I have been thinking about February and Wine Focus?

How about you?

It is still winter for errr some of us so what about a nice red to warm us up..........Ripasso!!
Some might wanna think Amarone while we are at it.

I think someone also had Merlot on their mind a while back?

Any takers out there?

[David M. Bueker]

It's getting late in the month of January, making it time to determine the topic for February's Wine Focus. I would personally like to thank everyone who has made the first month of our new format a real success. For February we have quite a backlog of ideas that have been given out in prior Wine Focus dicussions, so I am going to list those as potential nominations, as well as providing a copy of Sue Courtney's excellent topic summary of prior Wine Focus topics.

For what it's worth (this plus $4 will get you a latte at Starbucks) we have historically tried to alternate red and white wine topics, but there's no rule.

For this month let's have a free discussion of potential topics and try to reach a consensus pick. Perhaps next month we'll take a poll from other topics people have suggested in order to determine the March topic.

My topic suggestion because I don't see it listed anywhere: Tuscany and/or Sangiovese

Other suggestions from prior Wine Focus discussions: Austria, Languedoc, Southern Italy

Sue's Historical Wine Focus Topic Summary
Jan 2010: Rioja
Dec 2009: Festive Holiday Wines
Nov 2009: Bordeaux and Bordeaux blends
Oct 2009: Rhone style blends from around the world
Sep 2009: Organic/Biodynamic wines
Aug 2009: Grill, smoke, BBQ and wine
July 2009: Offbeat Whites
June 2009: Cool Summer Reds - Lightweight, low alcohol, even chillable
May 2009: South African Wines
Apr 2009: QPR - what is it & how to find it
Mar 2009: Bordeaux white blends
Feb 2009: Syrah and Syrah blends
Jan 2009: Rioja - red and white
Dec 2008: Piemonte/Piedmont
Nov 2008: Riesling - It's all about style
Oct 2008: All about Cabernet
Sep 2008: Chardonnay oak spectrum
Aug 2008: The styles of Zinfandel including Italian Primitivo
July 2008: Sauvignon Blanc, with a strong preference for New World examples
June 2008: The Quest for Good Pinot Gris
May 2008: Affordable Burgundy
Apr 2008: Loire Chenin Blanc
Mar 2008: Value Bordeaux
Feb 2008: Malbec around the World
Jan 2008: Great Value Wines
Dec 2007: Gewurztraminer
Nov 2007: Cote du Rhone Villages (CDRV)
Oct 2007: Oz Shiraz
Sep 2007: Jadot
Aug 2007: Albarino
Jul 2007: Pink wines
Jun 2007: Sherry
May 2007: Gruner Veltliner
Apr 2007: Chianti Classico
Mar 2007: Chenin Blanc
Feb 2007: Languedoc
Jan 2007: Northern Rhone Syrah
Dec 2006: Champagne
Nov 2006: Port
Oct 2006: Bandol / Mourvedre
Sep 2006: Chile vs Cal Cab
Aug 2006: Gamay
Jul 2006: Viognier

How about something different: Local Wines - wines made within a certain radius of where you live (50 miles or 80 Km?), or if there are no wineries in your area then the closest to where you live.

I'd like to beat the drum again for Austria. (Not influenced in any way by a bunch of FX and other goodies I'll be getting soon, I swear )

Maybe generalize it to Veneto reds in general? Northeastern Italy to be even more general? I've recently discovered Refosco.

However, Amarone would be nice...I actually have a couple entering late adolescence (1999).

[James Roscoe]

In looking at Sue's list, it appears that of the major grapes, merlot (or is that "f'n merlot?) is underrepresented. I am here just to point that out and stir the pot a bit!

I certainly like the idea of ripasso and Amarone/grape drying wines. Very seasonal, but also a good smattering of producers around the world experimenting with such methods, such as Masi in Argentina and Primo in Australia. Availability should be good.

At some point we're long overdue Pinot Noir, but perhaps more an April/May or September/October grape?

regards

Ian

superseded

[David M. Bueker]

Editors note: I have merged the threads.

Ripasso is potentially interesting, though for the most part I have seen very few of those wines available anymore.

Editors note: I have merged the threads.

Ripasso is potentially interesting, though for the most part I have seen very few of those wines available anymore.

Maybe not enough Italians in your area David!!!

http://www.fortwallawallamuseum.org/liv ... apemen.jpg


My local store carries 5 right now and goodness knows how many Amarone.

[David M. Bueker]

Lots of Italians. An entire 50 foot long aisle of them at my favorite shop in fact. But Amarone and Ripasso styles are not so popular around here, so supply has dwindled.

How about a compromise on "The Diversity of Italy - Wines from outside Tuscany/Piemonte"

Oh, I like that idea David.

I am always saying that I don`t know enough about Italy and we sure have lots of Italian diversity in the store downtown!

(whisper, I am partial to a certain `03 Travaglini Gattinara).

David
Yes, a recent post on that subject had me contemplating the same thing. It certainly incorporates the Ripasso/Amarone and I'm guessing availability should still be reasonable worldwide.

... perhaps we could be really cute here and perhaps try and organise a simultaneous 'food focus' on Italian food - which I don't recall being done before. Certainly plenty of interest in cooking Italian food on these pages.

regards

Ian

[David M. Bueker]

I'll try to get Jenise (about the food) and Robin (about the wine) to chime in & perhaps we can reach a quick consensus. That would be good.

[Jenise]

How about something different: Local Wines - wines made within a certain radius of where you live (50 miles or 80 Km?), or if there are no wineries in your area then the closest to where you live.

The problem with that is, as a group exercise, the local wines the majority of us would report on wouldn't add to our knowledge base, and those who live in wine-rich areas already drink those wines.

[Jenise]

Maybe generalize it to Veneto reds in general? Northeastern Italy to be even more general? I've recently discovered Refosco.

However, Amarone would be nice...I actually have a couple entering late adolescence (1999).

I like the Veneto as a topic and would be happy to spearhead a concurrent food focus.

How about Abruzzo?

Lots of Italians. An entire 50 foot long aisle of them at my favorite shop in fact. But Amarone and Ripasso styles are not so popular around here, so supply has dwindled.

How about a compromise on "The Diversity of Italy - Wines from outside Tuscany/Piemonte"

Interesting. I think that Ripasso alone is too narrow a focus; and there is not a very good choice of Ripasso here. I like the idea of widening it to include Amarone and why not also basic Valpolicella?

On the other hand I think that All Italy excluding Tuscany/Piemonte is too wide a focus. Hard to find any theme. I would be keen to do Sangiovese and/or Tuscany sometime. Sicily, South of Rome, Adriatic coast, Veneto and Friuli could also be made into more coherent bundles.

In the name of focus, any possibility of doing the various wines of Chianti? (Chianti, Chianti Classico, Chianti Classico Riserva, Rufina, etc?)

Best
Rogov

[Robin Garr]

I'll try to get Jenise (about the food) and Robin (about the wine) to chime in & perhaps we can reach a quick consensus. That would be good.

"The Diversity of Italy," with a joint wine and food focus? I am SO in! Great idea, Ian and David. Assuming Jenise is on board (and I can't imagine she would disagree), let's Make It So.

Note that the Italian Trade Center's Website, http://www.italianmade.com , is an excellent resource for both Italian wine and food in general.

[David M. Bueker]

So then Veneto is included, as is Sicily, Alto Adige, etc.

Hi,

What about Piemonte, there you will find the best wine, food and not least woman

Ciao
Birger

[David M. Bueker]

The idea is to exclude Piemonte (recent done in Wine Focus) and Tuscany (not yet done but needs to be) and look at the broader Italy.

How about something different: Local Wines - wines made within a certain radius of where you live (50 miles or 80 Km?), or if there are no wineries in your area then the closest to where you live.

The problem with that is, as a group exercise, the local wines the majority of us would report on wouldn't add to our knowledge base, and those who live in wine-rich areas already drink those wines.

You're probably right. I was thinking that some folks might not patronize local wineries because they may think "nothing too good can come from around here" so they don't buy them and such a forum might encourage them to step out and visit a local winery. They may be surprised. From the other perspective, some folks may be somewhat proud of wines made right in their area and it would give them a chance to show them off a bit and perhaps create some interest.