Produttori, Pinon, Ridge, Luzon – popular wine picks from class
Another six-week session of my NYU class just wrapped up last week. I poured about six wines per class around various themes (if you’d like a one-night class, register for the holiday wines session on 12/10). Here are some of the popular and/or notable choices from the term:
Pinon, sparkling Vouvray NV (about $19): I poured a bubbly in almost every class; this one was unanimously liked. How could it not be? It is gorgeous bubbly with delicious aromatics and a balance between acidity and delicate residual sugar. It will be on my Thanksgiving table–and in a white wine glass.
Hirsch, Veltliner #1, 2007 (about $15): Refreshing, with good acidity and a hint of that snap pea character of Gruner, this wine got lots of thumbs up, particularly for the price.
Produttori del Barbaresco, Barberesco, 2005 (about $33): I poured this wine the first day to illustrate tannins. While the taninns were actually more muted than I had anticipated, the wine was wildly popular. Many Nebbiolo fans were made from a sip of this wine. It does benefit from some air; another bottle that I bought was still going strong on day two.
Domaine Guion, Cuvee Prestige, Bourgeuil, 2006 (about $12): After our discussion online about cabernet franc, the polarizing grape, I had to add this wine to the following lineup. All but four people really liked it (about 90% of participants); I love it too for the good acidity and interesting tannins and have been buying it by the case.
Ridge, Three Valleys, Sonoma (about $23)
This blend of mostly zinfandel fermented with natural yeasts has 13.8% alcohol, refreshingly low for a zin. The class really liked its lushness and didn’t find it as overextracted as some of the other wines. It’s also a good value, available online for less than I paid for the class.
Luzon, monastrell, Jumilla, 2008 (about $8): This wine was funny since it was the cheapest wine we tasted for the day, yet the most popular as people reached for their pens to scribble this one down. To me, it didn’t have a lot of individuality but certainly was not the worst example of monastrell I’ve ever had (ahem, Sierra Carche).
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On November 23rd, 2009 at 12:46 pm ,Alfonso Cevola wrote:
I found the same thing happened with me at two wine dinners last week, with the 2005 Produttori Barbaresco. Drinking lovely now
On November 23rd, 2009 at 1:20 pm ,Andrew wrote:
I’ve had a lot of luck with the wines of Produttori Barbaresco. Even their Langhe Nebbiolo is an outstanding wine.
On November 23rd, 2009 at 1:42 pm ,Jeff Mausbach wrote:
Tyler,
We met once when you were visiting Bodega Catena Zapata in Mendoza.
Just curious – any Malbecs in the class line up?
Jeff Mausbach
On November 23rd, 2009 at 2:39 pm ,Dr. Vino wrote:
Alfonso, Andrew – Viva the Produttori! I like the Langhe neb too.
Hi Jeff – Malbec is v popular; yes, I poured the Yellow + Blue malbec and the Clos Siguier (Cahors) side by side. The students also brought in three from Arg (don’t recall which) for their presentations.
On November 23rd, 2009 at 2:49 pm ,jeff mausbach wrote:
Tyler,
Great to hear. Thanks for supporting the cause.
Jeff
On November 24th, 2009 at 2:06 pm ,Lego wrote:
I’m going to go against the crowd and say that even though Nebbiolo is great and that I love Produttori, it is much too young to be drinking now. It is going to take a few years for this wine to achieve some balance.
On November 25th, 2009 at 10:30 pm ,Reid wrote:
year in and year out, Produttori Barbaresco is the best value Nebbiolo wine out there. Of course I liked it more when it was priced in the mid-$20s. . .
People love those Jumilla monastrells, though I’m not a big fan. Where I live Juan Gil is just about the hottest thing going.
On November 25th, 2009 at 10:32 pm ,Reid wrote:
Cabernet Franc. . .I bang the drum for Chinon wines from time to time. Not enough of them available in my area though.