Tell Uncrate: What's Your Favorite Wine?

Galil Yiron 2002 or 2003.
Great wine from Israel.

Charles Shaw wine from Trader Joes. They just came out with a new one that is awesome!

Fat Bastard Shiraz - Inexpensive and great with just about anything

My favorite is BV's George De Latour, but I do agree that Galil Yiron is great. If you like Galil you should try Covenant.

Black Box Merlot or Free Range Pinot Noir

i'm italian & my favorite whine is
bonarda
buttafuoco
pinot nero
from cantine cavallotti
oltrepo' pavese rules
http://www.cantinecavallotti.it/homepage.htm
homepage is not so tasty as their wine

Bruni Morellino Di Scansano

B.R. Cohn.

I live in the SFBay area, and am a member of exactly 1 winery's wine club. I visit other wineries every trip up Sonmoa, but always stop here.

BR Cohn's Reds (Cabernet, Pino and Merlot) are always very very good. It doesnt matter which year. They win awards all of the time.

Bonus, the owner is the manger (former manager?) of the Doobie Brothers, so there is a special Doobie Bros. Red Wine back, and the visitor's center has photos and gold records, etc.

If you stop in, make sure to pet the dog! He's even got his own label at the place.

Ballatore Gran Spumante sparkling white wine... inexpensive and tastey

A to Z 2004 Pinot Noir. What a phenomenal wine for the money. Make sure to serve in a stemless sifter glass from Riedel, it opens the wine beautifully.

2001 Pinot Grigio Santa Margarita

Charles Shaw!?! You have got to be kidding, granted the stuffs cheap and it's the best at it's $2 price point, but just because it's cheap doesn't hide the fact that it's mediocre at the very best.

If you want a good wine try Domaine Serene 2004 Pinot Noir from Yamhill county in Oregon.

http://www.domaineserene.com/

Oregon's latitude is much better suited for the Pinot grapes (it's the same latitude as the burgundy region in trance where the Pinot grape are grown) and beats the pants off any of the California Pinots.

Cheapie: Pepperwood Pinot Noir ($5.50 and drinkable!)

Mid-Range: 2005 Evesham Pinot Noir (Willamette Valley)

Another good pinot noir is Cherry Hill, particularly the 2001 I believe. It's from the Willamette Valley in Oregon. Also, the Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz is excellent. I had the 2004, but I heard all the previous years were very good, too.

1995 Clerc Milon
Bordeaux Paulliac

A classic Bordeaux from a tremendous producer that is just starting to come into its own.

Bertani Amarone any vintage is outstanding.

Shafer Merlot

my favorite wine is... beer.

Two personal favs:

Goats do Roam in Villages (VERY good South African wine, fairly cheap)

2004 Yauquen (a cab sav/malbec blend from Bodega Ruca Malen in Argentina)

my families vineyard in CA; www.passalacquawinery.com

Naughty Boy Pinot Noir:
http://www.naughtyboyvineyards.com

Anything from Del Dotto is amazing on my palate. And if you're in the Napa Valley and wanting a fun tour of a winery, check them out.

1999 Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale

Simply the best. If you can find it.

Excelsior Cabernet Sauvignon

Appearance: Blackish plum in colour
Aroma: Ripe blackcurrents and plummy fruit with toasty oak aromas balanced by soft, ripe tannins
Palate: Good structure with soft, clean finish

Delicious and inexpensive.

I'm a big fan of Oregon wines, but I'm biased because I live in Oregon.

On the cheaper side, I like:
* Duck Pond's Pinot Noir (www.duckpondcellars.com)
* McMenamins Edgefield's Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon (www.mcmenamins.com)
* Willamette Valley Vineyards' Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris (www.willamettevalleyvineyards.com)
* King Estate Pinot Gris (www.kingestate.com/)

On the more expensive side, I like:
* Rex Hill's Pinot Noir (www.rexhill.com)
* Lange Winery's Pinot Noir (www.langewinery.com)

Marquam Hill Vineyards used to have great (and cheap) Pinot Gris and Riesling, but I don't know if they are still around.

Rosemount Estate Australian Shiraz

HIGH LIFE

There's a wine called Menage a Trois, the winery is Folie a Deux, it's a red table wine and it's very good, esp for the price ($12/bottle).

folieadeux.com is their site.

Everyday: Red Truck or Big House Red
Special Occasion: I let someone at the shop give me advice.

Chateau Potelle, Napa. They have brand named VGS which is amazing. I asked the vintner what it stood for the last timed I was there, his response: Very Good Sh*t. No Joke.

A close second is Silver Oak.

An affordable third is J Lohr.
sn

Brunello del Montecino: Baro It's one of Tuscany's best reds!

Fess Parker's Santa Barbara County Syrah

It's not cheap at around $20/bottle, but it's absolutely amazing if you want to impress some dinner guests. It's a great full-bodied red that really explodes with flavor.

I second Joey Slugs's pick of Ruffino Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale!

Grant Burge Holy Trinity
Ravenswood Icon
Chateau Haut-Brion

Greg Norman Cab-Merlot

Edna Valley Pinot Noir ($20-$25)

Uncrate Listeners,

After visiting a large number of the Oregon and Washington wineries, I would generally suggest

Oregon: Owen Roe, Brick House, Broadley, Van Duzer, Territorial, Evesham Wood, Abacela.

Varietals focus being Pinot Noir, Syrah and Spanish wines such as Tempranillo (Abacela).

Washington: Fidelitas, Reininger, L'Ecole #41, McCrea, Yellow Hawk, Barnard and Griffin, Maryhill, Cascade Cliffs.

Varietals focus being Cab. Sav., Bourdeaux style blends, Syrah and Rhone style blends, Sangiovese and other italian styles, Merlot.

You cannot lose with any one of these labels, all of which are affordable and not in the Leonetti category of cost.

Frog's Leap Zinfandel. Mmmmmmm.

I've been on a few winery tours and had the pleasure of visiting California's Wine Country, but that does not make me an expert on wine nor do I have a well developed "palette".

What I do know know is what I enjoy. It's usually a dry, slightly sweet wine. I like Pinot Grigio or maybe even a nice buttery German Liebfraumich. When I'm looking for a red, I go for the Peter Lehmann (Australian) Clancy's Red (a traditional blend of Shiraz with Cabernet Sauvignon.) Nice rich taste that might be a bit dry, but never too sweet.

For casual wine on a budget, you cannot beat Pillar Box Red ($8 bottle). Blended from Cab, Shiraz and Merlot, its a very big wine from Australia with a teeth-staining purple color. Rated 91 points by Parker.

for a super-affordable wine i haven't found that beats PKNT at trader joes at the same price as the charles shaw

Rombauer
Silver Oak
Chimney Rock
RSV

Piesporter Goldtroepfchen.

Martin & Weyrich 2005 Moscato Allegro: http://www.martinweyrich.com/Wines/2005_Moscato_Allegro.pdf

Ravenswood Zinfindal...great sipping wine

Mmmm... too many. I'm a wine geek, so my favourite changes every week. I review them on www.moreisless.ca. I'm actually at the airport right now headed to San Francisco to taste Zinfandels at ZAPP (www.zinfandel.org/festival/).

Shameless self promotion - I review them here:

http://blog.thebarproject.com/articles/category/red-wine/

My favorites include:
Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano d’Abruzzo
Ruffino Aziano Chianti Classico
Chateau Gaillard Saint Emilion Grand Cru
Da Vinci 2005 Chianti
Little Penguin Shiraz

Rombauer- Zinfandel

No question. Right now I'm digging the 2003 Ridge Lytton West Syrah, Dry Creek Valley, CA. If you see some, buy it. Limited production.

Absolutely stunning.

I'm a fan of T-Vine petite syrah

I'll put the 2004 Ridge Lytton Springs Zin against all comers..

Collier Falls Cabernet and/or Zin

Collier Falls Cabernet and/or Zin

everyday drinking this month:

2003 chateau pipeau
2004 owen roe 'ex umbris'

weekend specials this month:

1996 cos d'estournel
1995 leoville poyferre
1999 cheval blanc
2004 lewis syrah
2004 sea smoke botella

Glad to see people recoginzing the Willamette Valley in Oregon as home of great wine. My personal favorite winery is King Estate, in Loraine, Oregon. Less than a half hour drive SW of Eugene. Gorgeous facility, top notch wine.

Cono Sur Pinot Noir -- a fantastic Chilean red with a nice smoky haze to it
Hanna Sauvignon Blanc -- wonderful grapefruit aroma

Both are great buys at $10-$12.

Everyday: Red Truck; McGuigan Shiraz; Coppola Claret; Mad Dogs and Englishmen; Kenwood Old Vines Zinfandel; St. Francis Cabernet

Special: Saintsbury Brown Ranch Pinot Noir

Try anything from Elyse Winery CA.

Their Morisoli and Tietjen Vineyard Cabs are to die for. Highly extracted, inky, rich...

Their whites are fun too. They make a Rhone style blend called L'Ingénue that's loaded with fruit, crisp acidity, good minerality.

Any Coonawarra (South Australia) Shiraz

Stag’s Leap 2004 ARTEMIS Cabernet Sauvignon, a great choice for any occasion and my personal favorite.

For anyone purchasing a young wine, decant, decant, decant, it is the secret of the ages. Virtually any wine including 2 Buck Chuck and whites will gain value after a 2 Hour decant.

I would decant a milkshake if I couldn’t smell the vanilla.

Stussy Sean

Yellow Tail wines generally...

They're always on sale.

Chateau margaux 1968,
Chateau latour,

American win sucks

Budai Nyakas Cuvée from Hungary

http://www.nyakas.hu/index.php?ny=ENG&menuvar=2&almenuvar=5

Hungarian wines are the best...

Little Rebel Pinot Noir from Yarra in Australia. A pinot that tries to be pinot, unlike the "raspberry jam" in a glass pinot's from Santa Barbera. Medium to light bodied wine that is punching above it's weight.

If I'm buying:
-David Bruce Petit Syrah, 2002
-King Estate Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris, both 2003.
-Christian Moreau Chablis, 2004
-Jean Hugel Gentil, 2002.
-Christina Ascheri Gavi, 2004

If someone else is footing the bill:
-Lucien Crochet Sancerre, 2004
-Amisfield Pinot Noir, 2004
-Altamura Sangiovese, 2003
-Gosset Brut Gran Rose, NV.

Two particular favorites:

- Duckhorn Vineyards 2003 Merlot, expensive and worth it
- Au Bon Climat (ABC) 2003 Pinot Noir, very fruity

cinnabar merlot 2004
Hollywood & Vines Chardonnay
James Busby Syrah

I got news for you Alex, 1968 Chateau Margaux is one of the worst vintages ever produced by them! Wet weather, unripe grapes, and early rot produced a vintage that CM wishes they had never made. If you think American wine sucks then try a bottle of 68 Mondavi cab next to that 68 Margaux and you'll soon change your mind. Just like good French wine, good American wine needs age too.

My favorite wine is the Masi Amarone.

http://www.masi.it

White: Dry Creek Chenin-Blanc (2002 was the best year)

Red: Viansa Freisa (2004 is amazing)

My two favorite (affordable) wines are:

• Queulat Cabernet Sauvignon Ventisquero Gran Reserva (Chile)
• Beaujolais-Villages (France)

• Silver Oak
• Saint-Estephe
• Pauillac

Rodney Strong Single Vineyard (Alexandria) Cab. Awesome!

Virna Barbera d'Alba San Giovanni (2003)

http://www.virnabarolo.it/reviewt.htm

Decently priced at around $45 at most restaurants.
Pretty dam good my uncrate friends...

Any 1997 Brunello di Montalcino

Bear Boat Pinot Noir is one of the best for the money. Rosemount Estate Granache is also very good.

DuMol Chardonnay "Chloe" - I'm biased, though. It's named after my daughter.

DuMol Pinot Noir - A nice "big" pinot.

http://www.dumol.com

Right now "RED" from St. Francis is amazing and also Navarro's Cabernet (Arg.).

http://cheapvino.blogspot.com/

Running With Scissors-Cabernet or Merlot. Both are excellent wines. About $10.00 a bottle.

My wifes favorite wine?

I WANNA GO TO FLORIDA

Does Icewine count? It would have to be Peller Estates 2002/2003 Icewine. Extremely sweet dessert wine that lasts for a while because you only drink a very small amount at a time, and inexpensive (~$30 per 750mL).

Three buck chuck at trader Joe's comes in both red and white. It use to be two buck chuck but they have recently raised the price by a dollar.

2003 Behrens and Hitchcock Merlot or 2004 Bogle Old Vine Zinfindel

Rombauer Zinfandel, 2003, 2004

Taste great, we drink it with everything

Casillero del Diablo. Not so expensive, sweet taste.

Smoking Loon!! $12 a pop.

KWV ROODEBERG, South Africa.

Viejo Roble 2005 from Undurraga. It's definitely not the most expensive wine, but it's one hell of a Cabernet Sauvignion. Well at least for my taste.

2003 Castel, Grand Vin
A rich complex red that goes with virtually ANY dinner. On the expensive side at $49-$55 per bottle. (Hands down the best Israeli wine- and I know it's surprising, but that's saying a lot.)

Also:
2004 Borgo Reale Sangiovese- a chianti-type wine, that goes down easy and compliments even pizza. $10-$15 per bottle- Italy.

(And BOTH are Kosher, but NON-mevushal which means they were not boiled or pasteurized.)

Little Boomey (Australian)

One of the finer Sub $10 wines I've enjoyed.

The 2005 Franciscan Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa although I can rarely afford it, and I'll second Andrew on the 2004 Bogle Old Vine Zinfindel along with the Bogle Petite Syrah.

I'd have to say just about any decent Sancerre will liven my day.

If you want to find some more, There's a great new magazine devoted to less pretentious views on wine.

http://www.thesecondglass.com

It's funny to read and super informative.

FRANZIA

I cant think of anything else in a box that tastes that good

A women I was dating/madly in love with once secretly wrote the following in my notebook while I was looking the other way (which is a metaphor for so many things in that relationship):

"Xicala. The Muga. The fact that you make me forget so very much. I forget to pray to the angels, and the angels forget to pray for me."

We were at Xicala, downtown NYC, drinking the '99 Muga Reserva, Unfiltered, Rioja.

I'll never be sure if she was writing about me or the wine, but I do still see the wine as often as I can.

SeaSmoke! 2003 "Ten" or "Southing". Heck, they're all great Pinot Noirs!

O'Reilley's Pinot Noir
The Prisoner by Orin Swift Cellars.

Eroica Reisling is sectsay.

ahhh nothing, and I mean nothing beats the Adobe Road 2002 Zinfandel.

CHEVAL BLANC (BORDEAUX)
Probably the best one !!!

I have 2 favorites :

The first from South Africa :
MULDERBOSCH FAITHFUL HOUND 2003

The second from Italy:
MACULAN FRATTA 2000

Klinker Brick Zinfandel

Pigalarugalaroo Shirizitty-rat-razmatazoo 2001,
and all Storybook wine is pretty great. Scott Harvey anything and Martinelli anything. Anne Amie Willamette Valley Chardonnay.

Skaza Magister Vini, Black label 2002 from Vareja, Slovenia

Living in Oregon has its advantages. Two of them is Walnut City and Cuneo.

Living in Oregon has its advantages. Two of them is Walnut City and Cuneo.

Contino - spain

Tait Ballbuster '05

day to day, i like frog's or stag's leap cabs. for celebs, i enjoy 2002 silver oak from napa.

Napa is over rated, for 20 bucks you buy crap. Go Chilean, for around the same price you get Napa $60. For party or just table wine, I like Black Box Cabernet Savignon (Paso Robles, CA).
I'm not into the Pinot Noir just because everyone else is, and ABC(Anything But Chardonay)

(Napa) Pine Ridge CS 02 or 03, or Chimney Rock CS 02,03.
(Chile) Casillero del Diablo, Puete Alto CS 2003
(Chile) Casa Lapostolle Savignon Blanc

Does the wine taste different if I add a stem to the stemless glass? HA!

pine and post -- merlot or cab sauv

or

seven deadly zins

both reasonably priced

CJ Pask 2004 Chardonnay from New Zealand. Just lovely

Casillero del Diablo - Carmenere. Awesome wine. There is an interesting story behind the Carmenere grape: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen%C3%A8re

Liberty School. Best value out there.

2002 JOSEPH PHELPS INSIGNIA
2003 CAKEBREAD CELLARS CAB
1992 CAYMUS S.S. CABERNET

Although I've been frequenting Trader Joes for "$2 Buck Chuck" on a my lowely Non-Profit salary(which probably takes my entire credibility away for the "Tell us your favorite wine" group)...the last Pinot I really enjoyed over a steak was Mark West, followed by "The Octagon" from Virginia's Bourboursville winery