Wine Focus: What for September?

[Robin Garr]

Usual criteria prevail: Interesting topic, worldwide availability of the subject wine or something varietally similar.

Let's hear your nominations!

[David M. Bueker]

No idea, but let's remember to keep Riesling on the list for October.

[Robin Garr]

No idea, but let's remember to keep Riesling on the list for October.

Noted!

I would think Sicily might merit some attention, minus Cusumano!! Lots of great developements going on there, I am reading some real positive notes on the `net and in magazines.

Planeta, Donnafugato. Firriato, Santa Anastasia, AA Cos come to mind.

http://www.regalis.com/sicilian/wine.htm

[Robin Garr]

I would think Sicily might merit some attention, minus Cusumano!! Lots of great developments going on there, I am reading some real positive notes on the `net and in magazines.

Let's try to come up with something a little more widely available in good variety.

Around here, there is a good selection. Mainly Nero d`Avola but also Syrah plus fair selection of whites too. Guess we are just lucky eh.

How about Piemonte? Quite a varied selection there I think.

http://winecountry.it/regions/piedmont/

No idea, but let's remember to keep Riesling on the list for October.

I thought that it was Germany: Riesling and Otherwise. If not, why not?

[David M. Bueker]

No idea, but let's remember to keep Riesling on the list for October.

I thought that it was Germany: Riesling and Otherwise. If not, why not?

Because we don't need no stinking Scheurebe!

Germany is fine Bill - Riesling just sprang to mind & wanted a place holder for October.

[Robin Garr]

Around here, there is a good selection. Mainly Nero d`Avola but also Syrah plus fair selection of whites too. Guess we are just lucky eh.

How about Piemonte? Quite a varied selection there I think.

I don't know, Bob, I'm just not hearing anything that spells "active month." We get some Sicilians here, but in my experience most of the Nero and the Syrah that makes it out in export are spoofy and Parkerized; as for Piemonte, I love 'em, but the good stuff is pricey.

Any other thoughts? I love you guys, but I like best the months when we have a topic that brings out more than the usual suspects comparing notes.

Sparklers other than Champagne.

[Robin Garr]

Sparklers other than Champagne.

I could drink that! Prosecco and Cava ... American bubbly ... Franciacorta, even Lambrusco! And of course all the French Crémants that are not Champagne. We could play up their food affinity with lots of different dishes ...

Not a bad idea, Howie. Anybody want to throw another into the mix?

No idea, but let's remember to keep Riesling on the list for October.

I thought that it was Germany: Riesling and Otherwise. If not, why not?

Because we don't need no stinking Scheurebe!

Germany is fine Bill - Riesling just sprang to mind & wanted a place holder for October.

Nice! A world without Scheurebe is a little too G-rated for me.

Sparkling wine other than Champagne is an awesome topic.

We get some Sicilians here, but in my experience most of the Nero and the Syrah that makes it out in export are spoofy and Parkerized

I dunno. Glancing through the first five of the 17 pages of results of a search for Sicilian tasting notes on WLDG suggests that participants who post here haven't had problems finding plenty of interest from Sicily. No need to do a monthly focus if you don't think there'll be broad participation, but the geek appeal of wines coming from the island these days seems undeniable.

I don't know, Bob, I'm just not hearing anything that spells "active month." We get some Sicilians here, but in my experience most of the Nero and the Syrah that makes it out in export are spoofy and Parkerized

So is lack of Parker influence another criteria now?

[David M. Bueker]

I don't know, Bob, I'm just not hearing anything that spells "active month." We get some Sicilians here, but in my experience most of the Nero and the Syrah that makes it out in export are spoofy and Parkerized

So is lack of Parker influence another criteria now?

And it must also be less than 14% ABV.

Oh darn, that rules out Cornelissen.

[David M. Bueker]

Oh darn, that rules out Cornelissen.

Thank heaven for small favors.

I'm still pushing for Magma to be listed under forms of cruel and inhuman punishment.

(For wines like that, barriques, cultured yeasts, reverse osmosis and whatever other interventions others can suggest are only an improvement from its natural state.)

Robin
Is the solution to your concern over Sicily, an extension to Central-Southern Italy (basically anything below Tuscany/Emilia Romagna), thus taking in Campania, Puglia, Sicily, Marche, Basilicata, Calabria, Lazio, Umbria, Abruzzo & Molise.

None of these regions get a lot of airtime on their own, yet together should have pretty easy availability. It does encourage people to look beyond the usual Tuscany/Piemonte/Veneto.

Alternatively go for a 'top and tail' of Italy, taking in Campania, Puglia, Sicily, Basilicata, Calabria in the south & Aosta, Trentino Alto-Adige & Fruili-Venezia-Giulia in the north (squeezing Lombardia in if required). The contrasts are interesting, but the similarities few (which might count against it).

regards

Ian

[Robin Garr]

Robin
Is the solution to your concern over Sicily, an extension to Central-Southern Italy (basically anything below Tuscany/Emilia Romagna), thus taking in Campania, Puglia, Sicily, Marche, Basilicata, Calabria, Lazio, Umbria, Abruzzo & Molise.

"Italy South of Rome"? Hey, that might work!

Okay, quick straw poll: Sparklers outside Champagne, or Italy South of Rome?

[David M. Bueker]

Honestly neither rings my chimes, but I sense the sparkler topic has a chance of staying off life support.

We get some Sicilians here, but in my experience most of the Nero and the Syrah that makes it out in export are spoofy and Parkerized

I dunno. Glancing through the first five of the 17 pages of results of a search for Sicilian tasting notes on WLDG suggests that participants who post here haven't had problems finding plenty of interest from Sicily. No need to do a monthly focus if you don't think there'll be broad participation, but the geek appeal of wines coming from the island these days seems undeniable.

Good point Keith, but guess Southern Italy might work too.

[James Roscoe]

I vote for Indonesian reds!

I vote for Italy south of Rome. I'll have to go out and buy so I am guessing that I'll find easily. "Other" sparklers is a good idea for sometime.