Owner: Unidentified Appellation URL:http://unidentifiedappellation.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Sun, 06 Jul 2008 15:51:20 -0500 Rating:0 Site Description: Comprehensive Amateur Wine Criticism from the Rhone to California. Vintage reports, producer profiles and insightful commentaries from one, full-fledged wine geek. Site statistics:Click here
A Grenache Guy Reflects on the Burghound's Bite 2008-10-27 13:57:00 An open letter to producers of U.S. Pinot Noir was written recently by Allen Meadows, also known as the Burghound. The thrust of his comments was that US based Pinot Noir has made some exceptionally positive strides through the years, yet their progress is hampered by utilizing a sparse amount of clones (particular mutations of Pinot Noir that are known for specific attributes) that tend to trump
Classification of Top Chateauneuf du Pape Producers 2008-10-25 14:10:00 Classifications do have a bit of an archaic feel to them, though I freely admit that I’m a sucker when it comes to ranking favorites. The NFL power ranking, BCS polls and top statistical categories that riddle the ESPN airwaves on Sports Center have trickled their way into my fascination with wine. So I figured ranking the top echelon of Chateuaneuf producers would be a fun little exercise. Disa Read more:Classification
, Producers
Looking for Solid Northern Rhone Syrah on a Budget? 2008-10-24 19:37:00 Le Vin des Amis, Clape ‘06This has to be the perfect introduction to Cornas, revealing a traditional, unadorned display of black pepper, violet, singed beef, anise and dark berry fruit. The palate is lighter in weight than the other Clape bottlings, lacking their hearty structure and depth, yet it has a rustic, gutsy charm that envelopes you in terms of character instead of power, closing w/ the Read more:Northern
, Solid
, Syrah
Looking for Rhone in all the right places, 2007 2008-10-20 20:25:00 It’s not about hype. I think it is crystal clear that this is a region of the wine world that doesn’t need to generate unfounded excitement on upcoming vintages as they’ve been as automatic as a Nolan Ryan fastball (save for a wild pitch or two). What this is about is exciting Cotes du Rhone. No, that’s not a weak attempt of conjuring a new oxymoron, I said exciting Cotes du Rhone.From bol
A loaded evening of top Rhone Ranger wines w/ Saxum’s Justin Smith 2008-10-18 21:10:00 The Wine Experience from Wine Spectator has brought some of the wine world’s most talented individuals out to New York City and last night one of them, JustinSmith
, happened to join our ravenous band of merry Rhone men at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse. Strike that last comment actually, I should say Rhone wo-men, considering that the ladies almost outnumbered the guys in attendance, they deserve a b Read more:evening
, Ranger
A Few Great Bordeaux from the spectacular 1990 Vintage, Followed by Some Other Studs 2008-11-21 14:14:00 1990 Bordeaux
:MoutonPoured from magnum, this wine was a complete tease, all ‘show’ and no ‘go.’ The aromas were absolutely lovely, as an elegant bouquet of fresh cedar, graphite, black olive and crushed flowers weaved in and out from the glass like an easy breeze. I should have stopped at the nose because she let me down in the palate, turning medium to light bodied, yet fresh and driven, Read more:Great
, Vintage
Hangin' w/ Julien Barrot of Domaine Barroche, Some Thoughts, Some Wines 2008-11-19 09:07:00 I was fortunate enough to spend some time w/ Julien Barrot recently during his whirlwind tour of the United States (as if his wines needed additional promotion) & we caught up on some Chateauneuf gossip over dinner. For those that haven’t seen any photos of Julien, he’s a painfully handsome, young Frenchman (the perfect weapon to bring to a pour happy, female bartender) and while not gun s Read more:Domaine
, Hangin
, Wines
This guy absolutely nailed the '03 Vintage in Chateauneuf 2008-11-17 19:34:00 Next to Pegau, Laurent Charvin hit a complete grand slam in the erratic 2003 vintage, capturing all its benefits of added ripeness while harnessing the power w/ deft touch and flat out artistry. It is not a pruney, acid-deficient Amarone imitation by any stretch of the imagination, yet it has a bit more intensity and opulence than most any ripe vintage from the domaine; making longevity its only q Read more:Vintage
Clos des Papes, Chateauneuf du Pape Personified 2008-11-09 09:42:00 I had some thoughts on Clos des Papes during a recent vertical tasting that spanned vintages from ’69 to ’05 that are beginning to come to fruition, thanks to a bit of a catalyst from tasting the fabulous 2006.If I had to choose just one wine to represent its appellation in all its glory, complexity and finesse, it would have to be Clos des Papes. The blend includes just about every red variet
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