Agua Dulce

Yes, I visited the winery about 4 years ago. The winery is located in the Agua Dulce area, north of Santa Clarita, off the 14 freeway. It was busy when I visited on a Saturday afternoon. Agua Dulce is in the no-mans lands between Santa Clarita and Palmdale; it's where Vasquez Rocks, a very popular movie/TV filming location is (see

)

The wines were generally "rustic" and more than Napa Valley expensive. I didn't buy anything. Perhaps they've improved over the last 4 years; next time I'm in the Agua Dulce area, I'll see if I can make the time to try them out again.

Dana

Visited them in February. The assessment by Dana would not be changed. Way overpriced, way too harsh, rustic would be generous.

One other thing. They charged for tasting this wine that could have been used for furniture polish.

I don't recall paying for tasting, but it was over 4 years ago. Ouch.

Dana

Yeah that was really insult to injury. One of the few times I've wanted to ask for my money back.

Salut/Hi snipped-for-privacy@unspameljefe.net,

le/on Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:13:57 -0700, tu disais/you said:-

I think Dana and Lawrence were politely saying "don't bother".

There were some companies doing similar things in Europe several years ago. Poor or boring wines, marketed as if they were special and at prices that would have been high even if the wines had been up to the hype.

I wonder what the awards are? (I hate to think).

Wonder no longer... From

:

American Wine Society

2002 Aneas Reserve Sangiovese Silver Medal 2006 2002 Angeles Crest Sangiovese Silver Medal 2006 2003 Angeles Crest Chardonnay Silver Medal 2006 2002 Aneas Reserve Syrah Bronze Medal 2006 2002 Aneas Reserve Merlot Bronze Medal 2006

Los Angeles County Fair

2002 Aneas Reserve Chardonnay Silver Medal 2004 2001 Aneas Reserve Syrah Silver Medal 2004 2002 Aneas Reserve Zinfandel Bronze Medal 2004 2001 Aneas Reserve Sangiovese Bronze Medal 2004

Florida State Fair

2002 Aneas Reserve Chardonnay Silver Medal 2004 2001 Aneas Reserve Syrah Silver Medal 2004 2001 Aneas Reserve Sangiovese Bronze Medal 2004 2001 Aneas Reserve Merlot Bronze Medal 2004

American Wine Society

2001 Aneas Reserve Merlot Silver Medal 2003 2001 Aneas Reserve Sangiovese Bronze Medal 2003 2001 Aneas Reserve Syrah Bronze Medal 2003

... and a look at the prices reminded me they're

*way* too expensive. Stunningly so.

Dana

Yes, I think that is exactly what they were doing. Not the first time I have seen a lineup of awards from thus and such state fair tasted by I'm not sure who.

Awards from state and county fairs are notoriously poor predictors of wine quality, though historically the Orange County fair was excepted, owing to the rigorous selection of judges they used. However, as I've grown older and more jaded, I've come to doubt the utility of any panel tasting data: panel tastings invariably seem to select wines that are correct but uninspiring. In particular, wines that are overoaked, simple and low in acid to my tastes seem to rise to the top in panel tastings. Earthiness, minerality, high acid, meat and leather notes, all of which I value in a wine, are viewed as faults by some fraction of the populace. Likewise, young, tannic reds are notoriously difficult to evaluate and quickly lead to palate fatigue, so often are misjudged.

That's the argument, I suppose, for listening to individual critics whose tastes are identifiable and consistent, even if not identical to your own. Ideally, one can find a critic whose tastes are close enough to your own to be dependable, but even a stopped clock is correct twice a day ;-)

Mark Lipton