demands Napa Cab...I guess find one and fire that shit into the sun too.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk. Gobble gobble motherfuckers
If you're going to do a turkey when your in-laws are over and you're looking to pair something reasonably well with your feast you've got a handful of "classic" pairings. Your beaujolais, your pinot noirs, your GSM blends, your champagnes, your sauvignon blancs. I am a firm believer that since you're going to stuff your fat fuckin piggy faces with food that you're erring on the side of lighter wines. That said, anything that has a little earthiness/spice is gonna be pretty slutty with fall flavors that traditionally accompany the turkey.
Random producers/regions to look for that are going to satisfy this requirement (this is not an all inclusive list):
Yann Bertrand (Fleurie or Saint Amour) $30-$50 range. His Fleurie is one of the best gamays I've had period. AF Gros Moulin-a-Vent, Lapierre Morgon, Foillard Cote du Py (Morgon)...you can stick with the traditional stuff here and go Cru Beaujolais and stay well under $100. Bargain. Banger. Bring to your table.
Any Willamette Valley/Sonoma Coast Pinot (not you entry level La Crema, do better wine drinkers - go Decoy if you're in this price point): Ken Wright (more normal), Lemelson, Citation, Soter, Williams Selyem, Gary Farrell, etc. - not Sonoma Coast but Au Bon Climat doesn't miss. These prices are all over the map but plenty sub-$100.
Alain Voge (entry level multi-vineyard Syrah, high end is Cornas) - this can be $25 up to like $200 depending on vintage.
Champagne: I mean just skip the Veuve and find either better wide production stuff or go with grower: Billecart-Salmon, Lahertes Frere, hell Dom/Krug/whatever (don't mix it with orange juice you heathens). This is gonna be $50+ for the most part - champagne prices go up.
OR be trendy and hip and cool and go with Franciacorta - Champagne method from Lombardy. There's the entry level which can be delicious in its own right and then there's a higher DOCG classification for Saten - must be estate grown, must be 50% Chardonnay, 24 months in the cellar before release (regular requirements are 18). If you tossed some of the $50-75 Saten Franciacorta in as a ringer in a Champagne tasting you're not going to find the Franciacorta. Best I've had this year is from 1701 (producer, not the year..come on now) 100% Chardonnay, this is sourdough, this is brioche, this is fresh fruit, this is probably going to be what I'm drinking while I watch Santa ho ho hoing his way down 5th Avenue.
Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc...doesn't have to be Sancerre...central Loire produces plenty of solid stuff that doens't have the Sancerre surcharge. Menetou-Salon and Quincy for appelations are going to give you the same thing at a lower price.
We will be back sometime with more out-of-the-box pairings. But these are the wines you're going to want to stick to if you have folks over who want you to play the hits. If you have to because you have a dad/uncle/brother/father figure in your life who demands Napa Cab...I guess find one and fire that shit into the sun too.
Thanks for coming to my Ted talk. Gobble gobble motherfuckers
TownieDeac
words are futile devices
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It’s sourdough and brioche?
Wakeforest22890
Snowpom
Aging wine on the lees (dead yeast) and stirring it as it sits in barrels (batonnage) gives wine autolytic characteristics (sourdough, brioche, creamy notes). Some champagne, Chardonnay, etc on the nose smells like you just walked into a French bakery. It produces some of my favorite styles of wine
TownieDeac
words are futile devices
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Oh to be clear i will be buying some of these wines. Just curious about this two bread deal.
ConnorEl
Well-known member
Okay…I quit saving and storing wines some time ago.
But I have a few unusual bottles left over.
Last night at the beach. In addition to several less unusual wines, I served these two that I’ve saved for many years…
But I have a few unusual bottles left over.
Last night at the beach. In addition to several less unusual wines, I served these two that I’ve saved for many years…
