Comments on: Better Know a Grape: Savagnin

By: Better Know a Grape: Viognier | SpinTheBottleNY

Better Know a Grape: Viognier | SpinTheBottleNY — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:22:46 +0000

[...] taking a step back from my last très recherché BKAG selection, Savagnin, and choosing a more mainstream variety this time. Viognier is the finest white wine grape of the [...]

By: David Coffey

David Coffey — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 19:20:18 +0000

And Todd’s point about savagnin representing a departure from generic wines brings to mind some of the more enjoyable and interesting wine tastings I have participated in, involving wines from Jura and Savoie. Lots of very well made wines from interesting grapes like poulsard and trousseau and altesse and mondeuse, and familiar grapes like chardonnay and pinot noir in unfamiliar guises.

By: David Coffey

David Coffey — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 22:09:12 +0000

Like fino sherry, some Jura winemaking (and all vin jaune production I believe) includes allowing the formation of a thick flor on the wine. There is a picture at ChateauChalon.com. My understanding is that this is unique among French wines.

By: sasha

sasha — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 02:29:55 +0000

I know, the cloudiness + oxidation + wax seal = not exactly consumer-friendly. (I love your yellow [no tail] wine formulation!) We shared with this some friends–when I can, I try to serve a funky wine or two when guests are over, just to do my part for wine diversity.

By: Todd Wernstrom

Todd Wernstrom — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 19:19:29 +0000

Man, talk about a hard sell! You’re to be congratulated for featuring this wine, because, after all, any wine that is unique has something going for it in this day of generic, if solidly made, reds and whites.

That said, while I like a bit of oxidation, too — particularly, or maybe specifically, in Champagne — I can just imagine a sommelier or retailer trying to convince a customer that the “yellow (no Tail!) wine” is worth a bit of a splurge. But then again, you could probably argue that anything worth selling is worth selling by hand.

Thanks for keeping things interesting.