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This article was published in The 30 Second Wine Advisor on Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 and can be found at http://www.wineloverspage.com/wineadvisor2/tswa20090828.php.
Another year, another Hugh Johnson pocket book
When I start feeling that I've been writing about wine for an awfully long time, I stop and think about Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book.
This handy little book, which crams small-print info on thousands of wines and wineries into its pocket-size dimensions, was already in its third or fourth edition when I started writing about wine for the old Louisville Times in the early 1980s. I bought one, devoured it, and have been getting every annual edition ever since.
The other day Johnson's 33rd edition arrived in my mailbox, and it will still fit into a pocket, although it might need a larger pocket than those early editions did. At 320 fully-packed pages, it might be a better fit for a cargo pocket than a golf shirt.
It's still portable enough to carry with you into the wine shop or restaurant, though, and that remains what it's all about: Just about any wine you'll encounter is in here, sorted by wine region and ready for quick reference including a brief description, rating (no fancy 100-point stuff, just a useful one to four stars), and Johnson's estimate as to which vintages are best and when it will be ready to drink. He hasn't reached China or India as yet, but just about every other wine-producing nation is featured, right down to England and Wales and Eastern Europe.
Whether you're using it as a wine-buying guide or simply a quick reference when you have a question about wine, Johnson's Pocket Wine Book is an easy choice, whether it's one of hundreds of books in your wine library or the only book in your wine library.
Available through our Amazon.com link for just $10.19, a 32 percent discount from the $14.95 list price, it costs no more than a very modest bottle of wine.
Click to view details or order from Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1845335295/robingarrswineloA/
As always, purchases made by using this exact link will return a small commission to WineLoversPage.com, helping us maintain our online publications (and this E-letter) without charge.
As a quick sample, let's see what Johnson has to say about Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine, featured in this week's tasting report.
He rates it in a range from one star ("plain, everyday quality") to three stars ("well-known, highly reputed"). Under "Muscadet," he categorizes it as a Loire Valley white to be drunk as young as possible, declaring it "Popular, good value, often delicious bone-dry wine from near Nantes. Should never be sharp, but should always be refreshing. Perfect with fish and seafood."
Under Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine, which he calls "largest and best of Muscadet's delimited zones," he calls it "a safe bet," listing among top producers Guy Bossard (Dom de l'Ecu), Barnard Chereau, Bruno Cormeral, Michel Delhommeau, Douillard, Gadais, Dom de la Haute Fevrie, Joseph Landron, Luneau-Papin, Louis Métareau, and Sauvion, producer of our featured wine (see below). He lists all vintages between 2001 and 2008 as good and currently drinkable, and adds that wines from the named properties can "age beautifully." He suggests trying 1986 or 1989 ... if you can find them.
To be nitpicky, he doesn't mention the rather offbeat grape variety used in Muscadet (Melon de Bourgogne), and it's also omitted from his list of varieties elsewhere. Nor does he get into the "sur lie" process of aging the wine on its yeast sediment that adds character to many Muscadets, although a brief summary of this process can be found - if you know to look for it - under "S" in the "France" chapter. But for a quick overview, vintage and aging information and simple rating, this pocket book is hard to beat.
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Today's Tasting Report
Sauvion 2007 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine ($9.99)
Transparent light straw color. Good, typical scents of light honeydew melon and a touch of rising bread dough. Fresh and crisp on the palate, light white fruit and mouth-watering acidity; a touch of "stony" minerality sings harmony with the delicate fruit. Simple, fresh, needs time to develop the complexity of top Muscadets, but it's a tasty summer white now, good with food, and an exceptional value at the $10 point. U.S. importer: W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd., Harrison, N.Y. (July 6, 2009)
FOOD MATCH: Although made for seafood and fish, it's a good match with chicken or pork, and went very well indeed with a Stone Cross Farm Kentucky natural pork chop with fresh Roma beans and new potatoes..
WEB LINK: Here's a brief importer's fact sheet on Sauvion Muscadet:
http://www.wjdeutsch.com/channels/WinePortfolio/Sauvion/Wines/sauv_muscadet.aspx
FIND THIS WINE ONLINE:
Look for vendors and compare prices for Sauvion Muscadet on Wine-Searcher.com:
http://www.wine-searcher.com/find/Sauvion%2bMuscadet/-/-/-/USD/A?referring_site=WLP
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