The Official Wine Thread

[Piobaire]

Originally Posted by gomestar

that post likely made no sense, I'm on a conference call. And i'm tired. The mind wanders.

I don't think that is a big mark up for KB.

LOL, so I'm not the only one who mainly posts while on the phone, reviewing docs, etc?

 

[foodguy]

to my mind, a great wine list is a balance of gutting the big spenders who don't have a clue and enabling the real wine geeks who are on a budget. it's my version of redistribution of wealth. Who cares how much they charge for Opus One as long as i can get my vietta barbera "scarrone" at a decent price?

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by foodguy

to my mind, a great wine list is a balance of gutting the big spenders who don't have a clue and enabling the real wine geeks who are on a budget. it's my version of redistribution of wealth. Who cares how much they charge for Opus One as long as i can get my vietta barbera "scarrone" at a decent price?

this is a perfect translation of what I intended in my junk post. The places I tend to frequent often (EMP, USQ, Grammercy) do this quite well.

 

[foodguy]

yes, that could almost be called teh "danny" model ...

 

[gomestar]

Originally Posted by foodguy

yes, that could almost be called teh "danny" model ...

yes indeed. I'm a huge fan of the wine lists his people create and I can always find something wonderful for a good price. In a way I see it as a standard that other restaurants should follow.

 

[foodguy]

there's a great old place here in la called valentino that has a legendary list. he's really good at that. he'll have multiple vintages of all the big hitters and it's amazing what some people will play for a bottle of wine. but if you take the time to look through the list (the full version is the size of a small phone book), there will be multiple "holy sh*t" moments when you find stuff you've always wanted to try at close to retail.

 

[Piobaire]

Ah, now I see what you were saying, Gome. I would enjoy a list like that too. Let's face it, with things like Opus, that's there so people that know a little bit about wine can impress other people that know a little bit about wine and the house can make a crap ton of mark up.

My post was just that if I see a few wines I know the retail of, and they're well priced, I'm likely to feel trust in the overall pricing. If I see stuff I know is at 300%+ of retail, I'm going to go with a cocktail or modest yet drinkable bottle of wine.

 

[Piobaire]

Today's two questions, answers in white, so quote me to see them. Both questions have to do with Alsace.

Which of the following may produce Alsace Grand Cru AOP blends?

Altenberg de Bergheim

What are the soils of the upper vineyards in the Vosges Mountains comprised of?

Schist, granite and volcanic sediment.


Yes, I am geeking out. Tomorrow I plan to tackle Australia and New Zealand.

 

[gomestar]

name me one of the 430-something premier cru vineyards in Burg!

 

[Piobaire]

How about Ground Zero?

RomanÃ

e Conti, La Tâche (monopole of DRC), La RomanÃ

e (monopole of château de Vosne RomanÃ

e), Richebourg, RomanÃ

e-St.-Vivant, La Grande Rue (monopole of Domaine Lamarche)

 

[gomestar]

test fail. I said premier cru.

 

[Piobaire]

 

[gomestar]

I think Romanee-Conti also also a monopole, but I could be wrong. Quick, make up for it by defining monopole. And tell me how many grand cru vineyards there are w/o using google! And what's the minimum ABV % for most of the white grand crus!

 

[gomestar]

too long. I think there's a touch over 40 if you include chablis. and 11.5% tends to be the norm. You will become learned!

 

[Piobaire]

No, today is Alsace, the Jura and Savoie.

The four noble white grapes please, and the only noble red permitted.

What are the plains at the base of the Vosges composed of?