I'm trying to build my wine vocab, find out if actually like the things I think I'll like from the producers/regions I've run into, but essentially starting from near 0.
Sooooo, this is what I have acquired thus far which a friend described as "classic, structured Old World reds". I know I like French wines, but I want to diversify as well. I'd like to acquire/start with another 8 bottles, then branch out from there.
Purpose for collecting? First to understand and experience, then for drinking split into 3 categories; drinking wines , mid term wines , long term wines. Happy to buy multiples of outstanding bottles. I collect Scotch currently, wishing I had bought 3-5 of bottles of my favorites that were readily available in 2018.
I do entertain fairly often, so having a good breadth would be nice for those occasions. As a balance to that, owning 6-12 bottles from a few reputable producers would be great for distinguishing nuance, which I definitely lack at.
The CA champagne was a gift from Thanksgiving, don't judge!
Open to all suggestions.
by LavishManatee
7 Comments
You seem to enjoy both left- and right-bank Bordeaux, so I would try Rioja next. La Rioja Alta makes fantastic, age-worthy, reasonably priced wines (about $25 for the Alberdi and $40 for the Ardanza). Lopez de Heredia is another excellent traditional producer (my favorite wine of theirs is the Bosconia). Also can’t go wrong with Muga.
Whenever you find a bottle you really want buy at least 3 if you can. One to see how the bottle ages in the short, medium, and long-term.
Burgundy
I do the same thing: drink anytime, drink in a few years and forget you have them. I don’t know all the producers, but see what you like, replace the ones you love and maybe buy more of that varietal or region. The greatest part of having a collection is saying “what’s for dinner?” and then finding something to go with it. My wife and I finally built a collection when we realized you need to buy more wine than you consume. 500 bottles in the cellar later.. Have a great time with it! Get to know some wine maps and you’re going to have a ton of fun
it’s a good jumping off point! you seem to like a good amount of structure, i’d explore higher end producers (look up the super seconds) to really find out whether you care for bordeaux all that much or just like big, structured wines more generally. I’d also suggest trying less main line producers like pontet canet or tertre roteboeuf to see what bordeaux can be! or even ormiale for something really different. My next step would be the rhone and languedoc! many many incredibly interesting wines coming out of there. alternatively, going in a very different direction could bring you straight to beaujolais, Get straight into the gang of 4. very good value for money.
A few things from someone who has been into wine for coming up on 2 years.
Are you a fellow Costco wine shopper? That collection looks a lot like it based on my Costco’s current inventory. Shopping for wine at Costco can be a very rewarding experience, and the more you do it, the less often you’ll get “burned” as you learn what to look for and avoid.
That Cali Champagne you’re ashamed of is an amazing value. Don’t apologize for it. I love it and am planning on stocking up soon for some weeknight seafood dishes.
There will be a day (likely very soon) that you will despise the fact that you said “I like French wine” because you’ll realize how vastly diverse “French wine” is. The statement will still be very true, but you’ll learn how little it says about your tastes, if that makes sense.
I am in no way an expert, but I came down this path recently and can recognize the journey you’re about to begin, and I’m excited for you. Feel free to check some of my post history in here if you’re bored. It’s by far my favorite sub now along with the cooking ones, because I got much more into cooking when I got into wine.
Lastly- try some red blends from southern Rhone and some super Tuscans when you get the time and resources. Those are what really forced me to dive in head first, even if I don’t drink them as much as I used to because I’ve diversified so much.
I have very little experience with French wine, but a little more in the Italian and California areas. If you’re exploring new stuff, maybe try out some more Italian wines! In terms of what’s available to me, I love how there’s just so much variation. Old World stuff like Produttori Barbaresco or Cantine Povero Barolo Priore is such a wonderful change for my California-oriented tastebuds, which I’ve had to retrain, lol. Lately, I’ve loved Sasseti “Pertimali” Brunello di Montalcino (which I think over-delivers for the price. Look up “Marcati Amarone del Valpolicella” for a tasty Amarone that is pretty modest in price. Italian wines are what have helped me better understand the concept of “terroir”, and helped me better understand how this is expressed in domestic wines also. Italy also has some amazing New World wines, from the “Super Tuscan” producers (look up “Il Fauno di Arcanum)to the big, fruit-forward jammy Negro Amaro and Primitivo varieties. Many of the Old World Italian wines I’ve encountered can be pretty nice for aging, but also enjoyable now. Oh the fun! Good luck!