Fine wines for the booze hound.

[Headbanger]

Alrighty, first things first, Anyone who prides themselves on a "superior palate"or other such bullshit, just fuck off, No one wants to hear that anal wankoff.

That aside, Of late I have been tasting a few wines, Mostly they have been pretty damn horrible, One of which actually got worse the more I consumed.

Anyhow, I'm looking for recommendations for cheap wine (under $20) that's worth buying.

So, my preference so far is red, and not sweet, and preferably NZ, This one was damn fine.

http://www.okahuestate.co.nz/site/index.php/content/wine_detail/shipwreck_bay_merlot_cabernet_05

I know there are some nice wines available without getting into wank territory, The wife bough a glass of house wine at a restaurant the other night that was superb.

[phill-k]

As a new zealand expert:facepalm:on red wine, check out your local supermarket, don't pay over $10 a bottle and remember the ones you like but keep trying others, if it TASTES GOOD to you, you have found a good wine, if it tastes bad take it back, and ask for a refund.

At present my wifey has about 4 different labels she buys for me, I have a glass or two every night, and with the advent of screw tops you can place the top back on and its good for a couple of days.

Now all the real tossers will come out of their keyboards and tell you this is crap. I have a particular palate and tend to like drier reds that have a little bite (read rough) especially if I'm eating beef, I like it a little less so if eating lamb, chicken or fish, I tend to drink before dinner rather than with - can't do two things at once.

Oh the real message is if it suites your palate and tastes good to you it is. I have a few friends who from their occupations have very expensive palettes, when they come here we generally have a bottle of theirs followed by one of mine, their reactions are always good, it is a very personal thing wine. Just enjoy!!:yes:

[scissorhands]

Alrighty, first things first, Anyone who prides themselves on a "superior palate"or other such bullshit, just fuck off, No one wants to hear that anal wankoff.............

......... that was superb.

Dont you mean 'super'?

Try some South Australians from the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale.

Banrock Station from Foodtown is a fav for $7-9 a bot

[paulmac]

Try mission syrah (nz) or wolf blass shriaz ( aus )

[SMOKEU]

Wine is nasty!

[slofox]

I can sell you 2007 Alpha Domus Merlot/Cabernet for $16.00 per bottle. That's cheap for the quality of the wine.
Or Wild Rock Gravel Pit Red, Merlot/Malbec 2008 for $18.00 per bottle. Also of good quality.

Both Hawkes Bay reds. 2007 was the better year but the 2008 wine is also bloody nice.

Then there's millions of aussie reds avaliable as well from $10.00 per. And up, not down...unless your support the supermarket...'cause I don't do "cheap". I do do "inexpensive" though...:whistle:

[Quasi]

Palliser Estate's Pencarrow 2009 Pinot Noir from Martinborough. Its $22 a bottle, but awesomely good wine

[JimO]

Palliser Estate's Pencarrow 2009 Pinot Noir from Martinborough. Its $22 a bottle, but awesomely good wine

how much for a cask??

[HenryDorsetCase]

Alrighty, first things first, Anyone who prides themselves on a "superior palate"or other such bullshit, just fuck off, No one wants to hear that anal wankoff.

That aside, Of late I have been tasting a few wines, Mostly they have been pretty damn horrible, One of which actually got worse the more I consumed.

Anyhow, I'm looking for recommendations for cheap wine (under $20) that's worth buying.

So, my preference so far is red, and not sweet, and preferably NZ, This one was damn fine.

http://www.okahuestate.co.nz/site/index.php/content/wine_detail/shipwreck_bay_merlot_cabernet_05

I know there are some nice wines available without getting into wank territory, The wife bough a glass of house wine at a restaurant the other night that was superb.

Aussie Shiraz is your friend. and mine.

look foe one called "Curious" which retails for about $15. Its excellent.

I like Chardonnay (and I'm not embarrassed to admit it) but I like it like they did them in the 80's: honey gold colour, big legs, and brassy. (like women that way too). Again, Aussie stuff like Hardys and Lindemanns for $10 -11/bottle are good. I hate chardonnay unoaked and with no malolactic fermentation: it tastes like bad sauvignon.

If you can get it at decent prices, some NZ Pinots will come in at $20 -$22 that are drinkable: look for "second tier" labels of top wineries: Picnic is good (though quite expensive), and theres one with a picture of a chick on a pushbike 1920's style... Rolling (?) or something.

for me, summer is beer time.

[HenryDorsetCase]

[QUOTE=phill-k;1129929834, I have a glass or two every night, and with the advent of screw tops you can place the top back on and its good for a couple of days.
[/QUOTE]

buy a vac u vin for $10 they're awesome

[rainman]

if it TASTES GOOD to you, you have found a good wine...
Just enjoy!!:yes:

Agree entirely.

I have found the trick to enjoying cheap (or even inexpensive) red wine is to brew your own. By comparison everything tastes luvverly.

To be fair, I made a great plum wine and am looking forward to January so I can do a few more litres of that from the tree in the back yard. And probably the best wine I have tasted in the last twelve months is the nectarine wine I made from a $3 overripe box of nectarines down the fruit shop.

It's not complicated, this alcohol business. :yes:

[JimO]

Agree entirely.

I have found the trick to enjoying cheap (or even inexpensive) red wine is to brew your own. By comparison everything tastes luvverly.

To be fair, I made a great plum wine and am looking forward to January so I can do a few more litres of that from the tree in the back yard. And probably the best wine I have tasted in the last twelve months is the nectarine wine I made from a $3 overripe box of nectarines down the fruit shop.

It's not complicated, this alcohol business. :yes:

fuckin greenies

[slofox]

Palliser Estate's Pencarrow 2009 Pinot Noir from Martinborough. Its $22 a bottle, but awesomely good wine


I can do Te Hera's Kiritea 2009 (Pinot Noir) for the same price. Also very nice.


Aussie Shiraz is your friend. and mine.

look foe one called "Curious" which retails for about $15. Its excellent.

I like Chardonnay (and I'm not embarrassed to admit it) but I like it like they did them in the 80's: honey gold colour, big legs, and brassy. (like women that way too). Again, Aussie stuff like Hardys and Lindemanns for $10 -11/bottle are good. I hate chardonnay unoaked and with no malolactic fermentation: it tastes like bad sauvignon.

If you can get it at decent prices, some NZ Pinots will come in at $20 -$22 that are drinkable: look for "second tier" labels of top wineries: Picnic is good (though quite expensive), and theres one with a picture of a chick on a pushbike 1920's style... Rolling (?) or something.

for me, summer is beer time.

A "real" chardonnay man! Cool. I get gazillions of people through my shop looking for exactly that style of Chardonnay. To the extent that I go out of my way to find such examples - and do get the odd one that fits the bill. All this spin about "the public doesn't like the old style" is just that - spin. Aka bullshit! Fact is, it's just cheaper to produce the "mean mingy minerally" style. Crap.

Pinot Noir...most companies now have a "sub $30" line - many of which fall below $25.00 regularly enough - even in my shop where I don't have the luxury of subsidizing cheap alcohol with a core business of selling groceries...:angry: best I don't get started on THAT subject...Quality Pinot is much cheaper now than even two years ago.

[Oakie]

Not a big red fan but general rule is Aussie reds, Kiwi whites. My red like only extends as far as a nice mellow Merlot. Someone mentioned Banrock Station. Good an inexpensive. Their White Shiraz is excellent.

My favourite wine of all time though is Main Divide Reisling. Very nice Waipara wine and goes at about $19.

[Maha]

Velutto Rosso!.its in a box so wont roll around in the fridge, drink it cool while grazing on some puhoi blue/hummas and onion dip....thank me later...:rockon:

[cbfb]

Go to supermarket, have a look at the offers and work out the difference between the normal and 'special' price. Whichever has the most knocked off is the best bargain and therefore bound to impress everyone (who am I kidding I like to drink alone). Or will just taste like stale piss.

Sensible answer: Thyme Hill merlot is my favourite. A little vineyard near Wanaka. I haven't been there for a few years (used to live there) and can't find it up here on N.I., but I thought it was really wonderful stuff. A shade over $20 but worth it. Cheaper if you buy it direct by the box.

[oldrider]

There are currently some nice local wines being produced in the Waitaki valley that may be worth giving a try!

"Ostler" vineyards LTD [ www.ostlerwine.co.nz ] Jim and Annie Jerram.

We are not wine buffs but find Osler's Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris quite nice and easy to drink!

Kurow wineries and Cellar Door [ http://kurowwinery.co.nz/news.html ] is worth a look too, we have been there for wine tasting and nibbles when meeting travelling friends and found their products quite agreeable!

Could be worth your while taking a look at their link. :drinkup:

[ynot slow]

Either Old Coach Road or Siegfreid(sp)from Nelson,their reds are beaut,and around sub $20.00

[Oakie]

Velutto Rosso!.its in a box so wont roll around in the fridge, drink it cool while grazing on some puhoi blue/hummas and onion dip....thank me later...:rockon:

First drank that 32 years ago on a Post Office training course in Dunedin. Threw away the dregs of a 3 year old cask of the stuff just a couple of weeks back.

[Oakie]

Either Old Coach Road or Siegfreid(sp)from Nelson,their reds are beaut,and around sub $20.00

Yeah. Siefried. Used to be based outside Christchurch but now resident in Nelson.

[ynot slow]

Yeah. Siefried. Used to be based outside Christchurch but now resident in Nelson.

Yep,they have vineyard in Nelson,and make under both labels,and nice whites as well,went on a tour about 16yrs ago,was interesting.

[Brian d marge]

Used to work many years ago for a fine wine merchant ( posh piss head ) many years ago

I asked him the question about the posh wines

he sold ?? me two bottles , one a cheap Merlot , the other and expensive Cabernet ( he didnt tell me the price at the time ) told me to come back and tell him which ones I liked

of course the merlot , he explained why

basically said get ya self a good example of a single grape and if ya like it ya home and hosed

oh and microwave cheap wines to kill tannins , heard that at a posh piss up ...seems to work

and I must say that , some of those NZ ( pretty sure it was ) Pinot Noirs are DAMN FINE

but el bluto rooto ...is the best for pickin up the birds

Stephen

[davebullet]

We've been quaffing a bit of Mud House Pinot Noir (Central Otago). Not bad stuff and can be had sub $20 from the supermarket.

[ynot slow]

My brother a few years ago had a bbq and wine tasting evening,along with us plebs were lawyer,accountant,and other plonkers,we placed our wines in a bag and poured,end of the tasting the best was a wine from an accountant who use a chateau d cardboard vintage.The best thing was reading the so-called experts words(we had a list of options i.e tannin,taste,aroma etc)and we knew who had which sheet,the bouque and aroma for said cask wastop on a few peoples minds,they really stuffed up,as comments were "I never drink cask,I wouldn't be seen dead drinking that stuff,much like the same guys drinking export lager and thinking it was Heinekin or similar as it was from a jug.

[Paul in NZ]

We've been quaffing a bit of Mud House Pinot Noir (Central Otago). Not bad stuff and can be had sub $20 from the supermarket.

Generally a safe bet!


Um - in a previous incarnation I was a head waiter / wine 'expert' at silver service restaurant in a posh english holiday hotel. I got a fair amount of training and sampled a lot of very (VERY) expensive wines and hung out with a lot of very knowledgable people. I also learnt how to sell a wine...

Its important not to get a wines 'quality' and its suitability mixed up.

The cellar I had the keys to housed wines going back to the 1930's but frankly they were just there for decoration. The really nice stuff was from a few glorious seasons in the 1950's and early 60's. We are talking maybe not the utter top shelf but Château Mouton Rothschild (late 50's early 60's) and a few Chateau Lafite Rothschilds and lots of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Whites were mostly german and if anything of better quality but less popular due mainly to snobbery.

Our best customer would have 2 weeks holiday every year and organise the wines well in advance with me so I could get them in and cellared in advance. he had an ecyclopeadic knowledge of wine and contrary to what you may think was neither rich nor a snob. He loved wine like we love motorcycles. His choices were often very surprising and often not expensive at all.

What he always told me was that the modern new world wines were not made like the old world ones from the 50's and 60's. Those older wines needed to kept to bring out the best and indeed were designed that way. Modern wine making requires a quicker cashflow and needs to be ready to drink sooner, the downside being it does not usually improve much once its reached its design target and indeed usually deteriorates.

A lot of the wine that reaches the supermarket at a discount price is not designed to keep.

The second thing I learnt is that wine is all about snobbery and secret information and its all mostly bollocks. The exception being that some select vintages are often amazingly good (and there is never ever a glut of these) and I'm sorry but you probably wont be able to afford them. I've tasted a few and I was just astonished. Like drinking liquid velvet and they are nothing like what we buy at pak n Save.

End of the day - try a few, write a few notes about what you like and why as after the first glass youre not making sense anyway.

Best of all enjoy them - I wish I still could ;-(

[Bikemad]

cold duck mate................

[Brian d marge]

Like drinking liquid velvet

;-(

I KNOW what you mean

Stephen

Sorry there is no smiley to say , Ive had the Same experience and know how u felt

[KiWiP]

A few years (ok many) a work colleague admitted to knowing nothing about wine but being able to choose perfectly acceptable wines purely by statistical method.
1. Choose how much you want to spend
2. Choose red or white (Rose didn't exist back then, well not in supermarkets anyway)
3. Go down the rack of wines looking for pretty labels (they impress girls) close to your price range
4. Select the wine with the highest alcohol content.

The method didn't disappoint but its usefulness faded as the alcohol content of all wines came up to being uniformally high. So I have changed the method for todays economic and vintneromic climate.
1. Your budget is $10-$12. You can go cheaper and get a nice wine but not by this method. <$10 you've got to go by word of mouth or personal experience.
2. Choose red or white (only go for rose if you know the girl you're trying to bed loves rose. If you're a girl and the guy you're trying to bed loves rose he's more interested in banging your brother)
3. Go down the rack of wines looking for wines discounted by more than $7 (so original price was >$17-$19
4. You will never have an awful wine. Some may not be to your favoured taste but they will be worth the spend and you will not feel cheated by the bottle
5. Keep note of the label (vinyard) as if you like one in their stock (e.g. Merlot) it is likely you will like the others (e.g. Cab Sauv, Chardonnay) Because the vintner and owner has a similar 'likey' palate to yours

N.B. Only works in the supermarket
Doesn't work for Pinot Noir (got to go over $30 before it starts to get worthwhile)

Other things I have learnt
1. Steer clear of stupid names (e.g. Dirty Cock, Drunk B'stard) Funny until the first mouthful.
2. Labels that give you a hangover before the tasting. Wine is for piss artists and real artists not cock jockey art students with an uncle with a vinyard
3. None fizzy Wine with a real cork will be
a. off if you give it as a present
b. the only bottle left when you don't have a corkscrew
4. Fizzy wine with a proper cork is guaranteed to get you laid. If the wine doesn't get them the heavy unbreakable bottle will.
5. If you're planning to do more than 4 bottles in one sitting it is advisable to leave all credit cards at home. If this is not possible make sure you also have your passport handy.
6. Rose is gay and stupid

[ellipsis]

.....i would be the most unqualified person to have any comment at all on wine...i was involved in the british beer industry for a while and got quite good at what i did and even got a job for one of the bigger London brewers as a roving cellarman , checking out and helping publicans get their beer and cellars in order....my only qualification...I liked beer and knew how it should taste....a job I had in one central London pub/eatery was to get the beer tasting right and to train their cellarman....it was owned by a South African couple who new wine....the wife was very qualified in the viticulture game , and that was their forte....hence the lack of beer knowledge....I will always remember her hosting an in house wine tasting and educational evening for other publicans/landlords.....at the end of the evening she had a poll on what wine they thought was the best of all they had tasted....she smiled a lot as she told them the object of her whole evening.....the wine that was most popular by far came from a tin and that is how they should go about stocking their wine racks....leave the bullshit to the bullshitters is fairly accurate quote of what she said....most non connoisseurs do not want to taste the hints and the nuances..they want a wine that tastes nice...i must have killed all my taste sensory receptors now....still dislike wine and drink speights....only because it seems to be the best of a fucking horrible lot of tasteless drivel...not talking boutique stuff...etc....

[KoroJ]

McQuigans Black Label

Can be $15 but often specials between $7 - $10

Consistantly smooth with or without food.

[Oakie]

McQuigans Black Label

Can be $15 but often specials between $7 - $10

Consistantly smooth with or without food.

True. A merlot it be.

[Brian d marge]

oh this is going to hurt in the morning,,,,,,,,,,,

Stephen226002

[KiWiP]

oh this is going to hurt in the morning,,,,,,,,,,,
Reminds me of a 10Franc ($1) carton of wine I bought in a french supermarket.

Oooohhh! A squidge of bile just hit the back of my throat merely thinking about it.

[ellipsis]

Reminds me of a 10Franc ($1) carton of wine I bought in a french supermarket.

Oooohhh! A squidge of bile just hit the back of my throat merely thinking about it.

....something like a less than a dollar bottle of portuguese stuff that lifted the varnish from the table we spilt it on....

[SPman]

Brown Brothers Dolcetto/Syrah

4 bottles a week - great stuff.

I miss french red plonk - under 8 Euro's a bottle and actually drinkable where ever you went....

[Oakie]

....something like a less than a dollar bottle of portuguese stuff that lifted the varnish from the table we spilt it on....

Might have been a bottle of the wine they put anti-freeze in to bulk it up a bit about 20 years back. Quite a few died over that one. I'm sure that was Portugal.

[Genie]

Alrighty, first things first, Anyone who prides themselves on a "superior palate"or other such bullshit, just fuck off, No one wants to hear that anal wankoff.

That aside, Of late I have been tasting a few wines, Mostly they have been pretty damn horrible, One of which actually got worse the more I consumed.

Anyhow, I'm looking for recommendations for cheap wine (under $20) that's worth buying.

So, my preference so far is red, and not sweet, and preferably NZ, This one was damn fine.

http://www.okahuestate.co.nz/site/index.php/content/wine_detail/shipwreck_bay_merlot_cabernet_05

I know there are some nice wines available without getting into wank territory, The wife bough a glass of house wine at a restaurant the other night that was superb.

...so, you drunk yet?

[Headbanger]

...so, you drunk yet?

Wine is pretty crap for boozing, after a couple of bottles I have generally had enough and thats not enough to get anything more then a slight glow. I did polish off three bottles in a row a couple weeks back but the third bottle tasted crap, so I had to follow it with a half doz of ale.

[Coldrider]

Why do plebs bother posting 'bout wine when they can't pour it into a correct carafe, smell and drink it out of the correct shaped wineglass.

[pritch]

Wine is pretty crap for boozing, after a couple of bottles I have generally had enough and thats not enough to get anything more then a slight glow. I did polish off three bottles in a row a couple weeks back but the third bottle tasted crap, so I had to follow it with a half doz of ale.

Just as well you only had the six pack of beer, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to ride home afterward :scooter:

I've tried that Alpha Domus that is offered hereabout a number of times and like it.
It's easy drinking.

I used to be in a wine club, there were the "experts" but in blind tastings they didn't do any better than the rest of us.

The club motto was, "The best wine is the wine you like best."

It's your money, drink what you like.

[ynot slow]

Brown Brothers Dolcetto/Syrah

4 bottles a week - great stuff.

....

Went to crap n slave this arvo,enjoyed a taste and grabbed a bottle,was a good idea to go to supermarket as had tui for $12 doz.

[carbonhed]

Wine is pretty crap for boozing, after a couple of bottles I have generally had enough and thats not enough to get anything more then a slight glow. I did polish off three bottles in a row a couple weeks back but the third bottle tasted crap, so I had to follow it with a half doz of ale.

Seriously? You can drink three bottles of wine and just get a glow? I'd be totally comatose.

Try

http://www.blackmarket.co.nz/c/37/New-Releases/

Good prices and they have mixed cases that let you try a bunch of stuff that's had some thought put into their selection.

Plus there's some attempt at reviews etc

Their mix "Super value aussie reds" is a great introduction.

Have fun.

[Headbanger]

Seriously? You can drink three bottles of wine and just get a glow? I'd be totally comatose.


The "slight glow" may or may not incorporate talking huge amounts of total shit, slurring, repeating myself, losing my train of thought, being confused but still knowing everything, claims of superhero like abilities, stories that are in no way true or believable, offensive and lewd behaviour, And sometimes going without pants.

[Brian d marge]

the best wine is when the missus doesnt get it for a week, gawd does she wine

Stephen

[carbonhed]

The "slight glow" may or may not incorporate talking huge amounts of total shit, slurring, repeating myself, losing my train of thought, being confused but still knowing everything, claims of superhero like abilities, stories that are in no way true or believable, offensive and lewd behaviour, And sometimes going without pants.

:laugh: Ah right... that kind of glow.

[Headbanger]

Interesting.... I decided to combine my evening activities, A bottle of wine and some exorcise. Made sense at the time. So, I down half a bottle, then got on the floor and done 70 press-ups, started to feel like shit, burning guts, hot flushes to the face, wobbley legs. Got out the bicycle, By this time i felt like I was going to throw up, and was feeling quite unsteady. Rode the bike to the servo, started to pump some air into the back wheel, unco as a fucker, and I managed to tear the valve trying to unhook the pump. swore a few times at the pump (the fucker) and walked the bike back to home base. lesson learned, fuck the push bike, I'm going to drink the rest of the bottle and do some weights.