tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post2273716434196387795..comments2024-02-25T02:50:53.858-08:00Comments on HoseMaster of Wine™: I Now Pronounce You Stolpman and...Ron Washam, HMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-52553199460126835802013-08-21T19:05:28.566-07:002013-08-21T19:05:28.566-07:00Ron,
In Southern Italian dialect it's called ...Ron,<br /><br />In Southern Italian dialect it's called "vongool".Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-84209611104856201182013-08-21T12:44:16.906-07:002013-08-21T12:44:16.906-07:00Thomas,
Vignoles? Isn't that what you shout at...Thomas,<br />Vignoles? Isn't that what you shout at a bullfight if you're holding a glass of wine? <br /><br />Or are those the little growths on my bung?<br /><br />Who names these stupid grapes?Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-77622157522918858562013-08-21T05:21:25.900-07:002013-08-21T05:21:25.900-07:00Ron,
You should hear what people used to call Vig...Ron,<br /><br />You should hear what people used to call Vignoles!<br /><br />Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-60092108108601324792013-08-20T20:19:56.559-07:002013-08-20T20:19:56.559-07:00Marlene,
I worked with a woman who, no matter how ...Marlene,<br />I worked with a woman who, no matter how many times I corrected her, always pronounced it vee-own-a. Who names these stupid grapes anyway? Can we blame Jancis Robinson? <br /><br />My Gorgeous Samantha,<br />At this point, I often think, "Well, this is good, but Samantha would hate it." I'm probably wrong, but in that sense, I do write some of this for you. I think you'd love their little Rose. Make someone taste you on it. And La Cuadrilla might be right up your alley too. Which is a nice place to be, I'm guessing.<br /><br />I love you!Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-35019711636270705932013-08-20T13:58:44.469-07:002013-08-20T13:58:44.469-07:00Hey Pete,
Um,that's alright I didn't wanna...Hey Pete,<br />Um,that's alright I didn't wanna taste your stinky wine anyways. (I do believe you remember my meanie face, well I am shooting it your way now). That being said I wish to extend a heartfelt congratulations to you and Jessica on your recent nuptials, very happy for you both. <br /><br />Ron My Love,<br />Never wanted to taste things as badly as when you write them for me...okay maybe it's not FOR me but a girl can dream. Lovely work and I love you so. Samantha Duganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05214278596698698245noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-75807553519154037332013-08-20T12:01:27.151-07:002013-08-20T12:01:27.151-07:00Ron, your reference to Viognier reminded me of an ...Ron, your reference to Viognier reminded me of an incident when I was a somm. A big, beefy guy ordered a bottle of pricy Cab and then said, "and bring a bottle of that <br />'Vee-og-nyer' for the little lady." <br /> <br />The white wines were listed separately from the reds, so it was easy for him to pick out a white. I guess he thought that only women drank white wine...The Sommelierehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05373623446507975769noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-88964414919696162192013-08-20T11:16:52.638-07:002013-08-20T11:16:52.638-07:00Peter,
Luckily for my crappy reputation, I didn...Peter,<br />Luckily for my crappy reputation, I didn't start as sommelier at PDC until 1987. Everyone knows Cote-Rotie is in the Loire.<br /><br />Historically, of course, there simply was a lot of Bordeaux to ship to England, and a convenient port to ship it from, while there has never been that much Syrah from the Northern Rhone. Cabernet is also the luckiest grape.<br /><br />I was going to say your Syrah tasted like typical California Pinot Noir, so a lot of typical Syrah character. But I thought better of it. <br /><br />Most grapes vary quite a bit, not just Syrah. Do a few wine competitions and you'll find out. I do think you should spearhead the Syrah movement, Peter. You're articulate and passionate. I'm thinking Syrah Traditionalists and Diehards. Catch a nice STD! Could work. Come to our tasting, Wear a condom!<br /><br />Mel,<br />Like the time Joe Heitz told my best customer's wife to, "Shut the hell up." Yeah, I'll have to tell some soon...<br /><br />Tom,<br />Damn Bonnacorsi! Always one step ahead of the dumb guy downtown. It was a privilege to be one of the first to sell your wines, and always a pleasure to see you at PDC. You're one of the good guys.<br /><br />Thanks for the clarification. Man, you had a lot of guys wandering through your place. But you sure ended up with a good guy.<br /><br />It's not that I didn't like the Sangiovese, it's more that I just didn't get it. There's a difference, to me. Sangiovese is such a great grape, and one I love, but it may vary even more than Syrah, even on Peter's scale.<br /><br />Thank you so much for chiming in, Tom! Making me look good!Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-33471978616389691082013-08-20T10:49:11.074-07:002013-08-20T10:49:11.074-07:00Ron, I love the blog, and being reminded of the ma...Ron, I love the blog, and being reminded of the many "meetings" at the Dining Car, as well as the great food and wines. Although Michael Bonacorsi at Spago beat you to the punch with having our wines on his list, you were one of the earliest supporters of our wines, and I will always be thankful to you (and your customers, who actually purchased the wine)! <br />A little historical perspective: From 1994 to 1996 Rick Longoria and Daniel Gehrs were purchasing fruit from Stolpman, and made a few barrels of Stolpman Cab Fran, Merlot, and a blend for my cellar. In 1996 and 1997 Brian Babcock did the same with a barrel of Savgiovese. In 1998 and 1999, Bruno D'Alfonso made the Sangiovese, while in 1997, Craig MacMillan became our winemaker as we produced a blend, a Reserve Cabernet Franc and a Reserve Merlot. Craig Jaffurs made a few barrels of Reserve Syrah in 1998. In 2001 Craig left and Sashi took the reins, blending the wines made by Craig and Bruno and then made the wines from 2001 onward.<br />BTW, I hope that some day you grow to appreciate Sangiovese--many Italophiles on the East Coast have said they think the Stolpman Estate Grown Sangiovese is the best wine made from that grape outside of Italy--I, of course, agree, but my name is on the label!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02624549206742397435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-7643546353565682942013-08-20T10:21:15.092-07:002013-08-20T10:21:15.092-07:00Hosemaster, these discussions about selling syrah ...Hosemaster, these discussions about selling syrah etc can go on forever.<br /><br />Let's hear some good winemaker dinner stories.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202797971043380941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-30928551407971614772013-08-20T09:03:21.655-07:002013-08-20T09:03:21.655-07:00Since we've started a discussion about why Syr...Since we've started a discussion about why Syrah is a battle, I think we have to look at the historical perspective. The English carted Bordeuax by the boatload back to London and even today, it is the darling of the international market. A couple years ago, the current somm at Ron's beloved Pacific Dining car showed me a wine list from 1985 when the one lone Cote Rotie was listed in the Burgundy section. Yes, the modern wine market thought that Syrah's coming of age would occur 20 years ago. But I suspect this "market forecast" was driven by commercial farmers who had realized that Syrah will give a merchantable crop pretty much anywhere due to its heartiness as a vine.<br />This resiliency provides yet another challenge. I'm honored that Ron thinks Estate Syrah "tastes like Syrah", but I'm sure at least 6 of the other 10 readers wondered, "but what is Syrah supposed to taste like?" Down here, Andrew Murray said it best, "Syrah is the chameleon of grapes." Perhaps even more so than Garnacha v. Grenache, Shiraz and Syrah vary so much in style from Outback Shiraz to Northern Rhone Syrah. <br />The Australians actually 'got' this part right, and the strynized spelling of the varietal allowed them to put a stylistic stamp on their product. Mother nature; winemakers pushing the style too far for international taste; mining-driven increases in currency value; and a flood of cheap, mass produced wines all combined to end the parade.<br />Now with Ballard Canyon AVA coming on board with about the same planted acreage as Cote Rotie, I hope to give a new "place" for consumers to understand Syrah, hopefully at a more reasonable price point.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620032787553393995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-84559629967474814372013-08-20T08:01:33.161-07:002013-08-20T08:01:33.161-07:00Hey Steve,
Oh, man, some day I'm going to have...Hey Steve,<br />Oh, man, some day I'm going to have to write a piece about shit that happened at winemaker dinners I put on. Thanks for reminding me.<br /><br />Roussanne is a tough variety. It seems as though getting the fruit in balance in the vineyard is difficult, which translates into weird wines in the bottle (I'm no winemaker, but I play one on TV). But the L'Avion is really good and interesting and shows that Stolpman may be on the right track there in Ballard Canyon. And, yes, the '11 Angeli is really impressive Syrah.<br /><br />As to Syrah, well, there is just as much mediocre Pinot Noir and Cabernet to wade through, so I don't understand the difference. And they usually cost a lot more. Same for Zin and Petite Shirazalamadingdong. All varieties have oceans of mediocre examples. Yet, of all the best grapes, it's Syrah that has fallen to the bottom. <br /><br />It reminds me of when a restaurant closes and people say, "Oh, I loved that place." Yeah, but it closed because you never went there. People say, "I like good Syrah." Yeah, but you never go there. Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-44511011142698411372013-08-20T07:46:17.413-07:002013-08-20T07:46:17.413-07:00Hose, I was lucky enough to be at a winemaker dinn...Hose, I was lucky enough to be at a winemaker dinner with Stolpman recently, so I really appreciate this article. I don't have a sophisticated palate like yours, but I came away remembering the Rousanne was a total, positive surprise (not a varietal I usually drink). And the L'Avion was a world class Syrah. Absolutely fantastic for it's depth and drinkability.<br /><br />As a consumer and not a 'wine pro', I don't drink more Syrah only because I'm not willing to wade through the mediocre to find the high quality I can afford. <br /><br />Steve PinzonAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16183747996960572041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-42988426072778496142013-08-19T18:43:59.070-07:002013-08-19T18:43:59.070-07:00Thomas,
Good point. Maybe Syrah's failure has ...Thomas,<br />Good point. Maybe Syrah's failure has to do with the inability of even the people who hate it to know how to spell it correctly. Syrah needs a better agent.<br /><br />Mel,<br />I was thinking Spurs because I always considered Nebbiolo one of the Ginobili grapes, like Cabernet and Syrah.<br /><br />Oh Manu, that's a stupid joke.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-61720303622795339412013-08-19T16:18:54.353-07:002013-08-19T16:18:54.353-07:00Mek,
That would be "Blend Nebbiolo," no...Mek,<br /><br />That would be "Blend Nebbiolo," no?Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-62377514145642011212013-08-19T15:14:51.132-07:002013-08-19T15:14:51.132-07:00Uvaggio Nebbiolo played for the Tottenham Hotspurs...Uvaggio Nebbiolo played for the Tottenham Hotspurs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202797971043380941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-78018806037290037062013-08-19T12:28:04.536-07:002013-08-19T12:28:04.536-07:00"Oh, well, there's the old, and true, sho..."Oh, well, there's the old, and true, show biz axiom, 'It doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they talk about you, and spell your name right.'"<br /><br />Is that supposed to apply to the failure or the success of Sirah. Syrah, Shiraz, Petit whatever???Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-51886181423832685362013-08-19T11:10:47.052-07:002013-08-19T11:10:47.052-07:00Charlie,
These "Wine Essays" are basical...Charlie,<br />These "Wine Essays" are basically just self-indulgent and not meant to "guide" folks to what wines to buy for their own enjoyment. And when I drink the wines, I certainly don't do it under any kind of controlled or objective circumstances. So why post ratings? I'll leave that to the Poodles.<br /><br />When I started doing these, I just wanted to spend a few hours writing about wine rather than just write inane jokes. When some nice folks sent me wine, I liked the format of being able to talk about my experiences in the context of a winery. They're way too long, but I seem to have a nasty case of logorrhea when I talk about wine. Does Preparation H help with that?<br /><br />Mel, <br />Oh, well, there's the old, and true, show biz axiom, "It doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they talk about you, and spell your name right." <br /><br />As for Uvaggio Nebbiolo, didn't he play for the San Antonio Spurs?Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-58991382602678462182013-08-19T10:59:02.357-07:002013-08-19T10:59:02.357-07:00Hosemaster, I am reminded of when Charles Barkeley...Hosemaster, I am reminded of when Charles Barkeley announced that he might run for office in Alabama as a republican. Dan Quayle said he would be happy to ampaign for or against him...whatever would help the most.<br /><br />Are you sure that your endorsement of their wines hasn t set them back ten years??<br /><br />We at Uvaggio made some great nebbiolo from the Stolpman vineyards...If you think Syrah is hard to sell......Happy to share some with you some day.<br /><br />One of the top guys at Delicato told me that they thought syrah was a great bet for the future...easy to pronounce and a style perfect for the way Americans eat and drink...Oops!<br /><br />An English wine merchant friend thinks that behind every sale is a big argument. Pinot Noir's argument took 20 years plus to make. Cabernet made its argument in 1976 in Paris.<br /><br />People just thought syrah was a natural and left it at that. <br /><br />American syrah has to make its argument. Rhone Rangers and Hospices de Rhone exist but more is required.<br /><br />The quality is there. I have tasted "Marcel Guigal get a day job' wines.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12202797971043380941noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-12032712486487842922013-08-19T10:17:16.668-07:002013-08-19T10:17:16.668-07:00Syrah can be a challenge in CA, but Pete and Sashi...Syrah can be a challenge in CA, but Pete and Sashi and Ballard Canyon seem to have mastered it.<br /><br />One of the difficulties in doing wine reviews your way, as opposed to my way, is that superlatives are more or less equal, and yet some of these wines are so more than equal when it comes to their peers that I find myself wishing for the million-point scale here.Charlie Olkenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02513782687786106137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-40908305383857187192013-08-19T09:03:09.993-07:002013-08-19T09:03:09.993-07:00Hi Peter,
Rick Longoria seems like the name I reme...Hi Peter,<br />Rick Longoria seems like the name I remember from those early days. Thanks for providing that info.<br /><br />I'm not sure anyone has a good explanation for why Syrah struggles at the consumer level. Zin has its own fan club and consumer events, crummy old Petite Sirah has a fan club and hosts an annual tasting (sorry, Jo Diaz, I just can't embrace Petite Sirah as a grape to celebrate), while Syrah is just one of the Mousketeers in the Rhone Rangers. <br /><br />Is there a Syrah fan club I don't know about? Maybe you should start one, Peter. Syrah Advocates and Producers won't work, but I'm sure we can come up with a name. I'd certainly go to an all-Syrah tasting. At least it wouldn't be crowded.<br /><br />Thank you for chiming in, Peter. It was a joy to be able to taste through so much of your lineup. Say Hi to your Dad for me.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-31270845913581394452013-08-19T08:37:41.441-07:002013-08-19T08:37:41.441-07:00Ron,
Thanks for reviewing the wines!
Before Sash...Ron,<br /><br />Thanks for reviewing the wines!<br /><br />Before Sashi Moorman joined the team in 2001, winemakers including Rick Longoria and Bruno D'Alfonso made small lots for our then tiny Stolpman Vineyards label.<br /><br />Our winery has grown as the vineyard has matured, and now Sashi takes about 85% of the crop for our winery. As we've learned about what varietals work best on our Limestone soils in Ballard Canyon, we've shifted our focus to Syrah (about 2/3 of our total plantings), Roussanne, and Grenache.<br /><br />Because there was so little planted back when Dad started, he experimented with Bordeaux Varietals and Italians. We have no more Nebbiolo, which I'm sure you would have liked about as much as our Sangiovese. <br /><br />We have one small block of Viognier that is used to co-ferment with Syrah, including the 2011 Estate Syrah you liked. We also use the Viognier to blend with declassified Roussanne. <br /><br />Beaucastel VV is certainly the world-wide benchmark for 100% Roussanne wines. Many of our cuttings come from those very vines sourced through Tablas Creek back in the 90s. In a location with 4-5% harvest time humidity, virtually no harvest rain (knock on wood), and high winds to blow off any mold, we think the late-ripening Roussanne gives us a very unique opportunity to make a monocepage. Throw in limestone soils to retain acidity and a full-time crew that can coddle the clusters and make multiple picking passes, and I agree with you, we have an exciting hit on our hands with L'Avion.<br /><br />Market be damned, we'll continue with our "Battle for Syrah". The treasury dept approved the Ballard Canyon AVA and we are now awaiting publishing by the TTB, hopefully this will help consumers identify a place in the New World focusing on Syrah, Roussanne, and Grenache!<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />PeteAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05620032787553393995noreply@blogger.com