WineLovers Discussion Group

It’s the “third tier” or “third ranking” that makes the “wine world” so darn interesting.

Salute

Victorwine wrote:It’s the “third tier” or “third ranking” that makes the “wine world” so darn interesting.

Why do you say that?

Do you not find Burgundy, Bordeaux, Barolo and Barbaresco to be interesting?

Rahsaan wrote:That said, why such a harsh tone towards melon de bourgogne? It makes some pretty serious wines. Do you not admit the glory of the Granite de Clisson, Clos de Briords, or other wines mentioned in this thread?

Not in the same class as a good CdP to my palate, but then beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Oswaldo Costa wrote:OK, I give up, here are my candidates:

First rank
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Touriga Nacional, Tempranillo, Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc

Remembering that a second, or probably even a third class grape can be the basis for the odd oenological hole in one, and that a handful of very good wines does not a great wine make, but a consistently good performance over time should distinguish the first class from 2nd etc., I see little to differ with in your list.

As we've seen, sauv blanc falls into first or second for different people. For Touriga, given that they use several different grapes in Portugal (an understatement) I'd be interested in hearing your rationale for singling out nacional.

Bill Spohn wrote:For Touriga, given that they use several different grapes in Portugal (an understatement) I'd be interested in hearing your rationale for singling out nacional.

There's definitely a treasure trove of indigenous grapes in Portugal, but it is pretty much a consensus that TN is the "noblest" among them. Not only is it responsible for the stupendous Ports by Quinta do Noval, Taylor, Fonseca, etc., but it produces the finest Portuguese dry reds, like the fabled Barca Velha (Portugal's equivalent to Vega Sicilia Unico) and my favorite, the Quinta do Crasto Vinha da Ponte (also the Crasto Touriga Nacional, the Douro Chryseia, the Niepoort Redoma, que Quinta do Vale Meão, and many other world class reds).