What does one do when one wants to enjoy a bottle of wine during the day, but also hopes to go to the gym with the lovely young lady later in the night?
Forgoe the wine.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
When is the right time to open a bottle?
I was recently asked at a dinner: when is the right time to open a special bottle? My answer was straightforward: if the wine's ready to drink, make your own "right time." Invite some special friends over and open a bottle. Go on a date with someone you love and open a bottle. Go on a road trip to a bed and breakfast and open a bottle that night. Since the best time to enjoy wine is often when one is happiest, open a special bottle during such a moment. So, for my Grange, or many of my Insignia, or most of my Ports, I'll open them when they're ready and when the mood strikes.
However, there are also a handful of wines that I have reserved for some very special moments. And in this case, there are some wines that should be saved. Hopefully I'll be sharing them with the lovely young lady. These wines are, in no particular order: a 2001 Chateau d'Yquem, a 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia, a 1995 Chateau Cheval Blanc, and a 1977 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port. Care to make any guesses for which occasions I would like to open them?
However, there are also a handful of wines that I have reserved for some very special moments. And in this case, there are some wines that should be saved. Hopefully I'll be sharing them with the lovely young lady. These wines are, in no particular order: a 2001 Chateau d'Yquem, a 2002 Joseph Phelps Insignia, a 1995 Chateau Cheval Blanc, and a 1977 Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port. Care to make any guesses for which occasions I would like to open them?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Undue influence of wine critics.
So, a major wine critic recently wrote about his own personal preferences for wine. We also have recent a study pointing out that consistently high scores from recognized critics will put upward pressure on the price of wine. Throw in the absolute idiocy of the 100-point scale, and we get a wine market that's skewed (in the premium categories) to the tastes of a few influential critics.
It's insane. Wine publications push the 100-point scale because status consumers like saying they have the hot bottles (wine-pun intended) that JL, RP, et al. love. The new, wannabes make wines that sell -- before a single vintage is released -- for over $100 a bottle (sorry, but buying Screaming Eagle is different from knowing wine). And I don't think I need to say anything about Bordeaux.
It makes absolutely no sense for a global industry to operate in this manner -- and why it simply cannot last forever. As morbid as it may be, it will be interesting to see what happens to the value of Cult Cabs should the heirs to JL and RP have different tastes.
It's insane. Wine publications push the 100-point scale because status consumers like saying they have the hot bottles (wine-pun intended) that JL, RP, et al. love. The new, wannabes make wines that sell -- before a single vintage is released -- for over $100 a bottle (sorry, but buying Screaming Eagle is different from knowing wine). And I don't think I need to say anything about Bordeaux.
It makes absolutely no sense for a global industry to operate in this manner -- and why it simply cannot last forever. As morbid as it may be, it will be interesting to see what happens to the value of Cult Cabs should the heirs to JL and RP have different tastes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)