by rodney on February 16, 2010
57 Varieties, or Heinz 57 for short, is commonly used to describe an object consisting of an unquantifiable list of ingredients. Naturally, the “57 Varieties” label on a bottle of ketchup could be misconstrued to imply that the contents comprise 57 varieties of tomatoes. Well, at least that’s what I thought when I was a kid.
As of 2009, 18 varieties of vinifera are allowed to comprise both red and white Chateauneuf-du-Pape blends. However, red wines are dominated by Grenache and are typically blended with Syrah and Mourvedre (GSM).
Not particularly a fan of Grenache, I have hit and miss experiences with Chateauneuf-du-Pape mostly due to my cursory knowledge of the appellation. Having read glowing reports of the 2007 vintage, I attended the “2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Super Cuvees” seminar at the Boston Wine Expo to expand my mind a bit. [click to continue…]
by rodney on February 13, 2010
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The vast majority of wine consumers buy wine to consume that day, that week, or if we are particularly disciplined, that month. As we transition from casual consumers to learned connoisseurs, we tend to remain victims of habit and submit to instant gratification. Patience might be a virtue and good things may come to those who wait but the pace of our everyday lives doesn’t always afford such luxuries. Unless, of course, a catalyst for change presents itself. A Vertical Tasting.
At this year’s Boston Wine Expo, I attended the very popular Corton Charlemagne and Corton Grancey tasting. A fan of Burgundian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, I just couldn’t ignore the opportunity to compare these gems, no matter the time (11:00am).
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by rodney on February 3, 2010
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“Hello. My name is Rodney and I like French Wine.”
When given the choice, more often than not, I will choose a Sancerre from the Loire Valley over a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, a Burgundian over an Oregonian Pinot Noir and a Bordeaux Cabernet Sauvignon over, well, from just about anywhere else in the world. I am fully aware that equal or higher quality expressions of these varietals can be found throughout the world. This is not to say that I don’t like them, just that I tend to lean east when given the opportunity.
Ok, maybe I should have said, “Hello. My name is Rodney and I am a French wine snob”. There I’ve said it. First step to the cure is admitting that I have a problem.
So, I greatly anticipated the “Bordeaux Off the Beaten Track” seminar at the 2010 Boston Wine Expo. Although I didn’t expect the wines to be ‘off-the-hook’, listening to Margaret Calvet and her fellow presenter (who’s name I have selectively forgotten) gush over each and every wine had me wondering if purchasing was obligatory. Without the charming women winemakers from the region, I probably would have left half way through. If this seminar is on the schedule for next year, I’ll be skipping it.
I did find the wines to be perfectly acceptable although not particularly exceptional. I’ll list the wines here to judge for yourself. The samples I found interesting are in blue after the jump. [click to continue…]
