Off the Vine: TNL Wine Appreciation Thread

[catsmeow]

wtf is a zin?

red zinfandel. not that white zinfandel shit.

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For what its worth, I don't like most Australian wine that I have had. D'arenberg makes some reliably good wine and I actually like a lot of western Australian vino (think Margret River area). My favorite might be Two Hands "The Bull and The Bear." Aus, at least here in the states, seems to be a LOT of Syrah (most of which is Flabby and jammy to a fault) and not much anything else of merit, the Cabs tend to be inexpressive and generally wimpy.

If I know someone is looking for the rape-you-in-the-face flavor-bomb like Australian Syrahs are known for, I tend to just tell them to look for something in their price range with the word "Barossa" on it. That region typically won't disappoint. I'll also say that they can pay half that average price (usually 20+ for Barossa here) for a modern Spanish Garnacha from Calataylud and get the same general effect.

[Samba De Amiga]

Hey Cat, do remember the name of that African Riesling I had at Stone? Now that was good!

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Hey Cat, do remember the name of that African Riesling I had at Stone? Now that was good!

Jubilation? I'm probably wrong.

[catsmeow]

Hey Cat, do remember the name of that African Riesling I had at Stone? Now that was good!

ah dude i dont know. all i remember is that it was really good and dirty, not too sweet, from south africa. you probaby will like SA Plum Reisling from Germany, i have that one at tango wine bar down town all the time. reasonable price.

[Samba De Amiga]

Next time you're there, see if they still have it on the menu. I would love to try to order some.

[arjue]

For what its worth, I don't like most Australian wine that I have had. D'arenberg makes some reliably good wine and I actually like a lot of western Australian vino (think Margret River area). My favorite might be Two Hands "The Bull and The Bear." Aus, at least here in the states, seems to be a LOT of Syrah (most of which is Flabby and jammy to a fault) and not much anything else of merit, the Cabs tend to be inexpressive and generally wimpy.

If I know someone is looking for the rape-you-in-the-face flavor-bomb like Australian Syrahs are known for, I tend to just tell them to look for something in their price range with the word "Barossa" on it. That region typically won't disappoint. I'll also say that they can pay half that average price (usually 20+ for Barossa here) for a modern Spanish Garnacha from Calataylud and get the same general effect.

Each to their own. It seems a great deal of producers just want to bottle the biggest flavor in their Syrah at any cost, and i'm not really a fan of that style. The more subtle and mellow Syrah you occasionally stumble across is usually much more enjoyable. I usually dig Syrah Viognier blends for that very reason.

As far as white wine goes, i don't usually like it and thus don't know much about it, but I really like Verdelho from the Hunter Valley. It also can suffer from Aussie big flavor penis syndrome though.

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Maggie River makes good whites in the Bordeaux style FWIW. Semillion, Sauv Blanc blends.

Here in America, it looks like Aus is being replaced by Argentina as far as popular wine amongst youths. Malbec is the business these days (hell, I like it too).

[RoleTroll]

I had some Acacia Pinot Noir from 2007 recently and loved it.

But usually I just drink cheap Carlo Rossi from a box. (Add Fresca and call it sangria.)

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