No offense taken, as a born and raised wine snob I know exactly what you mean, but beg to differ with you on people in wine shops and tasting rooms being accessable. Having shopped for wine all over the country I can tell you that it is rare to find people that look down on beginners.

In Napa Valley you will find a lot of wineries that offer specific tours and tastings designed to attract more people to wine (usually their wine). There are also a lot of places that most standard issue tourists cannot get into, but for the most part these folks are interested in paying the super big bucks for the trophy wines anyway.

I will give that box wine a shot (if for no other reason than the cooking tip).

regards
Brentley

Ruston 2001 St Helena Napa Valley Cab... mmmmmmmm...

Went out and Bought Franzia White Zen. Very Good for box wine. $8.50 for 40 glasses. Got to admit it is worth checking out.

Some of the yummy ones I've had this year:

2001 Givry Burgundy (France)
2002 Yering station Pinot Noir (Australia)
2002 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir (Australia)
2003 Tyrell's Rufus Stone Shiraz (Australia)

Yeap I'm a big Pinot drinker - but not because of watching Sideways! (I like Merlot too!)

Suppose first wine from South Tyrol.

Had a bottle of 2001 Sauvignon Blanc Sanct Valentin from winery St.Michael Eppan in Alto Adige (South Tyrol). One of my favourites whites in the moment.

Discovered these little nice winery some years ago, since then I travel there every year at least one time.

They make a pretty good Cabernet Sauvignon, too.

Another fan of the wine cube (wine to the third?) from Target. In certain settings, it's simply not worth it to crack open the old bottle of pinot...

Since I am on the youngish side and live in California, it's all about the local varieties for me. I like Bogle from Monterey.

I do like having both bottles on the rack and a box of white wine in the fridge -- in general, they taste fine, last a long time, and you can't beat the price.

But I tried that Target boxed chardonnay a while ago and it seemed wierd to me. Had a flavor approaching sherry. It wasn't just one tasting and related to whatever I was eating at the time; the box lasted a week or two and the whole time I thought it tasted almost like sherry. Anyone else notice that?

I happen to live less than 15 minutes from Givry. I'd choose it over almost any Bordeaux and I can get it young for �5-6 per bottle at the Cave Cooperative. Ditto for the Montagny Premier Cru. Bordeaux is waaaayyyy overpriced, all due to marketing.

But my current favorite is 1999 Chateau de Rully. ^

Agree Bogle a really solid choice and a name people should memorize - great prices on red varietals at many CA supermarkets

Cracked another Napa reserve - Chappellet Pritchard Hill Estate '02 ("PHEV") - OMG it is good to drink now and will cellar for a decade or more...

In general most box wines sold in the US are dreadful but the red are twice as good as the white. Other markets outside of the US provide much higher quality wine in boxes as they don't view it as cannibalizing the bottle market. The same with screw-top; simply not accepted in the US for quality wines. A shame, really.

Bogle is outstanding price/performance and makes an excellent riesling in the California style. As good or better than Jekel was in their former glory.

Has anyone here tried the Domaine Serene Evanstad Reserve Pinot Noir 2002, and if so, what did you think? I've had the 2001 a few times (was lucky enough to share a bottle with a few FTers over dinner last month) and loved it basically because it is a quite elegant wine. In a wine store I was told "if you like the 2001 you'll love the 2002 because it's bigger and fruitier", which kind of sounds like what I don't want. Maybe I'm reading too much into big and fruity, though.

And has anyone ever tried their Chardonnays? As someone who's pretty Chardonnay-phobic, the price is a little off-putting to me, but they may be worth a try. I probably should get over my fear, as it's not too different from saying things like "all screwcap is bad".

David Bruce Winery Pinot Noir (2002)
Rombauer Fiddletown Zinfandel (not sure you can find in restaurants)

Enjoyed the Plumpjack chard with screwtop (they sell it with either screwtop or cork)

I just can't comment on any thread that was opened by someone even suggesting a merlot.

PS. I was hating on Merlot for a long time before Sideways popularized it.

Hmm wines I have enjoyed this year.

Quintessa 1994-2002 vertical at a special event that they had at Harvest.
Hall Sancrashe Vineyards 1999-2002 vertical at a vineyard tasting
1979 Chateau Marguax at my birthday.
2002 Amuse Buche (very good wine, mostly Merlot)

These are some that come to mind. I have a had some others that I really like.

Franciscan Magnificat 2001 (good blend)
Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc Viongier (Like drinking a sorbet)

I would have to second the Bogle recommendation as well as it is great wine.

brentley