Which type of wine to?

[Wine2nite]

Hello
I just wanted to know which type of wine could I drink when I just want to set down and relax and have a couple of glasses of wine? Here are the types of wines I am asking about: Cabernet Sauvignan or PinotNoir
or Merlot or Zinfandel orSauvignan Blanc or Chardonnay??? Please let me know
thank you

[Innkeeper]

All the above. Although most merlots and oaky chardonnays are not my favorites. Others I like are California Barberas and Italian Ripassos. Very nice quaffers.

[winoweenie]

Some of the Zins like the Cline Calif and Bogle give lots of grape for the buck. WW

[Wine2nite]

Thank you for the helpful info. I just didn't want to buy one of the wines I was asking about and not waste my money. I am just wanting to drink a couple of glasses of wine and relax and enjoy it. So you think that the merlots and chardonnay's have a strong oaky taste? I think thats the one taste I just don't like at all or at least not a real strong taste of oak,which one has the strongest taste of Oak?

[This message has been edited by Wine2nite (edited 11-17-2002).]

[Innkeeper]

Reds can absorb more wood than whites, so chardonnay shows it most prominently. You can get chardonnay without oak. The Maconnais from Southern Burgundy are very nice and inexpensive. Look for Macon Villages and Macon Lugny. There are also "unwooded" or "unoaked" chardonnays from Australia and New Zealand. There are a few American Chardonnays made in stainless steel only, but they are hard to find.

[toddabod]

I have just discovered the wines from the South Rhone region of France. The Cotes Du Rhone Villages's are easy to drink and not very expensive.