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Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 12:14:26 PM   
Maestro

 

Posts: 521
Joined: 10/4/2007
Status: online 		Just came accross an $8 California red, which I had to buy just because of the sheer madness of its varietal blend.

It lists:
SANGIOVESE, SYRAH, CARIGNANE, BARBERA, ZINFANDEL, MOURVEDRE, MONTEPULCIANO, PETIT VERDOT, TANNAT, AGLIANICO, CHARBONO, GRENACHE, TOURIGA NACIONAL...

...all in a bottle.

I had to buy one bottle just to check this out...

I suspect there may be many other cases of blending gone wild out there.
Post #: 1
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 12:22:24 PM   
GalvezGuy

 

Posts: 298
Joined: 5/10/2007
From: Galveston, TX
Status: offline 		Although not as many varietals, this is one of the more unusual blends I have come across.

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RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 1:10:41 PM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline 		I have mentioned in a previous thread that Bonny Doon is notorious for blending as many different grapes as they can find and cram into a bottle.  To me a wine like this is reminiscent of what my mother used to call "casserole," which in reality was whatever was left over in the fridge, thrown into a baking dish and covered with broken potato chips.  I would really love to be in the meeting where they decide which grapes to put into this bottle.  I imagine it's more of a discussion of what NOT to add, more so than a discussion of what should be added.  The list would be shorter that way.

Oh, and I was at a tasting event about 6 months back and in speaking with the Big House people, I found that they have actually split from Bonny Doon and are their own entity now, so the CT listing isn't really correct anymore.  (not that this has anything to do with this thread)

< Message edited by jhannah27 -- 8/5/2008 1:11:12 PM >

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Post #: 3
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 1:42:13 PM   
Pontac

 

Posts: 339
Joined: 8/3/2006
Status: offline 		The 2001 Big House Red contained even more varieties:

20% Syrah,15% Cabernet Franc, 14% Carignane, 11% Sangiovese, 9% Barbera, 7% Petite Sirah, 5% Petite Verdot, 4% Grenache, 3% Old Vine Mourvedre, 3% Dolcetto, 2% Nebbiolo, 2% Zinfandel, 2% Charbono, 2% Cinsault, 1% Viognier, 1% Riesling, 1% Mixed Red, 1% Miscellaneous.

But when wine law allows 25% of other varieties in a so-called 'varietal' wine, youc ould have just as many unacknowledged varieties in you Cal Cab.

Bonny Doons preciseness, and Ridge's also, shows there is no reason why wine law should not make it mandatory that all varieties are listed

(in reply to Maestro)
Post #: 4
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 1:44:13 PM   
Pontac

 

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Joined: 8/3/2006
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quote:

ORIGINAL: GalvezGuy

Although not as many varietals, this is one of the more unusual blends I have come across.


Just four Rhone varieties....

A red Bordeaux could contain five

(in reply to GalvezGuy)
Post #: 5
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 2:54:44 PM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Pontac

The 2001 Big House Red contained even more varieties:

20% Syrah,15% Cabernet Franc, 14% Carignane, 11% Sangiovese, 9% Barbera, 7% Petite Sirah, 5% Petite Verdot, 4% Grenache, 3% Old Vine Mourvedre, 3% Dolcetto, 2% Nebbiolo, 2% Zinfandel, 2% Charbono, 2% Cinsault, 1% Viognier, 1% Riesling, 1% Mixed Red, 1% Miscellaneous.



My favorite is the "1% Miscellaneous."  What the heck does that mean? Are they referring to the stems?  The mice that get caught in the machines? 


_____________________________

"Quickly! Bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
Aristophanes 450 - 385 b.c.

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Post #: 6
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 3:00:47 PM   
Blue Shorts

 

Posts: 297
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jhannah27


My favorite is the "1% Miscellaneous."  What the heck does that mean? Are they referring to the stems?  The mice that get caught in the machines? 



Thw two winemakers (blenders) in charge of this wine:

WM1:  Hey Phil!  What's in that bucket over there?
WM2:  I'm not sure.  It kind of looks like grapes... or Frankenberries.
WM1: What the heck, throw them in the tank with the others.  We'll list them as "miscellaneous".  People that buy $5 wines can't be too picky.

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Post #: 7
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 3:04:30 PM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Shorts

Thw two winemakers (blenders) in charge of this wine:

WM1:  Hey Phil!  What's in that bucket over there?
WM2:  I'm not sure.  It kind of looks like grapes... or Frankenberries.
WM1: What the heck, throw them in the tank with the others.  We'll list them as "miscellaneous".  People that buy $5 wines can't be too picky.


LOL!  Frankenberries...Too funny.


_____________________________

"Quickly! Bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
Aristophanes 450 - 385 b.c.

(in reply to Blue Shorts)
Post #: 8
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 3:26:53 PM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Shorts

Thw two winemakers (blenders) in charge of this wine:

WM1:  Hey Phil!  What's in that bucket over there?
WM2:  I'm not sure.  It kind of looks like grapes... or Frankenberries.
WM1: What the heck, throw them in the tank with the others.  We'll list them as "miscellaneous".  People that buy $5 wines can't be too picky.


The more that I think about it, this exchange is why I have issue with producers like Bonny Doon.  While I know this is a fictional interaction and not the missing Nixon Watergate tapes, there has to be some truth to it.  I can't imagine that they put this "miscellaneous" stuff in there thinking,

"By George! We have found the missing component to this blend of 17 other varietals...Miscellaneous!  Yes!  This makes the flavor profile we have been struggling for years on complete!"

Like adding that 1% makes any bit of difference in the wine.


_____________________________

"Quickly! Bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
Aristophanes 450 - 385 b.c.

(in reply to jhannah27)
Post #: 9
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 3:35:40 PM   
Maestro

 

Posts: 521
Joined: 10/4/2007
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: jhannah27

Like adding that 1% makes any bit of difference in the wine.



1% Petit Verdot on a blend of Cab Sauv and Merlot might make a difference.

But 1% Miscellaneous in something that already has 17 varietals, including "lightweight" stuff such as SANGIOVESE, SYRAH, ZINFANDEL, MOURVEDRE, TANNAT, AGLIANICO, CHARBONO, GRENACHE, and TOURIGA NACIONAL cannot make any difference.

Actually once you have SANGIOVESE, SYRAH, ZINFANDEL, MOURVEDRE, TANNAT, AGLIANICO, CHARBONO, GRENACHE, and TOURIGA NACIONAL in more than 50% of the blend, I think you can pretty much add WD40 to the mix and no one will notice...

(in reply to jhannah27)
Post #: 10
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 3:40:00 PM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Maestro


Actually once you have SANGIOVESE, SYRAH, ZINFANDEL, MOURVEDRE, TANNAT, AGLIANICO, CHARBONO, GRENACHE, and TOURIGA NACIONAL in more than 50% of the blend, I think you can pretty much add WD40 to the mix and no one will notice...


A yes the truth of "miscellaneous" revealed! 

A little WD40 never hurt anyone.  Good for the bowels I hear.


_____________________________

"Quickly! Bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
Aristophanes 450 - 385 b.c.

(in reply to Maestro)
Post #: 11
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 3:46:56 PM   
mjobtx

 

Posts: 115
Joined: 11/20/2004
From: Plano, TX
Status: offline 		What a creative way to get rid of the leftovers.  Waste not, want not...drink not!

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Post #: 12
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 9:13:51 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1493
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline 		This wine reminds me Jerome Klapka Jerome's recipe for Irish stew
"He said that was the advantage of Irish stew: you got rid of such a lot of things. ... "
 
as I  recall, water rat was part of the recipe and seems like this exotic mix can benefit from it as well.



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Post #: 13
RE: Blending madness... - 8/5/2008 9:22:48 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1493
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Pontac

quote:

ORIGINAL: GalvezGuy

Although not as many varietals, this is one of the more unusual blends I have come across.


Just four Rhone varieties....

A red Bordeaux could contain five


Pontac, can you VERIFY your information before you post it here? This is one respectable wine board and not your WS board to post any bullshit you see fit.

Red Bordeaux can contain SIX and not five grapes:
http://www.cellarnotes.net/bordeaux.htm



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Post #: 14
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 2:58:39 AM   
Pontac

 

Posts: 339
Joined: 8/3/2006
Status: offline 		There is nothing wrong with my statement that a Bordeaux could contain five varieties....

It could. I didn't say five was the maxiumum allowed by AC law.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 15
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 3:17:58 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1493
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Pontac

There is nothing wrong with my statement that a Bordeaux could contain five varieties....

It could. I didn't say five was the maxiumum allowed by AC law.


Than why 5 and not 4 or 3 or any other number under 6?
What point were you trying to make by using FIVE and not any other number?

C'mon, fess up, you honestly thought that 5 was maximum and used it because of it.

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Post #: 16
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 6:10:24 AM   
Pontac

 

Posts: 339
Joined: 8/3/2006
Status: offline 		Just three more to your  1000th post :)

Simply I was saying that 4 varieties in a blend is nothing out of the ordinary and that an everyday Bordeaux could contain 5 (i.e. one more).   I think most of us have drunk a Bordeaux with 4 varieties, I am not sure I have had one with all 5 although I know there are a few Chateaux still growing Carmenere.

If I'd really wanted to hit the numbers I could have mentioned Chateauneuf du Pape which allows 13 varieties in its blend.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 17
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 8:45:38 AM   
Blue Shorts

 

Posts: 297
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: jhannah27

The more that I think about it, this exchange is why I have issue with producers like Bonny Doon.  While I know this is a fictional interaction and not the missing Nixon Watergate tapes, there has to be some truth to it.  I can't imagine that they put this "miscellaneous" stuff in there thinking,

"By George! We have found the missing component to this blend of 17 other varietals...Miscellaneous!  Yes!  This makes the flavor profile we have been struggling for years on complete!"

Like adding that 1% makes any bit of difference in the wine.



There are other reasons why they might list miscellaneous in the grape list.  Often, a vineyard has many varietals intermixed.  This was more common years ago, and is still practiced by some today.  Maybe Bonny Dune used some of those vineyards and knew that there were other varietals.... just not what they were.  "Miscellaneous" could be 10 varietals combined.

Having said that... I think that they make themselves look worse than they need to by listing the misc.  It's not required.  Sometimes I wonder if they simply didn't open a can of Welsh's Grape Juice and add it to the mix for "flavor".  that would explain the misc. 

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The best wine is the one that you haven't yet tried.

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Post #: 18
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 8:57:26 AM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Blue Shorts

Sometimes I wonder if they simply didn't open a can of Welsh's Grape Juice and add it to the mix for "flavor".  that would explain the misc. 


This wouldn't surprise me considering the experiences I have had with their stuff...

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=483877

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=481224

http://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=520382

< Message edited by jhannah27 -- 8/6/2008 9:25:34 AM >

_____________________________

"Quickly! Bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
Aristophanes 450 - 385 b.c.

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Post #: 19
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 9:14:09 AM   
Blue Shorts

 

Posts: 297
Joined: 2/5/2008
From: Santa Cruz, California
Status: offline 		Now that is funny, and ironic.  So maybe we're on to something.  Grape juice and grain alcohol.  That sure would save time and effort.

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Post #: 20
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 9:25:16 AM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline 		Actually though, if the 1% miscellaneous is actually Welch's grape juice, which seems to be the prominent flavor in these wines, then I have been proven wrong.  The 1% DOES make all the difference! 

_____________________________

"Quickly! Bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
Aristophanes 450 - 385 b.c.

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Post #: 21
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 10:06:13 AM   
zitarell

 

Posts: 26
Joined: 7/1/2008
Status: offline 		While "1% Miscellaneous" is worthy of scorn, let's not forget about "1% Mixed Red," which is equally ludicrous, especially given the "mixed red" that comes before it.

After extensive research, I have determined that the "1% Mixed Red" contains the following:

22% Tempranillo
17% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Blood of the Innocents
13% Merlot
10% Welch's Grape Jelly
10% Pinot Meunier
8% Yak Butter Tea
4% Malbec
1% Miscellaneous



(in reply to jhannah27)
Post #: 22
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 10:23:18 AM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: zitarell

While "1% Miscellaneous" is worthy of scorn, let's not forget about "1% Mixed Red," which is equally ludicrous, especially given the "mixed red" that comes before it.

After extensive research, I have determined that the "1% Mixed Red" contains the following:

22% Tempranillo
17% Cabernet Sauvignon
15% Blood of the Innocents
13% Merlot
10% Welch's Grape Jelly
10% Pinot Meunier
8% Yak Butter Tea
4% Malbec
1% Miscellaneous





Believe me, the "1% Mixed Red" has not gone overlooked.  I just can't put the thought of 1% Mixed Red and 1% Miscellaneous in my head at the same time or it might explode from the stupidity.

What's the difference between Miscellaneous and Mixed Red anyway?  I imagine there is some white in the Miscellaneous, but why not just call it 2% miscellaneous?  It would seem that would make everyone's life easier.

Ahhh!  Thinking about this just made me stupider.

I just googled Yak Butter Tea, not knowing what it was, and all I can say is, "bleh!!!"


< Message edited by jhannah27 -- 8/6/2008 10:28:10 AM >

_____________________________

"Quickly! Bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
Aristophanes 450 - 385 b.c.

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Post #: 23
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 11:09:10 AM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 408
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		Many dry red wines from Portugal contain upwards of 30 varieties ... and some of these wines are actually good!

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Post #: 24
RE: Blending madness... - 8/6/2008 1:07:25 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 1493
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: zitarell

15% Blood of the Innocents



I thought this ingredient was only used for Passover matzah...
:)

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