ITT: We share Great Wines

[RUJohnny]

Pony is right. There have been numerous taste tests where the same wine is include more than once at different prices. When the tasters see the prices during the tasting they always rate the (same) wine higher when it is listed at $50 than they do when it is listed at $15. Same wine.

This is not only true about wine. With virtually every consumer product we make they same judgements. Price, to most people, is an indicator of quality. It happens in cars, restaurants, clothes, just about anything you can name. Why should wine be any different?

This is a slightly but notably different variation of what pony was talking about. Pony said that the average person can't distinguish a cheap bottle from a good bottle. For the average consumer, I wouldn't contend that. That however does not mean that there isn't a difference- just that you need experience and desire to detect and appreciate the differences.

Now what you're saying is that the consumer is influenced by price, and price point impacts perceived quality. I can't argue that either. But that also does not conflict with the fact that better wines, in general, cost more. Nor does in conflict with the fact that there is in general an increase in value to coincide with an increase in price.

 

[RUJohnny]

Good post . My wife and I like wine but never got into the whole story thing. It sounds interesting . We havd visited some wineries but that's about it . Are there any online wine clubs to dabble in this hobby? Not looking to break the bank either. Thanks!

Plum- What do you want out of a wine club? Do you want to be introduced to a variety of quality wines from different producers? Do you want to get wines at a good value, regardless of whether they are from different producers, or from one quality producer? Or do you just want good wine, end of story? There are lots of different clubs with different benefits. Something like the NY Times or Wine Spectator club will introduce you to lots of different wines, and the publications stand behind the wines they send. A specific winery's wine club will often come with a variety of other benefits besides just the juice. You probably wouldn't want to join a winery's club though without visiting their tasting room first, or at least trying a bunch of their wines at a restaurant or wine dinner.

 

[KingHigh]

Every thanksgiving we do line up the wine by price: $10, $20, $30, $40 and $50 and will have them in random order, but not blind. It's always interesting to compare them with each other to see which bottle provided the best enjoyment value. One thing that always seems true every year is that the $20 and $30 bottle are always the least enjoyable.

Cheating up to the $10 to $12 range, I like Sebastiani Pinot Noir and Palazzo Della Torre. Neither would necessarily qualify as a "table wine" but both go very well with with a prime rib and you would probably guess the wine were more expensive if you were given a glass.

 

[wasiman]

But you have no say in what they send you, right?

correct

 

[Plum Street]

Plum- What do you want out of a wine club? Do you want to be introduced to a variety of quality wines from different producers? Do you want to get wines at a good value, regardless of whether they are from different producers, or from one quality producer? Or do you just want good wine, end of story? There are lots of different clubs with different benefits. Something like the NY Times or Wine Spectator club will introduce you to lots of different wines, and the publications stand behind the wines they send. A specific winery's wine club will often come with a variety of other benefits besides just the juice. You probably wouldn't want to join a winery's club though without visiting their tasting room first, or at least trying a bunch of their wines at a restaurant or wine dinner.

I would say get exposed to more different wines and producers. Try some different stuff than what I normally find in the local liquor store. Maybe learn something about the wine in the process.

 

[beaced]

If you really want to know about wines study for the first level of certification to become a sommeliere.There are 4 levels to achieve before you become a Master. I believe that there are only 250-275 people currently having that status.

 

[RUJohnny]

I would say get exposed to more different wines and producers. Try some different stuff than what I normally find in the local liquor store. Maybe learn something about the wine in the process.

Something like the NYT Wine Club would be right for you, I think.
https://www.nytwineclub.com/signup/preferences
I don't know if you really learn about the producers, but it says that you get tasting notes. If you were in this club for a year or so, you'd find a few favorites, and then you could pick a winery you really like, and join there club instead. That's when you get to really know wine, when a winemaker is writing you about how and why a wine was made.

 

[chrisru99]

Good post . My wife and I like wine but never got into the whole story thing. It sounds interesting . We havd visited some wineries but that's about it . Are there any online wine clubs to dabble in this hobby? Not looking to break the bank either. Thanks!

Gold medal wine club I have been a member for 7 years it is awesome. They send you awesome wine 4 times a year.

 

[RUforester72]

I'm a long way from a wine expert. I like what I like. But I have found that there is a pretty noticeable difference between a bottle that's $17.99 and one that is $7.99. From there, it seems like the bottles I enjoy most tend to be around $24, and I believe the point of diminishing returns begins near or at $50 (maybe lower). I cannot imagine what a $400 bottle of wine offers (beside rarity - is that it?) that a $40 does not, but then again, as I said, I am no sommelier.

I'd be eager to know more about this, if anyone can explain it.

I believed this to be true also, for a while. And as my palate matured and I was able to taste some expensive Napa Cabernets, it changed my opinion of the potential of "elite" expensive wines.

Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose too. I had a few great bottles in my stash, only to open one last year and find it was "corked". Foul tasting and worthless due to (probably) poor storage conditions. Now I believe in wine storage coolers too.

 

[LadyRU09]

California:
Hess Estate chardonnay
Mer Soleil Silver chardonnay
Obsidian Ridge cab sav

Eastern US:
Hinnant blueberry (NC)
Wagonhouse Fallen Quaker (NJ)
Balic Alexander the Great (NJ)
St. Michaels Gollywobbler (MD)
Boordy/ Sweetland Cellars white sangria (MD)

On New Year's Weekend I went to a few wineries in Lehigh Valley, PA. Clover Hill was fantastic all around, Vynecrest had a few good ones, and Blue Lizard made a delicious strawberry wine that I served at a party last weekend (the guests drank that one up).

 

[SHUSource]

I believed this to be true also, for a while. And as my palate matured and I was able to taste some expensive Napa Cabernets, it changed my opinion of the potential of "elite" expensive wines.

I don't doubt it. I know when I'm drinking crap, but I lack the context to distinguish the $100 bottle from the $500 bottle, so at least for now, anything priced at over $40-50 is likely wasted on me.

 

[vkj91]

I would say get exposed to more different wines and producers. Try some different stuff than what I normally find in the local liquor store. Maybe learn something about the wine in the process.

I like bounty hunter wine company. Great selection with lots of wines you can't find around here.

 

[RutgersMO]

Today I enjoyed A Red Wine with the Stone Cellar Brand, which is actually made by Beringer. Fantastic wine and it blew my mind that it's only 7.99 at wine.com. What are others?

I live 1/2 time in wine country Oregon.

That being said, I'm still whining about Bannon, DJ / Billet leaving, losing Lance Thomas, the cluster f' that is Julie Hermann / Flood time, Coach Rice's epic meltdown....
you want to talk whines...how about Princeton going for 2 / making it in 1967!

Oh yeah / what about the ref's walking out vs St. John's with time on the clock. And the fumble vs WVA.

Good god: @Rutgers where Whinning is a way of life!

MO

 

[DJ Spanky]

Folks, it doesn't get any better than this:

 

[jim1666]

Folks, it doesn't get any better than this:

I used to demolish this stuff. 15 bucks for a case of coors and a bottle of the train on Clinton ave. Liquor store had all merchandise behind bulletproof glass. You would get your booze through a huge drawer like st the bank drive through.

 

[jim1666]

as much as I love the train. The guys on here that tell you you can't tell a difference between drastic price points when tasting are just wrong. I can often tell you the difference just by smelling sometimes. I have been drinking high end stuff on a Wall Street expense account for many years. The differences are real and like anything else, with practice you pick up the nuance. I swear I have a hyper sensitive nose and mouth. I have done blind tastings of bottled water and gone 5 for 5 3 times in a row....I am getting thirsty. Go drink something you like. I will do the same.

 

[RUJohnny]

as much as I love the train. The guys on here that tell you you can't tell a difference between drastic price points when tasting are just wrong. I can often tell you the difference just by smelling sometimes. I have been drinking high end stuff on a Wall Street expense account for many years. The differences are real and like anything else, with practice you pick up the nuance. I swear I have a hyper sensitive nose and mouth. I have done blind tastings of bottled water and gone 5 for 5 3 times in a row....I am getting thirsty. Go drink something you like. I will do the same.

Can I come over for dinner?

 

[rutgersal]

as much as I love the train. The guys on here that tell you you can't tell a difference between drastic price points when tasting are just wrong. I can often tell you the difference just by smelling sometimes. I have been drinking high end stuff on a Wall Street expense account for many years. The differences are real and like anything else, with practice you pick up the nuance. I swear I have a hyper sensitive nose and mouth. I have done blind tastings of bottled water and gone 5 for 5 3 times in a row....I am getting thirsty. Go drink something you like. I will do the same.

You're the exception rather than the rule, as you pointed out, you've been drinking high end stuff for a while, so you can pick out the nuances. Most people don't have the same opportunity, and hence, can't tell the difference.

 

[jim1666]

You're the exception rather than the rule, as you pointed out, you've been drinking high end stuff for a while, so you can pick out the nuances. Most people don't have the same opportunity, and hence, can't tell the difference.

that may very well be true. i have had 20 years of practice. i consider myself to be very fortunate. i have experienced a lot of great stuff for work that i may not have experienced otherwise.

 

[RUScrew85]

Back just after the turn of 1980 I did about 9 months of training at Keesler AFB in Biloxi. That was pre-casinos and there wasn't much to do. A favorite Saturday night pastime was to stop at the liquor store just outside Gate E and grab Qty. 2 Each bottles of Boones Farm Strawberry Hill, total price $3.50, then head down to the beach. We'd sit on some pier and drink, then go over to one of the ATV rental places on the beach to see what kind of damage we could do.

I was drinking Boone Farm Country Quencher (Apple) back then in HS. Trying to get HS girls drunk. Memories...

 

[RUScrew85]

How in the Blue Hell is there a wine thread and @MrsScrew isn't involved?

 

[fbc1866]

The Biltmore Estate wines are award winning North Carolina wines. There Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cardinals Crest ( herb aromas, blackberry, and tannins), Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc (honeysuckle and strawberry), and House Red (Century Sweet Red) and their Limited Zinfandel are not a bad wine for under $20.00.

 

[fbc1866]

If you can't find them is your wine shop, they are available on-line @ www.biltmore.com.

 

[Blitz8RUCrazy]

You're right

This board DOES share great whines

 

[RUJohnny]

I've never had Biltmore, but a word about wine "awards."

They're bullshit. There isn't one silver, one gold, and one bronze in a given in a contest. They give out golds to any winery that meets a certain quality threshold, silvers to lesser wines, and bronze to anything that is technically sound. About ten years ago, the American Association of Wine Economists (how do you get that gig, btw?) Did a study on competitions, and found the following:

"The paper outlines an analysis of, among other things, 2,440 wines that were entered into three or more wine competitions around the country. 47 percent of these won gold medals (that fact along should ring alarm bells), but of those, 84 percent won ZERO medals (not even a bronze) in other competitions. Which means that while these wines may have been rated as among the very best wines in one competition, they were rated as below average in another. Even taking into account the differences in the field of competition, this is a rather damning indictment of the quality, relevance, and value of these competitions and their awards."

The Biltmore Estate wines are award winning North Carolina wines. There Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cardinals Crest ( herb aromas, blackberry, and tannins), Chardonnay, and Chenin Blanc (honeysuckle and strawberry), and House Red (Century Sweet Red) and their Limited Zinfandel are not a bad wine for under $20.00.

 

[DJ Spanky]

I was drinking Boone Farm Country Quencher (Apple) back then in HS. Trying to get HS girls drunk. Memories...

Isn't that what wine coolers were for back then?

 

[RUScrew85]

Isn't that what wine coolers were for back then?

I think that was just before wine coolers. This was Boone's Farm.

 

[lester19]

Vintage 1971. Freshman year at ohio u. I drank 2 bottles in an hour, and didn't recover for a week

The most drunk I ever got was my freshman year 1971 at a New Year's party drinking Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill. My girlfriend, who had just gotten her learner's permit had to drive me home.