Wine for the novice.

Slinwagh

Slinwagh

Slinwagh

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I have never really taken much interest in drinking wine mainly because I couldn't tell a good one from a bad one.

Now I appreciate that a "good" wine is very subjective when it comes to wine but like all things in life some things are better than others.

I have just been on the Decanter website and to be honest that site is everything I hate about wine, the snobbery and the rigmarole of tasting etc, I prefer the James May approach to wine if I'm honest!

So what do you look for when it comes to drinking wine, obviously if you like it you like it but are there any wines out there that you could use as a reference point to choose other wines if that makes sense.
 
They don't have to be "up the scale" as you put it and I don't mind red or white wine to be honest.

There are just so many wines on the shelves today it is a case of where do you start really !!!
 
I have a good few bottles of wine in the house, both Red and White, I will list what that way I may avoid drinking a stinker and tainting my opinion.

Slightly OT, BigStan, have you tried Bladnoch, I have always wanted try it but never stumped up and actually bought a bottle.
 
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EffBee said:
At the risk of hijacking this thread, sorry OP.

I have tried to like Whiskey on several occasions in my life and just can't get any great pleasure from it. Last time I tried I bought a bottle of Laphroaigh (or however the hell you spell it :) ) for £30 from my local supermarket. I opened it and tasted it and it was like getting a mouthful of coal. Really nasty. I allowed my eldest lad to drink it and to my surprise he had a small glass or two every night for a week or so claimimg he liked it. As the bottled neared the end he told me it was getting better as time went on. I tried it again and the taste was nuch less peaty (is that the word?) and not too bad at all.

Basically I don't know how to buy the stuff, how to prepare it for drinking, how to drink it, what to mix it with, or anything.

Got any basic tips for me. Thx.
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Peaty is spot on when it comes to Laphroiag, it is a very distinctive whisky in my opinion, I can drink it but it is not one of my favourites if I am honest.

If you can or want to even try Glenlivet.
 
Right I have the following wines to choose from in the house.

White

Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay, 2004, 12.5%
Ernest & Julio Gallo Chenin Blanc, 2006 11.5%
Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Vintage 2006, 13%

Red

Ernest & Julio Gallo Sierra Valley Merlot, 2003 13.5%
Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon "Yellow Label", 2005, 13.5%
Asda Chianti, 2001, 12.5%
First Cape "Limited Release" Merlot, 2006, 13.5%

So out of those which should I avoid and which would good to begin with?
 
Right I have just drunk most of the Wolf Blass Cabernet Sauvignon "Yellow Label"

Now while it was OK to drink and it did get better the more I drank my overwhelming sensation is one of the wine being quite acidic.

Now is this a trait of whine or is it just me?
 
Yesterday I tried the Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Vintage 2006, 13% and I have to say it was better experience than the red wine I had previously.

There wasn't the sensation of acidity / burning alcohol sensation that I got with red wine I tried previously, that isn't me trying to compare red with white as such it is just me explaining the differences!

The Jacob's Creek Chardonnay was very smooth but I think I would like something a little more fruity if that makes sense, does anyone have any suggestions.

I have a Tesco grocery order to do so I am going to get a few bottles while I am at it!

Also are there any good wine websites for the novice to look at, nothing along the lines of Decanter as I found it a bit pretentious!
 
Well I have just cracked open a bottle of Gallo Chenin Blanc, which is pretty nice so I have something to work with at least now !!
 
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