September Wine Focus: Quick, what shall it be?

[Robin Garr]

I can't believe I haven't posted a beer note. I actually like beer!

Meanwhile, we've been enjoying a pleasantly cool August here, so I figure there's a 50-50 chance that September in my latitudes will be hellish or delightful. At any rate, autumn is on its way (in the Northern Hemisphere). What shall we study in September Wine Focus?

[David M. Bueker]

Well I won't be on line much, so feel free to do Sauvignon Blanc.

[Robin Garr]

Well I won't be on line much, so feel free to do Sauvignon Blanc.

Next nomination?

Fume Blanc .

Fume Blanc .

LOL!!

.

The Wall Street Journal or one of the others just last week posted an article on the rising popularity of orange wines. Should we jump on that bandwagon for a month?

[Robin Garr]

Maybe we could spin it: "Does Good Sauvignon Blanc Exist? Does Anyone Care Enough To Find Out?"

Orange wines..availability?????

Orange wines..availability?????

I am curious about orange wines but not enough to have had one or even to notice who is selling them. A rapid Google located one internet seller offering them in France and a host of wrong hits (town Orange in Provence, internet service provider Orange, etc.). If this topic is chosen, I'll open my eyes a bit more when in a caviste's shop but am not sure of success.

I like Robin's suggested SB headline.

Aha. I found the article I cited:

https://www.yahoo.com/food/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-latest-wine-trend-127077286899.html

Looks like the author had no trouble finding the stuff in the NYC Metro area. But who knows about elsewhere. This might be a tough one logistically for a wine focus until it gets more widely distributed.

[Robin Garr]

Orange wines..availability?????

Zip in most of the US. A good topic for a specific thread, but not for Wine Focus.

Keep 'em coming, folks! One more day! Any alternatives to Sauvignon Blanc? ;D

Count me out with SB; have we done Red Zin lately?

[David M. Bueker]

No. We have not. Including Primitivo gets some Italian wines into the mix as well. Cannot forget Tribidrag either.

[Robin Garr]

No. We have not. Including Primitivo gets some Italian wines into the mix as well. Cannot forget Tribidrag either.

I'm not a huge fan of Zin, due to my card-carrying membership in the AFWE, but I'm fine with a month on it. Red Zin, that is. Is Primitivo/Tribidrag going to be a challenge for you, Tim?

No. We have not. Including Primitivo gets some Italian wines into the mix as well. Cannot forget Tribidrag either.

I'm not a huge fan of Zin, due to my card-carrying membership in the AFWE, but I'm fine with a month on it. Red Zin, that is. Is Primitivo/Tribidrag going to be a challenge for you, Tim?

I've just looked at the Lavinia website, which is the obvious place in France for "exotic" wines but at "prestige" prices, and curiously they list no Primitivo but two Zinfandels; a 2013 from Ravenswood Lodi (unknown to me) and a 2011 Ridge Geyserville (perhaps my favourite from the variety) but at € 47,50/bottle plus postage. I have to say that, for me, a little Zinfandel/Primitivo goes a long way. My last bottle was over two years ago. I am not exactly yearning for another but I will try to play if the topic is chosen

[Robin Garr]

I've just looked at the Lavinia website, which is the obvious place in France for "exotic" wines but at "prestige" prices, and curiously they list no Primitivo but two Zinfandels; a 2013 from Ravenswood Lodi (unknown to me) and a 2011 Ridge Geyserville (perhaps my favourite from the variety) but at € 47,50/bottle plus postage. I have to say that, for me, a little Zinfandel/Primitivo goes a long way. My last bottle was over two years ago. I am not exactly yearning for another but I will try to play if the topic is chosen

Thanks, Tim! The Geyserville is indeed iconic - actually a blend rather than pure Zin as I recall, which may be an advantage. I'm not a huge fan of Zin either, but Ridge is certainly the name to beat, and Ravenswood ... well, I'm not a Zin scholar. It used to be a top name, but as I recall it was sold to a Japanese corporation years ago, and i have no idea how quality has fared. Perhaps it's worth doing it for a month in order to address some of these questions. Absent a late-breaking new idea, I'm inclined to go with it starting in the morning.

[David M. Bueker]

The single vineyard Ravenswoods are still very good. And they were bought by Constellation.

[Robin Garr]

The single vineyard Ravenswoods are still very good. And they were bought by Constellation.

Thanks, David. I sure thought they at least passed through Japanese hands, but what do I know?

Hey, it's Sept. 1! I'd better get that thing posted!