Welcome to the Wine Lovers Forum. We have several categories for discussion topics and you should select the most appropriate one if you choose to create a new discussion topic. This forum is hosted by Big Al; if you need assistance, please message him or send an e-mail to 'bigal01@gmail.com'. Enjoy yourself, and of course we recommend you have a glass of wine nearby.
Howdy, Stranger!
Comments
Well, Rick should arrive in about ten minutes, I should think.
I could put an argument with that. Areas of Spain and Portugal are just 2.
Yeah, but these regions are difficult to manage - unless you are on site. I agree with you, reservedly, but they are generally uncharted territory for most, although perhaps not we two specifically. If you are looking for something under 20 dollars US, yes, you cannot go wrong. But then there is also the palate to remember - most of us were brought up on French varieties (I know, it ain't our fault).
My question might be: who really knows Portuguese wines? Roger Voss? They are great, but still on the frontier - something like the days of the 1862 Homestead Act in your United States of America.
Still, you cannot beat some of the Hispanic wines we've tried, I grant you, but I am still paying fairly high prices for the best...
BTW, your reference to the 2015 is cogent; I could have made that suggestion because the wines from that year are definitely well about the average. But I thought (or perhaps did not) that 2016 might worth taking a look at. By the way, there is nothing stopping us from doing that in future. I'm game. In fact, I love those wines of Spain and Portuagal and always look for an opportunity to explore them. Maybe Australia might be a choice this time round though... and we could decide amongst ourselves if we want to specify a particular region (I am a bit soft on Western Australia, but you probably guessed that from my remarks about Bordeaux and demarcated regions, etc.)
SZ
Anyway, I don't want to dominate the airways. Don't worry: a meeting of the minds may come sooner than you think...
Well. mine is a perfectly enjoyable low-dollar wine. (Shelf price was $30, but a coupon and some store credit brought it below $20). It is not terribly complex or challenging. As I have mentioned (three times, not) it has an acidic spriteliness. A relatively short finish. A drin
I do believe the 2016 vintage is wonderful. Tasting notes on the 2016 Château Hourtin-DucasseHaut-Médoc: A bit smoky or toast, less fruit. Quite nice though.
Well, on April 19, 1969, on my 21st birthday, I had dinner at my then girlfriend's house and we enjoyed a bottle of Lancer's Vin Rose.
If that doesn't qualify me as being Portuguese wine knowledgeable, then I guess I'd better turn in my Portuguese Wine Merit Badge.
Whoa. Am I PUI after a single glass??
For 20 bucks, I bet it works and is definitely Bordeaux, @Emark. I think that people need to consider that Bordeaux is not really a warm climate region and thatthe same varieties used elswhere in the making of wine (say, in that wonderfully broad agricultural region known as California) are not going to be all that comparable after bottling. But that does not mean that Cali wine is inferior in some way (because it is often superior), rather that it is simply a different experession of wine grapes used, by tradition, elsewhere...
Hi, Rick here. Doing the le Dauphinne. Found it to have dark berries, dark chocolat
e, a nice minerality with light tannins and an earthy undertone
"Different never means "inferior" nor does it mean "superior."
I'm enjoying my wine. Life is good.
1st pour on the Fronsac - Dark cherry, bitter chocolate, black berry with enveloping minerality and chalkiness. Combined with medium chewy tannins and good acidity this has driven aftertaste and the stuffing to last for several years.
91+ =
Steve - I may not qualify as an expert but I've drinking port for, well since 1982, and Portuguese table wines since the mid 90's. I am not unfamiliar with them at all.
I'm going downstairs, now, to see if Mrs. EMark is interested in dinner.
And, I do look forward to picking up and enjoying more Bords.
Apparently, Hugh Johnson (wine guide fame) agrees with you PB.
Anyway, away for a bit of dinner (what can be scrounged while moving, that is). I opened another lesser wine from that region of dispute (actually, Graves) and had a glass. But comments may have to wait. Enjoy!
I'll perhaps provide some info on the second wine a bit later this evening.
"Well, on April 19, 1969, on my 21st birthday, I had dinner at my then girlfriend's house and we enjoyed a bottle of Lancer's Vin Rose."
Tell us more Mark. You certainly have opened up since sampling your bottle of Bordeaux.
Our assessment of the tree bottles (they were all pretty decent):
Château Vieux Maillet Pomerol 2016: Four bottles
Château Hourtin-Ducasse Haut-Médoc: Three bottles
Château La Croix de Pez Saint-Estèphe: Four bottles
Please do Steve - I've a little surprise for you also. While we were finishing the Fronsac we opened a bottle of the 2015 Chateau Brown from Pessac-Leognan:
La Dauphine notes- This wines definitely needs more time to come together, like 2-3 more years. Potent right now.
Salley/Bob/Kathleen - Where oh where art thou!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How was Chateau Brown? We have to pay about 65 Canadian for that, but it is usually pretty fair dinkum. I did not buy one this year because of the move and all that, but maybe I should have... I bought a couple of Chateau Rahoul (not quite as prestigious as Brown, but pretty darn good value), and here is the review:
"The Rahoul Rouge is another triumph for the price; the wine expresses well in a dark cherry robe, and the scent is marvelous - like a cherry flan served on a bed of cedar or perhaps oak. Entry is smooth, harmonious and ready to roll with cranberry, blackberry and vanilla notes. This is a very fine find for the price... 89-90. _ 3.5-4 cups. Highly recommended".
Steve - The Chateau Brown was a behomthe compared to the Fronsac. Mouth filling and ful;l of dark and red berry fruits. Mouth coating tannins and spear heading acidity lead to a long lived aftertaste.
Buy the way - The man - Andre Riberinnho - that Hugh Johnson uses for reference is a friend of both Rick and myself having known him since 2009. He calls him a "Wine Evangelist". We've known him since the old days at Adegga.com
We are heading to bed. It's been a wonderful wine night to be sure. Tasty food and good wine pair well with wine forum friends. A few pictures of the food Sandra prepared:
I never met these men, though know them in their tastes, PB. Your connections are astoundingly good - especially for a man and friend up there in northern Wisconsin. In any case, it has been a very good discussion and a great evening. Would be better in the flesh, though.
SZ
I agree - though better when we could have a bonfire and move into the cellar as the night cooled.
Time to start thinking about the next Wine Night. Region, varietal, blend, or what? The date could be 29 Oct 2019. Since we're moving into cooler weather, I suggest something red, like Cabernet Franc.
We just did cab franc.
Well, how about Pinot Noir?
Sure - were doing a big Pinot tasting on Nov. 2nd, so this would be a good primer.
Anyone else have an input? We'll give you a few hours...