<p>I read on some of the Parents Cafe threads that some of you are wine collectors. So I ask this question with a great deal of nervousness since my tastes in wine are so pedestrian. BUT, here goes: Recommendations for moderately priced wines (various hues) for dinner parties?</p>
<p>I am (was) not a Zinfandel fan, but I had one last night that - to my untrained palate - was absolutely fantastic and will definitely be one that I seek out from now on: Dry Creek Vineyard Heritage Clone Zinfandel (2002). Wow.</p>
<p>Anyway, that’s a recommendation from me, who knows nothing. Others??</p>
<p>Orangina is the best!!! I lived in Europe for a few years, and I would always get it. One of my best friends always has some Orangina at her house (no wonder I go over there so often). :)</p>
<p>I’ve been out of the business for about 5 years, but I’d say a good bet is St Francis, Ravenswood, Rosenblum. Even the mid-upper tier Rancho Zabaco zins are not bad! I’d stick w/ Dry Creek designations if possible. Zin grapes need pretty hot weather to fully ripen, so I’d stay away from CA coastals and Oregons.</p>
<p>Oh yeah; what party and am I invited? That’s the important part ;)</p>
<p>Dig: Dry Creek area zinfandels can be stupendous, and Dry Creek Vineyards is one of the most experienced wineries in that area.
What is your concept of “moderately priced”?</p>
<p>If you want to have an entertaining experience, go the Trader Joes and stock up on different varieties of “two Buck Chuck”. I am sure you are familiar with the Charles Shaw wines. He buys grapes from all over CA and bottles the varietals, charging $1.99 a bottle. The quality varies, but it is remarkably decent. You can’t even get MD 20-20 for that price!!</p>
<p>Dig: to my mind, the most reliable wines in the $ 15 & under category are Beaujolais. But I don’t mean Beaujolais Nouveau (alcoholic grape juice, phew!). For 15 smackers you can get a high-quality single-village, even single vineyard Beaujolais. Look for Morgon, Moulin-a-Vent, Julienas, Fleurie, & others. There are about ten villages. If you find one that’s a couple of years old (say 2000 or 2002) it can have some complexity. And it’ll taste very good. Louis Jadot makes a good line of Beaujolais, and there are a number of estate- or domaine-bottled ones in that price range, or a couple of dollars higher (unless Colorado prices are higher than most places).</p>
<p>At the moment, there also are some wines available at low prices from California wineries that have had money troubles. DeLoach is the best-known of these, and Trader Joes had some DeLoach wines - say typically selling for $ 20, now at $ 8. Zinfandels, Pinot noir, I don’t know what else but the Pinot Noir was quite good at $ 6.50.</p>
<p>For rose, look for the dry roses of the southern Rhone and Provence areas. The best is Tavel, but cheaper and as good is the next village of Lirac. Various Provence roses are around.</p>
<p>For whites, I am not fond of chardonnays. I recommend St. Supery sauvignon blanc, Hagafen (kosher) Napa Valley riesling, and Alsatian gewurtztraminers.</p>
<p>For whites, I’m partial to the Grgich Hills chardonnay. Stags Leap also makes some very nice cabernets. Far Niente is good for both but out of the “middle price” range on my scale.</p>
<p>Airlie winery: Pinot Noir. Good wine, and it appeals to the feminist in me: a winery owned and operated entirely by women. (Ack! I just checked their web site <a href=“http://www.airliewinery.com/[/url]”>http://www.airliewinery.com/</a> and their winemaker died of a brain aneurysm last month.)</p>
<p>Willakenzie: Pinot Noir. <a href=“http://www.willakenzie.com/[/url]”>http://www.willakenzie.com/</a> Second best part about this pinot is that it comes with a screwtop, which quickly eliminates the snobs at the dinner table, who can’t seem to get past the screwtop to the taste. Leaving more wine for me, which stays fresher longer, because of the screwtop. First best part: wonderful wine.</p>
<p>Yes, right now I’m drinking Oregon pinot noirs. Happily. I also drink Washington merlots from time to time, but I’m not buying any new ones, since I’m still drinking down the ten cases (10 wineries) my H and I bought one wine-touring weekend about three years ago.</p>
<p>DadofSam-
Deloach is having $$$ trouble?? Bummer!! But their wines can be gotten for $8?? That’s a STEAL!!</p>
<p>I have to disagree with you on whites-- I personally love Chards, and for me, the heavier and yeastier, the better. I am not a “light and fruity” wine drinker (that doesn’t sound right, but you know what I mean, I hope…)</p>
<p>As for Reds-- there are wonderful, moderately priced Syrahs, Merlots, Cabs, Zins (the latter would be “heavier” the former would be “lighter” from Washington State (Ch St. Michelle, Columbia, Columbia Crest. Hedges, Covey Run to name a few) . Most of these have great whites as well.</p>
<p>Great wines at great prices can also be found from Australia and Chile. Lindemans Bin 65 Chardonnay is consistently a wonderful budget wine (usually well under 10 bucks). Concha y Toro, fom Chile, is also very moderately priced an consistently decent.</p>
<p>As for Calif. wines-- I like drrewsmom’s list. But for inexpensive wines, I’d suggest Fetzer or J. Lohr. They are frequently listed in Wine Spectator’s list of best budget wines. </p>
<p>The easiest thing to do is go to Costco or Sams warehouse clubs. Their selection of single bottle wines is well priced and usually a very good selection. If you just want one with a funny name, I’d suggest Fat B-a-s-t-a-r-d (I hyphenated it so it wouldnt get bleeped).</p>
<p>Can you still get Adelsheim southern slopes pinot? I’m not a huge pinot fan, but I liked that one quite a bit. And very nicely priced. More fruity than barnyard-y (pinot people will know what that means!)</p>
<p>To add to what jym mentioned re Chileans…a pretty reliable cab is Santa Rita. Generally I didn’t care for Chilean whites too much, but then I haven’t tried one in several years. </p>
<p>Has anybody had a Peter Lehmann Barossa shiraz lately? I know a few years ago it was incredible, but is the most current vintage any good? </p>
<p>Oh yes, I already contacted digmedia privately, but I wanted to add to dmd’s comment on screw-tops. More and more these will be seen and definitely should not be snubbed! A bargain example is Big House red which has been screw-top for a long time.</p>
<p>I agree w/ thedad about Far Niente. Oh…I’ll have what she’s having (to quote when harry met sally…)</p>
<p>Most of the remaining wines in my stash are in the $70-150/bottle range and I keep putting off opening them. I want to wait for the right “special” event. Hmmm…perhaps S’s admission to the school of his dreams :D</p>
<p>DrDrewsmom-
Yes, I neglected to mention re: Concha y Toro that I was referring to their reds. Not sure if I’ve ever had their whites. In CA, another very good, inexpensive wine (again, I’ve had their petite syrah and cab/merlot blends, don’t recall if I’ve had their whites) is Parducci.</p>
<p>Oh-- forgot to mention DDM-- I put off opening a '94 Beringer Reserve Chard and it turned . Had a bad Silver Oak Cab this summer too that I’d been holding for a long time… properly stored I recommend you find a good reason its the weekend… applications are done… we’re approaching the ides of March… whatever) and DRINK UP!</p>
<p>I am trying to remember the vintage. I remember we were doing a lateral tasting of 2 bottles of Cab-- one from their Napa Valley and one Alexander Valley. The Alexander Valley was divine. The Napa was awful. Of course, that didn’t stop me from buying some when we were out there this summer! Let me think about it and I’ll get back to you. It was a good vintage and wasn’t all that old, as far as Cabs go. Maybe the cork was bad (though it didn’t look it).</p>
(to quote when harry met sally…)</p>
. Had a bad Silver Oak Cab this summer too that I’d been holding for a long time… properly stored