Rumblings on wine: countdown to the end of the world edition
Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:35 pmA few thoughts as we lumber towards the end of the world.
Should I be sourcing a bottle of Dalla Valle Maya?
Today is 12/12/12. Does that mean I am supposed to buy three cases of wine?
No matter how much Champagne I own, it’s not enough. Every time Laura and I drink Champagne I think “why do I buy anything else.” The last time she proceeded to remind me of a stupendous 1990 J. J. Christoffel Riesling Auslese, which set me straight…for a few minutes. Guess I am just in a Champagne phase right now. Don’t even get me started about Champagne in magnums. How I did not buy Champagne in magnum before late 2011 I have no idea. Crazy.
I’ve heard tales that the age of Robert Parker has come and gone, but whenever there is any shred of news involving him the wine-ternet lights up like a Christmas tree. Granted it’s mostly mudslinging, but if someone can cause that much of a reaction has their age really gone by? I think not.
We are living in an age of fantastic “bad” vintages. Someone described the 2008 Allemand Cornas Chiallot as lean and thin. Are normal vintages of Allemand declassified Auslese? ;^) And in a related question, how can 2008 in the Northern Rhone be described in any way as a “bad” vintage? No, 2008 will never be described as a vintage of the century, but it could pass for great if one slips back in time.
Speaking of Champagne, I had a chance to taste some wine from a producer called Mousse Fils. They specialize in Pinot Meunier. I was amazed at the depth of the NV bottling I tried. It wasn’t the most complex Champagne ever poured, but it sure would have been an interesting way to pair “white” wine with red meat.
Lots of publications and people are talking about their “wine(s) of the year” right now. Am I supposed to have a wine of the year? I don’t have one. I’ve had lots of wonderful wines in 2012. Some were supposed to be wonderful (see the aforementioned 1990 Christoffel Auslese, or a 1959 Calon Segur that Salil graciously opened), while others were humble wines that performed well beyond their pedigree. There’s no way to list all of the wines that enthralled me over the course of the year.
I may not have a wine of the year, but I do have a winery. Apologies to all of my other favorites (e.g. Donnhoff, Edmunds St. John, etc.), but my winery of the year for 2012 is Arnot-Roberts. I’ve had so many interesting wines from Arnot-Roberts this year that it is hard to keep track. From their Rose of Touriga National to the Sangiovese, with a lot of others in between, I have found them interesting and complex. Most of the wines are not too expensive, and the alcohol levels are generally quite restrained. I’m a big fan.
Finally, it’s the holiday season, so Merry Christmas to all, or have a happy whatever you happen to be celebrating. If not…Go Irish!…or Roll Tide!
Should I be sourcing a bottle of Dalla Valle Maya?
Today is 12/12/12. Does that mean I am supposed to buy three cases of wine?
No matter how much Champagne I own, it’s not enough. Every time Laura and I drink Champagne I think “why do I buy anything else.” The last time she proceeded to remind me of a stupendous 1990 J. J. Christoffel Riesling Auslese, which set me straight…for a few minutes. Guess I am just in a Champagne phase right now. Don’t even get me started about Champagne in magnums. How I did not buy Champagne in magnum before late 2011 I have no idea. Crazy.
I’ve heard tales that the age of Robert Parker has come and gone, but whenever there is any shred of news involving him the wine-ternet lights up like a Christmas tree. Granted it’s mostly mudslinging, but if someone can cause that much of a reaction has their age really gone by? I think not.
We are living in an age of fantastic “bad” vintages. Someone described the 2008 Allemand Cornas Chiallot as lean and thin. Are normal vintages of Allemand declassified Auslese? ;^) And in a related question, how can 2008 in the Northern Rhone be described in any way as a “bad” vintage? No, 2008 will never be described as a vintage of the century, but it could pass for great if one slips back in time.
Speaking of Champagne, I had a chance to taste some wine from a producer called Mousse Fils. They specialize in Pinot Meunier. I was amazed at the depth of the NV bottling I tried. It wasn’t the most complex Champagne ever poured, but it sure would have been an interesting way to pair “white” wine with red meat.
Lots of publications and people are talking about their “wine(s) of the year” right now. Am I supposed to have a wine of the year? I don’t have one. I’ve had lots of wonderful wines in 2012. Some were supposed to be wonderful (see the aforementioned 1990 Christoffel Auslese, or a 1959 Calon Segur that Salil graciously opened), while others were humble wines that performed well beyond their pedigree. There’s no way to list all of the wines that enthralled me over the course of the year.
I may not have a wine of the year, but I do have a winery. Apologies to all of my other favorites (e.g. Donnhoff, Edmunds St. John, etc.), but my winery of the year for 2012 is Arnot-Roberts. I’ve had so many interesting wines from Arnot-Roberts this year that it is hard to keep track. From their Rose of Touriga National to the Sangiovese, with a lot of others in between, I have found them interesting and complex. Most of the wines are not too expensive, and the alcohol levels are generally quite restrained. I’m a big fan.
Finally, it’s the holiday season, so Merry Christmas to all, or have a happy whatever you happen to be celebrating. If not…Go Irish!…or Roll Tide!
Well Sam, sometimes we run out of steam during the second bottle. 