The red wine thread...

KyleS1

That’s what I was thinking.

Hixs

Point of note for the thread. Generally once opened red only keeps for 3-4 days max (with cork put back in, and stored in a cool location away from direct sunlight/bright light). Putting it in the fridge adds another day or so.

The older the wine the quicker it turns. So if you pop a 20-30 year old Bordeaux, it won't keep long. If you're lucky a day, if you're unlucky it could turn in hours..

Thug

Yeah I agree about French wine (but tastes ok in a Spag Bol).
New World wines taste far better in my opinion.

Hixs

I've drunk maybe 2 bottles of non-French wine in 4 years. An Aussie red and a Portuguese red. Both medal winners but the Portuguese won it hands down for flavor and depth. The Aussie was a bit limp. Much like Pinot or a mid bodied Merlot, more suited to a light lunch. I like my red with plenty of punch. That's why I generally stick to certain regions of Bordeaux (Medoc/Saint Emillion) and Madirans.

IronGiant

I think you're spoilt   And that's meant as a compliment

Hixs

Yes I am

craig1912

Rioja for me

Hixs

I bought a bottle of rioja today...non french wine!!

Bought a few bottles of varying Bordeaux as well (a fav Medoc of mine in the mix), plus a couple of whites which included a nice Juracon for xmas day to go with some Foie Gras..tasty!

Vini

I'm not normally a red wine drinker, but was led by someone with a better taste for it than myself during a business trip to Stuttgart. We (he) ordered this overpriced gem (2010 Brunello di Montalcino Castelgiocondo, Frescobaldi - Tuscany, Italy) at just shy of €200 in the restaurant we were eating at, a fine Italian restaurant according to my local contact, and about €180 north of what I would normally pay for wine in a restaurant if it wasn't on business

Anyway, it was the best red wine I have ever tasted - non of the vinegar or badness I normally experience when trying red wine (after this experience I assume I've only tried cheap/bad wine, or I am still not mature in my drinking ways yet). 90% of it could be down to the situation/location, but either way the first thing I did was checked it out online to see how much "good wine" actually costs. We can buy it in the UK for around £40-50, so it went on my Birthday list.

My birthday was last week, and sure enough, I got presented with a bottle...

                                                                                                                                               

The problem I have now, is when I actually set about drinking it, to me, it's a special bottle, so the timing has to be right.

Anyway, TLDR; I want to know, what other wines I might like on the back of this. Preferably, cheaper, run of the mill types that are similar, that I could sink my teeth into/test drive.

Hixs

Interesting. Prob won't find that round here, but I'll keep any eye out. Hard to give recommendations due to my location (France) as I'll have access to wine you won't. Generally Bordeaux is the way to go for a fuller flavour.

Regions in Bordeaux worth note

St Emillion
Haute-Medoc (sometimes just referred to as Medoc)

Good fruity wine with great punch/depth.

Chateau Margaux is a superb producer of wine. Will deffo be north of 50 a bottle though, as it is here (so add various UK taxes on top).