happyhappy 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 OK having a bit of a party at the weekend and want to get some wine in - both red and white. I know almost nothing on the subject, but want to get some decent stuff in. Doesn't need to be expensive, and definitely not an el cheapo one - just a nice wine that some more experienced wine drinkers will appreciate. Oh yes I also need to be able to buy it here in Japan. So, can anyone help me out with some recommendations? Thanks! Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Most NZ Sav Blancs (white) are very drinkable. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 As an experienced wine drinker, these are my recommendations. They never fail to please. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Hows the blueberry wine O11? Much fruitier than a grape? Sweeter? Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I gave up foreign wines a couple of years ago, and when I drank them in the UK last month, what my family declared to be fruity tasted to me of 19th century mouse droppings, so my threshold for fruitiness in wine must be rather high. The blueberry is a little more fruity than the fruity grape wine I drink, but not oppressively so. I find it surprisingly pleasant, and it's very easy to swallow a whole bottle before you know what you've done. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 isn't it a bit like drinking Ribena?? Link to post Share on other sites
soubriquet 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 The red I drink is Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet. It is inexpensive, and I find it perfectly acceptable. You can get it at Jusco. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by Bushpig: isn't it a bit like drinking Ribena?? No. It's different fruit, and it isn't sickly sweet like Ribena. It wouldn't be to everybody's taste of course... Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by Ocean11: No. It's different fruit, and it isn't sickly sweet like Ribena. Hehe, obviously. I meant the sweetness factor. The only Japanese wines I have tried have been sickly sweet. I don't have a sweet tooth anyway, so I find them a bit hard to stomach. Link to post Share on other sites
misorano 1 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Happy: I'd follow Soub's advice and get a 2 litre box of Banrock Station. The Shiraz Cabernet is the best of their reds. They also have a few whites, but I don't drink it. Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Pinot is the king of reds and hard to ingnore if you can find a decent bottle of it. Link to post Share on other sites
Yuki's Passion 1 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by Bushpig: Quote: Originally posted by Ocean11: No. It's different fruit, and it isn't sickly sweet like Ribena. Hehe, obviously. I meant the sweetness factor. The only Japanese wines I have tried have been sickly sweet. I don't have a sweet tooth anyway, so I find them a bit hard to stomach. me too, thats why Im keen to find some that others actually recommend Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I've never had a japanese wine that didnt taste like ribena. I dont realy understand why it tastes like that. I wonder whether they use a different recipe to suit japanese palletes (in which case I think they should call it something else, not wine), or if the grapes are just really different here. Either way, it taste like utter crap to me, like can coffee Vs an espresso. Link to post Share on other sites
fb_steve 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Pepperjack Cab Sav is really nice Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by bobby12: I've never had a japanese wine that didnt taste like ribena. I dont realy understand why it tastes like that. I wonder whether they use a different recipe to suit japanese palletes (in which case I think they should call it something else, not wine), or if the grapes are just really different here. Either way, it taste like utter crap to me, like can coffee Vs an espresso. They use Japanese grapes that have longer intestines than western grapes Bobby12 Link to post Share on other sites
big-will 7 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 I heard the sun and soil is different too. Bound to be. So Japanese grapes will be different from any other grapes. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 yeah, I wonder what effect a red sun has on grapes?... Link to post Share on other sites
misorano 1 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Big Will: It's more fundamental than that. The DNA is unlike any other grape in the world. And according to Dr. Taro Yamada of the TUOURF, the closest DNA he has found to it is the South American tree sloth. But serioursly folks, I would have thought that the Japanese Wine industry is still in int's infancy. Takes a while to develop good wine. Link to post Share on other sites
bushpig 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 it certainly does. But they seem to produce hugely sweet stuff, as a style, not just as an attemmpt at something else. Link to post Share on other sites
powwwers 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by soubriquet: The red I drink is Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet. It is inexpensive, and I find it perfectly acceptable. You can get it at Jusco. same here soubs, i`ve been hookin into these of late too. if you don`t know much about wine then you`re probly not gonna know the difference between cask wine and some bottled wine. also depends on who you`re inviting to dinner and whether or not you`re out to impress Link to post Share on other sites
panhead_pete 27 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Quote: Originally posted by powwwers: Quote: Originally posted by soubriquet: The red I drink is Banrock Station Shiraz Cabernet. It is inexpensive, and I find it perfectly acceptable. You can get it at Jusco. same here soubs, i`ve been hookin into these of late too. if you don`t know much about wine then you`re probly not gonna know the difference between cask wine and some bottled wine. also depends on who you`re inviting to dinner and whether or not you`re out to impress You wouldnt be the first to use cask wine in a bottle is you were to do that. A quick refill in the kithcen and no would know. I have been at a large expensive type fund raiser and saw them doing exactly that Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted September 6, 2006 Share Posted September 6, 2006 Yep its all emporers new clothes. Link to post Share on other sites
slow 0 Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 I usually buy Est Est Est! Very cheap dry white wine, and nice with s.pellegrino while you are having a meal. Ocean, you should try "CAVE D\'OCCI" . This vineyard is in Niigata and they are making Chardonay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon... I've heard their wine is not like other Japanese wine but just like real wine. Link to post Share on other sites
Ocean11 0 Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 Thanks slow - one for the "Booze and Smokes" folder in my bookmarks. That's exactly what I've been hoping would appear on the scene at some stage. (Now they need to work on their marketing, or more specifically, pricing. I'll get some for special occasions - imperial births and the like). (I hate Est Est Est! by the way, apart from its pretty colour.) Link to post Share on other sites
Goemon 0 Posted September 7, 2006 Share Posted September 7, 2006 MD2020 Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts