Red of the Day

[Cliff Porter]

I know this forum is coffee and tea related, but what about a ROTD...I love red wine and can't fathom that there are no other connoisseurs on this site.

Tonight we did a simple little Insatiable Merlot. It was reasonably priced, pleasing to the nose, had great legs and subtle cherry finish. Now that I am half buzzed. I am going to try my new Straight....kiddin'

 

[Mr. Scruffy]

Au contraire, mon frere!!

I just received my membership allotment of the new crop of reds from Frank Family Vineyards in Calistoga, CA. Last night SWMBO and I enjoyed their 2008 Reserve Zinfandel. Rich, dark red color with a jammy nose. Very smooth finish.

Next up are the 2007 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and 2008 Rutherford Reserve Sangiovese. Can't wait!

 

[_MementoMori_]

I'm very much a beer and whiskey guy above all else, but I discovered a wine recently that I could happily drink for the rest of my life. It's called Apothic Red. It's not expensive. Check it out if you can find it near you!

 

[ouch]

Merlot is the most overproduced and overrated wine there is, largely due to the fact that most people have no problem pronouncing it. If you think I'm kidding, consider that Beaune is the preferred Burgundy of the Japanese. It's pronounced "bone", a sound that appears in almost every language, and rolls off the tounge more easily than Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, or Flagey-Echézeaux.

It is a principle grape of West bank Bordeaux- the one in the middle isn't half bad.

 

[The Knize]

Merlot is the most overproduced and overrated wine there is, largely due to the fact that most people have no problem pronouncing it. If you think I'm kidding, consider that Beaune is the preferred Burgundy of the Japanese. It's pronounced "bone", a sound that appears in almost every language, and rolls off the tounge more easily than Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, or Flagey-Echézeaux.

It is a principle grape of West bank Bordeaux- the one in the middle isn't half bad.

<Merlot is the most overproduced and overrated wine there is>

I absolutely agree with you (Ouch) and with Miles of Sideways that what you say is true.

However, I also agree with Miles' actions speak louder than words implicit statement in the movie (and maybe with you, too, given your photo and commentary above) that some of the finest wines in the world are made predominately with merlot grapes (and in Miles' case with lots of the also dissed by him in the move cabernet franc in there, too). His most prized wine in the movie is a '61 Cheval Blanc, which is all merlot and cab franc.

I would say the wine in the middle of your photo is pretty good, too, and the one on the right end is not half bad. Actually, I think there are many excellent merlots from California. But they all cost a lot of money and are a far cry from what people get when they order a glass of "merlot." I think over production and maybe quick and careless winemaking are probably the problems. I know of no reason why inexpensive merlots should be inherently so much worse than inexpensive cabs, but they surely are.

I am also with Miles, and apparently with you, that Pinot Noir is my favorite varietal--still, after all these years, and at every price level. And French red burgundy at its best is still the very best of this varietal.

But--again, still after all these years--trying to buy decent French red burgundy at any price seems to continue to be an amazing dice roll, without tremendous study and effort! Enough so that I do not buy much and do not get to drink much! Otherwise, pinot from the US west coast seems to generally be a good buy at all price points. An amazing thing given where pinot started in this country!

 

[ouch]

<Merlot is the most overproduced and overrated wine there is>

I absolutely agree with you (Ouch) and with Miles of Sideways that what you say is true.

However, I also agree with Miles' actions speak louder than words implicit statement in the movie (and maybe with you, too, given your photo and commentary above) that some of the finest wines in the world are made predominately with merlot grapes (and in Miles' case with lots of the also dissed by him in the move cabernet franc in there, too). His most prized wine in the movie is a '61 Cheval Blanc, which is all merlot and cab franc.

Never heard of it.

I would say the wine in the middle of your photo is pretty good, too, and the one on the right end is not half bad.

The one on the left is the pick of the litter, but the Las Cases is no slouch.

A much better movie than Sideways is Bottle Shock. We can produce great wine here.

 

[The Knize]

We should probably note that while Petrus, the most famous Pomerol of all, right bank, is 95% plus merlot, the wine on the right Leoville las Cases, a St. Julian, left bank, is very much predominately cabernet with a bit of merlot, and the one on the left, the LaLande, from Pauillic, left bank, is predominately cabernet with a high but not even percentage of merlot.

Also in bordeaux vintages still matter a lot and it matters what part of Bordeaux for particular vintages. Each vintage shown is good for the particular area, but '82 for Pauillic is stellar!

 

[ouch]

We should probably note that while Petrus, the most famous Pomerol of all, right bank, is 95% plus merlot, the wine on the right Leoville las Cases, a St. Julian, left bank, is very much predominately cabernet with a bit of merlot, and the one on the left, the LaLande, from Pauillic, left bank, is predominately cabernet with a high but not even percentage of merlot.

Also in bordeaux vintages still matter a lot and it matters what part of Bordeaux for particular vintages. Each vintage shown is good for the particular area, but '82 for Pauillic is stellar!

You know what they say: Margaux has the style, St. Julien has the fruit, St. Estephe has the balls, and Pauillic has it all!

1982 was one of the three best vintages of the last half century.

 

[Tha Baron]

A much better movie than Sideways is Bottle Shock. We can produce great wine here.

+1... Have you read Taber's Judgment of Paris (Subtitle: California vs. France and the Historic 1976 Paris Tasting That Revolutionized Wine)? Bottle Shock is based on it, but it provides an extensive history over wine production in CA and the background of a lot of labels.

I'm not that big into wine, but I thought it was a fantastic read and solid "Cliffs Notes" over the wine industry.

There is also a documentary I have saved on my queue called Mondovino, which focuses on the wine industry and small independent growers.

 

[Edcculus]

We have a lot of Wine (and other alcoholic beverage) talk over in The Speakeasy. Stop in for a drink!

 

[_JP_]

I thought that wine talk belonged in the Speakeasy. I was thinking here that it was about red teas, or Rooibos.

 

[The Knize]

Had a nice Italian Barbera (I do not remember the label) over the weekend and the Marquis Philips Granache. The latter keeps to that labels style of intensity and forwardness. I am not sure I have not grown tired of that style though!

I have meant to look closer at the "Judgement of Paris" context and results. I know it was pretty controversial in retrospect, although I am not sure I care, as it gave American wines a huge boost, and I like California wines as much as any, really, although I would like to know what the heck seemed to happen to Cali chardonnay over the years that it does not seem to be very good anymore at most price levels, whereas it used to be pretty good across price levels.

Also, the winner among the reds for that tasting was the Stags Leap Wine Cellars (note not Stags Leap Winery) 1973 cab, made from famously young vines at the time. And among the whites the Chauteau Montelana Alexander Valley 1973 chardonnay.

Now, I would say that SLV has made some great cabs since 1973. I have never had the 1973, but perhaps it really was that good. And Chateau Montelena has made some great cabs since 1973. I am just not sure Chateau Montelena has made any great chardonnays since then, and I have never had the 1973. Was the 1973 chardonnay really all that great? If so, what the heck happened to Ch. Montelena chards in the meatime.

I know there have been followup tasting with the same wines, etc. that gave some of the same results.

Also, I wondered whether the French wines were from terrible vintages. 1972, for instance, was the worst Bordeaux vintage of the last 30 years of the 20th century. But the bordeauxs in the tasting were mostly 1970, a decent, some would say, excellent year for bordeaux. I think 1973 was a good not great vintage year for Cali.

So I really do not know what to make of the 19976 Judgement of Paris. It sure was a watershed event for Cali wines, which I think is a positive good not matter what.

 

[Doc4]

Just recently, I finished off a bottle of Graham's Six Grapes reserve port. A non-vintage, vintage-style port made for early drinking, but with enough finesse and style to remind one of good vintage port.

No, it's not the real thing, but you don't have to pay $80/bottle and keep it in your basement for a couple decades ... so it's pretty decent for the "I feel like a glass of port this evening" everyday sipping.

Merlot is the most overproduced and overrated wine there is, largely due to the fact that most people have no problem pronouncing it. If you think I'm kidding, consider that Beaune is the preferred Burgundy of the Japanese. It's pronounced "bone", a sound that appears in almost every language, and rolls off the tounge more easily than Chambolle-Musigny, Vosne-Romanée, or Flagey-Echézeaux.

When we start up the "White of the Day" thread ... the other of the "Wine-'o-the day ... or Wino The Day" threads ... you can resurrect this idea by finding that classic clip of Porky Pig ordering a bottle of wine.

"Waiter, I'd like a bottle of g-g-g-vurtz ... g-g-g-vurts ... g-g-g-vurtstra ... chardonay."

 

[ouch]

Just recently, I finished off a bottle of Graham's Six Grapes reserve port. A non-vintage, vintage-style port made for early drinking, but with enough finesse and style to remind one of good vintage port.

No, it's not the real thing, but you don't have to pay $80/bottle and keep it in your basement for a couple decades ... so it's pretty decent for the "I feel like a glass of port this evening" everyday sipping.

That's a very enjoyable wine. Late bottled vintage port (LBV) may be the greatest bargain in the world of wine. You can often get 90&#37; of the full vintage port experience at a small fraction of the going rate. For sheer mystique, it's hard to top port. I have a 1977 Graham's that's not quite ready to drink yet. Taylor and Fonseca are my favorite.

 

[Cliff Porter]

Last night we had a strange mix. My German (born and raised) wife made ground beef tacos with homemade guacamole and all the fixings and we enjoyed it with a bottle of:

Travaglini Gattinara 2000

It is an Italian wine. It turned out to be a wonderful choice. We picked up the bottle for about $20 on sale.

 

[letterk]

That's a very enjoyable wine. Late bottled vintage port (LBV) may be the greatest bargain in the world of wine. You can often get 90% of the full vintage port experience at a small fraction of the going rate. For sheer mystique, it's hard to top port. I have a 1977 Graham's that's not quite ready to drink yet. Taylor and Fonseca are my favorite.

I buy a LBV port almost every time I go wine shopping. Good stuff.

Last night we had a 2007 Lake Sonoma Dry Creek Zinfendel. I got duped by the vintage being different than the review card. I usually check, but was hurrying. I was somewhat disappointed.

 

[flycbyrd]

have any of you ever had cakebread merlot?

 

[ouch]

I buy a LBV port almost every time I go wine shopping. Good stuff.

You'd like them ever more if you lived in a cooler climate.

For a two year period, roughly 1991-1993, I had a dessert wine every single night. I tasted my way around the world, and hit almost everything- obscure Sauternes, VT's, SGN's, TBA's, you name it. LBV's are some of my favorites. They're unpretentious, inexpensive, non-snooty, and delicious. A few sips on a cold night with a nice cigar is heaven.

 

[Doc4]

You'd like them ever more if you lived in a cooler climate.

For a two year period, roughly 1991-1993, I had a dessert wine every single night. I tasted my way around the world, and hit almost everything- obscure Sauternes, VT's, SGN's, TBA's, you name it. LBV's are some of my favorites. They're unpretentious, inexpensive, non-snooty, and delicious. A few sips on a cold night with a nice cigar is heaven.

A couple decades ago I spent a couple years in Ontario, and stumbled upon a local "port" desert wine made by Brights under their "74" line. Cheap plonk at about $6/litre with a screw-top cap (back when that said "hey rummy!" rather than "this won't be corked in three decades") ... but it was actually pretty good ... an enjoyable evening tipple.

(BTW, they also made a "74" sherry ... barely made it through one bottle ... )

 

[The Knize]

I pretty much agree about LBV port and the mystique value of port.

I did have a half bottle of 1977 vintage port, Grahams, I am pretty sure, which I opened about 5 years ago, which was way beyond its peak. It had sort of thinned out a whole lot, in color, taste, aroma, with lots of sediment. It was sort of drinkable, but not really enjoyable at all. Now it may not have been stored in perfect conditions, but conditions should not have been absolutely awful. I know that smaller bottle sizes age faster, but this was dramatic. On the other hand, I did not open 1977 ports in have in full bottles right away. It did brace me for disappointment when I do though!

That's a very enjoyable wine. Late bottled vintage port (LBV) may be the greatest bargain in the world of wine. You can often get 90% of the full vintage port experience at a small fraction of the going rate. For sheer mystique, it's hard to top port. I have a 1977 Graham's that's not quite ready to drink yet. Taylor and Fonseca are my favorite.