Your favorite wine? Forum

[enibs]

Another vote for going to wine tastings at your local wine store and buying a bottle of the wine you like best. It will allow you to explore more and get a sense of what wines you like or don’t like and buy a bottle that you’ve tasted and know you like.

Also, be adventurous. Stray off the beaten path of California Cabs, Bordeaux and Burgundy. There are some great wines from those regions, no doubt, but they tend to be pricey. Italy and Spain offer some relative bargains in red wines (particularly Chianti Classico and Rioja, but also Barbera, Dolcetto, Vino Nobile and Ribera del Duero). Germany and Alsace offer some relative bargains in white wines (Trimbach, Zind-Humbrecht and Weinbach are all very reliable Alsace producers). Loire reds from good producers, can also be bargains (e.g., a Chinon from Olga Ruffault). All of the foregoing are now more well known than when I first discovered them, which has also meant somewhat rising prices, but still relatively good price-quality wines.

Make your own discoveries, and stock up when you find something you really love at a bargain, because it will cost more when/if it’s discovered. And if you do get a bargain, don’t be afraid to drink it even if the price skyrockets. I have some bottles in my cellar that I got in the $30-40 range that would now cost hundreds of dollars. I try still to think of them as $30-$40 bottles so I’m not afraid to drink them and enjoy them.

[Anonymous User]

Oregon Pinot Noirs are also quite tasty, if anyone likes to buy American.

[TigerIsBack]

I've also found that when you're out at an expensive restaurant (think the type that has a wine list that's 10+ pages long and has a knowledgeable sommelier on staff to guide you), just ask the somm for their recommendations in a certain price range and ask if they've tasted anything interesting recently.

Those people in my experience truly love what they do and even if you don't buy a $200-$500+ bottle of wine with the meal, they are more than happy to share their opinions on some of those bottles, as well as what they view as some of the best values on their list, within whatever your budget is for that night. I've found that just showing an interest and asking questions of the somm is both fun for me and also leads to additional knowledge and occasionally some complimentary tastings of things they've either already opened or if they have a coravin setup.

And keep in mind that something on their menu for $100, if you like it you can probably buy more bottles of it at your local wine shop for closer to $40-$50 if not less.

[Anonymous User]

Oregon Pinot Noirs are also quite tasty, if anyone likes to buy American.

I’m far from a wine snob but I tend to prefer PNW wines too. I think you get the best bang for your buck and they’re very good.

[alawyer2018]

Not a wine snob, but I enjoy some red wine, particularly big/bold reds. The Prisoner (a red blend) never fails to disappoint and runs $40-$50 (The Fugitive is a poor man's The Prisoner, which I also enjoy, and runs $25 when on sale).

I also like pinot noir. Willamette Valley Whole Cluster PN is very respectable and is typically ~$22.

I saw one post above about Belle Glos. I really enjoy Belle Glos Las Alturas, and I was surprised to see that some folks look down on that brand.

[Anonymous User]

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