WTN: Beauty and the Beast

The beauty was the 2009 Texier St. Julien en St. Alban. I assume you all know about its charms. But it tasted even better because the night before (due to an unfortunate chain of events that I won’t go into) I found myself sharing a beastly bottle of 2009 Yellow Tail Shiraz. I was expecting something syrupy sweet, based on the YT Chardonnay. (My uncle loves it in magnum and can’t wait for my Muscadets to be drained so he can return to Oz). Instead, the shiraz was thin, weedy and skunky with no redeeming qualities whatsoever. (I guess this is where the price comes in).

In comparison, the Texier had much richer body and texture. Something I wouldn’t have expected. I guess working hard in the vineyard to get good fruit will do that. Of course I did expect the Texier to be more appealing, which it very much was. Nothing like descending to the depths in order to appreciate the finer things in life.

Re Yellow Tail Shiraz:

Ah, but you see, it is all about points.

In this case, price points.

Once something is commodified, the points take over. Doesn't matter is they are price points (which tend to do in one direction) or ParkerPoints (TM) (which tend to go in a different direction), it's still all about points. No longer about the wine at all.

Numbers on a graph. Or, in some cases, points on a Beckian chalkboard.

Re Yellow Tail Shiraz:

Ah, but you see, it is all about points.

In this case, price points..

Yes. And I'm guessing availability and marketing. My memories of the Two Buck Chuck Syrah were much much better than this. But I guess they can't capture the same wide market. (Do they even still exist?)

Re Yellow Tail Shiraz:

Ah, but you see, it is all about points.

In this case, price points..

Yes. And I'm guessing availability and marketing. My memories of the Two Buck Chuck Syrah were much much better than this. But I guess they can't capture the same wide market. (Do they even still exist?)

2BC? Yes, they very much still exist, and are still flush with sales.

Of course, no phenomenon stays a phenomenon for long, but in the parlance of the trade, 2BC stuck when thrown against the wall and has established itself as a popular bargain wine in the Trader Joe pantheon.

What keeps it more popular in California is base economics: California allows direct winery-to-retailer sales for in-state wineries, therefore cutting out that otherwise all important distributor/wholesaler middleman and keeping the price tenable.

When it goes out of state, the distributor middleman steps back in to return it to the three-tier system, and makes it a less attractive venture.

What a contrast! The more I read TNs like this about Eric's wines, the greater my frustration at not being able to find any in Belgium .

[Jenise]

Rahsaan, the one YT Shiraz I had was fruit bomby sweet with low acidity and medium body. Pretty much as expected. Which is why your note surprises me--would think they're putting this together like kool-aid by now with huge typicity from one case to the next, year in/out.

Rahsaan, the one YT Shiraz I had was fruit bomby sweet with low acidity and medium body. Pretty much as expected. Which is why your note surprises me--would think they're putting this together like kool-aid by now with huge typicity from one case to the next, year in/out.

It was sweet and kool aid-esque. But the fruit was so pathetic (and I guess they didn't even want to boost costs with mouthfeel enhancers) it came across as thin and skunky. Not that I was paying too close attention. My mouth actually recoiled in horror and almost didn't really know how to process the drink. It didn't seem like wine.

That does it, next time in the Grill will try an oz or two!!