Sandlands, so far

Tesniere Pd'A is indeed great in '13, what vigneron heroism.

But you have to dish on the Bonne fave--the generic instruction that you didn't like "the blue one" doesn't impinge on our little ears.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:

But you have to dish on the Bonne fave--the generic instruction that you didn't like "the blue one" doesn't impinge on our little ears.
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nope. but i understand the point. in fact in this case, it was more than one. quite a spectrum in fact. all bought honestly with my own chubby zlotys.

i have no desire to dampen the enthusiasm of teh folks that try by casting nasturtiums (or, indeed, conveying my deeply frustrated and dissatisfied thoughts about the contents of those bottles).

i applaud the efforts of those that are trying. i think. suffice it to say that, as ever, i feel a reining in of both teh hype and teh ambitionz would be kinder to those of us proffering our grubby notes and then pulling teh corks.

fb.
 
originally posted by MLipton:
Jim, that is a most eloquent description of your thinking. My only concern: does anyone really have a sense of place for many CA locations, and is that sense of place independent of variety?
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For CA and many other sites in the viticultural New World, what is really required is an effort in this direction--how else will anyone know what does what, where, without some empiricism?
 
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
Of course it isn't possible to weigh the merits of an assertion about unnamed wines.
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true. but i've tested many an assertion about named wines and found them to be ludicrously false. which generally leads to pissing contests with losers with leaden palates. so i've decided to embrace the idea of hugging the cause that supports creativity and positivity.

it beats talking about sneakers.

fb.
 
originally posted by scottreiner:
are you now or have you ever been a member of the... oh just name names!
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seriously, why?

i really -- really! -- dig the fact that folks in ca are trying to make more natural, food friendly wines. at the same time, i also find the fact that those same wines are over hyped in teh mediaz sets standards that are difficult to sustain in a broader context. namely the very broad context of a fat guy walking into a cali wine store with good intentions in his heart and a big crop of chubbyzlotys in his fist.

my problem is not with the wines -- or the folks that make them, who i invariably find to be modest and serious about what they are doing -- it's with all teh this-week's-big-thing style wine commentator hype.

how the fuck does a grower / maker / whatever even have a chance to know wtf he is doing with a site without a bit of experience? let alone making a wine that truly expresses that site?

fb.
 
originally posted by fatboy:
originally posted by Levi Dalton:
Of course it isn't possible to weigh the merits of an assertion about unnamed wines.
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true. but i've tested many an assertion about named wines and found them to be ludicrously false. which generally leads to pissing contests with losers with leaden palates. so i've decided to embrace the idea of hugging the cause that supports creativity and positivity.

it beats talking about sneakers.

fb.
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Radiant of positivity.
 
originally posted by fatboy:
originally posted by scottreiner:
are you now or have you ever been a member of the... oh just name names!
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seriously, why?
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Because actual discussion is based on more than a dismissive wave of the hand and general disdain for the acuity of others. Attempts at understanding aren't helped by someone implying "your excitement sucks." Or by bullying.
 
originally posted by fatboy:
originally posted by scottreiner:
are you now or have you ever been a member of the... oh just name names!
Click to expand...

seriously, why?

i really -- really! -- dig the fact that folks in ca are trying to make more natural, food friendly wines. at the same time, i also find the fact that those same wines are over hyped in teh mediaz sets standards that are difficult to sustain in a broader context. namely the very broad context of a fat guy walking into a cali wine store with good intentions in his heart and a big crop of chubbyzlotys in his fist.

my problem is not with the wines -- or the folks that make them, who i invariably find to be modest and serious about what they are doing -- it's with all teh this-week's-big-thing style wine commentator hype.

how the fuck does a grower / maker / whatever even have a chance to know wtf he is doing with a site without a bit of experience? let alone making a wine that truly expresses that site?

fb.
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My use of McCarthy-esque language was meant as a form of levity.

But, on a serious note, its all about data.

There are many lovely, earnest people making real efforts to do the right thing in CA. Some efforts are more successful than others, at present. All are at least making it more interesting for us.

There is, as you type, a huge amount of media buzz that one must try to see through. The situation is made more difficult by the fact that most CA wines seem to share some economic disadvantages when compared to their European brethren causing their prices to be higher than one would hope.

I think that we can all agree that this forum is far from the gaze of the buzz machine, and that we are here to gain from the experience of some like minded folk. We ask you to dish not to hurt the parties whose wines you find disagreeable, but because we know something of your palate in relation to our own and would find your experiences valuable in our search.

Further, "how the fuck does a grower / maker / whatever even have a chance to know wtf he is doing with a site without a bit of" feedback?
 
originally posted by scottreiner:


But, on a serious note, its all about data.
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i quite enjoyed a carignan 13 from amplify. it had freshness, restraint, and unlike many of the new californians i tried, its finish was integrated and didn't fall off the proverbial cliff.

Further, "how the fuck does a grower / maker / whatever even have a chance to know wtf he is doing with a site without a bit of" feedback?
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if the feedback is to be negative, i'd honestly prefer to get a bit more experience of the wine. i honestly don't get much out of drive by opinions, whether they be positive or negative.

fb.
 
originally posted by Ian Becker:
I tasted the lineup nearly two weeks ago.
I think the Trousseau is one of the best I've ever had, including the top Jura examples. Teagan also made a Chenin that was very good. Sadly, there's hardly any available.

I believe he told me there will be a fall release as well ...
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WTF?!?!? Ian Becker?
 
The 2011 Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 12.9%, is Cornas (Verset, not Allemand) until the last glass, when it gets a bit tannic/green. Rustic, fresh and quite good.
Best, Jim
 
originally posted by Florida Jim:
The 2011 Syrah, Santa Lucia Highlands, 12.9%, is Cornas (Verset, not Allemand) until the last glass, when it gets a bit tannic/green. Rustic, fresh and quite good.
Best, Jim
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I liked it a lot, too, but had a different experience of the wine. I certainly thought Rhone-ish, the acidity was fab in the finish.

I would not have said "Verset" and "rustic" in my notes, both of which would send me to va (which didn't stand out to me). I thought the wine was clean but not slick. There are some stemmy elements, but I wouldn't go as far as "green."

So there you go.
 
I drank the 2010 Mataro last night at Pearl and Ash and it was outstanding. Delicious!

For the those in NYC they have some on the list along with the Carignane for around $50.
 
originally posted by SFJoe:
So "rustic" = "whole cluster"?
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Probably.
Chunky tannins is more what I meant.
And Verset was not intended to mean VA, just his style.
So much for communicating well.
In any event, quite enjoyable.
Best, Jim
 
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