Screaming Nigl

S

Sharon Bowman

Sharon Bowman
Sorry. I just can't help myself.

I chose to post this, though, more seriously to ask about the unexpected. Recently, I discovered Grner Veltliner. I also discovered California cult cabernets. (All right, just one.)

This has got me thinking: what else am I egregiously missing? My wine knowledge is almost 100% French.

Jay Miller has done his best to internationalize me, but my visits to New York are so sorrowfully few and far between.

Thoughts welcome.
 
There's this country just to the east of France where they make wines from a grape called Riesling . . .

Also, a just beyond the Alps from France an area that used to be connected to Savoie where they make wines from a grape called Nebbiolo and the people speak a dialect related to Provenale . . .
 
And don't forget the Franken sylvaners that rise to heights unparalleled in France proper.

Not that this should get in the way of any German Riesling education.

What about Piedmont and Northern Italy more generally? Have you had many of those wines?
 
If you don't know Barolo, you don't know shit.

Orange wines from FriuliVenezia Giulia are what all the cool kids are drinking.

Txakoli from Basque Spain.

Word is born.
 
Barbera.

Lagrein.

Valpolicella/Ripasso/Amarone -- I find Ripasso is often the perfect thing for winter soups that are tough to match otherwise.
 
Speaking of Txakoli. We went up to Newark (NJPAC) last Friday to hear the Boston Symphony.

Before the concert we went into the Ironbound and ate at a little place called "Casa Vasca" which I think decodes to "Basque House." The folks there spoke Basque and the cuisine was Basque.

It was a real improvement over the predictability of the usual pan-Iberian stuff in the Ironbound. I had a great Pulpo Galiciano, octopus, and Louise had veal in a sauce with sherry and cream.

We ended up with a Conde de Valdemar Rioja Reserva which was awfully easy drinking.

IF you happen to be in Newark NJ TRY to go to Casa Vasca. BTW they even have a free parking lot!

Frank
 
Some good suggestions. I would echo Barolo, although the stuff ain't cheap. Just had a 1998 Clerico Barolo Ciabot Mentin Ginestra that blew me away. This bottle you might still find in Europe??

Anyway, the Barolo are expensive, but one can get the equivalent of a Grand Cru for close to $100 in the USA from a great vintage (compare the price of a Burgundy), e.g., the 2004 Clerico Ciabot Mentin Ginestra. These also require long cellaring (the accessibility of the 1998 Clerico, only 10 years old, was a bit of a surprise) but then you are still young.

Otherwise, Pinot Noir from the U.S. (much more than Cabernet, which is still dominated by big honking donking high alcohol wines). Even the Pinot seem to fall into two categories, with the super-ripe alcoholic kind still being prevalent (went to one tasting of these from Pisoni Vineyard and found only one of them, the Arcadian, drinkable), but also a more restrained or balanced variety (e.g., Rhys, Dehlinger, Anthill Farms, and ??). You have to probably be on a mailing list for all of these--they don't appear often even in U.S. stores.
 
originally posted by VLM:
BaroloIf you don't know Barolo, you don't know shit.

Orange wines from FriuliVenezia Giulia are what all the cool kids are drinking.

Txakoli from Basque Spain.

Word is born.
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I have to admit, I've been panting to get into this junk for years (Piedmont Barolo, that is), but with the betting starting at $50, for at game that takes 10 years + for a result, it is hard to motivate. I may as well buy shares in Berkshire-Hathaway.
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
BTW,can give you some suggestions for shops in Paris where you can find German and Piemotese wines if you are interested.
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I'm interested. I've never run across any.
 
originally posted by Cliff:
originally posted by Claude Kolm:
BTW,can give you some suggestions for shops in Paris where you can find German and Piemotese wines if you are interested.
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I'm interested. I've never run across any.
Click to expand...

I also was wondering what Claude was referring to. I guess everyone knows Lavinia so it must be more than that.
 
There is an Italian wine store in the 11th arrondissement (avenue Parmentier) called IdeaVino, but I would be curious to hear more addresses, as well as the German one. Claude?

Ignacio: cornalin! Great suggestion. I'm getting on that one.
 
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