Wine Focus February 2014? Let's do something popular!

[David M. Bueker]

It's been a couple of slow months in Wine Focus. Shall we do a topic with mass appeal for a change?

Ideas?

[Robin Garr]

It's been a couple of slow months in Wine Focus. Shall we do a topic with mass appeal for a change?

Ideas?

Two Buck Chuck? Naaaaahh ...


Seriously, I assume you're thinking about mass wine-geek appeal as opposed to mass-market appeal? I've had my head in a different space on a non-food-wine project this morning, so my brain may be moving slow. Want to offer an example or two of what you're thinking of? In principle, it sounds like a good idea.

[David M. Bueker]

Yes - mass wine geek appeal. Thinking a broader category than normal. Go with a popular vairety (e.g. Pinot Noir, Riesling...) rather than try to focus too closely on a narrower subject.

[Robin Garr]

Go with a popular variety (e.g. Pinot Noir, Riesling...) rather than try to focus too closely on a narrower subject.

Makes sense to me! Only question is, how recently have we done Pinot Noir or Riesling? If I'm right in thinking we've done it over the past year or so, is there another variety that might also capture our imagination? (I know you are a mega-Riesling fan, though! )

I am a big riesling fan too but would like to try some recent Cab Sauvs I have spotted on local shelves here.
Another thought might be S Africa but availability?

[David M. Bueker]

South Africa is tough for availability.

As for Pinot and Riesling, I was just using them as examples of what I was talking about.

Cal Cabs?

[David M. Bueker]

Cabernet, focusing on California, but with an allowance for other Cabernets? We won't lick anyone in the teeth for drinking a Washington State Cab or heaven forbid...a Bordeaux.

If we go with Cab, will we get kicked in the teeth for a Meritage?

[David M. Bueker]

If we go with Cab, will we get kicked in the teeth for a Meritage?

Depends on how you pronounce it.

[Robin Garr]

If we go with Cab, will we get kicked in the teeth for a Meritage?

Depends on how you pronounce it.

"Meritage to rhyme with Heritage. Meritage is not a French word."

What about focusing on European varietals grown in the US (grapes that you see less commonly here, i.e. sangiovese, nebbiolo, tempranillo, gruner veltliner, etc)?

I guess that wouldn't exactly be the best for availability (especially for those of us not living in the US), but I for one would love to try out and hear about a number of these and where they're being grown

Feel free to bank the idea and save it for another month if you're looking for something more popular for February

[Robin Garr]

What about focusing on European varietals grown in the US (grapes that you see less commonly here, i.e. sangiovese, nebbiolo, tempranillo, gruner veltliner, etc)?

I guess that wouldn't exactly be the best for availability (especially for those of us not living in the US), but I for one would love to try out and hear about a number of these and where they're being grown

Alex, that's a fun idea - probably for another month, as you say. It would be easy to make it international, too, by expanding it to "Grapes grown in places where the variety is not common." Australian ZInfandel and New Zealand Pinotage come to mind as examples I've encountered and tasted. European regs make offbeat varieties a little less common over there, but I bet we could come up with some!

What about focusing on European varietals grown in the US (grapes that you see less commonly here, i.e. sangiovese, nebbiolo, tempranillo, gruner veltliner, etc)?

NY State Lemberger; Ontario Gamay; Michigan Gewurtz;

Another suggestion for February would be wines that cost less than $20 per bottle (or equivalent in other currencies) or trying out wine and cheese pairings and reporting on what worked well or not so well.

Another suggestion for February would be wines that cost less than $20 per bottle.

I like that idea - one I could definitely join in on

Another suggestion for February would be wines that cost less than $20 per bottle.

I like that idea - one I could definitely join in on

You know what, that is a good one. Some great choices here for that price and you all know about govt taxes up here!

[Robin Garr]

So where are we, boys and girls? I'm hearing "Cabernet - California or bring your own" for February, with "Varieties from places that aren't known for those varieties" and "Great values under $20" on deck for months to come.

Everybody good with that? The new month starts Saturday!

Yep, I'm okay with that. I do have some Cabs on hand.

Sounds like a plan! Another theme for a later month could be: vitis labrusca, hydrids, & crosses. This would include native US grapes (ex. Catawba), hybrids of labrusca & vinifera (ex. Chambourcin, Baco Noir, Marechal Foche, Traminette, Vidal Blanc), as well as any crosses such as sylvaner and Muller-Thurgau, which could be accessible to those not in the US.

This may be a bit harder for some, however, so y'all will have to let me know if you think it'd be doable - there's plenty of all of the above around NY/NJ.

A similar topic could be simply varietals you've never tried before - I for one have been sitting on a bottle of Italian Ruche (never heard of it before I got this bottle) for a while wondering what the hell it tastes like and haven't had the right time to open it.

I think focuses like this could be fun and would get us trying new things we otherwise wouldn't