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Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 6:54:59 AM

esb

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Joined: 1/17/2008
From: Bend, Oregon
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'03 Vignamaggio Chianti Classico. It's biologically stable, with good corks and no sign of heat damage but the wine is an up and down rollercoaster. I purchased two cases for my house wine and have been drinking it this summer.

The wine is balanced, soft and generally very good. But some bottles from the same case have strong, bitter wood tannin and slightly muted fruit. Any ideas?

Also, I have had the wine for about one year - so who knows about its past.

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 10:25:42 AM

amm3rd

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Joined: 6/17/2008
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I have never seen it as bad as you are saying, but I've had cases where that happens. Almost always a large production wine that has a broad appellation style. I stay away from those producers in the future...AMM

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 1:25:37 PM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 314
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From: Santa Cruz, California
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I notice bottle variation fairly often. Right now it happining with a bourgogne from arnoux. One bottle is great. The next is OK. One is smooth with well integrated acid and tannins. The next is very tannic and seems like it's a barrel sample. Go figure.

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 1:38:31 PM

J2K

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Could some of these variations be attributed to what you are eating or ate that day?

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 2:24:40 PM

Blue Shorts

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It's possible. The Arnoux Pinot Fin is a very light bodied pinot, so it could easily be affected by food, mood, etc. I don't notice this much of a variation with other light bodied pinots.

THe variation was so large that one day, my wife and I are drinking the Arnoux and ordering 6 more bottles. The next day, we had another bottle and cancelled the order.

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 2:56:52 PM

J2K

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I've heard this from others and I have experienced it also.
My only explanation is that it's affected by whatever food or drink you consumed that day.
Could the bottles in the same case really have that much variation?

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 3:07:04 PM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 314
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From: Santa Cruz, California
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Your explanation sure makes more sense than bottle variation.

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/19/2008 3:20:42 PM

esb

Posts: 125
Joined: 1/17/2008
From: Bend, Oregon
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I agree, food has a big influence on the way you perceive a wine. But in my case, with the vignamaggio, it is definitely something else.

Blue, same thing happened to me. I purchased the wine after tasting one (good) bottle, only to find out later it was inconsistent.

I also have had other cases of bottle variation but usually identifying the reason is pretty simple. I had good corks damaged by the corker at bottling resulting in some variation and a few slight leakers. I have also had instability in some bottles but not all. But with this, I'm not sure.

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RE: Bottle variation . . . - 8/20/2008 8:45:57 PM

Blue Shorts

Posts: 314
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From: Santa Cruz, California
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OK. I found out what was going on with the Arnoux pinot noir.

The wine needs to be decanted for at least 2 hours. The first couple of bottles I double decanted with a Vinturi. The one that we didn't like was a pop and pour.

My bad. The wine needs another year and air.

< Message edited by Blue Shorts -- 8/20/2008 8:46:49 PM >

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