• Registered: 2010-12-12
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Wow! we are a diverse bunch of winos...I love it!

Here is the low down of some of your questions:

For veggies: I recommend Riesling from Alsace. It is a little more citrus than German ones. and if you can find one that is aged about 7-10 years, it is sublime. If you have tomatoes, I love Albarino. Great with bruschetta. Albarino has a "razor sharp" quality that acts like a palate cleanser. I also love Prosecco. Those are all whites. if you want red, you can never go wrong with a Pinot Noir.

For what food with a Falanghina: I have never had this grape, but from your description "oily"...maybe proscuitto with melon or a light pasta dish?

For wines that rate about 98 points....about a handful. I will say that you really need to find a wine critic that has your similar taste and go with their suggestions. Robert Parker likes bold wines, sometimes his wine suggestions just burn out my palate. But a least I can gage what to expect from his advice.

As for liquor laws...DON'T GET ME STARTED! I just wrote a rant about it on my so called blog. I really shouldn't call it a blog because I post about twice a month.

I think chocolate & chili would be fantastic. I might pair it with a Malbec or a Petite Syrah.

Barolos really need to age and they are very expensive so quality is paramount. Do your research.

Let me know if I need to add anything... wine is so personal and I can tell there are some very knowledgeable people on this forum.
This is fun!

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Good stuff people. I agree on the Pinot Noir grape. Extremely variable and a winemakers Bete Noir. It can run from light and fruity to serious and tannic. I'll give a shout out to my favorite cult Pinot Noir guy. David Vergari, the garage band of winemakers. Absolutely obsessed with the grape. Look him up, he sells online too. Not cheap but oh so good. He combs the Central California coast looking for the best growers and the best field. Buys a truckload and makes it himself. A fantastic wine for Christmas dinner btw.
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21 Reply by gsj (edited by gsj 2010-12-18 10:44:51)

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

We have a grapevine with Pinot grapes - both black and white. Last year we managed just 6 bottles of Rose' from the vine. Now, given how much the house cost when we bought it two years ago, it works out to £41,666 per bottle........and we drunk a bottle with a £25 take-away curry.  big_smile

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  • From: Central PA
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Jane H. wrote:

Maryland has some weird laws and i can't order stuff in...  but anyway its a bummer about this law in MD.

Tx Sommelier wrote:

As for liquor laws...DON'T GET ME STARTED!

Jane, I lived in Maryland for about 17 years before moving north (what was I thinking?) to Pennsylvania in 1990. You wanna talk about weird laws? Not just for wine and spirits, but for beer, too! This place drove me nuts until I got used to it!

If I want to have any type of alcoholic beverage shipped to me, first I must ascertain whether it is available through a PA Liquor Control Board store, and if it is, I cannot order it direct from the winery; I must buy it through their store. Is it a gift set of some type? They don't care. If a wine is not available, I can order it, but I have to have them ship it to my local LCB store, where they then tack on a "handling fee" and all the applicable state taxes when I go to pick it up.

For hard liquor, it's the same drill.

As for beer, I have three options; buy it directly from the brewer if in-state (for those of you who don't know about Harrisburg brewer Troeg's, www.troegs.com, I heartily recommend you check them out -- at any given time there are at least a dozen different varieties available; currently we're in Mad Elf season!), buy a case from a beer distributor, or buy a six-pack from a bar at outrageously inflated prices. You can't get a six-pack in a 7-11 here.

It's always culture shock for me when I go to California or Nevada or Virginia and see beer and wine (and someimes hard liquor) with their own aisles in a grocery store. I suspect there is a lot of bootlegging going on in Pennsylvania. wink

I apologize for digressing from the original topic. I guess I, like Tx Sommelier, have some issue with the liquor laws. So let me just say, as far as expensive wine and cheap food is concerned, I recommend a glass of a good Cabernet Sauvignon with strong hints of berry and plum and a small serving of dark chocolate (the higher the number the better) as one of my favorite "desserts."

23 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2010-12-18 17:53:16)

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Sorry to hear of the Byzantine liquor laws back East. Mail order wine is one of our delights since we get to taste new releases on a regular basis from producers not encountered in the local markets, then stock up on our favorites at a discount. I encountered them in Texas on a business trip to a dry county. Strange. I could get served in the hotel bar, but had to buy a "membership".  hmm
Home brew wine sounds like fun GSJ. I'd toyed with the idea of planting a vine or two, but we live so close to the ocean that most varieties die from the salt spray during winter storms.
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Not really expensive, but nonetheless one of the best Cabernet Sauvignons that I've tried. Try to find the 2006 vintage otherwise, 2008 seems quite good too. Around $20 per bottle. 

Louis M. Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon http://www.louismartini.com/wines/ourwines.asp?a=NPV

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

'Twas my sweeties Bday yesterday and to celebrate, I popped for a nice bottle of bubbly. I had read a glowing review and bought a bottle, Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut. The review said that Roederer, a major Champagne label, had searched the west for a climate equal to the French district and settled on the Navarro River valley in Mendocino where they planted 4 blocks of Chardonnay grapes. This wine is blended with reserve Chardonnay aged in oak, then bottled in the Champagne fashion.  When the bottle was popped, the room was filled with a scent of green apple. Super tiny bubbles that made it seem to evaporate on the tongue, the green apple faded to a distinct vanilla finish. Another great wine from the Anderson Valley. $22, I've paid a lot more for a lot worse, superb.
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  • From: So. Calif.
  • Registered: 2010-07-05
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

RickB wrote:

'Twas my sweeties Bday yesterday and to celebrate, I popped for a nice bottle of bubbly. I had read a glowing review and bought a bottle, Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut. The review said that Roederer, a major Champagne label, had searched the west for a climate equal to the French district and settled on the Navarro River valley in Mendocino where they planted 4 blocks of Chardonnay grapes. This wine is blended with reserve Chardonnay aged in oak, then bottled in the Champagne fashion.  When the bottle was popped, the room was filled with a scent of green apple. Super tiny bubbles that made it seem to evaporate on the tongue, the green apple faded to a distinct vanilla finish. Another great wine from the Anderson Valley. $22, I've paid a lot more for a lot worse, superb.
Rick


That sounds like one I would enjoy.

On Christmas eve we opened a couple of bottles of Wilson Creek Almond Champagne.  It's very good and the price is reasonable, depending where it is purchased, anywhere from 12.99 to 29.99.  It is a local  vineyard for me so easy to get.

Happy belated birthday to your sweetie.

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  • From: Grapevine, Tejas
  • Registered: 2009-11-03
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Wilson Creek...Yep, my favorite of the local wineries here.  Had a bottle of their Mourvedre last night that was excellant

  • Registered: 2010-12-12
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

I really believe that wines in the $20 dollar range are some of the best in terms of "taste" value and compatibility with food.

The wines reflect the basic nature of the grapes and the area where they were planted...the French call this "terroir".

Whenever, I teach at wine tastings I really prefer that price range and hope the client agrees with me ;-)

I have an Uncle that drinks Barefoot Wine ($5) and he can't understand why I don't like it. I just tell him it is not made with as much love.....

Rick please tell your sweetie Happy Bday! And I will toast her with a Chardonnay from Osprey's Dominion from Long Island, NY (one of my wayward babies that got shipped to me by nefarious means...I know you'll know what I'm talking about since you read "blog". ;-)

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Here we have the infamous "Two Buck Chuck" a bulk wine by Charles Shaw. Not too bad when used to cook coq au vin or a batch of spaget or as a marinade base. Qualities, well, not sour, red, cheap.  roll
Rick

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  • From: So. Calif.
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

RickB wrote:

Here we have the infamous "Two Buck Chuck" a bulk wine by Charles Shaw. Not too bad when used to cook coq au vin or a batch of spaget or as a marinade base. Qualities, well, not sour, red, cheap.  roll
Rick


Charles Shaw aka  $2 Buck Chuck are pretty good.  They had a red a few years back that I really enjoyed, and I am not much of a red drinker. Gamy beaujolais nouveau, I think thats how you spell it.  But I haven't been able to find it again.  It is seasonal I beleive and comes out around Christmas usually.  Whenever I go to Trader Joes I keep my eyes open for it.

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31 Reply by RickB (edited by RickB 2011-01-24 19:40:08)

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Rockfarmer wrote:

Wilson Creek...Yep, my favorite of the local wineries here.  Had a bottle of their Mourvedre last night that was excellant

Hay, three of us and all close to Temecula wine country. I can recommend South Coast as well. Out at the end of the road so they aren't quite as crowded. They make a really good Sangiovese, I think it is Wild Horse block grapes they use. The place is super yuppified and has a spa and such but a good wine club with some fine products. We went to a club soiree for a release party and got a 1/2 price deal on the Sangiovese by the case. Fun stuff.

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Strange but delicious together. Cabernet Sauvignon and a mix of Feta Cheese and Calamata Olives.
Rick

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  • From: Grapevine, Tejas
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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

RickB wrote:
Rockfarmer wrote:

Wilson Creek...Yep, my favorite of the local wineries here.  Had a bottle of their Mourvedre last night that was excellant

Hay, three of us and all close to Temecula wine country. I can recommend South Coast as well. Out at the end of the road so they aren't quite as crowded. They make a really good Sangiovese, I think it is Wild Horse block grapes they use. The place is super yuppified and has a spa and such but a good wine club with some fine products. We went to a club soiree for a release party and got a 1/2 price deal on the Sangiovese by the case. Fun stuff.


Yeah, I've been to South Coast a few times.  Frankly, I think the folks there act a bit snobby for my likes, but it is certainly a beautiful place.

My neighbor works at Callaway so I can get wine there at her 50% discount (I do this cautiousely... I don't want to take too much advantage of a good thing).

I joined Wilson Creek's wine club.  I really enjoy alot of what they make and the folks there are quite nice.  The owners are frequently mingling with the folks.  It's just a very nice, relaxing atmosphere with wonderful grape juice.

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Last Nigth.

$40.00 Davis Family Syrah with burgers........Although I must say THAT Syrah would be good with ANYTHING!

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Last night, we walked up to one of our favorite local restaurants, The Fishery. They had a new item on the menu and since I'm a fan of clams, steamed with apple cider and herbs sounded exotic. I decided to pair them with an Alsatian Gewurtztraminer from the old country, Rene Mure Tradition, 07. Restaurant price $12 the glass and a taste was poured for me to try before ordering because I didn't want a sweet one. Fantastic, nose like a bouquet of flowers, semi dry with a peach/lychee mouth and smooth finish, about $20 street. The clams were to die for, the sweet herbed and garlicy apple broth with the tangy brine from the clams was incredible. The wife was going MMMMM after each bite and purred like a cat through the whole meal. We canceled the entree and ordered more clams!
Rick

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Re: Expensive Wine & Cheap Food

Here is a recipe from one of our wine clubs. Rutherford Hill in Napa.
Oven baked so good for everyone. Zinfandel is readily available and inexpensive for a decent one. Get 2 bottles, one for cooking and one for drinking after the food is ready.

Zinfandel BBQ Glazed Baby Back Ribs

Sauce
3 cups chopped onions
1/4 cup honey
3 cloves chopped garlic
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1 tbsp kosher salt
1/2 cup dried parsley
3 tbsp worschester sauce
1 cup Zinfandel wine
1/2 tsp dried mint
3 tbsp cider vinegar
1 tbsp liquid smoke
2 cups ketchup
1/2 tbsp Louisiana hot sauce

combine all ingredients, simmer for 30 minutes, puree and let cool.

Ribs

2 slabs baby back ribs, membrane removed
2 red onions
1 cup Zinfandel wine
2 cups chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste

Slice the onions in 1/4 rings, spread as a single layer in a roasting pan. Season the ribs with salt and pepper and place on the onions. Pour in the wine and broth and cover with parchment paper, then with aluminum foil. Bake at 350 in a convection oven for 1 1/2 hours, more if non convection. Remove foil and paper, slather with sauce both sides and bake uncovered an additional 20 minutes, turning to ensure even carmelization of the sauce.

Serve with remaining sauce on the side and with Zinfandel wine to drink.
Rick

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