Wine Focus for July: What'll it be?

[Robin Garr]

Another month is ending, and I'd say the focus on rosé wines has gone well. Now it's time to think about July! Let's have your nominations, bearing in mind the criteria that make for a successful topic: Broad enough to be widely available to an international crowd; yet "interesting" enough to generate worthy tasting notes and interesting discussions.

So, what'll it be?

Lighter whites including oak-free Chardonnay.

I could go for that, nine cases of mixed whites in the cellar .

Its so frigging hot out here (and it's not me!) that only whites come to mind. How about Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio from anywhere? Or have we done that already?
-Shaji

White wine sounds good, although it could be nice to have some sort of focus. The white/grey pinots sounds good to me and could cover a lot of countries and regions but still have some coherence.

[Robin Garr]

White wine sounds good, although it could be nice to have some sort of focus. The white/grey pinots sounds good to me and could cover a lot of countries and regions but still have some coherence.

I think you might be zeroing in on something there, Rahsaan ... Pinot Blanc and Gris and Grigio, with a learning focus on seeking out the regions and producers that make wines with character, not overcropped pop-wine plonk?

[David M. Bueker]

I can barely recall the last time I opened any Pinot Gris. It will be a good push.

[Robin Garr]

I can barely recall the last time I opened any Pinot Gris. It will be a good push.

I know there are some very good ones around, but I tend not to look at Pinot Gris/Grigio much because the variety got so commercialized that it can be hard to separate the good stuff from the dreck. Which makes it a pretty good candidate for analysis, it seems to me. Especially if we toss in Pinot Blanc as well.

I know that this is a little early for the July focus but I'd thought I'd start the ball rolling. The 2010 Albert Mann Pinot Blanc we had tonight with marinated chicken thighs was very nice with spicey pear flavors and just adiquate acidty. I'd have liked more acidity but that is just being picky. I really like their Pinot Auxerrious, especially with 10+ years on it but it is very hard to find. I'll look in the coming weeks to find that and post a tasting note on it also. Closed with a screw cap.
12.5 % abv.

I can barely recall the last time I opened any Pinot Gris. It will be a good push.

I know there are some very good ones around, but I tend not to look at Pinot Gris/Grigio much because the variety got so commercialized that it can be hard to separate the good stuff from the dreck. Which makes it a pretty good candidate for analysis, it seems to me. Especially if we toss in Pinot Blanc as well.

Some of the most boring wines which have come my way were Pinot blanc or Pinot gris/grigio. In fact, I can't recall one of the former which was more than bland, though some of the latter from Alsace are highly impressive albeit often too sweet IMO for general gastronomic use. So if you guys want to do this, I suppose the way to look at it is as a challenge to find interesting examples.

[David M. Bueker]

I have found many interesting examples of Pinot Blanc. Just throwing out three examples: Albert Boxler (some Auxerrois in that one), St Innocent, and Hiedler from Austria.

Tim, there should be some nice examples from the north?

Some of the most boring wines which have come my way were Pinot blanc or Pinot gris/grigio. In fact, I can't recall one of the former which was more than bland, though some of the latter from Alsace are highly impressive albeit often too sweet IMO for general gastronomic use. So if you guys want to do this, I suppose the way to look at it is as a challenge to find interesting examples.

Do the better German examples make it to your Belgian market? The good weissburgunder (of which there are many many examples) are far from bland and the good grauburgunder are never too sweet. They are very hard to get in the US but quite easy to order direct from the winery in Germany and perhaps also have some availability in Belgium?

Some of the most boring wines which have come my way were Pinot blanc or Pinot gris/grigio. In fact, I can't recall one of the former which was more than bland, though some of the latter from Alsace are highly impressive albeit often too sweet IMO for general gastronomic use. So if you guys want to do this, I suppose the way to look at it is as a challenge to find interesting examples.

Do the better German examples make it to your Belgian market? The good weissburgunder (of which there are many many examples) are far from bland and the good grauburgunder are never too sweet. They are very hard to get in the US but quite easy to order direct from the winery in Germany and perhaps also have some availability in Belgium?

A Grauburgunder which I bought at the Keller estate, a 1998 I think, was an exceptionally fine wine and not sweet. If any are available here in Belgium, I don't know where . AFAIK, the nearest good selection of Weiss- and Grau- is at Cologne. Luxembourg may also produce some decent ones but the best don't make it here.

Tim, there should be some nice examples from the north?

Ooops, I meant the north of Italy..

I'll also be interested in doing white Pinots as well for a change.