Currently, My favorite wine for EDD (Every Day Drinking!) is the Beringer Chennin Blanc.
Not as fruity as a White Zin or other blush wine, But more quaffable than a Chardonnay.
When shopping for reds, I usually end up with Red Zin's. BTY, I HATE haveing to SAY RED zinfandel, as ALL zinfandel before the 1980's was RED. But I am sure that anyone reading this post would probably know that.
If money were no object, and political differences aside, my favorite, even over a Good Zin, is estate bottled Burgundies, both red and white.
Article on Burgundy, and estate bottled wines
Becky Wasserman, represents some of the best estate bottled Burgundies!
I really do not buy Burgandies anymore, occasionally I will find a nicely priced Macon Village, and OF COURSE, I do the Beaujolis Nouveau every year, the third Thursday of Novemember, the new Beaujolais gets released, but that's the "other" burgundy, not a Pinot Noir.
My feeling is that there is more consistancy in American wines, but some of the best wines I have ever had, have been french.
The most expensive bottle of wine I have ever owned, (it was given to me), I waited too long before opening it up, and it was bad.
It was a 1979 Compte Lafon Le Montrachet (it might have been a 80 or 82). I kept it in the referigerator but, I waited too long, and the wine was rancid! It was probably a 1000 bottle of wine, that was bad!
I have a bottle of
1982 Ch. Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac . This is the 1st wine that Robert Parker gave a perfect 100 score.I think I paid almost 100 dollars for this, back in 1985. It is selling for almost 1000 a bottle now! I am very tempted to sell it, but, still hoping for that perfect "cooking dinner at home, for my date, with a special woman", (hasnt happened yet!) I am keeping it.
To tell the truth, while some of the best wines I have had, were French, if I had to find a GREAT Pinot Noir tomorrow, I would go out and buy a Calera single Vineyard California Pinot Noir, over a "quality to be determined" french Burgundy. I would also consider some high end Oregon Pinot Noirs too!
Italian Reds used to be fun too, when they were cheaper to buy!