The place for all things wine, focused on serious wine discussions.

Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

Moderators: Jenise, Robin Garr, David M. Bueker

What is the 2nd best wine grape on the planet?

Cabernet Franc
3
20%
Other (if you must)
12
80%
 
Total votes : 15
no avatar
User

Tim York

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

4967

Joined

Tue May 09, 2006 2:48 pm

Location

near Lisieux, France

Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Tim York » Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:14 am

My main criterion for second choice is that, like Pinot, the grape should be capable of achieving consistently great results unblended.

That rules out Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah (except in Hermitage), Grenache, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo and the Portuguese varieties. Much as I love Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny, it rarely is really great, so I disqualify Cabernet franc.

That leaves Nebbiolo easily in second place with Sangiovese following some way behind.
Tim York
no avatar
User

Mark Lipton

Rank

Oenochemist

Posts

4518

Joined

Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:18 pm

Location

Indiana

Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Mark Lipton » Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:09 am

Tim York wrote:My main criterion for second choice is that, like Pinot, the grape should be capable of achieving consistently great results unblended.

That rules out Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Grenache, Syrah (except in Hermitage), Grenache, Mourvèdre, Tempranillo and the Portuguese varieties. Much as I love Chinon, Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny, it rarely is really great, so I disqualify Cabernet franc.

That leaves Nebbiolo easily in second place with Sangiovese following some way behind.


Greatness is in the eye of the beholder of course, Tim, but I find great unblended Syrahs from Cornas as well as Hermitage (in fact, I find more of them in Cornas than in Hermitage these days). In fact, the only great Syrahs IMO that are blended are Cote-Roties and even then it's debatable how much Viognier character is really evident in the "blend." And, to me, some of the greatest expressions of Mourvedre are the Bandols of Domaine Tempier, and they are unblended, too, are they not? Having said all that, though, I can't quibble with your choice of Nebbiolo, either.


Mark Lipton
no avatar
User

Bill Hooper

Rank

Wine guru

Posts

2001

Joined

Sat Mar 25, 2006 12:46 am

Location

McMinnville, OR

Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Bill Hooper » Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:37 pm

Robin Garr wrote:Pineau d'Aunis!


No need for profanity Robin.
Wein schenkt Freude
ITB paetrawine.com
no avatar
User

Alejandro Audisio

Rank

Ultra geek

Posts

376

Joined

Mon Aug 14, 2006 11:03 am

Location

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Alejandro Audisio » Thu Nov 01, 2007 12:25 pm

Sorry to digress.... but, who gives a hoot about second place. Malbec is the best red grape ever, end of discussion.

:twisted:
Alejandro Audisio - drink wines from the RIGHT side of the Andes!!!
ITB in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Previous

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: AhrefsBot, APNIC Bot, Bing [Bot], ClaudeBot, FB-extagent, Google AgentMatch and 0 guests

Powered by phpBB ® | phpBB3 Style by KomiDesign