Although I no longer drink, I've always preferred Cabernet. I still taste occasionally (the spit-bucket method), and I still prefer a good Cabernet, even though I now live in a region (Oregon's Willamette Valley) where Pinot Noir is king! In the words of Sly Stone, "Different strokes for different folks!"
You comment got me thinking. When I first began paying attention to wine, it was some lovely cabernets that were my initiation. This was in the 1970s. By the early 90s, so many cabs (and other varietals) became over-extracted and much higher in alcohol; high alcohol wines are really hard to pair with food. I went to France in 1990 and came back enchanted by Beaujolais. When it wasn't available at restaurant one night, the server suggested a pinot noir. It was magical.
Thank you, Patrick. And it is great to see a reference to Sly! If you haven't seen it, check out my essay about his memoir. Just scroll through my posts until you see Jukebox. I think you'll enjoy it!
I love how Pinot Noir reflects the ground from which it’s grown. I remember going to a tasting years ago at Sidori and they had many Pinots from Washington, Oregon and California and each one tasted different.
I have had a pinot noir love affair for more than 20 years. I noticed how people hate it upon first trying it. I learned to bring a more accessible wine to any gathering except those who shared my passion. Also, a good pinot noir is pricey. Why share it with folks who will not get it?
A lot of wine drinkers think of pinot noir (when it is made the right way) as wimpy, which is likely because they are what are called "non-tasters," which has to do with the number of taste buds they have. (The other two categories are tasters and hyper-tasters.) A couple of influential wine writers and even several well-known winemakers are non-tasters, which accounts for the preference, among Americans, for huge so-called fruit bombs and high alcohol wines. I have not had a beautiful pinot noir, the kind that so mesmerized me in the early 1990s, in a long time. And, yes, they have become so expensive. These days, I enjoy inexpensive French rosés.
Never have so many barrels of words been used to describe fermented grapes that arrive in a glass. It gives hyperbole a good name…
One big long piece - or should I say glass? - of hyperbole!
I’ll drink to that….
Although I no longer drink, I've always preferred Cabernet. I still taste occasionally (the spit-bucket method), and I still prefer a good Cabernet, even though I now live in a region (Oregon's Willamette Valley) where Pinot Noir is king! In the words of Sly Stone, "Different strokes for different folks!"
Great article, however!
You comment got me thinking. When I first began paying attention to wine, it was some lovely cabernets that were my initiation. This was in the 1970s. By the early 90s, so many cabs (and other varietals) became over-extracted and much higher in alcohol; high alcohol wines are really hard to pair with food. I went to France in 1990 and came back enchanted by Beaujolais. When it wasn't available at restaurant one night, the server suggested a pinot noir. It was magical.
Thank you, Patrick. And it is great to see a reference to Sly! If you haven't seen it, check out my essay about his memoir. Just scroll through my posts until you see Jukebox. I think you'll enjoy it!
Thanks. It was sad to hear of his passing only a day or two after I posted this. I'll check out the post.
Very enchanting article, Michelle. I have a strong affection for Pino Noir...now I have a better understanding of why.
Thank you, Courtenay. Love seeing you here!
I love how Pinot Noir reflects the ground from which it’s grown. I remember going to a tasting years ago at Sidori and they had many Pinots from Washington, Oregon and California and each one tasted different.
So wonderfully written. A good Pinot Noir, especially a Russian River one, is my very favorite red!
I have had a pinot noir love affair for more than 20 years. I noticed how people hate it upon first trying it. I learned to bring a more accessible wine to any gathering except those who shared my passion. Also, a good pinot noir is pricey. Why share it with folks who will not get it?
Thanks for reminding me of this discovery.
A lot of wine drinkers think of pinot noir (when it is made the right way) as wimpy, which is likely because they are what are called "non-tasters," which has to do with the number of taste buds they have. (The other two categories are tasters and hyper-tasters.) A couple of influential wine writers and even several well-known winemakers are non-tasters, which accounts for the preference, among Americans, for huge so-called fruit bombs and high alcohol wines. I have not had a beautiful pinot noir, the kind that so mesmerized me in the early 1990s, in a long time. And, yes, they have become so expensive. These days, I enjoy inexpensive French rosés.