REQ: Wine Recommendations

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for some recommendations for fairly good but
not terribly expensive wines to take with me on a trip
next month. This will be a driving trip - only about 70
miles for me. I'd like to hear about your favourite merlot
and chardonnay. I'll be packing a "picnic" basket, picking
up some nice cheeses and crackers and a fresh baguette.
The first afternoon after checking in, I figure we'll want
a snack and some wine while we get settled in. (Obviously
the cheeses and the chardonnay will be making the trip in
a cooler with ice.)

Your wine suggestions, please? Cheese suggestions are also
welcome. I was thinking a nice herbed brie, camembert,
perhaps a gouda and a sharp or smoked swiss. Thanks!

Jill

I recently tried the Breakstone merlot, which Cost Plus
sells for I think
7.99 a bottle. It's an excellent wine; an outstanding value
for the price.

Depending on how you like your chardonnay, La Crema has a
wonderfully buttery chard that sells for less than twelve
bucks a bottle - also a very good value, IMO.
--
Donna A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist
hopes they are.

Donna Rose said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for some recommendations for fairly good but
not terribly expensive wines to take with me on a trip
next month. This will be a driving trip - only about 70
miles for me. I'd like to hear about your favourite
merlot and chardonnay. Jill

I recently tried the Breakstone merlot, which Cost Plus
sells for I think
7.99 a bottle. It's an excellent wine; an outstanding
value for the price.

Depending on how you like your chardonnay, La Crema has a
wonderfully buttery chard that sells for less than twelve
bucks a bottle - also a very good value, IMO.

Thank you, Donna. I'll check them out!

Jill

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Donna Rose said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for some recommendations for fairly good
but not terribly expensive wines to take with me on a
trip next month. This will be a driving trip - only
about 70 miles for me. I'd like to hear about your
favourite merlot and chardonnay. Jill

I recently tried the Breakstone merlot, which Cost Plus
sells for I think
7.99 a bottle. It's an excellent wine; an outstanding
value for the price.

Depending on how you like your chardonnay, La Crema has
a wonderfully buttery chard that sells for less than
twelve bucks a bottle - also a very good value, IMO.

Thank you, Donna. I'll check them out!

Jill

You're welcome, Jill. Let me know how you like them 🙂
--
Donna A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist
hopes they are.

Donna Rose <[email hidden]> suggested in
message -"]news:[email hidden]-
ink.net... [snip]

Quoted message said:

I recently tried the Breakstone merlot, which Cost Plus
sells for I think 7.99 a bottle. It's an excellent wine;
an outstanding value for the price.

Was this Blackstone?

If you don't mind spending a little more, Clos du Val has
two excellent merlots (2000 and 2001).

Quoted message said:

Depending on how you like your chardonnay, La Crema has a
wonderfully buttery chard that sells for less than twelve
bucks a bottle - also a very good value, IMO.

Seconded on La Crêma! The 2001 is awesome! If you're in
to vanilla-based or buttery (fat) chards, Aix Monterey
is for you!

Two dessert wines I'd recommend for any fruits (cantaloupe
or honeydew, strawberries, grapes) would be Fess Parker
Muscat Late Harvest '00 or Terra Blanca Botrytized Semillon.

Of course, a couple of bottles of 2-Buck Chuck works on
picnics, too.

The Ranger

In article <[email hidden]>, cuhulain_-
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I recently tried the Breakstone merlot, which Cost Plus
sells for I think 7.99 a bottle. It's an excellent wine;
an outstanding value for the price.

Was this Blackstone?

duh! Yes, I did mean Blackstone. Thanks for catching that!
Jill, please note!
--
Donna A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist
hopes they are.

Donna Rose said:

In article <[email hidden]>,
cuhulain_- [email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I recently tried the Breakstone merlot, which Cost Plus
sells for I think 7.99 a bottle. It's an excellent wine;
an outstanding value for the price.

Was this Blackstone?

duh! Yes, I did mean Blackstone. Thanks for catching that!
Jill, please note!

Noted, thanks all!

Jill

Quoted message said:

Your wine suggestions, please? Cheese suggestions are also
welcome. I was thinking a nice herbed brie, camembert,
perhaps a gouda and a sharp or smoked swiss. Thanks!

Jill

I really enjoy Geyser Peak , Toad Hollow, and Columbia
Crest Chardonney, these are not expensive and good. And
yes, the Toad Hollow has a cute little label. Rosie

"RMiller" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Your wine suggestions, please? Cheese suggestions are
also welcome. I

was

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

thinking a nice herbed brie, camembert, perhaps a gouda
and a sharp or smoked swiss. Thanks!

Jill

I really enjoy Geyser Peak , Toad Hollow, and Columbia
Crest Chardonney, these are not expensive and good.
And yes,

the

Quoted message said:

Toad Hollow has a cute little label. Rosie

"RMiller" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I really enjoy Geyser Peak , Toad Hollow, and Columbia
Crest Chardonney, these are not expensive and good.
And yes,

the

Quoted message said:

Toad Hollow has a cute little label.

I like a lot of the Wolf Blass wines out of Australia. They
have the oakey smoky taste that I really like.

Gabby

RMiller said:

Quoted message said:

Your wine suggestions, please? Cheese suggestions are
also welcome. I was thinking a nice herbed brie,
camembert, perhaps a gouda and a sharp or smoked swiss.
Thanks!

Jill

I really enjoy Geyser Peak , Toad Hollow, and Columbia
Crest Chardonney, these are not expensive and good. And
yes, the Toad Hollow has a cute little label. Rosie

Gotta love cute little labels 🙂

Gabby said:

"RMiller" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:20040424083553.15096.00000239@mb-
m10.aol.com...

Quoted message said:

I really enjoy Geyser Peak , Toad Hollow, and Columbia
Crest Chardonney, these are not expensive and good. And
yes, the Toad Hollow has a cute little label.

I like a lot of the Wolf Blass wines out of Australia.
They have the oakey smoky taste that I really like.

Gabby

I love that oak barrel taste... thanks, Gabby!

Jill

The Ranger said:

Donna Rose <[email hidden]> suggested in
message -"]news:[email hidden]-
ink.net... [snip]

Quoted message said:

I recently tried the Breakstone merlot, which Cost Plus
sells for I think 7.99 a bottle. It's an excellent wine;
an outstanding value for the price.

Was this Blackstone?

If you don't mind spending a little more, Clos du Val has
two excellent merlots (2000 and 2001).

Quoted message said:

Depending on how you like your chardonnay, La Crema has a
wonderfully buttery chard that sells for less than twelve
bucks a bottle - also a very good value, IMO.

Seconded on La Crêma! The 2001 is awesome! If you're in
to vanilla-based or buttery (fat) chards, Aix Monterey is
for you!

Two dessert wines I'd recommend for any fruits (cantaloupe
or honeydew, strawberries, grapes) would be Fess Parker
Muscat Late Harvest '00 or Terra Blanca Botrytized
Semillon.

Of course, a couple of bottles of 2-Buck Chuck works on
picnics, too.

The Ranger

Thanks! Any suggestions on a nice crisp Reisling?

Jill

"jmcquown" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Gabby said:

I like a lot of the Wolf Blass wines out of Australia.
They have the oakey smoky taste that I really like.

Gabby

I love that oak barrel taste... thanks, Gabby!

You're welcome. It was only when I tasted a Wolf Blass that
I finally understood what wine tasters were talking about.

Gabby

Quoted message said:

From: "jmcquown"

Quoted message said:

I'm looking for some recommendations for fairly good but
not terribly expensive wines to take with me on a trip next
month. This will be a driving trip - only about 70 miles
for me. I'd like to hear about your favourite merlot and
chardonnay.

We have recently drunk Smoking Loon Merlot, Cabernet and
Chardonnay. While I still prefer Murphy Goode, these are
pretty decent. Around 9-10 dollars each. Admittedly I'm a
sucker for a great label. Heh!

Ellen

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Of course, a couple of bottles of 2-Buck Chuck works on
picnics, too.

I must say their merlot and cabernets are excellent value
for the money, as is the sauvignon blanc. But I don't like
the chardonnay at all. It's very acidic.

--
Donna A pessimist believes all women are bad. An optimist
hopes they are.

Quoted message said:

Any suggestions on a nice crisp Reisling?

Bonny Doon Pacific Rim Riesling '02 (is supposedly
bright, crisp, clean -- the two bottles I've tasted
were extremely crisply sour and kissed by a lemon-
grapefruit) Hogue Johannisberg Riesling '02 (is my
favorite Washington winery; all their wines are good!)
Robert Mondavi Johannisberg Coastal '03 (is my second
favorite red producer; consistency in a high standard
translates across all their wines) Grans Fassian
Piesporter Gold Spat '01 (was a surprise find; crisp,
hard, clean; will get the saliva glands working and
working and working!) JJ Prum Graacher Himmelreich Spat
'02 (I haven't been able to find another bottle of this
frambrosia. When I do, I'm snapping up the entire lot!)

More along the lines of a sweet Reisling: Friederich Ortega
Trockenberenauslese'99 (Compare it to any late harvest.
Lovely sweetness!) Friederich Berrenauslese '97 (Another
excellent dessert wine; travels well and can work in hot,
muggy days or cold foggy nights.)

The Ranger

Donna Rose <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Of course, a couple of bottles of 2-Buck Chuck works
on picnics, too.

Quoted message said:

I must say their merlot and cabernets are excellent value
for the money, as is the sauvignon blanc. But I don't like
the chardonnay at all. It's very acidic.

I haven't experienced that with any of the batches I've
purchased although the last case was a tad drier than I've
normally experienced. I do like my big, buttery, fat Chards!
I'm not into drinking [censored] trash; if I wanna sour
experience, I'll eat a lemon.

The Ranger

SportKite1 said:

Quoted message said:

From: "jmcquown"

We have recently drunk Smoking Loon Merlot, Cabernet and
Chardonnay. While I still prefer Murphy Goode, these are
pretty decent. Around 9-10 dollars each. Admittedly I'm a
sucker for a great label. Heh!

Ellen

Thanks to Ellen and everyone else! I have a list and a great
shop where I can find any and everything! I appreciate it 🙂

Jill

jmcquown said:

I'm looking for some recommendations for fairly good but
not terribly expensive wines to take with me on a trip
next month. This will be a driving trip - only about 70
miles for me. I'd like to hear about your favourite merlot
and chardonnay. I'll be packing a "picnic" basket, picking
up some nice cheeses and crackers and a fresh baguette.
The first afternoon after checking in, I figure we'll want
a snack and some wine while we get settled in. (Obviously
the cheeses and the chardonnay will be making the trip in
a cooler with ice.)

Quoted message said:

Your wine suggestions, please? Cheese suggestions are also
welcome. I was thinking a nice herbed brie, camembert,
perhaps a gouda and a sharp or smoked swiss. Thanks!

Spain makes a wonderful red wine, similar to a Merlot called
Protocolo. Its a little hard to find. I believe the most
recent vintage is 2001. This wine is delicious and very
inexpensive. Even in Pennsylvania with its high liquor
taxes, a bottle of Protocolo runs around $7.