Impressions August 2020, Part I

[Jeff Grossman]

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:

originally posted by MarkS:

originally posted by Pavel Tchichikov:
wouldn't it be easier to classify sandlands as italian?
worked out nicely with niagara peninsula and swabia

You sound like Putin now. Ukraine is Russia, right?

i had no idea he was involved with selection massale

Wasn't that the Crimean winery that made all that expensive sweet stuff, turn of the last century or so?

 

[Pavel Tchichikov]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
Wasn't that the Crimean winery that made all that expensive sweet stuff, turn of the last century or so?

Massandra. Nick II's pet project. The court was obsessed with Tokaji from you know where, but had originally failed to produce anything close to that level in Crimea, and eventually ended up owning and controlling vineyards in Hungary with the dual purpose of picking up essential knowhow. Their take 2 (or 3?) in Crimea by the end of the century was allegedly well received by his highness.

 

[Christian Miller (CMM)]

originally posted by mark e:

originally posted by MLipton:
Is GV the white equivalent of Nebbiolo in the sense of being strongly tied to one location?

Mark Lipton

I think so. Never had one outside of Austria that resembled the Austrian ones in any way, including wines from Germany and Alto Adige. Even other areas of Austria outside of the Kremstal, Kamptal, and Wachau leave me fairly indifferent. But I would put Chenin Blanc in the same category, as well.

I'd agree for the more complex GVs, but I've had a few non-Austrian GVs that were quite good in the fresher, simpler "snap pea" style. Chehalem & Stereophonic come to mind.

Seems doubly true for Chenin. I love some of the SA Chenin Blancs, but they (and all other non-Touraine/Anjou Chenins I've tried) aren't remotely like Vouvray or Savennieres.

 

[Pavel Tchichikov]

originally posted by Jeff Grossman:
And, the evening after the Albanian food, I also had a tuna dinner and also pulled a Tiberio Trebbiano d'Abruzzo but of 2020. I would have called the green/vegetal thing 'beany' rather than fennel but it has the same minerally finish and somewhat heavy body.

feeling empowered by the glou glou gamay thread to generalize about vintages, i will dare say that i've had concerns about 2020 italian whites so far with the disclaimer that i've not tasted anything as significant as tiberio yet. I was able to navigate their 2018 counterparts with greater ease, given a minor attitude adjustment.