Post by: mattw on November 23, 2007, 09:16:27 PM
Please tell me something about this bottle I got, the label says:
RSV 1999 No. 27218
Vineyard Reserve
Napa Valley
Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
On the back label it says Robert Sinskey Vineyards, I guess thats what RSV is.
Any help with this is appreciated, thanks.
Post by: Laurent du Var on November 23, 2007, 10:24:44 PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napa_wine
The Napa Valley is an excellent wine region, and the three names you mentioned on the label :Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
are blended to produce a Bordeaux like wine which means it is rich and dark in color, coarse and full in flavor and around 13% in alcohol. 1999 is a very nice age for a wine like that.
You could just drink it but I'd recommend that you'll have it to acompany
some nice red meat or roast duck or something heavy and rich in flavor.
You need a nice wine glass meaning with a stem and a wide opening.
Open the bottle, the cork in a bottle like this should be a real one since the newer plastic ones only last for about 6 years. Anyway bottles like this have a rather long cork so screw the wine opener all the way to the end so you won't break it while pulling it out. Pour the wine in your glass just about a quarter full,
The glass must be spotless, you then take it by the stem and hold it against a light source to see the color. You're supposed to appreciate the fine colour nobody is asking you the exposition of the winefiled and the exact number of grapes which were used and how many feet trampled on them.
Then you stick your nose into the glass as far as you can and smell and inhale
and be delighted about the aroma (bouquet) of your fine wine. Right after that you swirl the wine in the glass - this is supposed to enrichen the wine with oxygene so the taste comes out stronger when you finally tak a sip which you'll eave a little while in your mouth before swalloing it.
And thats all there is to do.
(I f you find that over the top you may just offer it to somebody else who you would like to believe that you're a classy guy or you can also take a real large
glass and mix it with coca cola and enjoy it with your friend bubba from across the street on your front porch
) Post by: 280plus on November 24, 2007, 12:37:49 AM
On another note, I toured the Napa Valley extensively for a few succesive weekends, that was just around 30 years ago, sadly enough. I don't profess to be much of an expert, just a wino.
I WILL say, there is a winery here in CT that grows and hand picks it's own grapes, which leaves out the stems, leaves and bugs. They produce one of the cleanest wines I have ever tasted. In addition to that the maker claims that here in CT all that evil acid rain causes the soil to be mildly acidic which eliminates the necessity of adding sulfites, as they do out in Napa.
http://www.ctwine.com/priam.html
Post by: Laurent du Var on November 24, 2007, 01:22:32 AM
LOL,,,when I was a kid we used to get wine mixed with coca cola at the big family dinners. I actually liked it. I can almost remember the taste.
On another note, I toured the Napa Valley extensively for a few succesive weekends, that was just around 30 years ago, sadly enough. I don't profess to be much of an expert, just a wino.
I WILL say, there is a winery here in CT that grows and hand picks it's own grapes, which leaves out the stems, leaves and bugs. They produce one of the cleanest wines I have ever tasted. In addition to that the maker claims that here in CT all that evil acid rain causes the soil to be mildly acidic which eliminates the necessity of adding sulfites, as they do out in Napa.
http://www.ctwine.com/priam.html
On another note, I toured the Napa Valley extensively for a few succesive weekends, that was just around 30 years ago, sadly enough. I don't profess to be much of an expert, just a wino.
I WILL say, there is a winery here in CT that grows and hand picks it's own grapes, which leaves out the stems, leaves and bugs. They produce one of the cleanest wines I have ever tasted. In addition to that the maker claims that here in CT all that evil acid rain causes the soil to be mildly acidic which eliminates the necessity of adding sulfites, as they do out in Napa.
http://www.ctwine.com/priam.html
When I was in the Army we drank white wine (Riesling) mixed with coke
out of pint glasses.
You would have to torture me with wine from Chile before I'd that again.
"there is a winery here in CT that grows and hand picks it's own grapes, which leaves out the stems, leaves and bugs."
Maybe they should import Chinese children to peel the grapes with their tiny little hands ?
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on November 24, 2007, 03:15:42 AM
Post by: 280plus on November 24, 2007, 03:19:01 AM
Quote
Maybe they should import Chinese children to peel the grapes with their tiny little hands ?
Good idea, then they can just collect their sweat and add to the wine too while they're at it. 
Post by: Sergeant Bob on November 24, 2007, 03:35:48 AM
Ok well maybe you don't have to be an expert, just have more knowledge than I do. A friend of mine gave me a bottle of wine as a gift and I know nothing about wine. I just drink Budweiser, when I want to feel sophisticated I might drink some New Castle. I know absolutely nothing about wine.
Any help with this is appreciated, thanks.
Any help with this is appreciated, thanks.
You don't need to talk to a wine expert, you need to talk to a beer expert!
Post by: Laurent du Var on November 24, 2007, 03:36:23 AM
there is a real wine expert at www.fredtalk.com her handle there is hippydotmomn she writes a wine column for the paper
What do you mean "real wine expert " ?
I drank way more wine than a woman from Friedrichsburg could write about.
That makes me an expert, right ?
Post by: cassandra and sara's daddy on November 24, 2007, 05:12:16 AM
all the classes and ojt. women sommoliers are getting more common we had one at the mayflowerand if i remember right one took first a decade or 2 ago in the olympics
Post by: Fly320s on November 24, 2007, 06:06:05 AM
RSV 1999 No. 27218 Reserved. A special mix or stock from that year. Case or Lot number or Barrel.
Vineyard Reserve Marketing
Napa Valley Marketing, and true location of the vineyard or winery.
Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc As Laurent said, it's a blend of three grapes.
Vineyard Reserve Marketing
Napa Valley Marketing, and true location of the vineyard or winery.
Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc As Laurent said, it's a blend of three grapes.
Don't worry about enjoying it with the right meal. Just drink it with food you like.
Or, if you want to see how it pairs with different foods, drink it with a wide selection of fruits and cheeses that are at room temperature. The different foods really make a difference.
Post by: Balog on November 24, 2007, 06:25:29 AM
1) Go to Super Walmart and buy a 3 liter bottle for ~$7
2) Bring it home, unscrew the cap
3) Take drinking vessel (I preferred a large ceramic stein my brother got me for it's large capacity and handle) add a couple ice cubes
4) Pour wine, let it sit for a minute so the ice can work it's magic
5) Drink
Post by: Laurent du Var on November 24, 2007, 06:40:24 AM
Post by: Balog on November 24, 2007, 06:55:12 AM
Hey, when your drinking wine of that quality a little ice helps. And it still tasted better than beer.
Post by: The Viking on November 24, 2007, 07:01:54 AM
Post by: Laurent du Var on November 24, 2007, 07:39:27 AM
so people can see that you relate style, taste and income.
You can't even spread your pinkyfinger if you need to hold
a ceramic steinkrug....
Seriously, mon ami -
3 liters for 7 bucks that ought to get you blind in no time
B-i-b wine on a festival, viking ? I don't even want to ask what that is,
roll your own joints for crying out loud you'll have plenty of time later on to regret it...
Post by: 280plus on November 24, 2007, 08:00:14 AM
Post by: The Viking on November 24, 2007, 08:27:51 AM
But, but - urgh - you're supposed to drink real expensive wine out of a 75 ml bottle which you need to open with a full crome 75 $ corkscrew from Ikea
so people can see that you relate style, taste and income.
You can't even spread your pinkyfinger if you need to hold
a ceramic steinkrug....
Seriously, mon ami -
3 liters for 7 bucks that ought to get you blind in no time
B-i-b wine on a festival, viking ? I don't even want to ask what that is,
roll your own joints for crying out loud you'll have plenty of time later on to regret it...
Bag-in-box. I usually buy something cheap if I buy wine. I'm only getting drunk on it anyway. You'd be surprised as to how many people go to festivals here without a cork screw, screaming when they can't open that bottle... Fortunatly for them, I usually carry a Swiss army knife on me, if I can find it that is.
so people can see that you relate style, taste and income.
You can't even spread your pinkyfinger if you need to hold
a ceramic steinkrug....
Seriously, mon ami -
3 liters for 7 bucks that ought to get you blind in no time
B-i-b wine on a festival, viking ? I don't even want to ask what that is,
roll your own joints for crying out loud you'll have plenty of time later on to regret it...
Post by: RevDisk on November 24, 2007, 09:27:00 AM
RSV 1999 No. 27218
Vineyard Reserve
Napa Valley
Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
On the back label it says Robert Sinskey Vineyards, I guess thats what RSV is.
Any help with this is appreciated, thanks.
Vineyard Reserve
Napa Valley
Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - Cabernet Franc
On the back label it says Robert Sinskey Vineyards, I guess thats what RSV is.
Any help with this is appreciated, thanks.
Merlot - Red wine, often characterized by a medium body with hints of berry, plum, and currant. It tends to have a higher sugar and lower malic acid content.
Cabernet Sauvignon - Red wine, aromatic, good finish, higher in tannin which lacks richness (which is why it is blended with the merlot), much stronger flavor than merlot. Aroma is often characterized by cedar and spice. Often pepper and/or oak too. BTW, also protects ya from Alzheimer's disease.
Cabernet Franc - Bright pale red, almost exclusively grown for blending with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon.
I've noticed lately a lot more blended wine. This is a Bordeaux style blend. Also called Meritage here in the States. While not binding, wineries are not supposed to market more than 25,000 cases of any Meritage style wine per year. Nor are they to use more than 90% of any single component. A meritage is made up of two or more of the following: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Three wines is most common. I try to avoid any blended wine that is three wines in exactly equal portions, except for an Argentine Mendoza.
This is just a suggestion, but I recommend serving it chilled. Just toss it in the fridge for 24 hours before serving with a meal. I'd call it more of a table wine (ie, with food) rather than a sipping wine (ie, socially). If you're willing to be slightly more risky, put it in the freezer for 30 minutes prior to serving. The risk is the bottle cracking.
Post by: Laurent du Var on November 24, 2007, 09:51:10 AM
. This is a Bordeaux style blend.
This is just a suggestion, but I recommend serving it chilled.
[/quote]
Would you mind telling me why you'd put a Bordeaux style wine in the fridge ?
Post by: RevDisk on November 24, 2007, 09:57:15 AM
Quote
. This is a Bordeaux style blend.
This is just a suggestion, but I recommend serving it chilled.
This is just a suggestion, but I recommend serving it chilled.
Would you mind telling me why you'd put a Bordeaux style wine in the fridge ?
Because I have neither a cellar nor a proper wine cooler. Yes, I realize I'm a little strange, but I prefer my Bordeaux chilled. Not room temperature.
Moreso with light sweet white wines, I'm also experiment with flash freezing. Has produced some interesting results. Along with a couple of abominations.
Post by: grampster on November 24, 2007, 11:00:42 AM
We have the Leelenau Penninsula here in NW Michigan. Some fine wines are produced up here. The penninsula sticks out into Lake Michigan on the west and Grand Traverse Bay on the east. It is high ground and the temperatures are regulated by the lake, so we produce some very nice grapes along with other fruit.
Leelanau Cellars is the best of the bunch.
Post by: Bogie on November 24, 2007, 11:28:32 AM
Personally, I don't think I'll ever be a wine snob, but it's okay...
Post by: doczinn on November 24, 2007, 12:01:39 PM
I spend typically 4-7 dollars for a bottle. I get some decent stuff in that range.
Post by: Scout26 on November 24, 2007, 12:30:19 PM
). My suggestion with wine is to try it. If you like it, buy more. If you don't like it, buy a different wine.
It's a blended wine, so it's probably a little sweeter then a Merlot or Cabernet Sauvigon, and marketed for a mass audience rather then the "wine snobs".
Let us know what think of it. I enjoy trying new wines (anything with a cork). For inexpensive wines, Aldi has a some surprising good choices in both red and whites.
Post by: mattw on November 25, 2007, 10:30:05 PM
So would this be a good wine to put in my closet for about 5 or 10 years and then drink it? Or is there a certain window of time where this would be at its best?
As I mentioned earlier, I'm a big domestic beer fan, I don't drink alot of wine and saving this stuff for later would not be a problem. I am also thinking about saving it just because it says 1999 on the bottle and when I'm like 60 years old (2046) people might be impressed by it.
Post by: Laurent du Var on November 26, 2007, 03:08:36 AM
impressed with a fine bottle of wine than domestic beer.
Blended wine is good to drink but not a keeper.
It doesn't change one bit if you kept it for 40 years it would be just the cork probably getting bad and ruining the whole thing.
Post by: atomd on November 26, 2007, 03:50:40 AM
Quote
Blended wine is good to drink but not a keeper.
Huh? Since when? Does that mean people should just go and dump all those old bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild that they've been saving? hahahaha. Some if not the majority of the oldest and most treasured wines in existence are blends.Oh, and that wine is ready to drink right now. You could save it for a few years if you wanted to though. I would probably just open it the next time you have someone over who likes wine. If you decide to save it for a while, store it on it's side rather than straight up in the closet. It's not one of those wines you save for 25 years or anything like that. A lot of people think that wine only gets better with age but that's not usually the case. Only a very tiny percentage of wine is made to be saved for decades. Most of it is meant to be opened within a year or less (like box wines and inexpensive table wines). Then there's a good percentage that will initially get better to a certain point but then go downhill after reaching that point. I sold wine for a little over 6 years and I've heard tons of strange myths about it, especially the ones about that stupid 2 buck chuck stuff. I'd say 99% of what people think they know about 2 buck chuck is completely false. The whole wine scene is silly anyways and full of snobbery. I'm more of a beer guy myself.
Post by: Balog on November 26, 2007, 02:24:47 PM
Post by: Fly320s on November 26, 2007, 06:50:23 PM
You can find it in Trader Joe's all over California, and in other stores too.
Post by: Paddy on November 26, 2007, 08:21:20 PM
Post by: Zeke on November 26, 2007, 08:22:11 PM