Any Wine Conneseurs Out There???

[1knight164]

I was curious if anyone could tell me the difference between Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon? Got into red wines because I hear they are good for you, blood pressure and cholesterol. Okay, it's my excuse for getting drunk.

As much as I exercise, it's difficult to overcome genetics.
Can anyone also suggest a good California brand?

 

[reefforbrains]

Mondavi is always a good choice. But just find a local Cost Plus Imports store, just grab a dozen different ones and play with them. Some great no-name brands for dirt cheap if you experiment to your own personal tates.
Cab and Merlot are the grapes used to make the wines. Different grapes have different characteristics. I am NO expert but I like Merlot much more, its just usually smoother and deeper than the cabs. I cook with cab but thats about it.

 

[1knight164]

Originally Posted by ReefForBrains
Some great no-name brands for dirt cheap if you experiment to your own personal tates.
So cost does not equal quality? It's all about personal taste? I did find that Merlot's were as you described. Haven't tried Mondavi yet, but that will be next on my list. Have you ever gone on any of those wine tasting tours??? I was tempted, but felt intimidated.

 

[wattsupdoc]

No real coniseur here, but I personally like a pinot noir. I used to be able to get a white pinot noir, and really liked that. But I cant seem to find it around any more. But I like the regular (red) pinot noir pretty well too.

 

[shogun323]

I just had a few glasses myself so I will chime in. Cabs are typically a dryer full bodied red than a Merlot. I love Pinot Noirs, Merlots and Blends myself.

 

[shogun323]

Originally Posted by 1knight164
So cost does not equal quality? It's all about personal taste? I did find that Merlot's were as you described. Haven't tried Mondavi yet, but that will be next on my list. Have you ever gone on any of those wine tasting tours??? I was tempted, but felt intimidated.
Cost definately doesn't always equal quality. I have had a fantastic Chilean red wine that cost $5 per bottle. It truly is about personal preference. There are good inexpensive wines out there. There are plenty of bad ones too though.
I havent been on a wine tasting tours but I when I worked in the restarant industry I was sent out to France to vacation and study winemaking. I was in the Bordeoux region of France at some of the most elite wineries in the world. It was unforgetable. I wouldn't be intimidated. I still hardly know jack about wine. To truly understand wine better just read up on the tannins, acidity and how they effect the taste as well as terms such as bouquet, legs, and maceration. Good Luck!!

 

[dragonzim]

The grapes that make cabernets and merlots are pretty similar. One of the major differences in the wines are that usually cabernets are aged in oak barrells. This gives them a much more stronger taste because of a substance called tanin that the wine abosrbs from the oak. Personally, I like the cabernets better. Pinot Noirs and Shiraz are other very good red wines.

 

[1knight164]

Originally Posted by shogun323
Cost definately doesn't always equal quality. I have had a fantastic Chilean red wine that cost $5 per bottle. It truly is about personal preference. There are good inexpensive wines out there. There are plenty of bad ones too though.
I havent been on a wine tasting tours but I when I worked in the restarant industry I was sent out to France to vacation and study winemaking. I was in the Bordeoux region of France at some of the most elite wineries in the world. It was unforgetable. I wouldn't be intimidated. I still hardly know jack about wine. To truly understand wine better just read up on the tannins, acidity and how they effect the taste as well as terms such as bouquet, legs, and maceration. Good Luck!!
Shogun, you were SENT to France to study winemaking??? Wow, twist my arm!!! I BET it was unforgettable. Okay, I live near Temecula, CA which has a lot of wineries, nothing compared to those of you up north, but close. I'll take your advice and take a tour. I read an article once that there was a very cheap California wine that beat out all imports. Wish I kept the article.

 

[1knight164]

Originally Posted by wattsupdoc
No real coniseur here, but I personally like a pinot noir. I used to be able to get a white pinot noir, and really liked that. But I cant seem to find it around any more. But I like the regular (red) pinot noir pretty well too.
Haven't tried Pinot Noir. How does it compare to Merlot and Cabernet IYO?

 

[1knight164]

Originally Posted by DragonZim
The grapes that make cabernets and merlots are pretty similar. One of the major differences in the wines are that usually cabernets are aged in oak barrells. This gives them a much more stronger taste because of a substance called tanin that the wine abosrbs from the oak. Personally, I like the cabernets better. Pinot Noirs and Shiraz are other very good red wines.
Okay, so what i'm getting is that:
1. Wines are named after the grapes they are made from.
2. price does not equal quality
3. Tanins are a major differerence between wines taste?
4. Cabernet's are aged. Merlot's are not???
I haven't heard of Shiraz, but I will look and do a lot of experimenting with the different wines...

 

[reefkprz]

I'm a white wine type of guy myself. I like pinot grigiot, and pinot noir, honestly to me the 9$ bottle of wine tasts just as good as the $200 bottle just less painfull to see the bottle finished. I'm definatly not a wine snob. I couldn't tell whats bouquet is what or any of that, I just know if it tastes good I'll buy it again.

 

[shogun323]

Originally Posted by 1knight164
Shogun, you were SENT to France to study winemaking???
It was wild. The restarant I was at had a deal with Seagrams that if we sold 100 cases of their wine, they would send 2 people to France to Chateau Mignol (owned by Seagrams)to learn wine making and tour the area. We sold the wine and to decide who got to go the restaurant owner decided we would all play 2 hands of 5 card stud and the winners got to go. I won the second hand with a pair of Kings!!!
So we went to France, stayed a day in

[hr]
, and then off to the countryside. We toured through the town of St. Emilion for an afternoon visited a place called Chateau Figeac (sp?) and then off to Chateau Mignol.
We toured different vineyards but didnt get to go into all of them. We saw Chateau Lefite-Rothchild, Chateau Pichon- Longueville, Chateau Haut-Brion, Petrus and Chateau Margaux to name a few.
It was great. Bordeaux wine is great. They blend Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. Good stuff!!!!!
One thing about wine is that how the quality can change from year to year. There are so many key factors that determine the quality of wine such as weather throughout the season, soil quality, pruning, harvest time... so just because 2004 may have been a banner year, 2005 can suck!!!
Good times and sorry for the novel!!

 

[lovethesea]

I am not a red wine fan, but occasionally I like Clos du bois Zin (not the white zin). It doesn't have that FULL body as a merlot, so I can take a glass or 2. I like the oak chards. I have found that price/taste have nothing to do with one another. I have become a cheap date with chards. I find it fun/challenging to find a good cheap bottle of wine. The screw caps are getting REALLY good too. Right now my fav's are Hogue, Little Black Dress, Big A** Chard and Chateau Ste. Michelle All under $10.
I would LOVE to go to Sonoma wine country and even better would have been France

 

[azreefgirl]

I agree with FRB's suggestion to go to Cost Plus and pick up an assortment of wines. Get a few based on the recommendation of the folks in their wine department, and pick up several just because you like the name or the artwork on the bottle. IT'S OK TO PICK A WINE JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE THE LABEL!! WINE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYABLE AND FUN!! I've found several wines I like just by basing my decision on the label. I tend to be partial to the ones with animals on the labels. One of my current favorites is a Barroso Grenache called "B*tch". It sports a pretty pink label with an alternating dagger and heart border. I thought it would be a fun wine for a girls' night in, and it actually turned out to be really good. And the fact that it was only $10 was a bonus! I didn't find it at Cost Plus, but rather at a local wine shop (where I spend almost as much as I spend at the fish store!). Another one picked based on the label that turned out to be a good wine is Seven Deadly Zins. It's a fabulous Zinfandel that usually sells for around $15-$18. Cost Plus has a huge selection of wines that are under $10. We usually keep our little wine fridge stocked with those because it's no big deal to open up one of those just because it's Thursday.
As mentioned by lovethesea, Chateau Ste. Michelle is a really good wine that comes from Washington. Their wines are consistently good and very reasonable, I think their Merlot runs about $13. J. Lohr is a nice California Cabernet--I've never been disappointed in a bottle of it.
My boyfriend and I are going to Napa Valley this summer to visit wineries. I'm really, really looking forward to it!
Have fun with your exploration into the wonderful world of wine!!

 

[dragonzim]

Originally Posted by 1knight164
Okay, so what i'm getting is that:
1. Wines are named after the grapes they are made from.
2. price does not equal quality
3. Tanins are a major differerence between wines taste?
4. Cabernet's are aged. Merlot's are not???
I haven't heard of Shiraz, but I will look and do a lot of experimenting with the different wines...

Yes, wines are usually named after the grape that they are made from. There are also many blends out there like the bordeaux that shogun mentioned. Merlots can and are aged as well, but I think they are usually aged in stainless steel so you dont get the oakey flavor from it aging in barrells.
Shiraz is a pretty smooth wine that comes from South America and Australia. Very good stuff! Rosemount is a good brand to look for.

 

[reefkprz]

Originally Posted by AZReefGirl
IT'S OK TO PICK A WINE JUST BECAUSE YOU LIKE THE LABEL!! WINE IS SUPPOSED TO BE ENJOYABLE AND FUN!! I've found several wines I like just by basing my decision on the label.

me too "smashed grapes" is great, with a name like that how can you go wrong? red truck is pretty good also. there are a ton more with fun lables.

 

[katiev]

Had a really nice syrah from Santa Barbara, CA last night for dinner with my family...can't remember what it was called, which is unfortunate -- I would like to have it again. :thinking:

 

[shogun323]

Originally Posted by DragonZim
Shiraz is a pretty smooth wine that comes from South America and Australia. Very good stuff! Rosemount is a good brand to look for.
I've heard that the Rosemount Estates Shiraz Grenache is awesome!!!! I have to pick some up!!!!

 

[ruaround]

the Northwest is putting out some GREAT wines!!! a Petite Syrah from Oregon or Washington (red) or a Reisling or Chardonnay (white) from Idaho... there are 2 Shiraz (along with Rosemount) that i enjoy... Yellow Tail or Fat Bastardd Shiraz... also try the mixed - Cab-Shiraz or Shiraz-Merlot...
a Cab is heavier with more robust flavors and more tannins a Merot is typically sweeter and less tannins... Not all wines are named for the grapes that are used, alot of european wines are named for the region they are made...

 

[reefkprz]

hmm yellow tail makes a great pinot grigiot (I know its not red but its still good)