Drinkable Boxed Wine At Rimping?

[NaiGreg]

Before I make the trip, just want to hear suggestions from those Rimping patrons who enjoy a drinkable cabernet or merlot. Money is not a big issue, but the quality and long shelf life of a boxed wine is.

(Its been about 5 years since I sampled anything around there) Thanks in advance for any good suggestions.

[iainiain101]

If money is not such a problem I would suggest trying Wine Connections. There is a branch next to Nim City Rimping and you can usually try a glass/bottle outside in pleasant surroundings before committing to more.

As is usual, I have to state that I have no financial interest in the aforementioned business! I believe it is owned by a Frenchman, and I must say he gets some excellent wines. The trick is to go in and think of it as buying wine in a restaurant in the West. The prices then seem very reasonable if you treat it as a wine bar with seatting and food available.

Iain

[jackr]

Rimping does 3l boxes of Corbett Canyon (merlot from Cali) for 795 baht. Not three bad at all and certainly one-up from that dodgy Mont Clair stuff.

[anonymouse]

Rimping does 3l boxes of Corbett Canyon (merlot from Cali) for 795 baht. Not three bad at all and certainly one-up from that dodgy Mont Clair stuff.

I've got used to the dodgy Mont Clair stuff, along with the mediocre beer and cheap Hong Thong, my standards are slipping by the day

[Joop50]

Buy a bottled wine. Boxes have a plastic coating So why drink water with a wine taste with a plastic finish?

[elektrified]

The only decent boxed wine I've had here is one from Chile. I was told it was available at Makro but have not seen it at Super Highway. Perhaps Hang Dong stocks it. I believe it was a Merlot and it was very nice.

[TheScribe]

Really its a bagatelle. Try a box or a bottle, seems pretty nice, buy another and maybe its OK too. Next time, the brand can't be found. Or even worse, it can be found but this time the box or bottle look the same but what's in it really isn't. More fool you (or me).

I like wine and I've travelled a lot. I've been cheated on wine in the UK, US, France (often!) Switzerland, Germany, Australia and, yes even Thailand. I think the level of deception and swindling is even worse than the used car biz. And its global.

There's no solution - unless you're very wealthy and can buy your own vineyard and winery.

Sorry about that.

[Mapguy]

Chacun a son gout gout! (Give or take an accent mark!)

[heybruce]

Rimping does 3l boxes of Corbett Canyon (merlot from Cali) for 795 baht. Not three bad at all and certainly one-up from that dodgy Mont Clair stuff.

Corbett Canyon winery is on the central coast of California, but I think their boxed wine comes from imported grapes, probably Chile. That's not necessarily a bad thing, Chile produces some excellent wines, and I think most of the drinkable boxed wines in Chiang Mai come from Chile.

Choosing a boxed wine that you like is a matter of trial and error, and expect a lot of errors. I agree with jackr's opinion of Mont Clair, that stuff is cheap but foul.

[Mickeem]

Wine,, Cheese yes another way for the Thais to soak the foreigner.. I have just come back from a visit to Phnom Phen where these 'essentials' are half the price

Or try Tackelik 5 lt for 450B

[cloudhopper]

Rimping does 3l boxes of Corbett Canyon (merlot from Cali) for 795 baht. Not three bad at all and certainly one-up from that dodgy Mont Clair stuff.

Corbett Canyon winery is on the central coast of California, but I think their boxed wine comes from imported grapes, probably Chile. That's not necessarily a bad thing, Chile produces some excellent wines, and I think most of the drinkable boxed wines in Chiang Mai come from Chile.

Choosing a boxed wine that you like is a matter of trial and error, and expect a lot of errors. I agree with jackr's opinion of Mont Clair, that stuff is cheap but foul.

I agree the Corbett Canyon is a very drinkable box Merlot. But I'm a Philistine who also drinks Montclair when I run out and that's all there is in Pai.

[Ticketmaster]

Buy a bottled wine. Boxes have a plastic coating So why drink water with a wine taste with a plastic finish?

Gimme a break. I could put you in a blind taste test with two cheap bottles (different) on the one hand and two boxes (different) on the other, using six glasses to confuse things, and you could not pick out the boxes.

If you disagree, lets get together and wager 50,000 baht. We can be witnessed by another member who can hold the money. I'm not joking. It will be like taking candy from a baby . . . Please accept the wager. I'll come you your town.

[jackr]

^^ I agree, complete codswallop, may be a different taste (largely due to snobbery) but got nowt to do with plastic... plus the box will be good for several weeks and you have an extra pillow for that overnighter to Bkk.

[xylophone]

I've posted a few items on "The wine thread" here as regards box wine and still believe the Chilean Cab/Merlot Bodegas Centenarius represents a good bet. Yes, better than Mont Clair which used to be a regular tipple.

Agree that the Wine Connection has a good selection of wines and have recommended one in particular on the aforementioned thread.

[vagabond48]

I have thought about buying the boxed red wine but also wondered like the OP and his unanswered question that after being opened, how long does box wine retain its flavor before either losing it or spoiling.

Do you need to refrigerate it after it is opened?

Yes, I know I can probable make wine vinegar if it spoils.

[anonymouse]

I have thought about buying the boxed red wine but also wondered like the OP and his unanswered question that after being opened, how long does box wine retain its flavor before either losing it or spoiling.

Do you need to refrigerate it after it is opened?

Yes, I know I can probable make wine vinegar if it spoils.

If I remember correctly they have a shelf life of around 6 weeks outside of the fridge, the missus and I usually polish a 5L box off in around three weeks so I can't be sure.

[vagabond48]

I have thought about buying the boxed red wine but also wondered like the OP and his unanswered question that after being opened, how long does box wine retain its flavor before either losing it or spoiling.

Do you need to refrigerate it after it is opened?

Yes, I know I can probable make wine vinegar if it spoils.

If I remember correctly they have a shelf life of around 6 weeks outside of the fridge, the missus and I usually polish a 5L box off in around three weeks so I can't be sure.

Just checking, is that written on the box that it has an "opened" shelf life of 6 weeks?

[xylophone]

I have thought about buying the boxed red wine but also wondered like the OP and his unanswered question that after being opened, how long does box wine retain its flavor before either losing it or spoiling.

Do you need to refrigerate it after it is opened?

Yes, I know I can probable make wine vinegar if it spoils.

If I remember correctly they have a shelf life of around 6 weeks outside of the fridge, the missus and I usually polish a 5L box off in around three weeks so I can't be sure.

Yes around 6 weeks after opening is right although I do keep mine in a wine cooler AND it is consumed within 6 weeks!!

[meadish_sweetball]

I think the Francia boxes at Rimping are decent. Haven't really shopped around much though.

[jbrain]

I have thought about buying the boxed red wine but also wondered like the OP and his unanswered question that after being opened, how long does box wine retain its flavor before either losing it or spoiling.

Do you need to refrigerate it after it is opened?

Yes, I know I can probable make wine vinegar if it spoils.

If I remember correctly they have a shelf life of around 6 weeks outside of the fridge, the missus and I usually polish a 5L box off in around three weeks so I can't be sure.

Just checking, is that written on the box that it has an "opened" shelf life of 6 weeks?

I have seen it written on certain boxes, however probably it will not be on all of them.

The key provision is that no oxygen is allowed to enter the bag, so it has no chance to degrade or lose flavor.

I know there are different systems on the market, some where air is sucked into the bag to allow the wine to exit.These you will not be able to keep for 6 weeks.

[Pikey]

I have thought about buying the boxed red wine but also wondered like the OP and his unanswered question that after being opened, how long does box wine retain its flavor before either losing it or spoiling.

Do you need to refrigerate it after it is opened?

Yes, I know I can probable make wine vinegar if it spoils.

If I remember correctly they have a shelf life of around 6 weeks outside of the fridge, the missus and I usually polish a 5L box off in around three weeks so I can't be sure.

Three weeks? Hells Bells, I picked up 5L of "Cantine Ronco Baccaccia Rosso" Italian wine on Tuesday whilst in Tachilek and I think there's about a litre left. Mind you, woke up on the sofa at stupid o'clock the past two nights.....

Incidentally, if you use the duty free shop on the bridge there and ask them to discount, they normally will. The box I bought was tagged at 590 baht and they let me have it for 500 so definitely worth an shot.

Cheers,

Pikey.

[bluweyze]

I have thought about buying the boxed red wine but also wondered like the OP and his unanswered question that after being opened, how long does box wine retain its flavor before either losing it or spoiling.

Do you need to refrigerate it after it is opened?

Yes, I know I can probable make wine vinegar if it spoils.

Wine can spoil with temperature fluctuation be it in bottles or boxes. That is why most restaurants in Thailand store their wine in a refrigerator ( and why wine cellars exist) although wine refrigerators are set around 16-18 degrees. The temperature is not too important the consistency of the temperature is. I recommend keeping a boxed wine refrigerated.

[NaiGreg]

The verdict is in on the Corbett Canyon (Chilean merlot) for 795 baht - - Very drinkable, surprisingly mellow. The box states that it will stay for 6 weeks.

I would like to try the Bota Box premium wine which is about twice the price.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[beb]

Buy a bottled wine. Boxes have a plastic coating So why drink water with a wine taste with a plastic finish?

Gimme a break. I could put you in a blind taste test with two cheap bottles (different) on the one hand and two boxes (different) on the other, using six glasses to confuse things, and you could not pick out the boxes.

If you disagree, lets get together and wager 50,000 baht. We can be witnessed by another member who can hold the money. I'm not joking. It will be like taking candy from a baby . . . Please accept the wager. I'll come you your town.

Please let us know when/where this bet takes place. I just want to see 2 guys each lay 50,000 baht down over a wine dispute.

[beb]

Buy a bottled wine. Boxes have a plastic coating So why drink water with a wine taste with a plastic finish?

I'm not a wine expert. That's why I depend on wine experts to tell me things like this: evidently wine in a box is actually a better container than a bottle. The valve prevents exposure to oxygen, which is a culprit in a lot of wines going bad. But like screw tops and plastic corks, boxed wine suffers from an image problem. The only reason that there isn't better boxed wine is because the better wines worry about their image if they put their wine in boxes.

In fact, this reminds me of another fun fact I heard from a wine expert. The practice of carefully examining the cork is usually for naught and reveals the examiner to be an amateur.

I'll pass on more expert wine facts as they become available.

[jaideeguy]

In another life and on another continent, I used to be a bit of a wine snob and NEVER drank wine from a box, but the insane duties and taxes here have forced me to drop my standards with wine a notch or 2 to the plastic box wines here.

Last week, as a break from Mont Claire [my main swill], I found a decent Australian box wine called Cedar Creek, Shiraz Cabernet that is a few steps above MC @ less than 1,000thb for 4.5 liters at Tesco. A little more than MC, but so much fuller bodied and better than most cheap bottle wines. Grown and boxed in South Eastern Australia.

[eyecatcher]

..down another notch:

My women are like my wine: I can only afford the really cheap ones that have the big, ugly boxes that leak.

[Joop50]

..down another notch:

My women are like my wine: I can only afford the really cheap ones that have the big, ugly boxes that leak.

I heard the same from an expert in women leaking boxes.

Anyway, the most recent research I've found about storage wine in boxes you can find here: http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10435

[DavidMavec]

This is really good, Not your ordinary boxed wine.

[xylophone]

Buy a bottled wine. Boxes have a plastic coating So why drink water with a wine taste with a plastic finish?

I'm not a wine expert. That's why I depend on wine experts to tell me things like this: evidently wine in a box is actually a better container than a bottle. The valve prevents exposure to oxygen, which is a culprit in a lot of wines going bad. But like screw tops and plastic corks, boxed wine suffers from an image problem. The only reason that there isn't better boxed wine is because the better wines worry about their image if they put their wine in boxes.

In fact, this reminds me of another fun fact I heard from a wine expert. The practice of carefully examining the cork is usually for naught and reveals the examiner to be an amateur.

I'll pass on more expert wine facts as they become available.

I'll make sure that I don't hold my breath!!!

The bottle is still the best container for wine and when you think that there is still drinkable wine, in bottles, decades-old, then that speaks for itself. A little bit of air is always evident at the top of a bottled wine and that assists with its ageing process. As regards the box, in order for wine to flow from the valve, then some air has to be "Introduced" to allow it to flow, so at first pouring it has contact with air, hence its gradual decline in quality in the coming weeks.

Plastic corks are often used for the cheaper wines where they are going to be drunk young, because they don't stand the test of time, especially as regards to expansion and contraction which allows air and other organisms into the bottle which can spoil wine. Whereas the traditional cork, although it can suffer from the condition known as being "corked" due to a chemical 2,4,6, Trichloroanisole (thereby tainting the wine), is very flexible as regards expansion and contraction and does stand the test of time provided storage is correct.

Looking at the cork will give you an indication as to how the wine has been stored, how good the cork seal was and in many cases show you the insignia on the cork which will give you some comfort. Probably no need to smell the cork because the smell and taste of the wine will tell you if the wine is "corked".

Screw tops or the "Stelvin closure" as the best ones are known, are very good, however have not really been around long enough and in as many diverse conditions as the cork to know if they have long-term viability. In addition the jury is still out as to whether the very small amount of air which gets through a normal cork and into the wine in a bottle actually assists with its development or in fact hinders it.

Suffice it to say that the centuries-old tradition of using cork, now with better sterilisation methods, is still the tried and trusted methodology. As they would say in the medical profession, it is the "gold standard".