Now I know why french wines are better than California.

See article:

http://wine.appellationamerica.com/w...n-in-Wine.html

On Tue, 30 Jan 2007 19:30:27 GMT, "Richard Neidich"
> wrote:

>Now I know why french wines are better than California.
>
>See article:
>
>http://wine.appellationamerica.com/w...n-in-Wine.html
>

Nah. it's the Chaptalisation that makes the French wines great

--
Steve Slatcher
http://pobox.com/~steve.slatcher

Richard Neidich wrote:
> Now I know why french wines are better than California.
>
> See article:
>
> http://wine.appellationamerica.com/w...n-in-Wine.html

It's unknown how widespread this practice is nor if anything like this
is done in France or elsewhere.

But I do know that French wines are not necessarily 'better' than
California wines. Matter of personal taste. However, California wines
continue to win out over their French counterparts.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5013910.stm

I generally prefer California reds because they tend to be more fruit
forward which I enjoy. But there are excellent wines from all over the
world.

I was being facetious.

That said years ago I remember a thread that Mondavi claimed they were not
doing anything different but people complained that the terroir was not
noticable in they many single vineyard and reserve bottlings.

I do wonder if the this is what was going on.

Also, I like California wines a lot. Its what I drink while waiting for my
Bordeaux and Burgs to be ready. :-)

There is a place for California Wine....

"miles" > wrote in message
...
> Richard Neidich wrote:
>> Now I know why french wines are better than California.
>>
>> See article:
>>
>> http://wine.appellationamerica.com/w...n-in-Wine.html
>
> It's unknown how widespread this practice is nor if anything like this is
> done in France or elsewhere.
>
> But I do know that French wines are not necessarily 'better' than
> California wines. Matter of personal taste. However, California wines
> continue to win out over their French counterparts.
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5013910.stm
>
> I generally prefer California reds because they tend to be more fruit
> forward which I enjoy. But there are excellent wines from all over the
> world.

Richard Neidich wrote:
> I was being facetious.
>
> That said years ago I remember a thread that Mondavi claimed they were not
> doing anything different but people complained that the terroir was not
> noticable in they many single vineyard and reserve bottlings.

Anythings possible with Mondavi. Never cared for their wines at all.
Visiting their winery in Napa tells the story on their views towards the
public.

> Also, I like California wines a lot. Its what I drink while waiting for my
> Bordeaux and Burgs to be ready. :-)

I'm not much for Burgandy and Merlot has never appealed to me so
anything blended with it just doesn't interest me much. Maybe thats why
I'm not fond of many French wines. I do enjoy red Rhone varietals but
the more forward fruit Californian style is my favorite. Is Petite
Syrah common in France? I love it when I can find it in California.
Not many Cali wineries produce it.

You know there are bordeaux blends that are Cabernet Domenent and then there
are some that are Merlot Dominent.

Blindfolded with old world it can be hard to determine which is which.

I love old world Bordeaux.

California Merlot there are only a few producers that I love. Sawyer
Cellars has one of the best Merlot. Very Old world and because they are in
Rutherford you can get the dusty tannins. Its superb. The other Matanzas
Creek, and Twoomy. Thats it for me from California Merlots. People rave
about Pride wines and they are noce. But the 3 I mentioned are by far my
style.


"miles" > wrote in message
...
> Richard Neidich wrote:
>> I was being facetious.
>>
>> That said years ago I remember a thread that Mondavi claimed they were
>> not doing anything different but people complained that the terroir was
>> not noticable in they many single vineyard and reserve bottlings.
>
> Anythings possible with Mondavi. Never cared for their wines at all.
> Visiting their winery in Napa tells the story on their views towards the
> public.
>
>> Also, I like California wines a lot. Its what I drink while waiting for
>> my Bordeaux and Burgs to be ready. :-)
>
> I'm not much for Burgandy and Merlot has never appealed to me so anything
> blended with it just doesn't interest me much. Maybe thats why I'm not
> fond of many French wines. I do enjoy red Rhone varietals but the more
> forward fruit Californian style is my favorite. Is Petite Syrah common in
> France? I love it when I can find it in California. Not many Cali
> wineries produce it.

Richard Neidich wrote:

> California Merlot there are only a few producers that I love.

I've only found a few California Merlots that are ok. None that are
great. I find Merlot (at least Californian) lacking any complexity.
Theres just nothing there. One dimensional wine. The other problem is
the huge popularity of Merlot in the USA. It has caused a massive
influx of cheap low end wines. Every winery wants in on the market and
the average USA consumer will buy it just because it says Merlot on the
label. It's become mostly a cheap mass produced wine with very few
buyers looking for high end Merlots in the USA.

Well I agree...but you really should try a Bordeaux Troplong Mondot.
Reasonably priced. Let it age....enjoy...you would never guess this is
majority Merlot.

I think you can get complexity from California Merlot but its not produced
for that purpose at many places. I listed my fav 3 from Cal.

"miles" > wrote in message
...
> Richard Neidich wrote:
>
>> California Merlot there are only a few producers that I love.
>
> I've only found a few California Merlots that are ok. None that are
> great. I find Merlot (at least Californian) lacking any complexity.
> Theres just nothing there. One dimensional wine. The other problem is
> the huge popularity of Merlot in the USA. It has caused a massive influx
> of cheap low end wines. Every winery wants in on the market and the
> average USA consumer will buy it just because it says Merlot on the label.
> It's become mostly a cheap mass produced wine with very few buyers looking
> for high end Merlots in the USA.