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Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
 | | 02/26/2003 3:32 PM |
| I am new to wine. I started this hobby/obsession a little more than a year ago thanks to the urging of my father-in-law. Since then I have navigated my way through a wide assortment of wines, red, white & pink (rose) mainly in the $15 and under price range. Frankly, with 3 kids and a never ending stack of bills, this is the budget I am most comfortable in. I think there are many great wines in my price range and exploring these options could take a long, pleasant time.
However, as advised on this and the WS boards, newbies like myself are directed to read up and gain exposure to the vast array of wines, wine culture, and winemakers. I have tried, but the more posts I read here and elsewhere, the mosre I find myself way behind the learning curve, particular on the joys of wines that have been properly cellared and aged to their optimal peak.
So, what I need to ask is HOW can some one like me gain exposure to the higher end/well-aged wines? I go to tastings and sample bottles that I can't afford. But those bottles, I am told, are not be enjoyed now, but need to be set aside for say 10+ years. How do I get to taste these? How can I get the necessary exposure to the older, finer, more sophisticated wines that so many of you know about from personal experience? How do I get to move from QPR drinker to wine drinker- or do I not move up at all?
Thanks in advance....
BKG | | | |
| Eric White
San Ramon, CA
Advanced Sommelier
Posts:9124
| | 02/26/2003 3:36 PM |
| Feb15 -
IMO, your best course of action is to find a local tasting group to join. This will give you great exposure to a wide range of wines, as well as the opportunity to taste with, and learn from, others. Also try to attend as many organized tasting as you can, such as those sponsered by wine shops and trade organizations. | | | |
| Budman
Master of Wine
Posts:11833
| | 02/26/2003 3:42 PM |
| Feb15,
Aws Eric said, a tasting group may be the way to go.
If you're from the D.C. area, you may want to contact this forum's
favorite klingon and mega-poster, the one and only.... TJ! 
He's from around your area, and may have some good suggestions for you. | | | |
| Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10573
| | 02/26/2003 4:04 PM |
| Feb15 - Eric and budman have good suggestions. I've only been collecting wine for about three years now. I moved very rapidly up the curve once I realized how much fun it is. I became a regular at tastings so I could educate my palate and drink wines that now you can't buy easily.
Here is something I've noticed about this wine board that might help. When you see a wine in the Tasting Notes or the Commerce section that receives lots of page "views" and replies it will be a wine that you might want to search out. Some that come to mind are the Numanthia, the Melville Carrie's Pinot, the wines from Marquis Philips in Australia. These are the wines that are many times unreviewed by the pros so you can still find them in stores. By the time the reviews come out these are long, long gone. JonesWine1's reviews in his newsletter are another good source.
Good luck and find you some wino friends! They will be happy to help the cause. | | | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 02/26/2003 4:05 PM |
| "What is it you require?"
Just kidding, WELCOME!
I would suggest you get involved with some of the local wine-os. We're having our first area get together March 29th. There MIGHT still be room for you to join the dinner we're planning at Equinox. Some of the best stuff I have ever drunk is from when I attend offlines with other wine-os. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| calcabs
Grape Fermenter
Posts:453
| | 02/26/2003 4:07 PM |
| Feb 15 - Don't be so hard on your self, we are not all drinkin 10+ year old wines on a regular basis and as everyone will tell you that great thing about wine is you could never learn everythin. In fact I personaly have only ever had 4 bottles of wine that have fit this category and one was corked and another not very good. I have however enjoyed several bottles from 96 and 97 that I were on the higher end of my price point at them after 1-3 years of cellaring. I have just recently begun to appreciate the advantages of even short term cellaring and decanting.
I would like to make a couple of suggestions (1) as previously suggested find or create a tasting group so you can expand the quantity of different wines you are exposed to. (2) When you are wine shopping occasionaly splurge on 1 or 2 bottles that are above your normal price point for you drinking (for me as I started with mostly Sauvignon Blancs and Chardonnays it was the purchase of Cloudy Bay SB, and Chalk Hill and Chalone Chardonnay. These occasional splurges showed me some of what was available for more money but also showed me that you don't necessarily get twic the pleasure from a wine that costs twice as much. (3) Find a local restaraunt or wine bar with an extensive by the glass selection. (4) Explore new wines and regions.
And most importantly, have fun and spend what you are comfortable spending there are good wines out there at all price points and you will never drink them all. | | | |
| love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12349
| | 02/26/2003 4:14 PM |
| Also, between the QPR-bottles & the higher-end bottles, there is a middle range ($20-$40.00 about). There are a lot of Wines in this range that do not have to cellared for 10+ years. They can be enjoyed as soon as purchased. And, they are very good Wines.
To list a few: Whitehall Lane, Estancia, Pezzi King, Penfolds 407, Robert Craig, & many others. If you post a request, I am sure people can suggest many more. Try some of those & see how you like it & develop a taste.
I know many Wine-drinkers that Never buy Wines above the $40.00 range. And, they enjoy their Wines & hobby/obsession as much as we do. No one says that all Wine-drinkers have to buy/drink the Harlans & Eagles of the world. It’s fine.
Then, if & when that you feel comfortable to buy some of the more expensive Wines ($50.00 & up), you can buy a few for that special occasion, store it for a few years & enjoy them.
I guess what I am saying is that don’t feel that you have to buy those “expensive” bottles just to be considered a Wine-collector or some kind of a Wine-guru. It’s just labels anyway. You enjoy your Wines to what you think is appropriate. That’s what it is all about.
Another thing (was mentioned erlier, I think) is that we (99% of us) do NOT drink 10+ year Wines & those “expensive” bottles on a daily or even weekly basis. No way. 70% of what I drink is in the $10.00-$25.00 range.
Tastings in your area (with fellow Site-members, for example) or sometimes stores put on Tastings is a very good idea (like others suggested). Hey, I think that TJ is planning 1 @ the moment in your area (check VinoCellar Wine Events-section). There you will get to drink/enjoy/experience some of the elite (top level) Wines. | | | |
| TCK
Barrel Filler
Posts:1279
| | 02/26/2003 4:57 PM |
| A cellar plan and budget would assist you a great deal.
1)Decide on a budget - what do you feel comfortable spending on wine for 1 year.
2)Come up with a Buying Strategy that will assist you in achieving your goal's in wine. This plan should allow you to purchase wines through out the pricing range of variouse wines. For instance you could plan on drinking two bottles per week that were priced in the $15 range. You could say that once per month you would kick it up for a bottle in the $40 range. Quarterly you could buy something in the $75 range to drink. That would work out to a budget of around $2,340.
3) Pay attention to what you read, do a little research, and make educated purchase. Most of all take notes and tailor you purchases to wines that you like.
Finnally, Have fun and share your hobby!
TCK | | | |
| Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 02/26/2003 5:11 PM |
| Thank you to everyone who replied so quickly to my post. I will try all of your suggestions, including TJ's off-line.
BKG | | | |
| dinwiddie
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2155
| | 02/26/2003 6:54 PM |
| Since you live in DC you can try to go to some of the tastings that are sponsored by the various wine shops. The Wine Specialist (2115 M St, about 4 blocks from the Dupont Cir. Metro) often has tastings and classes. Schneiders (near Union Station) often has tastings and a very knowledgable and helpful staff. Finewine in VA and MD has regular tastings. McArthurs has tastings and helpful staff. Calvert-Woodley also has tastings. The Sommelier Wine & Food Society at 703-685-7970 or e-mail winehead@earthlink.net has classes and tastings too.
BTW, I too am fairly new to the obsession (3 or 4 years)and I have found that there are literally hundreds of wines in the $20-40 range that are just wonderful. In fact, I have never spent more than $60 for a bottle of wine retail and manage to have lots of 90+ point wines. Get to know the people in the wine shops, they usually love to talk wine, and have fun.
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| Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 02/27/2003 8:27 PM |
| TJ-
Tried to send you a private message but the email was returned by the site. Oh well. Thanks for the invite to the off-line.
BKG | | | |
| Pool Boy
Laurl, MD (DC suburb)
Master of Wine
Posts:13660
| | 02/27/2003 11:00 PM |
| | I got it, fear not. | |
www.roguefood.com -- www.cellartracker.com | |
| GATC
Barrel Sampler
Posts:2420
| | 02/28/2003 1:46 AM |
| | The group idea is always a good one. Like any hobby, it is best to go slow - minimize the mistakes that you will make as you go up the learning curve. Don't assume that advanced wine drinkers drink mainly expensive wines or aged wines. Keep reading the posts and keep asking questions. All advanced wine drinkers started in the same place and made mistakes. Hopefully, we can help you avoid some of these. | | | |
| love_cab_chard
Master of Wine
Posts:12349
| | 02/28/2003 2:22 AM |
| | The group-tastings is 1 of the best ways to develop a palate or preference. It sure did that for me. It played a big role (in the last year or so) in developing my current "taste" & the reason that I am Selling some of my older Wines to replace with some "others"... | | | |
| Brian
Grape Destemmer
Posts:76
| | 02/28/2003 5:21 AM |
| LCC, The group idea certainly seems like the best way, particularly if the finer wines are shared. I have to admit that one of my favorite aspects of my wine hobby is when I can share a nice bottle with family or friends. Hopefully the off-line that TJ has planned will work out for us.
GATC, thanks for the support. Logically I recognize that everyone has to start somewhere. I've read enough posts to know that few wine drinkers drink the high end stuff every night. My concern remains in cultivating my palate and in being able to appreciate the value of a finer wine. I'm not as concerned about making mistakes, afterall, it is my palate and whose to say what good or bad is. It's being able to know what the rest of the wine world regards as good, bad, or otherwise that interests me.
Everyone else, thanks. Keep the suggestions coming. We're getting more snow in DC at the moment, which means a long wine-filled weekend. Where do I begin?
BKG | | | |
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