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JENNR8R

I Need Help Picking a Wine...

By JENNR8R, in The Bonfire

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JENNR8R    0

JENNR8R
My youngest son is having his 27th birthday soon. My tradition is to cook any dinner that he wants. Here's what's on his requested menu:

Porterhouse Steak grilled with hardwood (not charcoal) briquettes
Asparagus
Hollandaise Sauce
Fresh Strawberries in sugarfree Jello (He's diabetic, no birthday cake)
Chanti or Merlow wine (spelling?)

What happened to my little boy who wanted beans and franks for his birthday dinner? :|

Back on subject... I know absolutely nothing about wine. Can you recommend a brand?
What do you call a beautiful, sunny day that comes after two cloudy, rainy
ones? -- Monday.

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squirrel    0

squirrel
One of my favorites is BV Coastal, usually around $10 a bottle. Smooth for a red wine, not dry, low in tanins. Dont be fooled by the low price, its one of the best I have had. Cant get it an Vons.

Oh, its a Merlot.


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Where is Darwin when you need him?

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Elisha    1

Elisha
A Gabbiano Chianti would be ok. Nothing special, but not like the funny wicker basket brand. I'd personally choose a nice big Cabernet Sauvignon with a Porterhouse. Merlot is a bit weak - it would have to be a damn good Merlot. A Clos Du Bois Cab would probably be good (about $10-15).

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nanook    1

nanook
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You say that like it's supposed to mean anything to me



Cabernets have a more heartier taste/response to the mouth. Kind of, more lip-puckering and aroma filling out the back of your mouth and nasal cavity like a cough drop feel.

Merlots are a little easier.
Clos Dubois is a good Merlot.
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"The trouble with quotes on the internet is that you can never know if they are genuine" - Abraham Lincoln

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karenmeal    0

karenmeal
I'm drinking some Rancho Zabaco zinfandel (it's a red) right now.. I think its around $10.. it is nice. I think it would pair nicely with a meal like that.

We don't drink merlot in our house.:P (My silly boyfriend insists.)

"Life is a temporary victory over the causes which induce death." - Sylvester Graham

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waltappel    1

waltappel
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Tell him it's time to quit being a wimp and drink a Cabernet instead of Merlot.



You say that like it's supposed to mean anything to me. :S



Ok, here's a quick lesson on wines.

A wine's specific type, be it Chardonnay, Cabernet, Merlot, etc., gets its name from the grape that is used to make it. There are exceptions, of course.

A wine made from more than one kind of grape is called a varietal.

A wine's vintage is the year in which the grapes were harvested.

Speaking of harvest, if you ever want a really sweet tasty "dessert" kind of wine to give as a gift, ask for either a "late harvest wine" or a wine by the name of Essencia. A "late harvest" wine means the grapes were harvested almost at the point where they are ready to go bad. That's when the grapes have their highest sugar content. These wines are very, very sweet.

You'll hear the terms "red wine" and "white wine" and it's pretty easy to understand the terms. Red wines are red in color. White wines are very light in color. Red wines tend to be much "heavier" than white wines. That means they generally have a much stronger taste and aroma. They also tend to have a higher alcohol content.

So now to Merlot (pronounced "mur-LO") and Cabernet (pronounced "cab-ur-NAY"). They are both red wines. Merlot has an odd characteristic in that it has relatively light initial taste for a red wine--it even seems a bit watery--but has quite a strong aftertaste. Cabernet, on the other hand, has a very heavy red wine taste from the moment it touches your tongue.

Red wines tend to be an acquired taste because of their heaviness and Cabernet is a bit heavier than Merlot.

Both wines are served at room temperature and are awesome during cold weather because after a glass or two you feel a warmth radiating from your mouth, esophogus, and stomach. It's a very pleasant feeling.

If you really want a simplified explanation of how to pick a good wine, here is how to do it--pick a bottle that sells for between $20 and $35 and you'll be fine.

Walt

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Shell666    0

Shell666
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If you really want a simplified explanation of how to pick a good wine, here is how to do it--pick a bottle that sells for between $20 and $35 and you'll be fine.



I pick them by the label ... if it's a cool looking label, I'll try it. So far so good ... just picked up a nice Malbec from Argentina ... Funky Llama ... I liked the label. I liked the wine. $11.95 Cdn.

'Shell
'Shell

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ryoder    1,590

ryoder
Quote

Quote

If you really want a simplified explanation of how to pick a good wine, here is how to do it--pick a bottle that sells for between $20 and $35 and you'll be fine.



I pick them by the label ... if it's a cool looking label, I'll try it. So far so good ... just picked up a nice Malbec from Argentina ... Funky Llama ... I liked the label. I liked the wine. $11.95 Cdn.

'Shell



If we're going by the label, then I'll take this one:

http://www.marilynmerlot.com/velvet.html
"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

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kelpdiver    2

kelpdiver
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So now to Merlot (pronounced "mur-LO") and Cabernet (pronounced "cab-ur-NAY"). They are both red wines. Merlot has an odd characteristic in that it has relatively light initial taste for a red wine--it even seems a bit watery--but has quite a strong aftertaste. Cabernet, on the other hand, has a very heavy red wine taste from the moment it touches your tongue.



err...what the fuck? That isn't a description of merlot, though its quite true that you have to hunt to find good ones. The word you're looking for here is tannin.

But you have have very potent merlots and very watery cabs. Your description seems more appropriate for pinot, which definitely shouldn't be served with a porterhouse steak.

Unfortunately, I have no idea what's available at a supermarket in Virginia.

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