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picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:33:05 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		This won't be the official CTVT thread but I'd like to share my crazy method of picking the wines.

For the next event (sometime in February), we will do a flight of 4 white wines from France.  1 from each of the following regions.  Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone (perhaps white CdP), Sauternes.

We'll try to go for 2006 for the vintage since that should now be widely available.

White French wines are pretty common in a lot of different areas so here is what I'd like to try.  For those people wanting to take part in the CTVT, look around your local shops for the next couple of weeks and see what is relatively common and available from those regions and PM me a few choices you have from each reason, say up to 5.  I have a feeling that we should be able to come up with a few common wines in each category to come up with the final four.

Does this seem like a decent way to pick the wines?


Post #: 1
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:38:35 PM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: online 		Seems pretty democratic.  As an additional measure to check availablilty when the suggestions come in, maybe you could run checks on wine-searcher.  I'd say if there's more than 25 hits, it should be pretty easy to get.

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Post #: 2
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:39:32 PM   
J2K

 

Posts: 427
Joined: 5/5/2008
From: Pittsburgh, PA- U.S.A.
Status: offline 		Sure, sounds good.

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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:42:53 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		yeah probably a little dramatic..    Start with a crazy idea and work the silliness out of it.

HA.. I can't read..  I see you said democratic...not dramatic... 


< Message edited by RoundersRob -- 11/10/2008 1:47:28 PM >

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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:46:44 PM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		or, we could each run our own wine-searcher searches, and only PM with widely available suggestions ... that way Rob doesn't have to run 100+ searches.

Rob,
this sounds like a good idea, but I think the Sauternes will have to be an '05 (haven't seen any '06's on the shelves yet).  Diggin' the white CdP idea

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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:48:57 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		I've seen a couple of 06 Sauternes but you are right, not many.  We'll see what people see in their shops.  I already feel sorry for those guys in Pennsylvania.  Everything I hear about buying wine in that state seems to suck almost as bad as Utah.

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Post #: 6
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:49:54 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: grafstrb
Diggin' the white CdP idea


White CdP is the great unknown to me here.  I've never actually had one.  I almost have a bit of a mental block on it for some reason.

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Post #: 7
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:53:26 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		As much as I would like to, I don't think we'll do this wine.  http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1035134


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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:55:45 PM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		lol ... yeah, i'd be passing on that one

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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 1:58:16 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		Not as bad as the Haut Brion Blanc, which is $570.

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Post #: 10
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 2:02:13 PM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		i hope i never spend $570 on a bottle of white wine ... i think i hope i never spend that much on any bottle of wine, for that matter.

as for the white CdP...i've never had one either ... but i've wanted to for some time ... don't know why i've never pulled the trigger ... perhaps because i'm not much of a white wine drinker, but the CTVT seems like a great excuse to try one out.  Looks like K&L have a couple available ... i'll check out websites for L.A. Wine Co., Wine House, and Winex for other ideas to run a Wine Searcher search on before suggesting.

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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 2:05:25 PM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		It's not from the Rhone, but the Tablas Creek - Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc is a damn fine wine ... basically a white CARhone ... perhaps you've tried this as well. 

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Post #: 12
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 2:10:32 PM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		both of K&L's white CdP's only had 2 results in Wine Searcher (1 of 'em being K&L) ... the seach continues ...

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Post #: 13
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 2:15:42 PM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		although a bit expensive, the 2006 Vieux Telegraphe CdP Blanc fits the "availability" bill ...

http://www.lawineco.com/2007-domaine-du-vieux-telegraphe-chateauneufdupape-la-crau-blanc-w-5042.html?cPath=18

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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 2:18:12 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		I've seen that one around.  White CdP might be hard for everyone to find.

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Post #: 15
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 2:23:21 PM   
grafstrb

 

Posts: 507
Joined: 11/6/2007
From: Los Angeles, via Minnesota
Status: offline 		very true ... perhaps a Condrieu?

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RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 3:13:46 PM   
jhannah27

 

Posts: 523
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Anaheim, CA
Status: offline 		I don't know how widely available they are, but I know that whites from the Langudoc are pretty tasty and are typically inexpensive.  Just a thought.

How come we are focusing on France?  No Germany in there? 

Not complaining, I like the idea of having a more focused tasting than the past two.  Just curious.


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Post #: 17
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 3:30:50 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		I guess I thought that French wines are pretty widely available.  I wouldn't mind trying a German Riesling as well.

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Post #: 18
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 3:32:00 PM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: online 		Well then we might as well throw in Loire and Alsace.  I would not argue anyone that says the finest white's might be in those two regions, but I think Rob is fine with the four picks.  I think the trick will be the Burg:  oak or Chablis?

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Post #: 19
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 3:35:25 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		oak or Chablis..  LOL..  

I'd prefer oak I think.  It is winter afterall so it might smell like my fireplace.

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Post #: 20
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 4:21:06 PM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: online 		Good oak is key to life.

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Post #: 21
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 6:26:17 PM   
cgrimes

 

Posts: 906
Joined: 10/8/2007
From: Massachusetts
Status: offline 		Great idea, Rob!  My wife and I truly lust after French white wine. Come to our house for dinner and we could put on a multi-course meal each paired with French whites, from the most delicate and minerally to the big oak bombs which would stand up to nearly any dish.   However, this will require some skill and guile as availability is hit or miss and the most widely distributed are not generally the best.

However, you can hit four-five different regions and major grape varieties and get a decent sampling of at least the potential of the varietal.

1. Burgundy:  one could pick any of the negotiant houses and choose a village-level wine which would be pretty decent.  If you want oak, I'd say a Meursault or a Puligny-Montrachet would give you what you want.  Some Negotiants:  L. Latour, Jos. Drouhin, Faivley won't break the bank.  Verget makes some nice, reasonable Chablis, if you want that style.

2. Rhone:  Probably the best bet would be to pick a CdP blanc and go with a big producer such as Guigal, or Jaboulet.  I personally have always wanted to try the Beaucastel blanc of which there are two tiers--the lower is a mix of grapes and the reserve (much more expensive) is pure Roussanne. 

3. Loire:  I'd suggest a sweet Chenin Blanc from Coteaux du Layon such as Baumard as a stickie rather than Sauternes.  Many of you may never have had a Baumard before, and if you try one, you may never go back.  Baumard is widely available with a little searching--and you can get a 375ml.

4. Bordeaux:  The dry wines of Bordeaux are lovely, but not quite as pure as those of the Loire, IMHO.  There are many available.  I'd suggest the '05 Carbonnieux blanc which is still readily available.  Another good one is La Louviere.  Both are from Pessac-Leognan

5. Alsace:  Wow, how could one leave out a nice dry Alscacian wine--any kind, but in the winter a Riesling or Gewurtz would be nice sitting around a fire with some cheese.  Zind-Humbrecht is a good producer but Trimbach is also readily available.

Can you tell I'm excited?
Craig

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Post #: 22
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/10/2008 6:50:18 PM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: cgrimes

Great idea, Rob!  My wife and I truly lust after French white wine. Come to our house for dinner and we could put on a multi-course meal each paired with French whites, from the most delicate and minerally to the big oak bombs which would stand up to nearly any dish.   However, this will require some skill and guile as availability is hit or miss and the most widely distributed are not generally the best.

However, you can hit four-five different regions and major grape varieties and get a decent sampling of at least the potential of the varietal.

1. Burgundy:  one could pick any of the negotiant houses and choose a village-level wine which would be pretty decent.  If you want oak, I'd say a Meursault or a Puligny-Montrachet would give you what you want.  Some Negotiants:  L. Latour, Jos. Drouhin, Faivley won't break the bank.  Verget makes some nice, reasonable Chablis, if you want that style.

2. Rhone:  Probably the best bet would be to pick a CdP blanc and go with a big producer such as Guigal, or Jaboulet.  I personally have always wanted to try the Beaucastel blanc of which there are two tiers--the lower is a mix of grapes and the reserve (much more expensive) is pure Roussanne. 

3. Loire:  I'd suggest a sweet Chenin Blanc from Coteaux du Layon such as Baumard as a stickie rather than Sauternes.  Many of you may never have had a Baumard before, and if you try one, you may never go back.  Baumard is widely available with a little searching--and you can get a 375ml.

4. Bordeaux:  The dry wines of Bordeaux are lovely, but not quite as pure as those of the Loire, IMHO.  There are many available.  I'd suggest the '05 Carbonnieux blanc which is still readily available.  Another good one is La Louviere.  Both are from Pessac-Leognan

5. Alsace:  Wow, how could one leave out a nice dry Alscacian wine--any kind, but in the winter a Riesling or Gewurtz would be nice sitting around a fire with some cheese.  Zind-Humbrecht is a good producer but Trimbach is also readily available.

Can you tell I'm excited?
Craig


Baumard is actually a pretty good idea if readily available for others.  I definitely enjoy that one and they are often better then other stickies.

Trimbach is really easy to find most places so that could be a good backup as well.

(in reply to cgrimes)
Post #: 23
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/11/2008 4:16:53 AM   
Wrighty

 

Posts: 768
Joined: 10/3/2005
From: Hong Kong
Status: offline 		I guess I must have already been logged off when this was discussed on Skype.  The question I'd have asked though is why 4 whites in winter?  Understand the desire for a 'theme' but .... And why 4 French whites, not 4 whites from around the world?

If it's going to be 4 Frenchies then I'm sure (in HK at least) that Sauternes will be more available than Loire sweeties and would also have thought Alsace more than Rhone.

If it's not 4 Frenchies how about:
A Burg vs. a Cali, Aussie and South African Chard?
An Alsace riesling vs. a German, Australian and Oregan riesling?
A Loire and Bordeaux vs. a Kiwi and South African sauvignon blanc?

Just my two penneth.

Wrighty

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Post #: 24
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/11/2008 7:40:18 AM   
Paul S

 

Posts: 504
Joined: 1/15/2008
From: Singapore
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: grafstrb

It's not from the Rhone, but the Tablas Creek - Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc is a damn fine wine ... basically a white CARhone ... perhaps you've tried this as well. 


Pretty good indeed. I do prefer their reds though. The last few vintages have been really outstanding.

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Post #: 25
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/11/2008 9:15:31 AM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline 		What is the availability of California Chardonnay in the far reaches of the world?  Comparison tastings are always fun.

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Post #: 26
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/11/2008 10:30:33 AM   
NiklasW

 

Posts: 509
Joined: 10/13/2007
From: Finland
Status: online 		Well, we have

Ironstone Vineyards Calaveras County Reserve Chardonnay

Fetzer Valley Oaks Chardonnay

Beringer Stone Cellars Chardonnay

and Turning Leaf Chardonnay

available here in Finland...

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Post #: 27
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/11/2008 10:34:33 AM   
fingers

 

Posts: 736
Joined: 8/26/2006
From: Santa Ana, CA
Status: online
quote:

ORIGINAL: NiklasW

Well, we have

Ironstone Vineyards Calaveras County Reserve Chardonnay

Fetzer Valley Oaks Chardonnay

Beringer Stone Cellars Chardonnay

and Turning Leaf Chardonnay

available here in Finland...



yuck.  How are we going to get you some decent juice?

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Post #: 28
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/11/2008 10:36:57 AM   
RoundersRob

 

Posts: 751
Joined: 7/1/2006
From: Santa Cruz, CA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: NiklasW

Well, we have

Ironstone Vineyards Calaveras County Reserve Chardonnay

Fetzer Valley Oaks Chardonnay

Beringer Stone Cellars Chardonnay

and Turning Leaf Chardonnay

available here in Finland...



Wow - that is a lot of really crappy Chardonnay. 

(in reply to NiklasW)
Post #: 29
RE: picking the wines for the next CTVT - 11/11/2008 10:52:00 AM   
Colonel Lawrence

 

Posts: 2093
Joined: 4/24/2006
From: Arabia
Status: offline 		If I'm not much mistaken that's the sort of stuff we get shipped to us.
I assumed you kept the best stuff at home, or on one of these infamous private lists.
L.

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Post #: 30
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