Red Wine - Page 3

Ben Kenobi · September 9, 2003, 18:18

Quote:

A fine thread to dedicate to (2)

Perhaps the mods can change the title with the threadstarter's permission.

Oerdin · September 9, 2003, 18:20

I'm enjoying a nice Californian Merlot right now with my sun dried tomato, garlic, basil, and feta cheese pizza which was cooked in a hickey wood oven. Hmmm, excellent.

Japher · September 9, 2003, 18:25

Beer.

Oerdin · September 9, 2003, 18:40

No beer I'm afraid but that was by choice. I was looking for a nice red wine to have with my pizza.

st_swithin · September 10, 2003, 21:30

Where do you find a pizza joint that serves good red wine? Usually your choices are limited to chianti, chianti, or chianti.

The Mad Monk · September 10, 2003, 21:40

I suspect he's having it at home, unless cyber-pizzarias are the Next Big Thing.

I have a bottle of "Chateau Larose-Trintaudon" 1999. I bought it for $12 at BJ's. I like it.

Is it "good"?

It also says, "cru bourgois", "Haut-Medoc", "Appellation Haut-Medoc Controlee", "S.A. Du Chateau Larose-Trintaudon Proprietaire A Saint-Laurent-Du-Medoc - Gironde - France", and "Grand Vin De Bordeaux".

Which, if any, of these phrases should I be paying attention to?

st_swithin · September 10, 2003, 21:46

I have no idea.

You can buy a nice bottle of Marques de Caceres rioja at Trader Joe's for $6, though, and it puts all of those you mentioned to shame.

Spiffor · September 10, 2003, 21:55

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Is it "good"?

Can't tell you. I never really was into Bordeaux wines. But if you're a beginner in drinking red wines, chances are you'll find it too rough. If you're used to reds, Bordeaux are generally of good quality, but you're allowed to dislike them if you want

Quote:

It also says, "cru bourgois", "Haut-Medoc", "Appellation Haut-Medoc Controlee", "S.A. Du Chateau Larose-Trintaudon Proprietaire A Saint-Laurent-Du-Medoc - Gironde - France", and "Grand Vin De Bordeaux".

Which, if any, of these phrases should I be paying attention to?

You should take notice of these phrases only if you enjoy the wine so much that you want to buy it again. Basically, it states the region of origin (Haut Médoc is an area north of Bordeaux), the name & address of the business, and the specific product from their winery you are drinking. The kind of grapes was not mentioned, which is fairly frequent with French wines, especially (alledgedly) great Reds.

A real specialist could tell you about his impressions on this wine, but it requires to have tasted it first. I never did

Drogue · September 11, 2003, 07:02

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Is it "good"?

It should be. From a good region, and it's cru bourgois. Would be appropriate for all but the very highest of dinner parties,a nd only an extreme snob would baulk at it not being in the cru classes. Well worth $12 IMHO.

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
It also says, "cru bourgois"

Cru Bourgois refers to the 'cru' or class of the wine. Bordeaux uses a tiered system, starting with 'Premier Cru' going down to 'Cinqeme Cru' (sp - 5eme anyways). Below that is Cru Bourgois, which means it is above a 'normal' Appellation Controlee, but below one of the 'classed growths'. $12 is a pretty decent price to pay for a Cru Bourgois IMHO, as we often have to pay £10-15 ($15-22) for one.

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
"Haut-Medoc"

As Spiffor said, it is a northern area of Bordeaux, just south of the Medoc. It is made up of sub regions of Margaux, Pomerol, Paulliac, St-Julien and a few others - the famous ones. It is the most desireable region of Bordeaux. Itis mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with some Merlot usually.

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
"Appellation Haut-Medoc Controlee"

Appellation Controlee means that it meets certain criteria, such as a small enough yield, and generally guarentees a better wine than a Vin de Pays. The area in the middle refers to how big the Appellation is. Appellation Haut-Medoc Controlee means that it conforms to the Appellation, and all the grapes come from the Haut-Medoc area. The smaller the Appellation, even to a single village, usually means the better.

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
"S.A. Du Chateau Larose-Trintaudon Proprietaire A Saint-Laurent-Du-Medoc - Gironde - France"

The name and address of the winemaker. Only needed for a famous winemaker, and I don't know enough to tell which are

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
and "Grand Vin De Bordeaux".

Simply "Grand wine of Bordeaux". Means nothing really, just put there to look nice.

Quote:

Originally posted by The Mad Monk
Which, if any, of these phrases should I be paying attention to?

The area and the cru. Both of these matter greatly. Almost all will be Appellation or Vin de Pays, the former means it has more constraints on quality. The name of the proprieter only matters if you want to buy it again.

Spiffor is right of course, just adding to what he said.

Spiffor · September 11, 2003, 07:47

I hate you Drogue

How come I, a Frenchman, is learning something from an Englishman ?

Thanks for telling about the "cru" system in Bordeaux. I didn't know about it.

Drogue · September 11, 2003, 10:27

Especially one barely old enough to drink

I think Cru Bourgois is split into a few sub-catagories too, but I'v never bothered with that. Some of the best Bordeaux I've ever had was cru bourgois, but then, since I'm a student, I don't get to buy anything that expensive

Although as of today, I am now a bartender

DAVOUT · September 11, 2003, 11:51

Quote:

Simply "Grand wine of Bordeaux". Means nothing really, just put there to look nice.

Means nothing?

It is the only instance the ordinary name of the product within the bottle is mentionned !

-------------------------
To the customer looking at the bottle :

- No Sir, it is not ink, nor vinegar (although ...), nor syrup, nor dye, it is a drink, generally referred to as wine. As you can see on the label, here, ... yes the small letters, vin; it is the French word for wine.

- Why dont they use big letters so that I see right away that Chateau Petrus is a drink; are not they proud of their products?

- Ah, they certainly are proud of it, but in addition they are as usual arrogant to the point that they believe that the whole world know what Chateau Petrus is ...

pchang · September 11, 2003, 12:10

But in fact, anyone with enough money to buy Chateau Petrus does know what it is.

Oerdin · September 11, 2003, 12:56

Quote:

Originally posted by st_swithin
Where do you find a pizza joint that serves good red wine? Usually your choices are limited to chianti, chianti, or chianti.

California Pizza Kitchen is a chain with a large selection of wines to go with their pizzas and the servers even seem to know what they're talking about.

I bought my Pizza at the local Italian restaurant down the block and I'm currently at my parents house so I just raided their wine cellar for the merlot.

The Mad Monk · September 11, 2003, 13:06

Spiffor, Drogue, thanks! You've helped a good deal.

I had another glass from the same bottle (open four days now, typical for me, I'm a slow drinker), and it's gone quite tannic on me. Not sure if it's oxidation, a bit too cold, or if I'm just getting sediment. Still good, though.

I went back to the place to see if I could pick up a case (I think it's that good), and it was all gone. Found some 1998, so I bought two bottles and see if that's good, too. If it is, I'll run back and get the rest.

Oerdin · September 11, 2003, 13:13

Wine should last 4 days if you put the cork back in the bottle. The faster you drink it the better though as the extra O2 in the bottle will harm the wine (as I'm sure you already know

).

The Mad Monk · September 11, 2003, 13:28

Yep, corked, on it's side in the fridge, allowed to sit for a half hour upright (still corked) before pouring a glass.

Solly · September 11, 2003, 13:32

Bah..just drink it from the bottle.

The Mad Monk · September 11, 2003, 13:35

We're discussing red wines, not white.

Solly · September 11, 2003, 13:36

Mix it with lemonade then it's sluggable..

Oerdin · September 11, 2003, 13:38

One of the guys I knew in college spent a year in Chile as an exchange student and he said the Chileans used to mix red wine and coke.

Solly · September 11, 2003, 13:39

'Kin plan!

Chilean President™ · September 11, 2003, 13:47

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
One of the guys I knew in college spent a year in Chile as an exchange student and he said the Chileans used to mix red wine and coke.

That's called "Jote"... not too many people doest it. although several foreigners that drink it said that it isn't bad. Personally I find it, not-so-bad but I do not recommend it.

In Chile the most important drink for young people is the Pisco.

Oerdin · September 11, 2003, 13:49

Pisco is a type of hard liquor isn't it?

Spiffor · September 11, 2003, 13:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
One of the guys I knew in college spent a year in Chile as an exchange student and he said the Chileans used to mix red wine and coke.

Some Germans do that too. They call it a "Korea" (no idea as to why)

Chilean President™ · September 11, 2003, 13:55

Pisco is brandy distilled from high sugar Muscat grapes from the warmer northern valleys of Chile.
Pisco Puro is made from black grapes and mostly used in mixed drinks.

However Pisco is mixed generally with Coke to form the drink called 'Piscola', most popular among the youngs, along with the beer.

Oerdin · September 11, 2003, 13:58

Hmm, Brandy and coke doesn't sound to bad. I'll have to go to one of those speciality drinks stores and see if I can't buy a bottle of Chilean Pisco.

Chilean President™ · September 11, 2003, 14:02

Quote:

Originally posted by Oerdin
Hmm, Brandy and coke doesn't sound to bad. I'll have to go to one of those speciality drinks stores and see if I can't buy a bottle of Chilean Pisco.

http://www.theliquorshop.com/brandy/...gran-pisco.htm
Pisco Capel is not the best there is, but I don't know if there are other Chilean pisco brands abroad.