Rumbles for the Fourth

[David M. Bueker]

Random thoughts wandering through my brain that are mostly related to wine.

1. California continues to fascinate me, but it has a real value problem. I get consistently interesting and age worthy wines for $25 or less out of Italy, and some from France as well. That’s a really hard ask in California. Last night’s 2009 Baudry Grezeaux (Chinon) cost me $22 a few years ago. The 2017 is still available for under $25.

2. Positive for California, is the continued expansion of “classic style” producers. The wines may be a little expensive, but stylistically they are right up my alley. An Enfield Wine Co. Cabernet Sauvignon a couple of weeks ago hit that mark. It reminded me a bit of Corison, which I think of as a benchmark for classic California Cabernet.

3. It’s amazing how many men are suddenly experts on the US Women’s Soccer Team now that the World Cup is going on. They know how they should be playing, what substitutes need to be played, and how they should celebrate. I’m just enjoying the games.

4. Wine drinking tends to go in cycles. It’s not always weather related, though I have been drinking a lot more Riesling now that the temperatures are in the 80s and higher. Beyond that I am glad for air conditioning, as I have been craving Syrah and Cabernet. At least I had some Cabernet Franc.

5. David Ramey was interviewed by Levi Dalton on I’ll Drink to That. David got into some real details that speak to his knowledge and highly rational approach. It’s more technical than most of Levi’s interviews, but still quite engaging.

6. Less than three weeks until NFL training camps. Yay!

We only get the 'usual suspects' in terms of CA wine here (almost none of the relatively new guard), but it is so hideously expensive that I rarely buy anything from that state anymore. I agree that Italy, France and Spain, among other countries, offer far, far better value.

I hate to sound like a crochety old geezer, but the price of wine now really is astounding. The steep rise of Bordeaux and Burgundy (and Napa) prices at the very high end seems to be having an effect on moderately priced wine from everywhere: I sense they feel that 'if they can charge this, then I can charge that'. Many wines I used to buy regularly are now replaced by other wines. There is certainly some fun and skill in finding these better value and new wines, but year after year the prices continue to rise. It's scary to wander around a retail store and feel that you are overpaying for almost every bottle in the store (part of that is living where I live, which has very high prices relative to the US).

Rant off!

[David M. Bueker]

I totally get it.

Today I am planning to open a 2007 Riesling (!) that cost me $27 when I bought it. Current vintages are closer to $80.

yes, I really agree that it's hard to find much CA that's really interesting for $25 or so (few exceptions like some ESJ bottlings)

[David M. Bueker]

Sam Bilbro at Idlewild is another notable exception.

Sam Bilbro at Idlewild is another notable exception.

Bingo, David. As well as Bryan Harrington. Just had his Negrette and Trousseau and Freud’s. $25 and $30. Both good and very interesting.
Tom

[David M. Bueker]

Sam’s advantage is that a larger percentage of people might have heard of the grapes he uses.