(1996 Hanzell Pinot Noir from Sonoma County. Notice the color: red – not opaque.
Photo by Randy Peterson)
What’s been happening to California Pinot Noir? In the 1970s and 1980s, Burgundy was the model - the Holy Grail – of California Pinot Noir producers. Over the years, they got better at making Pinots with good fruit and aroma (real “varietal character”), if not with as much structure and elegance as Burgundy. But in the 2000s, California Pinot Noir has been changing and moving beyond the Burgundian model. It’s gotten more popular, but also darker, heavier, higher in alcohol – with more cassis than strawberry in the nose. There was a scandal: a brand of imported Pinot Noir was found to be Syrah. But many wine lovers believe that the evolution of Pinot Noir to be ever more Syrah-like is the real scandal.
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2005 William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru "Bougros" (photo by Gerald - aka "Syr Rah")
Chablis can be confusing to people new to wine. Have you been confused by Chablis? Some believe that, as a white wine from Burgundy, it must be terribly expensive. But others, who have seen California jug wine labeled as “Chablis,” think its another cheap white wine style.
Chablis is a white wine from Burgundy – a delicious, dry, zesty Chardonnay with a famous hard mineral character. The best wines of Chablis, the Grands Cru and Premiers Cru, can be expensive. But plenty of Chablis is affordable – and great value if you consider the difficult conditions, small yields and great technique of the Chablisiens (people of Chablis.)
In this podcast, you will learn about the wines of Chablis: vineyards, winemaking, and traditions. As always, I try to make the vocabulary of wine and wine tasting clear to you.
Read the transcript: Wine in Chablis – Transcript
Pre Questions and Comprehension Questions: Wine in Chablis Questions
Wine_in_Chablis
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Chablis Vineyard (Photo by Welland)
Vineyard in Carneros (Photo by Naotakem)
Does it seem that many wines from California, Australia, Chile, Argentina – and even France – often taste alike? True, wines are made from the same grapes (Cabernet, Chardonnay, Syrah), and winemakers in one country may wish to emulate (be inspired by) the wine styles of other countries. But if winemakers remain true to their local terroir, the wines should taste different – even if the same grapes are used. In this podcast, we will discuss how consumer demand and competition are driving many winemakers to make wine that conforms to an “international style.” And we will look at how wines in one particular location do NOT follow that style.
Are you confused by tasting notes written in English? In this podcast I will define and help you understand some of the words and expressions that are often used in tasting notes.
Read the transcript and study guide: Tale of Two Tasting Notes – Transcript
NEW!! Pre-Questions and Comprehension Questions: Tale of Two Tasting Notes – Questions
NOTE: If you listened to this podcast before October 14, 2009, it has been re-recorded. I think the sound quality is a little better now.
A_Tale_of_Two_Tasting_Notes
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1998 Cuilleron St. Joseph, "Les Serines" (photo by Gerald)
I drank a delicious wine the other night. It really stood out against the cheap junk I’ve been forced to drink lately. (You can call them “Recession Reds!”) It was a 1998 Yves Cuilleron St. Joseph, “Les Serines.” In this podcast I discuss where this wine came from and what I liked about it. You will learn about wines from the Rhone Valley of France and hear me talk about the grapes and vineyards of the Northern Rhone and the St. Joseph appellation. You will also hear me describe this wine, using some common words and expressions for the colors and smells of wine.
Do you like Syrah – or Shiraz as it is known in Australia? Would you like to learn more about where to look for good-tasting but affordable European Syrah? Then please listen in to this podcast about a Wine form the Northern Rhone.
Read the transcript and study guide while you listen to the podcast: A_Wine_From_the_Northern_Rhone
CuilleronStJoseph
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Grapevine, Napa Valley (photo by Gerald)
A large number of words you might use when talking about growing grapes and making wine are all related to one word: vitis vinifera. Find out what they are and how they are all related.
Download the transcript: #4 Wine Words with Deep Roots
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