I have been trying to find a decent inexpensive replacement for a Old Vine Zinfandel I have bought for a decade. The winery shut down. Some research suggested other Old Vine Zin (or course) but also Malbec and Merlot. Visiting my regular local meat/deli/liquor store (weird combination, I know), I bought 3 Zinfandels, a Malbec, and a Merlot.
The first thing I noticed was that the price had nothing to do with how much or little I enjoyed the wines. The 2 most familiar and drinkable were 1.5 L bottles and the cheapest. And neither was a Zin! Of the 2 most expensive Zins, 1 tasted "acidic" and the other "dusty". I don't actually know the "wine terms" for that, but that was my impression.
One Zin was "OK", but at $17 for a 750 bottle, I wasn't very impressed. Why is it that I liked the cheap Zin but not "better ones? LOL! The Frontera Malbec (Argentina) at $10 for 1.5L was closest to the Twisted Zin I can't get anymore. The Mondavi (Private Selection) Merlot 1.5L at $17 was better.
I'm obviously not a wine-snob. I like what I like. And the foods I cook probably have a lot to do with the wines I like. So what wine I drink with dinner has a lot to do with my choice. I mean, I cook a lot of different foods, but I do tend to use the same spices and such. Regardless of whether I cook chicken, pork, shrimp, or beef, there is garlic, oregano, and sometime ginger involved.
So, after tasting a variety of other Zins, some Merlot, and some Malbec, I'm probably going with the Malbec for regular dinner and Merlot on occasion. The local meat store will special order as many cases of either as I want. It is easier just to order 6 or so at a time (so that I don't have to bother them to do it often).
I am sure you were all just waiting anxiously to see what I decided... LOL!
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BTW, is there a difficulty commenting on this blog? I get lots of visitors but no comments lately. Has something gone wrong with my blog settings? Or am I just boring everyone to death?
cavebear2118@verizon.net
