Your wine preferences & any changes over time?

[OakLeaf]

Anyone seen the documentary "Somm?" It's about five (?) people studying for their Master Sommelier certification. It's very engaging, and while anyone with an interest in wine will enjoy the technical aspects of their study, it's really a story about their personal journeys.

[Owlie]

I've actually had an example of the dreaded white zinfandel that I actually liked. I can't remember what it was, though.

I can't really drink any more than a glass and a half of wine at a time. I don't really care for it (I'm a beer person, and I'm still cautiously dipping my toes in the mixed drink area), and I come across random wines I like, and I never remember what they are. I prefer whites to reds, though. I don't like Malbecs. That's about it. It depends on the individual wine, and what I'm eating it with.

[roo4]

Oregon Pinot Noir has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread. Can anyone give me a specific name that they recommend? I'd like to try a bottle or two. My price point is usually $10, but I'm willing to go up to $24 for the sake of trying something new. It's okay to tell me that I have to expand my price range, I just don't want to pay twenty bucks if it isn't any good.

[TrekDianna]

Oregon Pinot Noir has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread. Can anyone give me a specific name that they recommend? I'd like to try a bottle or two. My price point is usually $10, but I'm willing to go up to $24 for the sake of trying something new. It's okay to tell me that I have to expand my price range, I just don't want to pay twenty bucks if it isn't any good.

Hey roo4, where are you located? (you can PM me if you want to not advertise that. I'm just asking because I know some good local ones that don't distribute all that far so need to know if I can recommend them or not)

[roo4]

Sadly for the purposes of alcohol purchasing, I am in Pennsylvania.

[emily_in_nc]

I used to order Chardonnay quite a lot, mainly because that was all I knew of white wines, other than Rieslings, which are too sweet for me (except for dry Rieslings). Then I tried Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, and Sauvignon Blanc and liked all better than Chard. Just don't care for the oak. I love dry rose as well. I don't like reds quite as well but occasionally will find one I like. Don't laugh, but I love the Bota Box "Redvolution", a boxed wine we buy at Costco. It's a blend of about five different red grapes and is slightly sweeter than most reds (for exampler, Merlot).

[OakLeaf]

Chards are generally too sweet for me, and to my taste not very food friendly, but I did have an exquisite Robert Sinskey chardonnay a couple of years back. I want to say it was an '06 or maybe even earlier, so they'd likely be past their drink-by date by now, and I have no idea about their more recent vintages. It does seem that they've upped their overall production quite a bit recently, which is probably not a good thing.

[TrekDianna]

Sadly for the purposes of alcohol purchasing, I am in Pennsylvania.

Sadly? Is that one of the states that can't have wine shipped?

[Owlie]

Sadly? Is that one of the states that can't have wine shipped?

Pennsylvania has some weird alcohol control laws. A former roommate had her mind boggled when she went a grocery store in Cleveland for the first time and discovered that you could buy beer! and wine! in the grocery store.

[Bike Writer]

Oregon Pinot Noir has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread. Can anyone give me a specific name that they recommend? I'd like to try a bottle or two. My price point is usually $10, but I'm willing to go up to $24 for the sake of trying something new. It's okay to tell me that I have to expand my price range, I just don't want to pay twenty bucks if it isn't any good.

roo4, if you're looking for a great deal on Pinots, try Castle Rock, it's not from Oregon, it's from California but it's a steal of a deal around $10-14 range. Best tasting low cost Pinot that is true to the grape in taste. You say you're willing to go up to $20, try Montinore Estate from the Williamette Valley in Oregon, can be found from $15-20. Here is my tasting note from December 2003 "elegant pinot, bright red color, good fruit on the nose, soft and silky, will buy again." Back in the day it was about $12 bottle, but the prices I quoted are current in various locations throughout the US.

I see quite a few folks like white wine and have ventured from Chardonnay. If you haven't tried this, you're in for a treat. Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, Marlborough District. It has a unique taste, gooseberries. It's dry but fruity. It's a crowd pleaser and makes a great poached dover sole if you splash some in the marinade and use that marinade to poach it in the oven. It gives a very unique taste to most any delicate fish without overpowering it. It can usually be had at Costco for a good price, usually in the $10-14 range depending on where you live.