Comments on: Would you pay the master’s price for a local apprentice?

By: American Trousseau back on the table | Dr Vino's wine blog

American Trousseau back on the table | Dr Vino's wine blog — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 19:50:47 +0000

[...] post here from last year generated interesting discussion around the question of relative value and whether if you’re a Trousseau lover, you feel obliged to support [...]

By: Tia

Tia — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:18:43 +0000

Love this post! What an education for me.

By: Chuck Antonio

Chuck Antonio — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:42:54 +0000

I would support local wineries that provide varietals that may be unique or rare (relatively) in the US. I buy Tannat, Vermentino and Picpoul Blanc from Tablas Creek (Paso Robles) and look for different varietals from other producers. Several years ago I asked a wine maker in Madera, CA why he did not bottle his carignan as a single varietal and his answer was that he needed to make money. Hopefully that will eventually change.

By: William Allen - Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog

William Allen - Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:10:02 +0000

ah Trousseau noir, not Trousseau gris…then heck $1700 a ton is a Bargain!!

By: William Allen - Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog

William Allen - Simple Hedonisms Wine Blog — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 23:05:33 +0000

I live across from Fanucchi Vineyards where the Trousseau Gris comes from, and did a small amount (30 gallons)this year for a orange wine full skin contact fermentation.

As someone who lives in the area as a blogger for 3 years, and now is a vintner, your fruit price comparison is off.

Your comparison of whats paid for fruit isn’t really portraying the market. No one in Sonoma County is paying $400 a ton for zin – that may be the state average, is my guess, which is weighed down by the massive guys buying in Central coast etc.

Good zin will be ~2k a ton, which is normal.
I pay 2000-2400 a ton for 5 different varietals here, 2k is pretty normal for a white, so $1700 a ton is actually below market for a rare varietal in my opinion.

Btw Wind Gap has been making Trousseau Gris for a few years as well, and just released their full skin contact ‘orange’ version – check it out.

By: Evan Dawson

Evan Dawson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 16:55:17 +0000

No obligation. As a consumer, though, you’re limiting yourself if you don’t acquire a strong knowledge of what is available locally. And in fact, that’s what bothers me most regarding the local wine situation: Restaurant managers and store managers often fail to show much support for local wines – without having much of a clue of what they’re talking about.

Now, if they don’t dig the wines, I don’t think they should carry them. If they find the wines to be of poor value, I don’t think they should carry them. But outdated assumptions and laziness drive me nuts. So the only obligation I see is to make an effort to stay current.

By: Edible Arts

Edible Arts — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 02:48:46 +0000

The concept of obligation is too demanding to apply to this issue. It might be a good thing to support innovative, local wines if you can afford it but I don’t see the basis for an obligation.

By: David R

David R — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 01:41:14 +0000

Feeling a sense of obligation towards buying Californian Trousseau is kind of like feeling an obligation towards buying CA pinot so that it might compete against the Côte d’Or.

Markets are a beautiful thing. If the stuff coming out of Cali is competitive and well-received, it should do well. If it isn’t, it shouldn’t do well. And if it’s a matter that Roberts and Meyer are overpaying for their Trousseau grapes and overcharging for their production, both should come down too.

Trying to support a varietal just for the sake of innovation seems silly to me.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:39:40 +0000

What’s the sudden interest in Trousseau? Last year I spent a week in the Jura, and didn’t think much of Trousseau, although it was better than Poulsard. On the other hand, the Bonny Doon Dolcetto I had tonight was quite good.

By: Robin C

Robin C — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:17:39 +0000

How many Trousseau lovers are there in America? They should be allowed to find their Trousseau where they like, without guilt.

By: Dave Erickson

Dave Erickson — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 22:36:46 +0000

You gotta be kidding. Obligated?

One fact Roberts hesitates to disclose: His grandmother is Margrit Biever Mondavi, Robert Mondavi’s widow, who helped design the Arnot-Roberts label. His mother, Annie Roberts, was executive chef for 25 years at Robert Mondavi Winery.

By: uff the fluff

uff the fluff — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:46:59 +0000

I’ve had the Trousseau in question, and it is quite good.

For American wines one has to simply ignore QPR – sad, but true.

By: Bob

Bob — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:28:38 +0000

I agree wholeheartedly with Sam. That being said, today I bought a Dolcetto from Bonny Doon for $20. I don’t even pay that much for an Italian Dolcetto. But the advice I got was positive, and I like the story (it’s Randall Grahm after all). And if I’m disappointed by the wine, I’ll go back to Euro-only wines.

By: Sam Herron

Sam Herron — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:45:06 +0000

I think Bryan brings up a valid point price wise. I would be more than willing to try multiple bottles of Arnot-Roberts Trousseau if it sold for $19-$25 a bottle, but instead it’s $35+, and for me that’s expensive wine. The most I have ever spent on a single bottle for myself is $45-$50. I have a couple of bottles of Bourdy Jura wine, and they cost me $18.

To answer the question more directly, no I do not think I have any obligation to buy domestic wines, well priced or not. I have limited income and I will buy the wine I like or I think I will like, and I usually only experiment in the $15-$25 range. I feel the same way about this issue as I do with cars. If Ford wants me to buy American, then make a cheaper car that runs better than a Honda for the same price.

I wanted to jump on the Arnot-Roberts bandwagon after your posts because they excited me, but their prices are just too much. I know it’s limited production, but I feel I can get just as good of wines in the same style from elsewhere for cheaper.

By: Kovas

Kovas — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:42:51 +0000

I always try to get local wines or offbeat grapes as often as possible – good way to broaden the palate!