Wine recommendations

[caribougrrl]

I feel like I need to plug local wine so I will recommend the Pelee Island wine which is about $10/bottle here.

I lived on Pelee Island for a couple of years... I used to drink a lot of their Hulda's Rock Chardonnay, but I suspect I couldn't stomach much of it anymore (have lost my taste for oaky chardonnays)... I can get their pinot grigio with the bird on it here, but not the butterfly one.  Huh.  The bird one isn't very good, IMO.  Their pinot noir with the red-winged blackbird is pretty good.

But speaking of Ontario summer quaffing wines, 20 Bees Pinot Grigio is very tasty!

[Rejaneration]

Here are some other ones I have been enjoying:
Cupcake Sauvignon Blanc -another NZ white perfect for summer, with its light, floral taste.
Cupcake Petite Sirah - Big enough to stand up to lots of heavier foods, but not as heavy as a cab.  It is very smooth.
Fat Bastard Shiraz - Ok, I bought it because I found the name funny and my sister was visiting...and she has been bugging me.  But I enjoyed it.  It teamed well with a pork tenderloin that had been marinated in hoisin sauce plus about 10 other ingredients.  Another one I bought for my sister´s visit was the Middle Sister "Smarty Pants" -a white blend that was surprisingly tasty.  I bought it simply because of the funny caption aboutmiddle sisters (and yes, I am one) on the back...it was a little bit of a baufungoo to her (she´s the eldest).


I miss my Portuguese wines though.  The PT are terrible about promoting their products abroad.  I also miss some of the Italian wines I could find over there.

[caribougrrl]

I'm not generally a big fan of sangiovese, possibly I've had too many bad ones, but this one is delicious.  Soft but not light, very drinkable.  Reasonably priced.

[ihop]

I'm not generally a big fan of sangiovese, possibly I've had too many bad ones, but this one is delicious.  Soft but not light, very drinkable.  Reasonably priced.

I read it as "Borax."   

And I hoped the thread would come back to life!  I love the recommendations.

[caribougrrl]

I need a recommendation for a decent (but not too pricy) red zinfandel.  I have to bring a bottle of wine to a neighbourhood potluck/wine tasting thing.  The region is "USA" for a theme, and although I have a good pinot noir in mind as a back up, I want to bring zinfandel because, well, it's the american wine.  White zin is out of the question (though I suspect someone will bring one).  Help me, CH foodies. 

[ihop]

I need a recommendation for a decent (but not too pricy) red zinfandel.  I have to bring a bottle of wine to a neighbourhood potluck/wine tasting thing.  The region is "USA" for a theme, and although I have a good pinot noir in mind as a back up, I want to bring zinfandel because, well, it's the american wine.  White zin is out of the question (though I suspect someone will bring one).  Help me, CH foodies. 

What about Cline?  Ravenswood also has one that I like.

[caribougrrl]

What about Cline?  Ravenswood also has one that I like.

Ravenswood Red Zin is $18.75 (doable for a tasting thing)
Ravenswood Old Vine Red Zin is $30.72 (as much as I like my neighbours, I'm not sharing a $30 bottle of wine with them)

There's one called Gnarly Head; it's an old vine zin, but it's only $15 and I wonder why (relative to Ravenswood).

[ihop]

Ravenswood Red Zin is $18.75 (doable for a tasting thing)
Ravenswood Old Vine Red Zin is $30.72 (as much as I like my neighbours, I'm not sharing a $30 bottle of wine with them)

There's one called Gnarly Head; it's an old vine zin, but it's only $15 and I wonder why (relative to Ravenswood).

Ravenswood wines are less here.  I remember you saying the NZ wines were much more expensive for you too.  And I have seen Gnarly Head in the store but have never tried it.  Where is Jan?  I am sure she will have some ideas.

[Rejaneration]

Ravenswood wines are less here.  I remember you saying the NZ wines were much more expensive for you too.  And I have seen Gnarly Head in the store but have never tried it.  Where is Jan?  I am sure she will have some ideas.

Oops...just saw this.  I would have recommended the Cline.  Zins are often spendy, but I love them.  I am not familiar with Gnarlyhead.  I have seen it, but haven´t tried it.

[caribougrrl]

Oops...just saw this.  I would have recommended the Cline.  Zins are often spendy, but I love them.  I am not familiar with Gnarlyhead.  I have seen it, but haven´t tried it.

Thanks.  What about Twisted? 

[Hobie1]

Bogle old vine red zinfandel is a good buy.

For an excellent wine at a modest price ($18) The 2007 Robert Hall Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles) is wonderful.

[rocketgirl]

Oops...just saw this.  I would have recommended the Cline.  Zins are often spendy, but I love them.  I am not familiar with Gnarlyhead.  I have seen it, but haven´t tried it.

The Gnarlyhead is fine.  Nothing special, but good enough.  I've got a bottle right now.  I can get it around $10 here. Windmill Old Vine Zinfandel is way better, and shouldn't be much more $.

[Magic Microbe]

I am going to plug my friends wineries.

Minassian Young is owned and run by a freind from college and has yummy Zins...I am in their wine club.
and
Another college friend is assistant winemaker at Alder Brooke winery in Healdsburg...also yummy wine!

[caribougrrl]

The Gnarlyhead is fine.  Nothing special, but good enough.  I've got a bottle right now.  I can get it around $10 here. Windmill Old Vine Zinfandel is way better, and shouldn't be much more $.

I've done some research, and in the $10-20 price range, this is all the red zinfandel available in Newfoundland:

Beringer Calif.Coll.Red Zinfan  $12.48 
Cellar No.8 Zinfandel  $18.59 
Dancing Bull Zinfandel  $15.48 
McManis Zinfandel  $17.72
Ravenswood Vintner's Zinfandel $19.98 
Twisted Old Vine Zinfandel  $14.98 
Gnarly Head Old Vine Zinfandel $18.75 (I thought it was cheaper, but if it's nothing special, it's too much)


Not way too far out of the price range I had in my head, there's also:

Bonterra Zinfandel $20.95 
Clos du Bois Zinfandel  $22.99 
Coppola Diamond Coll.Zinfandel  $22.99 
Greg Norman Red Hill Zinfandel  $21.35 
Kenwood Sonoma Zinfandel  $21.99 



Comments still welcome, even if it's just ones to cross off the list because they aren't worth it.

[rocketgirl]

I think the Ravenswood is pretty decent.  The No. 8 is probably less good than the Gnarly Head, but close.  I think the Coppola is supposed to be good, but I don't know if I've had it.

[Magic Microbe]

I like Coppola a lot.

[marjolaine]

I like Coppola a lot.

Have you tried Coppola's Sofia Rose? The bottle looks gorgeous! The wine isn't bad either.

[Rejaneration]

I like Coppola a lot.

1.  I also like the Bonterra.

But it is far cheaper here...maybe around $14/bottle.

I like Shiraz and Petit Syrah as much as red zin and they often are less expensive.  A good cheap one is Fat Bastard.    Zinfandels are so inconsistent that I get frustrated and usually go more spendy.

[caribougrrl]

1.  I also like the Bonterra.

But it is far cheaper here...maybe around $14/bottle.

I like Shiraz and Petit Syrah as much as red zin and they often are less expensive.  A good cheap one is Fat Bastard.    Zinfandels are so inconsistent that I get frustrated and usually go more spendy.

But Fat Bastard is french and not so cheap ($18 - evidently I live in the wrong part of the world).  There's a really nice Petit Syrah from Mexico I can get here, but it's from Mexico...

I tried the Ravenswood on the weekend; I wanted to be in love with it, but I was kind of underwhelmed.  Since the event is now quickly approaching, I'm thinking I'll change my strategy and bring the Oregon pinot noir I like (can't remember the name) instead.

[Magic Microbe]

But Fat Bastard is french and not so cheap ($18 - evidently I live in the wrong part of the world).  There's a really nice Petit Syrah from Mexico I can get here, but it's from Mexico...

I tried the Ravenswood on the weekend; I wanted to be in love with it, but I was kind of underwhelmed.  Since the event is now quickly approaching, I'm thinking I'll change my strategy and bring the Oregon pinot noir I like (can't remember the name) instead.

Can you get Justin there? Or really any of the CA central coast ones.