Comments for Wine Weekly

Comment on Affordable Champagne and Sparkling Wines for New Year’s by vinojoe

vinojoe — Sat, 12 May 2012 15:27:41 +0000

Alan, thanks for mentioning Gruet. Agreed, they make very good sparkling wines, and I was remiss in not discussing them. Unfortunately most of their offerings — especially their best ones — are limited in production and can be difficult to locate (depending where one lives). But then, most of the great wines in the world are made in low quantities.

Comment on Affordable Champagne and Sparkling Wines for New Year’s by Alan Lipschitz

Alan Lipschitz — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:03:45 +0000

No article on champagne substitutes is complete without mentioning Gruet – some very good sparkling wines, all $15-$20. From New Mexico ! Of course the Bruts are best, esp. the Blanc de Noir. My true love, though is their “Sauvignon” – $18 when you can find it – usually in December.

Comment on Lousy Wine at Charity Events by Jack

Jack — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:15:54 +0000

WOW VINOJOE!! You are holding back…Tell us how you really feel. LOL. I agree with the previous posters. Unless you are going to a serious charity event where the average donor is shelling out tons of cash. You are gonna find some wine that kinda sucks.

But I am glad you shed a little light on the subject. Good Post

Comment on Wrongo Dongo by Steamy, Hot, Goodness.. with a little salt on top | The Rake

Steamy, Hot, Goodness.. with a little salt on top | The Rake — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:26:52 +0000

[...] we serve it during the island’s most celebratory season! Savor the dish with a full-flavored Wrongo Dongo, 2005, and move on to the Tembleque dessert — a coconut custard — with a glass of Errazuriz, [...]

Comment on Beaujolais Nouveau Answers by Beaujolais nouv | Shoplucybelle

Beaujolais nouv | Shoplucybelle — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 03:48:01 +0000

[...] Beaujolais Nouveau Answers [...]

Comment on Wine Grape: Aglianico by wino in america

wino in america — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 01:40:22 +0000

Vini Nobilis is another really great Campania producer available in the US. http://www.onthewaytrading has a great deals online. Not all states are available for the direct delivery. Really great Campania wines at incredible prices.

Comment on Red Wine Review: Hob Nob by vinojoe

vinojoe — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:11:31 +0000

I haven’t tried the HobNob since this review so not sure what the issue is with the new corks. I’m assuming the corks are synthetic and tightly fit, in which case you might want to try using a different cork removal tool, such as a Screwpull, Metrokane Rabbit, or an “Ah So”.

Comment on Wine Term: Lees by vinojoe

vinojoe — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 04:02:01 +0000

Al thanks for the comments. Methinks I was not clear in my statement. When I stated “Some wines (usually white) are left in contact with their lees to increase the complexity and enhance the structure of the finished wine.” what I meant was that some wines are left on the FINE lees for a LONG TIME AFTER fermentation — and, generally speaking, red wines gain less benefit from such practice, therefore, it is a practice that is more usually applied to white wines in situations where the winemaker wants more complexity (but, it is not necessarily a common winemaking practice for white wines in general, if that makes any sense).

However you are absolutely correct in that “red wines are made by allowing them to stay on the lees to extract as much color and flavor as possible” — before and during fermentation. In other words, we’re both right, it just depends on the timing.

Comment on Affordable Champagne and Sparkling Wines for New Year’s by Kris Chislett

Kris Chislett — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:06:27 +0000

I agree, I think the Riondo Prosecco is one of the best sparkling wine values on the market.

Comment on Wine Term: Lees by AL Long

AL Long — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:51:15 +0000

You wrote “Some wines (usually white) are left in contact with their lees to increase the complexity and enhance the structure of the finished wine. ” Sorry but it is the red wines “that are usually left on the lees ” to increase the complexity and enhance the structure of the finished wine.

white wines are very rarely left on the lees. If white wines are left on the lees they can end up with a lot of tannin which would make the white wine less pleasant .

The extracted tannin that comes from the lees is what makes the red wines last longer and in fact less drinkable when they are very young; except for some styles like a Beaujolais. White Zins are an example of a lightly pressed red grape from which the juice is is quickly removed from contact with the red grapes resulting in little or no tannin in that wine.

Most white wines are separated from the lees as soon as possible. Red wines are made by allowing them to stay on the lees to extract as much of the color, (especially red grapes) and flavor as possible.