I decided to do a taste comparison of Old and New World wines, highlighting the differences between French wines and their analogues in California (and one from Washington state). It's always important in these kinds of comparisons to choose wines of similar varietals and price points, so that no one wine has an unfair advantage over the other. I did have some trouble finding a Bordeaux style blend from California at the same price point to put up against the Bordeaux selection, and in the end the best I could come up with was a Washington blend. Apart from that, all paired wines were of the same varietal and price point.
Opinion seemed to be split between the Sauvignon Blancs, though both were enjoyed by all. The Louis Jadot Pinot Noir turned out to be a disappointment, whereas the River Road Pinot Noir was a clear favorite and overall winner. It should be said that Louis Jadot produces wines that run the gamut from everyday affordable quaffs to super deluxe gems that will break your bank account. The upshot here is that for about $20 there are a lot of very good and interesting Pinot Noirs from around the world to choose from and that this particular Louis Jadot is not one of them.
The Bordeaux selection offered up the most complex and persistent bouquet testifying to the region's long tradition of high quality wines that have become the standard bearer among many wine connoisseurs. That said, I found it telling that no one in the group (besides myself, of course), had ever sampled a Bordeaux wine before. What this says to me is that nowadays the wine consumer in the US enjoys such a wide variety of options in terms of price, origin and style, that there is no single dominant region or "brand" which said consumer aspires to. Furthermore, American wine producers have made great inroads in the purchasing habits and tastes of the American consumer without compromising quality, as was shown by this tasting. Try such a comparison yourself and see if you don't agree!
- Bougrier Sauvignon Blanc 2014
Varietal: 100%
Sauvignon Blanc
Classification/Region:
Vin de Pays,
Val de Loire, France
Production/Tasting
Notes: Characteristic
aromas of grapefruit and minerals; notes of lime on the palate
supported by undertones of flint, apple blossoms, passion
fruit;bright acidity; crisp, clean finish.
Website:
Bougrier.fr
Food
pairings: shellfish,
poached seafood; goat cheese
12 %
alcohol
2. Joel
Gott Sauvignon Blanc 2013
Varietal: 100%
Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Monterey, Lake County,
Napa Valley, Sonoma
ProductionTasting
Notes: 100% stainless steel fermentation and aging; bright
citrus notes complemented by tropical aromatics; refreshing flavors
of melon, Meyer lemon on the mid-palate; long, clean finish
Website: gottwines.com
Food pairings: tapas; grilled
fish; seafood; shellfish
13.9
% Alcohol
3. Louis Jadot Pinot
Noir 2011
Varietal: 100%
Pinot Noir
Classification: Appellation
d'Origine Contrôlée
Bourgogne
Production/Tasting
Notes: Fruit fro, Côte
d'Or, Côte Chalonnaise;
age in French oak for 9 months; aromas of plums, raspberries,
cherries;fresh fruit on the palate; balanced acididty, smooth tannins
on the finish
Food pairing: roast
chicken, pork or grilled fish
12.5% Alcohol
- River Road Pinot Noir 2014
Varietals: 100%
Pinot Noir
Region:
Sonoma County
Production/Tasting
Notes: Bright harmonious notes
of cherry, wildberry, plum and spice; notes of dusty earth and sweet
smoke; wisp of cardamom at end of bouquet; bright cherry fruit up
front on the palate with sweet plums, soft oak and vanilla flavors
long, soft, spicy finish w/ blackberry jam lingering.
Website: riverroadvineyards.com
Food pairings: roasted
duck; swordfish
13.3%
alcohol
- Montfort-Bellevue Médoc Cheval Quancard 2012
Varietals: 45%
Merlot; 40% Cabernet Sauvignon; 15% Cabernet Franc (label);
40% Merlot, 52% Cabernet Sauvignon,
8% Cabernet Franc (website)
Region:
A.O.C. Médoc
(Bordeaux)
Production/Tasting
Notes: Six months aging in oak
barrels; aromas of cedar, spice, blackfruit, kirsch, cherry, burnt
wood; elegant, ripe blackberry and soft creamy cassis laden fruit
with ripe tannins; well-balanced, hint of toast; smooth, lengthy
aromatic finish.
Website:
chevalquancard.com
13
% alcohol
- Kamiak Rock Lake Red 2012
Varietal: 53%
Syrah, 44% Merlot; 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:
Columbia Valley, Washington
Production/Tasting
Notes: 16 months aging in
French and American oak barrels; aromas of smoked anise, violets,
rose petals and cherry with hints of juniper berry; soft and silky
with flavors of bright fruit with black pepper; firm tannins with a
lingering plum finish with spicy oak notes
Website: kamiakwines.com
Food
pairings: grilled red meats;
hard cheeses
13.8%
alcohol
The Five “S’s” of Tasting:
1) Seeing; 2)
Swirling; 3) Sniffing; 4) Sipping; 5) Savoring
What Does “Well-Balanced” Mean?
F-A-T-A:
Fruit;
Acidity; Tannins; Alcohol
Wine Quote:
“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a
feast of rich food and well-aged, refined wines on the lees.”
Isaiah 25:6
No comments:
Post a Comment