Best place to buy fine wines in LR.

VtSteve · 11-19-2009, 08:16 PM

I'm very partial to Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Price is variable, here it's $16 or $17 a bottle, and worth every last penny. It's a very smooth and versatile Chardonnay, and one of the best I've ever had. Certainly better than many costing twice as much.

My favorite Every day sort of wine is a Blackstone Merlot, which I think is about the most versatile red going, and even with turkey or chicken. Very smooth, not a harsh wine at all. Price is bonkers, going from $7.99 on sale to $11.99, but still a great wine.

For the prices and above, these are my favs. We have wine with just about every dinner, so price does count a bit.

KonaChick · 11-20-2009, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VtSteve

I'm very partial to Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Price is variable, here it's $16 or $17 a bottle, and worth every last penny. It's a very smooth and versatile Chardonnay, and one of the best I've ever had. Certainly better than many costing twice as much.

My favorite Every day sort of wine is a Blackstone Merlot, which I think is about the most versatile red going, and even with turkey or chicken. Very smooth, not a harsh wine at all. Price is bonkers, going from $7.99 on sale to $11.99, but still a great wine.

For the prices and above, these are my favs. We have wine with just about every dinner, so price does count a bit.

I second that, Frei Brothers Chardonnay is indeed a "good" wine at a reasonable price and it's available at Shaw's!!

SAMIAM · 11-20-2009, 09:30 PM

In a blind tasting.......Barefoot Chardonney will stand up to more pricey wines.......8 to 9 bucks.......try it,you'll like it.

VtSteve · 11-20-2009, 11:05 PM

Barefoot's not bad Sam, maybe a good pick versus Gallo Sonoma or the CK Mondavi. I used to like the sweeter Chards, now I prefer more smooth and deep. Barefoot does vary quite a bit, and with no vintage, could be hit or miss. But certainly not bad for the price.

And to think when I started to buy wine by the case, I purchased Merseault for around $4 to $5 a bottle. Now that's my favorite.

But a funny thing happened when the US got used to high tariffs.

Argie's Wife · 11-21-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

In a blind tasting.......Barefoot Chardonney will stand up to more pricey wines.......8 to 9 bucks.......try it,you'll like it.

I second that - Barefoot wines are great! Consider Ecco Domani wines too - you can get very good wine for not a whole lotta money!

Lakesrider · 11-21-2009, 04:44 PM

Ok I picked up some Barefoot yesterday. I also got some Absolute, Bacardi, Absolute 100, Baily's, Cutty, and Jack Daniels. So the relatives should be good an liqueur'd up this Thanksgiving....

Thanks for all the advise.

trfour · 11-21-2009, 07:53 PM

The wine cellar, in an old Bank Vault, at Fratello's Italian Grille on Union Ave. in Laconia is a treasure!... OH, and if you should get hungry, the food and service is superb as well!

BGB2 · 11-22-2009, 10:38 AM

I've also had good luck with Barefoot wines, although the name is somewhat disconcerting. It's problably because I knew someone who had a job stomping grapes that got fired sitting down on the job.

Zeke · 11-22-2009, 11:35 AM

My experience has been that the some regions are better for given wines, and types of wine. That being said, the Russian River region of Sonoma does produce a good Chardonnay. I would recommend Ferrari Carano (sp?) as a very nice Chardonnay. A nice specialty store in Concord is Butters. They have a rotating selection of nice, and not so easy to find wines. And many are priced very reasonably. They also have a broad selection of imported cheeses that are just too tempting. Enjoy

11-21-2009, 07:53 PM	#7
trfour Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: The Lakes, Central NH. and Dallas/Fort Worth TX. Posts: 3,694 Blog Entries: 3 Thanks: 3,067 Thanked 472 Times in 236 Posts	A Must Visit For Fine Wine Lovers... The wine cellar, in an old Bank Vault, at Fratello's Italian Grille on Union Ave. in Laconia is a treasure!... OH, and if you should get hungry, the food and service is superb as well! __________________ *trfour* Always Remember, The Best Safety Device In The Boat, or on a PWC Snowmobile etc., Is YOU! Safe sledding tips and much more; http://www.snowmobile.org/snowmobiling-safety.html

11-22-2009, 10:38 AM	#8
BGB2 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 28 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Barefoot Wines I've also had good luck with Barefoot wines, although the name is somewhat disconcerting. It's problably because I knew someone who had a job stomping grapes that got fired sitting down on the job.

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11-19-2009, 08:16 PM	#1
VtSteve Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,320 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 230 Thanked 361 Times in 169 Posts	I'm very partial to Frei Brothers Russian River Valley Chardonnay. Price is variable, here it's $16 or $17 a bottle, and worth every last penny. It's a very smooth and versatile Chardonnay, and one of the best I've ever had. Certainly better than many costing twice as much. My favorite Every day sort of wine is a Blackstone Merlot, which I think is about the most versatile red going, and even with turkey or chicken. Very smooth, not a harsh wine at all. Price is bonkers, going from $7.99 on sale to $11.99, but still a great wine. For the prices and above, these are my favs. We have wine with just about every dinner, so price does count a bit.

11-20-2009, 09:30 PM	#3
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,937 Thanks: 349 Thanked 1,708 Times in 602 Posts	In a blind tasting.......Barefoot Chardonney will stand up to more pricey wines.......8 to 9 bucks.......try it,you'll like it.

11-20-2009, 11:05 PM	#4
VtSteve Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,320 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 230 Thanked 361 Times in 169 Posts	Barefoot's not bad Sam, maybe a good pick versus Gallo Sonoma or the CK Mondavi. I used to like the sweeter Chards, now I prefer more smooth and deep. Barefoot does vary quite a bit, and with no vintage, could be hit or miss. But certainly not bad for the price. And to think when I started to buy wine by the case, I purchased Merseault for around $4 to $5 a bottle. Now that's my favorite. But a funny thing happened when the US got used to high tariffs.

11-21-2009, 04:44 PM	#6
Lakesrider Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 2,129 Thanks: 380 Thanked 1,016 Times in 345 Posts	Ok I picked up some Barefoot yesterday. I also got some Absolute, Bacardi, Absolute 100, Baily's, Cutty, and Jack Daniels. So the relatives should be good an liqueur'd up this Thanksgiving.... Thanks for all the advise.

11-22-2009, 11:35 AM	#9
Zeke Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Giford Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts	My experience has been that the some regions are better for given wines, and types of wine. That being said, the Russian River region of Sonoma does produce a good Chardonnay. I would recommend Ferrari Carano (sp?) as a very nice Chardonnay. A nice specialty store in Concord is Butters. They have a rotating selection of nice, and not so easy to find wines. And many are priced very reasonably. They also have a broad selection of imported cheeses that are just too tempting. Enjoy