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Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

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

Cabernet Franc
3
20%
Other (if you must)
12
80%
 
Total votes : 15
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Bill Hooper

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Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Bill Hooper » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:26 pm

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.)
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Howie Hart

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Howie Hart » Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:16 pm

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

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Mark Lipton » Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:19 am

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

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Peter May

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Peter May » Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:13 am

Bill Hooper wrote: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.
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by JC (NC) » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:25 am

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

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by David M. Bueker » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:44 am

Mourvedre rocks!
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Thomas

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Thomas » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:38 am

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...
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Dale Williams » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:46 am

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.
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Josh » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:00 am

Cabernet!
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Thomas » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:43 am

Josh wrote:Cabernet!


Which one?
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Sue Courtney » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:41 pm

Shiraz/Syrah
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by David M. Bueker » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:59 pm

Oh, and can I get a shout out for Fer Servadou?!
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Ron C » Tue Oct 30, 2007 3:14 pm

Concord! (just kidding)
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Bob Henrick » Tue Oct 30, 2007 4:52 pm

And we bitch about rating wine?
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Paul Winalski » Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:57 pm

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. :shock: There are exceptions, mainly from the Loire. Rarely from California.

-Paul W.
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Bill Hooper

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Bill Hooper » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:24 pm

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 :wink: ). 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.
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Paul B. » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:04 pm

Ron C wrote:Concord! (just kidding)

A kindred spirit! :D
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Paul B. » Tue Oct 30, 2007 10:07 pm

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.
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Bill Hooper

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Bill Hooper » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:15 pm

What are your favorites now Paul?
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Paul B.

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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Paul B. » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:24 pm

Bill Hooper wrote: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.
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TimMc

Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by TimMc » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:27 pm

Bill Hooper wrote: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.
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by JoePerry » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:33 pm

TimMc wrote:
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 :lol:
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TimMc

Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by TimMc » Wed Oct 31, 2007 12:06 am

JoePerry wrote:
TimMc wrote:
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 :lol:


Thanks, Joe. I think.


I feel so....loved?
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Re: Second best red wine grape (EVER.)

by Robin Garr » Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:46 am

Pineau d'Aunis!
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