Excellent advice from Eric Asimov

Thanks for the link, Dale. FWIW, I'd choose Lyle's case (big surprise, I know), though I wouldn't exactly turn up my nose at the other case, either. It'll be interesting to see what he posts about the case on his blog.

Mark Lipton

For me, I'd give a slight nod to Lyle's case, based on what I know. But if there is a weakness in both cases, it's that for the true newbie there should have been a bottle or two of something big, extracted, and explosive -who's to say that wouldn't be their preference? While brawny Aussie Shiraz or the like might not be my style, no reason to think it might not appeal to a newbie who wants to experiment. Maybe the Palazzo del Torre might fit the bill.

FWIW, I took the lack of big fruitbombs to be a sign that they were tailoring their selections to the known preferences of their customer.

Mark Lipton

OK I would go for the second case, but would like to swap for the Chinon and Chablis. there really are only two CA wines in the bunch as it is hard to call Esprit de Beaucastel Blanc a CA wine as it is so much a Rhone Clone as to be able to at least confuse a critic in a blind taste.

I guess, but I thought the point of the article was to provide a sampling for a newbie!

But even your newbie comes into the store with a few preferences that can be articulated. At least, from my reading it didn't seem like we were talking about wines for the completely uninitiated...

BTW, I put that very question to Lyle himself and this is his response:

"Exactly. Eric Asimov calls up and says he wants a mixed case..He is not getting Mollydooker, Balbo Malbec and Chateau Pipeau.....because I kind of know a little (well maybe more than a little) of what Asimov likes and it would again defeat the purpose of the exercise....if another one of my clients came in who likes somewhat spoofy wine maybe I would change it up a bit and give him a Hill of Content Shiraz, Woodward Canyon Cabernet and Palacios Les terrases or stuff like that."

:)

Mark Lipton