Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

I'm sure every single person on this board can agree that red Burgundy is the finest red wine on the planet. But besides Pinot Noir, what is the second best red wine grape?


(Just in case you're wondering, Blaufraenkisch is 3rd.)

Tough choice, but I had to lean towards Gamay. Now, if Lafite were a variety....

Can there be any question? Hondarribi beltza, without a doubt.

Mark "Txakoli Kid" Lipton

I'm sure every single person on this board can agree that red Burgundy is the finest red wine on the planet.

Not me!

Pinot Noirs true destiny is in Champagne.

I am voting for Syrah second although I am a little ambivalent on this issue.

[David M. Bueker]

Mourvedre rocks!

Bill,

Don't you mean grape varietal?

Anyway, as it is with Peter, your Burgundy premise isn't right-on with me either, but I'll vote for Psorexia, if that's the way it is spelled...

I love Cab Franc. But probably not as much as I love Nebbiolo.

The Bordeaux Big Two are high on my list, even if out of fashion on this board, but I'm assuming we're talking monocepage.

Cabernet!

Cabernet!

Which one?

Shiraz/Syrah

[David M. Bueker]

Oh, and can I get a shout out for Fer Servadou?!

Concord! (just kidding)

And we bitch about rating wine?

Second best red wine grape is syrah.

The best red wine grape on the planet is pinot noir, but only if grown in select vineyards, by select producers, on the Cote d'Or in Burgundy.

Nebbiolo from Barolo in Piemonte is third.

Cabernet sauvignon is a distant fourth.

Varietal cabernet franc illustrates graphically why it's almost always used as a secondary blending grape. By itself it's usually horrifying. There are exceptions, mainly from the Loire. Rarely from California.

-Paul W.

There are some nice suggestions being thrown around. Truth be told, I might even knock Blaufraenkisch out of 3rd in favor of Nebbiolo, but Cabernet Franc (Loire) is still clearly #2 (Varietal-wise ). They are so beautifully complex, interesting, ageworthy and unique, AND try as you might, it is VERY hard to spend a lot of money on them (even if you beg). I'm sure that Fer Servadou and Hondaribbi beltza would rank highly in the WLDG top 10.

Concord! (just kidding)

A kindred spirit!

Bill, I agree with you on Blaufränkisch - it is one of my favourite European reds. In fact, it was my top 4th grape some years ago when my top favourites were, in order: Pinotage, Marechal Foch, Barbera and ... Blaufränkisch.

What are your favorites now Paul?

What are your favorites now Paul?

Bill, it's a loaded question because the list tends to change a bit based on a whole host of intervening factors. I am also moving more and more away from commercial wine (including purchased wines) and getting more deeply interested in small-scale, hands-on viticulture and home winemaking; this is the area where I feel I can truly focus on my specific passions.

If we're talking about red varieties, Pinotage has not budged from my top spot; second would be Tannat followed by the very obscure experimental Valentin Blattner hybrids; then Blaufränkisch, followed by Marechal Foch and Concord. All other common red grapes follow in random succession thereafter.

White grapes - not so much of a hierarchy here really; Riesling is close to the top followed by Vidal and Sauvignon Blanc and Niagara. The rest are a random assortment.

I'm sure every single person on this board can agree that red Burgundy is the finest red wine on the planet. But besides Pinot Noir, what is the second best red wine grape?

Um.


Maybe not.


My second best European variety?


Bordeaux.


My second best domestic variety?


Merlot.



First variety in both categories is a toss up: Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon.



Call me spoiled.

Um.


Maybe not.


My second best European variety?


Bordeaux.


My second best domestic variety?


Merlot.



First variety in both categories is a toss up: Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon.



Call me spoiled.

There are many things I'd call you

Um.


Maybe not.


My second best European variety?


Bordeaux.


My second best domestic variety?


Merlot.



First variety in both categories is a toss up: Zinfandel or Cabernet Sauvignon.



Call me spoiled.

There are many things I'd call you

Thanks, Joe. I think.


I feel so....loved?

[Robin Garr]

Pineau d'Aunis!