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Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one who uses "Condom" as a wine descriptor.

 
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Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one who ... - 3/8/2008 11:19:40 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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Few years ago I posted wine note on Wine Spectator Board and used word CONDOM to describe my impressions.
The regulars almost put me on the cross and if they could tar and feather me in real life for it, they would surely gladly do that. My elephant skin prevented me from commiting suicide, but memories of it are still in my head.

To my HUGE surprise,
I read that Daniel Rogov, leading Israeli wine critic uses the same descriptor as well!

From http://stratsplace.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=16474 :

posted by Rogov:
An increasing number of people are using polyethylene bags to "remove" TCA from wines. It is true that the molecular structure of TCA and polyethylene have an attraction one to the other and that the bags will absorb some (but not all) of the TCA. The system is even used in some wineries when the winemaker realizes that he/she has a TCA problem pre-bottling. In those cases they often soak the bags in buttermilk first as this seems even more effective*
I have experimented a bit with polyetyhlene (both with and without the buttermilk soak) and have found that indeed the system does remove much of the TCA. Unfortunately, at least to my palate the plastic also removes a good many of the more delicate aromas and flavors within the wine itself. Even worse to my taste, it adds a hint of what I can only call a "condom-like" sensation that comes in on the finish and lingers something as if you had been sucking on a lightly dusted children's balloon.
My personal solution - TCA that I notice = a wine that goes down the drain. Depending on the wine that may throw me into a state of minor albeit temporary depression but I prefer depression to chewing on condoms.
Best
Rogov


and


Ah, but once I actually received a shock from my use of that word.
I have reached that elevated point in life (perhaps because of age)at which the editors of my newspaper and I have a more-or-less agreement. If they want to change more than a comma or a semi-colon, I get a phone call.
Not too long ago, I wrote about several meals on which I dined, each based entirely on molecular gastronomy. The opening cocktail contained gin with a molecular olive in it. It looked like an olive, so help me it did, but I wrote that it "tasted like an olive-flavored liquid chocolate mousse encased in a condom".
The editor in chief of the newspaper phone me and asked if it would be possible to change that word. One picks one's battles with one's editors-in-chief with great care,so I agreed to change that to a "plastic balloon".
What was amusing was two days later at the unveiling of several new wines at one of the at which these meals had been served, the chef, in near hyterical laughter asked "didn't you mean condom"?
Best
Rogov


Now  I can't get rid of the melody in my head "I feeeeeeel good, as I always should..."
:)


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RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/9/2008 7:37:35 AM   
seanr7

 

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I will have to trust you Rogov as to the taste since I have never had a condom in my mouth.

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 2
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/9/2008 2:45:24 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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quote:

ORIGINAL: seanr7

I will have to trust you Rogov as to the taste since I have never had a condom in my mouth.


1) this is what we call in Law "heresay". If you stated this in the court of law, the members of the jury might believe you or...not. You can't present undisputable prrof that this statement is truth, nothing but the truth, and kinda need the leap of faith from the audience.

2) Can you list all other things you never had in your mouth (allegedly) but read in the tasting notes of well known wine critics?

I bet you $100 your list will be rather long.

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(in reply to seanr7)
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RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/10/2008 12:37:52 AM   
NiklasW

 

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Taste and smell are very tightly linked to each other, so I guess that when we smell something, we inately "know" what it tastes like. Still, I'm glad that when I smell **** (barnyard, saddle leather, etc) in a Bordeaux, the wine doesn't actually taste like it! 

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 4
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/10/2008 3:34:55 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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quote:

ORIGINAL: NiklasW

Taste and smell are very tightly linked to each other, so I guess that when we smell something, we inately "know" what it tastes like.


Bingo!

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(in reply to NiklasW)
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RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/10/2008 1:55:23 PM   
jamscreator

 

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From: Indiana USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Serge Birbrair

Few years ago I posted wine note on Wine Spectator Board and used word CONDOM to describe my impressions.
The regulars almost put me on the cross and if they could tar and feather me in real life for it, they would surely gladly do that. My elephant skin prevented me from commiting suicide, but memories of it are still in my head.

To my HUGE surprise,
I read that Daniel Rogov, leading Israeli wine critic uses the same descriptor as well!


Leading Israeli wine critic?  Uh.........is that kind of like "the leading oceanographer stationed in Phoenix, AZ"?  Kudos to you two.

_____________________________

Jeff Lawson

"Drink what you like, and like what you drink."
-Robert Mondavi

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 6
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/10/2008 2:06:07 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 2212
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
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Thank you , James, the voices from the peanuts gallery are always appreciated.

My credentials - none,
My "partner in crime" credentials:
1) More wine books written than some people have read in their entire lives:
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Daniel%20Rogov&page=1
2) Wine and Food Criric of Haaretz
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/LiArt.jhtml?contrassID=2&subContrassID=9&sbSubContrassID=0
3) Few other wine acomplishments:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=SUNA%2CSUNA%3A2007-12%2CSUNA%3Aen&q=daniel+rogov+&btnG=Search

Now, dear Jeff Lawson  aka jamscreator
please post your credentials and expertise in the areas of:
wine, oceanography and other related topics of interest.

I tried to find them myself but couldn't find much beyond a few posts on some internet chat boards:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rls=SUNA%2CSUNA%3A2007-12%2CSUNA%3Aen&q=Jeff+Lawson+wine

Looking forward to read your acomplishments with great interest,
yours truly,
Serge Birbrair.


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(in reply to jamscreator)
Post #: 7
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/10/2008 2:26:24 PM   
jamscreator

 

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From: Indiana USA
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HAHAHAHAHAHA!  Seems I've struck a nerve from our friend in the retirement sunny state.  I save lives for a living, and wine is just a hobby.  I believe my wine credentials are the same as most everyone else on this wonderful site.  I was just musing that I had never heard of a "leading" Israeli wine critic.  Sorry if your feathers got ruffled.  Was not the intention.  I think I'll go drink a glass or four of wine.


< Message edited by jamscreator -- 3/10/2008 2:27:40 PM >


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Jeff Lawson

"Drink what you like, and like what you drink."
-Robert Mondavi

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 8
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/10/2008 3:18:26 PM   
Serge Birbrair

 

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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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quote:

ORIGINAL: jamscreator

HAHAHAHAHAHA!  Seems I've struck a nerve from our friend in the retirement sunny state.  I save lives for a living, and wine is just a hobby.  I believe my wine credentials are the same as most everyone else on this wonderful site.  I was just musing that I had never heard of a "leading" Israeli wine critic.  Sorry if your feathers got ruffled.  Was not the intention.  I think I'll go drink a glass or four of wine.



OK, seems like credentials and achievements to speak of are not exactly your cup of tea.
My nerves are fine. They susrvived TMA debacle, stock market plunges on the daily basis (hmmm, I am short a few though)
But enough about me.

Let's talk about  YOU and  other thing you never heard of.
You bring your wine glass, I'll bring mine and we'll compile the list.
My bet that the list will be at least 100 lines long, so I'll follow your lead and bring 4 glasses.

Let's start with easy ones:
do you know who said:
"The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco"?

BTW, you save lives and I used to help putting big smiles on many faces,
so we are collegues of sort.

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(in reply to jamscreator)
Post #: 9
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/10/2008 5:20:34 PM   
jamscreator

 

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From: Indiana USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: Serge Birbrair

Let's talk about  YOU and  other thing you never heard of.
You bring your wine glass, I'll bring mine and we'll compile the list.
My bet that the list will be at least 100 lines long, so I'll follow your lead and bring 4 glasses.


You're cracking me up.  You want to compare lists of who has more knowledge?  Wow, that sounds like fun but I'm going to pass. 

No need to talk about me.  Everything I care to share is in the forums.   Let us move on. 

_____________________________

Jeff Lawson

"Drink what you like, and like what you drink."
-Robert Mondavi

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 10
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/11/2008 3:54:07 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 2212
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From: Boca Raton, Florida
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quote:

ORIGINAL: jamscreator

You want to compare lists of who has more knowledge? 


Of course not, I know answer to this one already. :)

Now, do you still believe that argument based on:
"This might not be true because I never heard of it" is a weak argument?

The question is rethorical, no answer is neeed,
and NOW let's move on. 

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(in reply to jamscreator)
Post #: 11
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/11/2008 4:27:09 AM   
Maestro

 

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Do you guys need a hug or something?

(in reply to Serge Birbrair)
Post #: 12
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/11/2008 4:52:01 AM   
jamscreator

 

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Joined: 9/10/2007
From: Indiana USA
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A hug?  Nah, just a lil' more wine.  We're all good.

_____________________________

Jeff Lawson

"Drink what you like, and like what you drink."
-Robert Mondavi

(in reply to Maestro)
Post #: 13
RE: Haters, eat your hearts out! I am not the only one ... - 3/11/2008 5:49:07 AM   
Serge Birbrair

 

Posts: 2212
Joined: 4/23/2006
From: Boca Raton, Florida
Status: offline
Whose idea was
"Make love not war"? :)

I am afraid bringing alcohol into the process might get everybody rowdy. Anyway.....I am bringing condom just in case :)

Cheers!


_____________________________

Do you really think you understand terroir!? -

(in reply to jamscreator)
Post #: 14
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