TN: Competition for worst wine of the year closes early

DaleW · 2006-10-18T00:28:55+00:00

Betsy was getting in late, I made dinner (reprise of the garlic bakedchicken, plus broccoli and pasta w/pesto). Unoaked Chardonnay workedwell last time, so I opened a recent gift, the 2002 Plunkett "BlackwoodRidge" Unwooded Chardonnay (Victoria). Whoa! What the hell! Enormousnose, but unfortunately of plastic, nail polish remover, and rottingfruit. The plastic and fruit battle valiantly, but the nail polishremover easily cruises in as dominant flavor. David doesn't normallyjoin us in wine, but smells this and says "industrial waste." It reallydominates conversation, with Betsy and David curious to how such anawful wine could get bottled (sadly, since I love to be pedantic, Ihave no idea). I let it rest a while, and it does get a bit better-going from NASTY NASTY NASTY to merely "nasty." I'll be generous andgive it a D-Luckily we still had some 2004 Brun Beaujolais out. Went ok with thechicken.Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellentwine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn'tdrink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer nopromises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

Oct 18, 2006 26 Replies

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miles 19 years ago

I'll have to look through my collection to see which ones are blended and which aren't. I know I have a few Concannon Cabs that are 100%. Some others are Staglin and Silverado.

There are numerous blends still called Cabs but I am finding more and more 100% Cabs than in years prior. It seemed in the 80's and prior blending with just a bit of Merlot was common. I don't see that as much. Some wineries that blend with several varietals don't call it a Cab or they call it a Cab Assemblage etc.

I really don't drink a lot of Cabs lately. I do like them but its more difficult to find a great one at a great price. Their popularity grew strongly over the past several decades. One of my favorites in the 80's was Caymus SS. I bought it every year for about $25. It's now over $100 at last look.

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Richard Neidich 19 years ago

Agreed on Caymus Select. Plus starting aroun 1995 they deliberatly jumped the price up on their wines cause they could. I beleive that increase was lead by Far Niente. Therefore I have not bought either since the 1996 releases.

That said there are some GREAT California Cabs >> Miles,

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miles 19 years ago

I have enjoyed Sequoia Grove too. They also sell some excellent lower end wines under the Allen Family label. For under $30 Wente Brothers Cab (Livermore) is hard to beat.

Gallo Sonoma wines are a bargain to me. Very nice inexpensive wines.

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Mike Tommasi 19 years ago

True there are some but I would take the 100% with a grain of tartaric acid, because almost everyone in Tuscany adds some CS tothe vat.

I respect yourtaste. I still have not found an Oz wine that even comes close to a Hermitage.

Try merlot from italian speaking Switzerland

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st.helier 19 years ago

"miles" wrote ...........

This link refers -

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Within it says -

"The 10.9-hectares acres of vineyard are planted with 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc though it rarely finds itself in the final blend."

I have always understood that Château Pétrus *should* be regarded as 100% Merlot.

Nevertheless, if one assumes that occasionally, the cépage did contain up to

5% Cabernet Franc, could you determine the one part CF vs 19 parts Merlot?

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miles 19 years ago

I enjoy a good Chianti but I prefer California 100% Sangiovese. I will say that styles vary widely so there is a lot of junk.

Try Penfolds Grange.

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miles 19 years ago

Even small % blends do change the outcome considerably. Otherwise the winemaker wouldn't add it. For years many California Cabs were almost always blended with around 10% Merlot. It makes a difference although today I'm seeing less and less blends and the traditional blending grapes now used in 100% wines.

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