I'm starting to wine

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Just started the hobby of wine making about a month ago, so far so good. I've got 30 bottles of merlot aging now and a full carboy of chardonnay bulk aging.

Anyone else here make or enjoy drinking different wine?

I'd have to say that my favourite red is merlot, although I do like the big reds such as cabernet sauvignon.

 

WARNING: Ulrick the Wine Snob has entered my body.

It's excellent that you're already drinking big, meaty reds! Merlot and cab sauv, as you prob. know, are the two grapes that are central to the making of red Bordeaux wines, which can age well over a century (assuming a good vintage). The other Bordeaux grape that makes a decent single-grape wine is Cabernet Franc. There are some Washington State and California CF's that are very interesting drinking. I've heard people suggest that you get a merlot, a cab sauv, and a cab franc from the same producer (if possible...) and then blend them yourself, tasting what the different combinations can do to the wine. Never tried it myself.

Re: Merlot and Chardonnay specifically, be advised that these two grapes are currently the most heavily marketed grapes in the world, and many merlots and chards on the market are not even worth cooking with. I have no doubt that the merlots in your cellar are wines that you like and have faith in. That said, having a vast portfolio of merlot should not be your goal, whether you're collecting as an investment, or to have good stuff to drink in the future. Most chardonnays should be consumed within 5 years, the exception being white Burgundies from France.

As far as expanding your palate, the first question is: Where do you live? If you live near a wine-producing region your best bet is to contact local wineries, take tours, taste lots of wine, and learn what you like that way. In America, most of the wine makers (especially those NOT in Napa) are more than willing to chat, answer questions, and help educate new consumers. It's good business for them to do so, of course, but it's also their passion, and in most cases you'll find them happy to share their knowledge.

Otherwise, a knowledgable merchant will be able to point you to interesting wines at relatively low cost. If there are any restaurants nearby that pride themselves on their wine list, a chat with the sommelier is often a really valuable experience. I'd also recommend Wine for Dummies, which is a great intro. book that I've given to lots of people as a starting guide. If you like the writing style there's also Red Wine FD, White Wine FD, and a Wine Buyer's Guide FD. (If you prefer slightly stuffy experts, Jancis Robinson's Wine Course is a great stuffy book).

Above all: Drink what you like and buy what you REALLY like in bulk!

doones (whose favorite grapes are pinot noir, rhone varietals, and sauvignon blanc from the chalk hill appelation in Napa/Sonoma).

[This message has been edited by doones (edited March 01, 2001).]

 

Doones,

I have to say that was one of the most interesting and educated posted this site has seen in a while. I who know nothing about wine, was rather drawn in. I look forward to more good conversation.

 

Oh stop, I'm blushing!

Glad I caught your interest!

 

I agree, alot of good info doones. I do realize that chardonnay and merlot are recieving much marketing hype, and as such quality is being sacrificed for quality. I'm in Edmonton, Alberta so the closest wine making region for me is the Okanagan Valley in BC. There are some really fine vintners in this area, considering that the growing season isn't really that long. I find it intersesting that the soil in various regions throughout the world have a great impact on how grapes taste, and thus the final wine product. Aside from the classic areas in France that you mentioned, I'm very satisfied with some of the wines I buy from Chile or Australia. As I mentioned before, some decent Canadian wine makers can be found such as Grey Monk or Quail's Ridge. They both make a decent riesling that has that nice crisp taste.

I myself am excited to make some complex reds that contain alot of tannins so that I can age them for extended periods. So far I have been limited to kit wine that I buy from a reputable supplier, but they do have some very good must blends. Right now I'm waiting on a special order Grenache Syrah Mourvedre that I'm not really familiar with, it sounds interesting. As far as a wine that lasts for a century, I think that is a bit beyond my ability (and lifespan). Wine that old is very rare and hard to find, I think a realistic peak time for the Grenache is 10 yrs, for my merlot 4 years and for the chardonnay probably 2-3 yrs.

My final goal is to have a variety of wines that can suit different moods and occasions, I'm really just a hobbyist.