How many bottles of a given producer does it take to get a good idea
of their quality? I have tried several bottles of Vietti wines
(Piedmont, Italy), and, despite the high ratings often given to them,
I have not found them all that exciting for their types (Dolcetto,
Barolo, Barbera, etc.). Several bottles were in fact poor. Could this
be a shipping/storage problem?

http://www.vinocibo.com/raccoltaviettiapril04.htm

As I say, they keep getting good reviews, but I keep getting so-so
bottles.

Michael Scarpitti wrote:
> How many bottles of a given producer does it take to get a good idea
> of their quality? I have tried several bottles of Vietti wines
> (Piedmont, Italy), and, despite the high ratings often given to them,
> I have not found them all that exciting for their types (Dolcetto,
> Barolo, Barbera, etc.). Several bottles were in fact poor. Could this
> be a shipping/storage problem?

Certainly could be. Next time this happens, you might
seek out a second opinion on the wine. It might be that
you simply prefer these wines made in a different style
than that which garners high ratings. If this happens
consistently over several vintages and you're certain
that the wine is handled by more than importer, then that
pretty much rules out shipping/storage damage.

It might also be that you're not letting these wines
breathe a bit before passing judgement ;-)

Dana

On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 15:59:20 GMT, Dana Myers >
wrote:

>Michael Scarpitti wrote:
>> How many bottles of a given producer does it take to get a good idea
>> of their quality? I have tried several bottles of Vietti wines
>> (Piedmont, Italy), and, despite the high ratings often given to them,
>> I have not found them all that exciting for their types (Dolcetto,
>> Barolo, Barbera, etc.). Several bottles were in fact poor. Could this
>> be a shipping/storage problem?
>
>Certainly could be. Next time this happens, you might
>seek out a second opinion on the wine. It might be that
>you simply prefer these wines made in a different style
>than that which garners high ratings. If this happens
>consistently over several vintages and you're certain
>that the wine is handled by more than importer, then that
>pretty much rules out shipping/storage damage.
>
>It might also be that you're not letting these wines
>breathe a bit before passing judgement ;-)
>
>Dana

I agree with Dana. It could be the style doesn't appeal or it could be
that bottles currently available in merchants are still quite young to
show--especially the Barolo.

I've also found, over the years, that Italian wines (and Spanish as
well) don't seem to travel very well to the heartland shops. If your
supplier doesn't sell a lot of them, there's a high probability that
the wines aren't being handled very well during their extended tenure
on the shelves.

My current personal policy on Italians is that I do my "shopping" at
restaurants with a good wine list--they've done the pre-tasting and
sorting to refine the list for quality and price. Then I find the wine
online from one of the major houses like Zachy's or Sam's and order
from them. My satisfaction with the wine has gone up immensely.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
"Phantom Flights, Bangkok Nights"
Both from Smithsonian Books
***www.thunderchief.org

On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 15:59:20 GMT, Dana Myers >
wrote:

>Michael Scarpitti wrote:
>> How many bottles of a given producer does it take to get a good idea
>> of their quality? I have tried several bottles of Vietti wines
>> (Piedmont, Italy), and, despite the high ratings often given to them,
>> I have not found them all that exciting for their types (Dolcetto,
>> Barolo, Barbera, etc.). Several bottles were in fact poor. Could this
>> be a shipping/storage problem?
>
>Certainly could be. Next time this happens, you might
>seek out a second opinion on the wine. It might be that
>you simply prefer these wines made in a different style
>than that which garners high ratings. If this happens
>consistently over several vintages and you're certain
>that the wine is handled by more than importer, then that
>pretty much rules out shipping/storage damage.
>
>It might also be that you're not letting these wines
>breathe a bit before passing judgement ;-)
>
>Dana

I agree with Dana. It could be the style doesn't appeal or it could be
that bottles currently available in merchants are still quite young to
show--especially the Barolo.

I've also found, over the years, that Italian wines (and Spanish as
well) don't seem to travel very well to the heartland shops. If your
supplier doesn't sell a lot of them, there's a high probability that
the wines aren't being handled very well during their extended tenure
on the shelves.

My current personal policy on Italians is that I do my "shopping" at
restaurants with a good wine list--they've done the pre-tasting and
sorting to refine the list for quality and price. Then I find the wine
online from one of the major houses like Zachy's or Sam's and order
from them. My satisfaction with the wine has gone up immensely.


Ed Rasimus
Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
"When Thunder Rolled"
"Phantom Flights, Bangkok Nights"
Both from Smithsonian Books
***www.thunderchief.org

> As I say, they keep getting good reviews, but I keep getting so-so
> bottles.

I drank an 89 (WS) pointer '89 B di M from Banfi with a friend and we both
thought it tasted like a £5 bottle from Waitrose (our local supermarket).
We are both seasoned, oenological veterans with fairly sphisticated palates.
The wine market is driven by the reviews of a select few people, but by its
very nature the appreciation of wine is a personal experience. Just because
a critic says something does not make it true. Neither is his/her opinion
more valid than yours. The fact that Bordeaux wine prices are determined by
the views of 1 American perfectly illustrates how little faith we have in
our own judgement, and how little producers have in their ability to create
quality wine.
I would say, your taste buds are fine. Try something else!

Regards

Snoop

> As I say, they keep getting good reviews, but I keep getting so-so
> bottles.

I drank an 89 (WS) pointer '89 B di M from Banfi with a friend and we both
thought it tasted like a £5 bottle from Waitrose (our local supermarket).
We are both seasoned, oenological veterans with fairly sphisticated palates.
The wine market is driven by the reviews of a select few people, but by its
very nature the appreciation of wine is a personal experience. Just because
a critic says something does not make it true. Neither is his/her opinion
more valid than yours. The fact that Bordeaux wine prices are determined by
the views of 1 American perfectly illustrates how little faith we have in
our own judgement, and how little producers have in their ability to create
quality wine.
I would say, your taste buds are fine. Try something else!

Regards

Snoop

"Michael Scarpitti" > wrote in message
om...
> How many bottles of a given producer does it take to get a good idea
> of their quality?

You mean all in one sitting?

Ed Rasimus > wrote in message >. ..
> On Fri, 10 Sep 2004 15:59:20 GMT, Dana Myers >
> wrote:
>

But other Piedmont wines I buy from the same dealers are just fine.
Vietti alone have been far below their reputation. I have never been
satisfied with a bottle of Vietti wines. After the 4th bad bottle, I
stopped buying them.

> >Michael Scarpitti wrote:
> >> How many bottles of a given producer does it take to get a good idea
> >> of their quality? I have tried several bottles of Vietti wines
> >> (Piedmont, Italy), and, despite the high ratings often given to them,
> >> I have not found them all that exciting for their types (Dolcetto,
> >> Barolo, Barbera, etc.). Several bottles were in fact poor. Could this
> >> be a shipping/storage problem?
> >
> >Certainly could be. Next time this happens, you might
> >seek out a second opinion on the wine. It might be that
> >you simply prefer these wines made in a different style
> >than that which garners high ratings. If this happens
> >consistently over several vintages and you're certain
> >that the wine is handled by more than importer, then that
> >pretty much rules out shipping/storage damage.
> >
> >It might also be that you're not letting these wines
> >breathe a bit before passing judgement ;-)
> >
> >Dana
>
> I agree with Dana. It could be the style doesn't appeal or it could be
> that bottles currently available in merchants are still quite young to
> show--especially the Barolo.
>
> I've also found, over the years, that Italian wines (and Spanish as
> well) don't seem to travel very well to the heartland shops. If your
> supplier doesn't sell a lot of them, there's a high probability that
> the wines aren't being handled very well during their extended tenure
> on the shelves.
>
> My current personal policy on Italians is that I do my "shopping" at
> restaurants with a good wine list--they've done the pre-tasting and
> sorting to refine the list for quality and price. Then I find the wine
> online from one of the major houses like Zachy's or Sam's and order
> from them. My satisfaction with the wine has gone up immensely.
>
>
> Ed Rasimus
> Fighter Pilot (USAF-Ret)
> "When Thunder Rolled"
> "Phantom Flights, Bangkok Nights"
> Both from Smithsonian Books
> ***www.thunderchief.org