Any Wine Connoisseurs Out There?

[Anybodyhome]

Cabs:

J. Lohr will run you about $25.

Jordan is very nice at $45

 

She like rock music? Big trend of rockers making wine now:

AC/DC Highway to Hell Cabernet (Australian, obviously)

Whitesnake/David Coverdale Zinfandel (Sonoma/Russian River)

Fleetwood Mac/Mick Fleetwood Central Coast varietals

Journey/Jonathon Cain (keyboardist) All Access Cabernet and Finale Cabernet

 

 

 

[Sapper]

'2 Hands' from Barossa/McLaren Vale - The Garden series

[Happy Panther]

Decided to pop this open on a Monday. Stunner wine and opened it ten years too early. Live and learn.

 

Yes subtle brag.

[thatlookseasy]

Show her how sophisticated you really are, get her the world's most popular wine

 

 

 

[lola]

Zonin Moscato is like Heaven in a bottle. Runs about $30 normally, I believe. Mmmmmmmm

[Jase]

You generally can't go wrong with a pinot noir.  Everyone loves pinot once they have it.  Smooth. I've never had a bad one.

[Captroop]

I recommend:

Freemark Abbey - 2010 - Cabernet Sauvignon - $44

 

Also very good in your price range that you can find pretty much anywhere:

• Turning Bull
• Robert Mondavi (a Damn good bottle. But be sure to get the "Reserve" and not the "Private Selection" which is just marketing BS)
• Sterling
• King Family Vineyard (From Charlottesville, if you want to give her a taste of the East Coast, although I recommend the Meritage over the Cab)
• Rodney Strong

[OneBadCat]

J. Lohr and Twenty Bench cab are really good.

 

There is also a red blend from Australia called 19 crimes. It's my personal favorite but some might consider it too sweet if they are very experienced wine drinkers. But's approachable.

 

Blackstone Merlot Reserve is really good and you can get that at Harris Teeter.

 

All of those wines are in the $20 range. I work at a certain wine shop in University.

 

If you wanna get fancy and a little more pricey. La Cotes du Rhone is nice. You can age those about 10 years.

[Happy Panther]

You generally can't go wrong with a pinot noir.  Everyone loves pinot once they have it.  Smooth. I've never had a bad one.

I enjoy a good Burgundy but have no patience for American pinot with rare exception.

[thefuzz]

I enjoy a good Burgundy but have no patience for American pinot with rare exception.

 

Hit or miss for the most part.

 

I am a cab, shiraz, zin kinda guy.

[Captroop]

Hit or miss for the most part.

 

I am a cab, shiraz, zin kinda guy.

 

My top 3 as well. Except Zin before Shiraz.

 

Pinot had a moment because of "Sideways," but it's not even the best grape varietal in Napa, much less California.

[PanthersBigD]

This guy makes some really good wine, and this bottle in particular was one my wife and I really enjoyed: http://www.charlessmithwines.com/k-vintners/wines/past/the-creator-cabernet-sauvignonsyrah1

 

 

[Anybodyhome]

Turnbull

Groth

Jordan

Rutherford Ranch

Franciscan

 

Coming from a Cali guy who lived in Napa when nobody knew where it was (Bottle Shock era). Spent a week in Napa last year, was amazing as usual.

[cultclassiccat]

well i kinda sell the stuff for a living and my immediate thought was to ask whether she likes old world style or new world.  then go from there.  i could also give you some recommendations on some that are not cabs but deserve an audience.  Italy has some fantastic red blends.  

 

an up and coming label who is on my radar is Orin Swift.  they are really unique to their approach and provide several rich reds that do include a primary cab blend as well as a white.  if you can find Orin Swift 'The Prisoner', that would be a nice gift for her imo.  its a primary zin/cab blend.

 

this next wine was recommended to me by a master som.  we got to pick his brain at a private wine tasting and he pointed us off the beaten track towards some hidden gems that were very reasonable in price.  he recommended several but this one takes the cake imo....allegrini palazzo della torre corvina verona veneto italy.  it doesnt have the body of a cab or anything too big but its just a great red that can be enjoyed with just about anything.  

 

boom