I'm totally new into wines... Just like to ask for some suggestions. Hope guys and girls here could give a helping hand.
I like to start with wines being bought from Supermarkets. Like Cold Storage etc.
I like it to be smooth. Had tried Jacobs Creek's Merlot. But is there any smoother kind without being bitter?
Really sorry if I have offended anyone by being so 'idiot' into wines. Planning a night with girl. So hope someone could help me show the 'right' impression with the right wine.
Go to a wine store and ask for help. You'll find folks who can help you find wines to suit your tastes and budget and many hold tastings or have samples open to try. You won't find that at a supermarket.
You know, nothing impresses a girl more than going to a restaurant with a guy who orders a sauvignon and then starts to talk to the sommelier about cat urine.
The smoothest variety of red is generally Pinot Noir, though there are some from Calif that are much bigger and bolder. If a smooth Merlot is what you want (and you are a wine newbie), Corbett Canyon is good for the price (well under $10). If you are looking to make a good impression, though, try a Pinot Noir. It has been the trendy red ever since the movie "Sideways" came out a few years ago.
Btw, is PinotNoir really the smoothest kind of red? I thought nothing could beat the fabric-conditioner character of merlot. But I am neither an expert nor any fond about smooth red wines.
Bitter is good in wine, or can be. Want to impress a girl? Get a bottle of 'Amarone'. Some supermarkets sell it, but it'll cost ya about $25 minimum. Don't drink too much of it though, it'll take the lead out of your pencil.
Damian, Bi!! is correct, in directing you to a wine shop, in lieu of a supermarket. The prices might be just a bit higher, but then you want the education/info, so that should be worth that little difference. Do not be put
-off, or hesitant to talk to the staff - that is just what they are there for.
I do not know the Jacob's Creek Merlot (think it's from OZ, right?), so it will be a "New World" style, as opposed to basically a European-style. For smooth with plenty of fruit, the New World wines are usually a better choice. Merlot is drinkable young and lacks quantities of some of the components, that seem "bitter." I'd look to California producers (also, OZ is a good place to search, though it appears that the JC Merlot might have been a bit too bitter for you) and try several Merlots and Syrahs (Shiraz in OZ). These are usually done in a fruit-forward style. I do not have a list of good, albeit inexpensive Merlots or Syrahs, but I'll bet that the wine shop staff can make some good recommendations.
As has been stated, Pinot Noir is a smooth red, and many of the Santa Barbara/Monterey/Santa Rita Hills/Central Coast PNs can be very smooth, but with some hefty fruit present. In the "less expensive" area there, I like the Acacia, but it comes in for about US$25 from Costco. Don't know where you are located, and that can be a big factor. That is why a wine shop is your best bet. You can talk about what you did, and did not like about the JC Merlot and give them a price range. Also, even if you do not like their suggested wine, you have more common ground, on which to build a relationship. Try to work with the same salesperson, so they can get to know your tastes, as they develop. Keep notes on each wine, so you can share your impressions on the next trip.
The Amarone, that UC recommended, is a wonderful wine and has a powerful fruit component. Now, I like mine with a bit of time in the bottle, so those are harder to find and a bit more expensive.
On the subject of price, just starting out with wine, I'd suggest not being too tempted to spend the $'s for a higher-priced wine, just yet. Until your tastes develop a bit more, you will probably not find good value. Keep exploring wine, however, and soon you will.
I think by "smooth" he means low or plush tannin structure. It's ususally the tannins that folks who are new to wines tend not to like. In inexpensive wines, especially mass produced merlot, the tannins are manipulated chemically to be soft and smooth which is why bulk wineries tend to look more like chemical factories than a winery.
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