Weak

• November 2009

  If there's any vinegar, than you are talking about real damage. Bad storage is ... of decanting on a wine in weak condition, you in effect forced a wine with a heart condition to run a marathon--before ever tasting it. There's a lot of false mystery and bravura about decanting.... Read moreIf there's any vinegar, than you are talking about real damage. Bad storage is ... of decanting on a wine in weak condition, you in effect forced a wine with a heart condition to run a marathon--before ever tasting it. There's a lot of false mystery and bravura about decanting. It's not the option of first, but rather last choice, and only useful under specific circumstances. It has damaged far more wine than it ever helped. After 30 years of wine drinking, I probably only decant 5% of the time I did in my first five years of drinking...    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic 1988 Penfolds Magill Estate... by dmcker

  
  

• November 2009

  Did you decant? I'm guessing not, so imagine how weak it'd have been if you did. If you actually did decant, then that could explain a portion of the cloudiness and enervation of the wine, beyond what was already there from what seems to be, from your description, a poorly made wine...

  Forum post in the topic 1988 Penfolds Magill Estate... by dmcker

  
  

• November 2009

  If there is 15% inflation in Argentina and 3% in the US, and if one believes in ... if the CA products are as weak as is claimed, they don't provide much competition for the Argentine product anyway.

  Forum post in the topic Argentine Malbec comes of age by schellbe

  
  

• August 2009

  Thanks for the links, Pascal. I've used the Hachette guides on and off for ... the French (mine is weak and rough, and wading through is slow work, though I'll do it when necessary...). Very useful sources that cover all sorts of things I have trouble finding elsewhere (e.g. the... Read moreThanks for the links, Pascal. I've used the Hachette guides on and off for ... the French (mine is weak and rough, and wading through is slow work, though I'll do it when necessary...). Very useful sources that cover all sorts of things I have trouble finding elsewhere (e.g. the wines in the Geneva area). Will go look at the sommelier-international site now. How are you finding the Neuf du Papes and Cotes du Rhones, for 2007 or other vintages    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Chateauneuf-du-pape... by dmcker

  
  

• August 2009

  Hmmm. It's a region that has undergone some crazy developments as of late. For ... many people consider to be a weak vintage. It's actually a vintage I love since the wines are less ripe, less jammy, lower in alcohol and overall exhibit a freshness and complexity that gets lost in... Read moreHmmm. It's a region that has undergone some crazy developments as of late. For ... many people consider to be a weak vintage. It's actually a vintage I love since the wines are less ripe, less jammy, lower in alcohol and overall exhibit a freshness and complexity that gets lost in "better" years. Chateauneuf has become relatively expensive so finding something comparable at that price point will be a challenge but don't despair. Like most of the wines of the Southern Rhone, Chateauneuf is a blend based on Grenache. Many Cotes du Rhone, and particularly the Cotes du Rhone du Villages and appellations such as Gigondas and Vacqueyras offer similar wines at much more attractive pricing. My recommendation would be to explore these wines and take a look at as many vintages as you can. 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 are all in the marketplace at the moment with 2007 considered exceptional, which is frequently great for smaller producers with less ideally situated vineyards or those who may have to depend on higher yields to keep them solvent. 2005 is also held in very high regard followed by 2006 and 2004. By tasting through the vintages you can hone in on the style you prefer. You might find that you do in fact prefer a less ripe vintage, good news since they tend to get closed out. As far as enjoying the wines, they are fairly food friendly. I tend to pair them with lamb dishes and earthy entrees like mushroom risotto or pot roast. Though much like the points (who cares ...the important thing is whether or not you enjoy how it is served!) I hope this offers some useful advice and I look forward to hearing about your discovery of Chateauneuf du Pape!    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Chateauneuf-du-pape... by Gregory Dal Piaz

  
  

• August 2009

  But given a choice, definitely get the 94,5,6 vintages instead. The 1998 was a fairly weak vintage in most of Rioja. Not horrible like 1997, but not really your first choice unless you get a really great price. Most producers did OK but did better in the other three years I... Read moreBut given a choice, definitely get the 94,5,6 vintages instead. The 1998 was a fairly weak vintage in most of Rioja. Not horrible like 1997, but not really your first choice unless you get a really great price. Most producers did OK but did better in the other three years I mentioned. Or 2001, some of which are coming on line and it's just a stellar vintage until the 2004 and 2005s come out - both excellent. And the odd one out, 2000, has a lot of fans, including some winemakers in Rioja. From what I've had, the 2001 is usually better, but some 2000s are really nice and should develop well. I absolutely agree with Greg d P though - if you can find some older ones wines from Rioja, definitely pick those up. 1981, 1982, 1989 are all worth getting if you can find some. And also Ribera del Duero - the wines can be magnificent. Incidentally, as far as the equivalent of pinot grigio - mercifully, I can't think of any. Most Spanish whites tend to be more aromatic. For something interesting, you can look for Xarel-lo, which is one of the three grapes used in Cava. When made into a still wine, it's usually fairly lean, with high acidity and often a vague hint of dry flowers on the nose, but it's not actually floral if that makes sense? Depending on where it's from, verdejo is one of the best whites IMO. Sometimes it's a bit grassy and can seem similar to sauvignon blanc, but other times it's far less grassy and can be very crisp and quite delicious. In Asturias, you may be able to find an albarin. That's not albarino, it's a different grape and also quite lean and dry. And don't overlook moscatel. They make some delicious sweet moscatel that's a fraction of what you'd spend for many other dessert wines.    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Spanish Wines by GregT

  
  

• July 2009

  What about a great white wine like a Grand Cru Riesling. Or, a cheaper now, ... too lemony when young, a bit weak (9.5 to 10.5 degrees alcohol), but become beeswaxy and honeyed and incredible with fish and shellfish after twenty years bottle age. They are usually very expensive if... Read moreWhat about a great white wine like a Grand Cru Riesling. Or, a cheaper now, ... too lemony when young, a bit weak (9.5 to 10.5 degrees alcohol), but become beeswaxy and honeyed and incredible with fish and shellfish after twenty years bottle age. They are usually very expensive if ever seen retail at that stage in their lives    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Recommendation for a 2006... by williamsimpson

  
  

• July 2009

  Don't know if you saw this past week that Suntory and Kirin are very publicly ... in my opinion, but is the weak sister now) will respond. If Japan's Fair Trade Commission had any teeth, and in a rational world, I don't see how the regulators could allow this merger. In the current... Read moreDon't know if you saw this past week that Suntory and Kirin are very publicly ... in my opinion, but is the weak sister now) will respond. If Japan's Fair Trade Commission had any teeth, and in a rational world, I don't see how the regulators could allow this merger. In the current economic crisis, it's easier for such huge, relatively healthy firms to cry poor and rationalize moves that in better times would be considered highly questionable. Clever people will always be able to leverage off troubles for others. The Chinese ideograph for 'crisis' is, after all, half madeup of the character for 'opportunity'. Hey, look at how well JPMorgan and Goldman's are doing right now. ;-) Though the media is only commenting on their consumer beverage business, I see this as being even more, in the long term, about biotech strength for Kirin and Suntory. They also have different cultures (one publicly held, the other privately held by a single family), historically different bankers and zaibatsu group support, etc., so it's hard to imagine that the merger will be entirely seamless...    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic Wild Turkey goes Italian? by dmcker

  
  

• July 2009

  It's weird reasoning. The concurring opinion makes a lot more sense than the ... who are licensed. It's a weak analysis because the Supreme Court pointed out that the US today is different from what it was years ago in that today people treat alcohol as simply another item of... Read moreIt's weird reasoning. The concurring opinion makes a lot more sense than the ... who are licensed. It's a weak analysis because the Supreme Court pointed out that the US today is different from what it was years ago in that today people treat alcohol as simply another item of commerce. Notwithstanding the fact that the states are explicitly given the power to regulate its sale within their borders, the Supreme Court ruled in Granholm that they must take the least obtrusive approach. This does not seem to fit that requirement. The majority opinion however, is much worse. It is basically a jeremiad against the critics of the three-tier system. He claims that the Supreme Court explicitly acknowledged the validity of the three-tier system, that in-state retailers and wholesalers are an essential part of it, and that the law does not discriminate between in and out of state alcohol because it requires all alcohol to pass through the in-state retailers and wholesalers. Of course, that is false on its face because if a winery can ship directly to the customer, as they can after the Granholm decision, then not all alcohol is passing through in-state retailers and wholesalers. And if that is the case, then in fact this may actually punish the three tier system he is trying to protect because the logical move would be for more wineries to ship directly. It's a stupid and poorly thought out decision. I have the opinion but you can probably look it up on Google. Try: Buy Rite, Inc. v. Boyle, 07-4781-cv (July 1, 2009) and if you're interested, read Granholm v. Heald, 544 U.S. 460, 488 (2005) dmcker - I'm not sure if you're serious or not? If you are, the answer is Al Capone. He made the gin, his trucks delivered it, and his guys convinced the retailers to take them in as "partners". It was complete vertical integration, which was in vogue at the time. Consider Ford Motor Company - coal and steel came from their mines on their boats, It went into one end of the factory. A car came out the other end. When Prohibition was repealed, the three-tier system was created to ensure that one player could never be vertically integrated again, because it was felt that this would give them too much power and control. In fact, the drafters of the laws were poor economists because the power and money has always been the middleman. The woodcarver in Poland couldn't eat unless he sold his product in Vienna. But he didn't speak the language and had no means of transportation and couldn't leave his farm. Al Capone didn't have to open the speakeasies - someone else did that. And he didn't have to actually manufacture the gin although that was probably a good idea to ensure quality control. But his main role was getting it from the bathtub into the bar. And look who dominates the market today. The biggest players by far are not the wineries, even the few behemoths like Kendal Jackson and Gallo. The concurring opinion in this case actually gives a decent summary of the whys and hows    (hide)

  Forum post in the topic New York wine lovers mourn... by GregT

  
  

• June 2009

  How large do you want your winelist to be? And how much of an emphasis on North ... glance you seem relatively weak on US West Coast, but this may be intentional..

  Forum post in the topic Need help creating a wine... by dmcker

  
  

prev 1 2 3 4 next