London arenas

[Chris Coad]

Personally, I'm not one who goes in much for humility

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

 

[Joel Stewart]

originally posted by Chris Coad:

Personally, I'm not one who goes in much for humility

You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

one might say his humility is inconceivable

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

(Not that I know anything about riesling from Oltrep Pavese).

Who does? (how's that for a challenge to the board?)

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

Have you tried other wines from this producer?

I've had a lot of Bill Easton's wines over the years and

What Eden said. Although I've had at least one truly stellar Ascent (IMHO) and I'd add that the Amador Barbera and Zin are regularly among the better values in CA for both flavor and typicity.

 

[Eden Mylunsch]

originally posted by MarkS:
You certainly have a way a words, Eden.

Thank you. Unfortunately, they often have their way with me.

originally posted by El Thor:
No love for Sierra Vista? Or is El Dorado not considered part of the Sierra Foothills in Mylunsch land?

Lack of recent familiarity rather than an inability to love. I haven't kept up with their wines after some uninspiring encounters with them early on. As for the Sierra Foothills thing, I'll admit to some prejudice in this regard; Like the wine regions of Temecula, Kent (or Surrey for that matter) and even Wagram, I've tasted enough wines best described as "inoffensive, pleasantly wet alcohol conveyances" that I'm disinclined to spend a lot of time seeking out the best stuff from them. This is not to say that I refuse to taste wines from these places but I just don't have as many opportunities to do so these days than I once did. Wines such as Terre Rouge stand out because they've been well-made from the beginning and get better each vintage. I think that Bill Easton has always made wine to his vision of what the region (and variety) is capable of, not just what will sell to the tourists visiting wine country. There are such people in virtually every wine region (still looking for one in Temecula, but there are a couple of guys in Wagram) but few have achieved their goals as well as Easton has. I've gotta hope that others in the area will be inspired by what he's done and up the level of their winemaking and viticulture too.

-Eden (sounds as if I should check out Sierra Vista the next time I see it)

 

[SFJoe]

originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:
Wagram

Isn't that the air base in Afghanistan? They grow grapes there?

 

[MLipton]

originally posted by SFJoe:

originally posted by Eden Mylunsch:
Wagram

Isn't that the air base in Afghanistan? They grow grapes there?

Queue up "Tonic for the Troops," though Eden may have burned her copy after the sequel album hit SoCal.

Mark "I'm OK with Mondays" Lipton

 

[Thor]

No love for Sierra Vista?

Lack of recent familiarity rather than an inability to love. I haven't kept up with their wines after some uninspiring encounters with them early on.

It was Yaniger's enthusiasm that sent me there, and while I won't say that I liked the entire range, the highlights were very high indeed. The wines aren't available out here, so to revisit I'd really have to go back...and even this recommendation is a few years out of date...but I think, to see if you agree, it might be more necessary to visit than to see what's available 'round your neighborhood.

Still, it has to be admitted that my favorite producer of El Dorado County wine lives in Berkeley.

As for the Sierra Foothills thing [...] I've tasted enough wines best described as "inoffensive, pleasantly wet alcohol conveyances" that I'm disinclined to spend a lot of time seeking out the best stuff from them.

I loved being there, thought it was pretty, enjoyed the remoteness of it all, and so forth...but yeah, the wines weren't all that inspiring. I had one good wine at Young's (on which I posted a recent note), and yes on Noceto, but the rest was mostly in the "OK" range.

 

[MLipton]

originally posted by Thor:

Still, it has to be admitted that my favorite producer of El Dorado County wine lives in Berkeley.

..and, as you probably know, your favorite Amador Cty producer is a former Berkeley resident. Not a few of us got to know Bill back when he was proprietor/owner of Solano Cellars, where he succeeded in reaffirming my love of all things Rhonish, while at the same time exposing me to a number of the early Rhone Rangers, Steve of course among them and, yes, even a few Sierra Vista wines.

Ah, those were the days, though salad and Syrah isn't a match I long for,

Mark Lipton

 

[Marc D]

originally posted by MLipton:

Ah, those were the days, though salad and Syrah isn't a match I long for,

Mark Lipton

Just add some crispy lardons and some croutons fried in the bacon fat. Your salad syrah match will work OK.

Kay is right again.

 

[Thor]

Agreed...bacon + the bacon fat as dressing, and you're set for whichever syrah you wish. I just don't see the problem.

 

[David M. Bueker]

Re: Kent above - not a lot of wine growing going on as it's buried under snow right now (as is the highway I need to use to get to London).

England is positively Dickensian right now.