The Official Wine Thread - Page 889

Tried several wines last night. Great WA Syrah:



Light and not jammy like so many CAs, lower alcohol, nice spice.

Also had a Paul Hobbs RRV Pinto that was not a typical RRV. Did not have the nose I associate with an RRV Pinot. Had a restrained dark berries and something like an Oolong tea thing going. Again, lower alcohol that usual. Makes me wonder if Left Coast wine makers are going to start a trend of restraint?

Had a great Riesling from the Mosel, only 100 cases imported to the US, family run place. Had a little RS, great acidity and minerality. No petrol which is something I'm not really a fan of.

Had a couple others, a nice Torrentes, a typical "buttered popcorn" CA Chard, and a Grenache from Oz.

I'd argue the best of Oregon and most all of Walla Walla have always taken that approach. There's a reason my "old school" palate rates Washingotn/Oregon #2 or #3 of my favorite regions.

This trend is already well underway. There are lots of new and newish producers, often from younger winemakers, who are making great, balanced, restrained wines, often from obscure AVAs. There are also even some established producers who have turned apostate to the Cali style of the 90s/2000s.

Look at the 'In Pursuit of Balance' website where they list the wineries at the NY and CA events. It is a good starting point to this style.

Enjoyable cabernet franc from Bourgueil the other day - '09 "Trinch!" from C&P Breton. Uncomplicated, vivid aroma and taste that evoked raspberries. A bit green but otherwise a pleasure...

http://www.heymann-loewenstein.com/hweinliste.htm
~112 years ago.. 1 bottle of Bénédictine = 8.50 Mark. 1 bottle of 1893' Ch. d'Yquem 3 Mark. 1888' Sauternes d'Yquem 5.50 M. 1858 Château Margaux 15 M. and so on. 1kg butter was about 1.85 M. 1l milk 0.2 M. Interesting.

Have tasted this. It's quit OK, not the best. I was drinking this with fish :)!

Not the best Bourgueil? I would agree, but I don't think that it aspires to greatness - it's a nice light red and drunk a bit cool in the summer with something off the grill and shared with friends it is delicious.

Oh yes it's perfect for those occasions. But if you like red wine I would recommend Cresasso year 2006 from Italy. Oh-my-god it's the best, very fruity and tasty (cherries, blueberries, chocolate, herbs and vanilla.)

 

Thank me later 

Enjoying a 3 zin from contra costa county, pretty fantastic qpr for ~12 a bottle. Lots of fruit, smooth silky tannins, nice finish.

Apparently there's some surprising quality and great QPR from Amador and Contra Costa counties these days, especially with Zin and mixed blacks wine.

I have mostly vinum glasses, with a few sommelier series, thoughts about upgrading to all sommeliers? Are they that fragile? I haven't broken one but I don't use them that often.

They are very fragile and big, huge.  The only ones I use are the champagne flutes, also big, but I like champagne.  The flutes really accentuate the nose, so if it isn't a great bottle, you'll know it.  I tried the burgundy somm and they were just too big and also fragile.  You can literally fit an entire bottle of wine into one if you tried.  The port glasses are nice, not too big.  All that said, I haven't looked at them in a few years and they may have refined the line and added more styles.  They aren't cheap either.

don't bother.

I have the Vitis flutes since they are the most beautiful flutes around, but Spiegeleu white, bord, and burgundy glasses since they are lovely and strong. The Riedel somms are super fragile and super expensive.