Wine Berserkers - international wine social media, online community, and discussion

Ian Sutton

A wonderful example of how points chasing means you'll pay more.
If you trust the critic's palate more than your own, then you'll feel confident the extra cost is worth it.

Ian Sutton

Shockingly high markups by Italian standards - of the order of 3x retail on average I would say, so anything nearer 2x retail is probably the 'bargain', but still a steeper markup than I'm used to in Italy. Maybe I eat in the wrong places ;¬) My suggestions will be limited, but this at least appeale...

Ian Sutton

Is it too soon to suggest it's acquired coravinirus?

I thought so, and have already taken the liberty of fetching my own coat

Ian Sutton

We've stayed with friends in Tavira and liked it very much. Restrained charm, good food / reasonably priced. Not a beach resort, but with some lovely walking in dunes / past the salt pans / lots of birdlife. There are beaches in very easy driving range and IIRC there is a river ferry that ends up at...

Ian Sutton

I tend to consider any brand of spit bucket suitable for Grenache, and try to avoid potential contamination from myself on its way to said receptacle [wink.gif] Joking aside, probably something that doesn't accentuate the perception of alcohol and avoids over-emphasising the jammier aspect of the fr...

Ian Sutton

Never heard of Molveno so I googled it and wow, that’s where I am going whenever it is possible again! Pretty much "wow!" was all I could say when first looking at the view from the apartment (and practically every apartment will have such a view). Mountains, lake, some village, and no filler. Typi...

Ian Sutton

FWIW the standard 'Foradori' (what was Teroldego Rotaliano) can be just as appealing as the Granato in youth, though the Granato should shine a decade or more down the line. Both are aged in wood, so feel very normal (natural wines, but you'd struggle to guess). I think the natural wine persona come...

Ian Sutton

Sorry, I just saw this. I was partial to the Nosiola and my wife was partial to the Manzoni. So we buy both. The tasting was a great experience. DA906631-FED0-4066-82F8-33F09BDAF3B1.jpeg 0CC69603-92C0-464F-A3B2-4E408D914FAE.jpeg and it was in that very seat you occupied, that we had a discussion ab...

Ian Sutton

Markus S wrote: ↑
April 25th, 2020, 2:00 pm
Pop if you must. At $300/bottle, I'd probably let it develop some more though.

+1

Ian Sutton

Best hack - a proven track record. It's far easier to predict future greatness, if the previous releases showed this. Even if you've not tasted that label (or indeed neither have others because it's a new label) comparisons are very useful. e.g. taste a Hunter Valley Semillon and find it's somewhat ...

Ian Sutton

in very simple terms, without knowing the specific wine

06 if you want to cellar it for a decade or more
07 if you'd be likely to drink it sooner

Ian Sutton

Posted at 15:4915:49 (BBC) Loss of smell and taste - new symptoms? Philippa Roxby Health reporter, BBC News There have been increasing numbers of people reporting a lost sense of smell and taste on social media. Some have tested positive for the new coronavirus, while others who haven’t had a test w...

Ian Sutton

...since true ageusia (inability to taste basic tastes) is a completely different story and I don't know if you can get that from the Coronavirus as well. It's been in the news yesterday. Reports from France and Iran of this being a reasonably common (but not universal) symptom. Also shared by the ...

Ian Sutton

plenty of people under stress at the moment, so cut each other some slack please

... and if you think someone is being an *sshole, don't be an *sshole back.

Ian Sutton

Claus Jeppesen wrote: ↑
February 15th, 2020, 1:51 am
Very famous producer:

late to the game - I'd guess Gaja, making a point of crossing out the G in DOCG (and if not them, then Borgogno for their protest label)

Ian Sutton

Gerhard P. wrote: ↑
February 20th, 2020, 4:45 am

As always bottle condition is critical ...

Indeed - I was going to say look for a good level and where practical a good colour

Ian Sutton

Historically called round the world tickets. Most have a restriction on the total number of flights, but also no backtracking. Historically they weren't much more than 3 single tickets, so if you were already planning two separate locations, this was often a cost-effective way to add in a 3rd and 4t...

Ian Sutton

Andy Sc wrote: ↑
February 3rd, 2020, 4:49 am

Otto Forsberg wrote: ↑
February 3rd, 2020, 2:29 am

Forceberry. https://www.cellartracker.com/user.asp? ... ide=153713

btw, nice notes, very informative and detailed. Love it.

Agreed - and either our tastes align remarakbly often, or Otto drinks a lot of wine

Ian Sutton

On another thread, there was some evidence that some people still enjoy the 'Parkerised' wines and like how they are ageing. I don't doubt them (for their palate). The wines aren't shit, though to my palate they almost certainly would feel that way. So please let us be slightly more restrained when ...

Ian Sutton

Not wanting this to descend into personal attacks (please) FWIW I do find it interesting that we appear to have very differing opinions on these wines. In such situations it helps to have a good detailed TN, as they can often hint at why we're taking differing views. e.g. a taster might talk about a...

Ian Sutton

Huge loss for Vinous. Second to none on most Italian regions, very curious to see where Ian will be next. Nobody can fill those shoes. Absolutely. I don't like the hype that Antonio tries to generate, whereas I find Ian's writing more genuinely passionate. Congratulations to Eric, a good business o...

Ian Sutton

anyone do a ferry from milazzo to the aeolian islands? is it a place to spend a night? Yes, though a few yers ago. We stayed a week on Lipari, but also used the opportunity to visit Vulcano, Stromboli and Panarea. Spending the night, no I'd say that's missing the point. You're getting the chilled p...

Ian Sutton

I do very much agree with Barry's view that 'less is more' i.e. the more you try to cram in, the less enjoyable the holiday becomes. I may disagree on hotels (I spent too much time in them through work), so tend towards the more personal touch of agriturismo and/or the flexibility and space of apart...

Ian Sutton

Hi Mark My experience is limited in Sicily (a night in Catania and a week on Lipari). However - Instead of hotels, do consider Agristurismo accomodation, as it's often very good, very hospitable and very good value. In particular, staying on a wine estate can be ideal. Where these places serve eveni...

Ian Sutton

oops! Great to hear you had a super holiday though

Ian Sutton

Alan, I didn't spend the time reading everyone's comments, but we spent some time this summer in Italy. I will say that I really liked Livorno on the coast. We feel like a 2-3 day trip does it justice. Saying that, we spent a week in Rome doing the major tourist things and just feel like we need to...

Ian Sutton

I'd certainly favour somewhere which didn't involve a flight transfer, and ideally one which is only a 2-4 hour drive or train journey from your commitment in Andalucia. Longer than 2 hours so that you're not left waiting for your room/apartment, shorter than 4 hours because such long transfers wipe...

Ian Sutton

Indeed John - and I'm a huge fan of 'nduja, either as fresh or from a jar. Stacks of flavour and not just heat, though it does pack a punch as well.

Ian Sutton

Loren, others probably know a lot more than I do, but as I recall the Sgarzon is a single vineyard Teroldego fermented and partially aged in terra cotta amphoras, whereas the Granato is a blend of her best grapes from 3 vineyards and is fermented and aged in wood. There are probably other factors a...

Ian Sutton

There is a specific nebbiolo grape (sub-variety?) which is meant to give more floral wines. I can't remember the exact grape name but recall Ian d'Agata talking about it being mostly removed from the vineyards, but historically being more prevalent - IIRC the grape was Nebbiolo Rosé and some produce...

Ian Sutton

Hi Jozef
IIRC it's the Vajra Kyè that is vinified like a Barolo.
Regards
Ian

Ian Sutton

Ignoring the instructions completely, I think I'd go for the 2010 Bartolo Mascarello Freisa! Alternatively for something marginally closer to maturity, something that appeals from the AR.PE.PE range under Lombardy. Hopefullly others can comment on producers, but I think 2011 Barbaresco is a decent i...

Ian Sutton

Knocking on 35 years is certainly enough age that there should be an acceptance of minor ullage, though there are still some who expect the level to still be in the neck). For me, top shoulder or very top shoulder would not be a cause for concern, nor an excuse to argue for a discount Upper shoulder...

Ian Sutton

"More recently, the wine reviewing world has become populated by tasters who award wines absurdly high scores that those wines have no chance of ever actually living up to." is this one of those statements that sounds true, but really cannot be verified because it's so vague and open-ended? Stock i...

Ian Sutton

Anton D wrote: ↑
October 30th, 2019, 5:21 pm
I shun white Burgundy now.

Ditto (just as I was about to start exploring). I still buy Macon wines, which seem to mature just as well as before, but barring the very occasional Chablis, I simply don't buy enough to have anything (white) mature in the rest of Burg.

Ian Sutton

I'm told that Indian Paan liqueur has one of the longest finishes of any drink. Not in a good way though.

Ian Sutton

Hi James In terms of what you've liked, there is plenty of it, so hopefully anything new merely adds onto the good stuff. Aglianico certainly worth trying, and with age on if possible (for Taurasi). Plenty of regional variation though, so a grape that you can explore in a similar way to Nebbiolo in ...

Ian Sutton

The basic Serralunga bottling is decently made but very much at the ' commercial end' of the the spectrum. Similar interest / staying power to some of the better (but not the best) Langhe Nebbiolo wines (IMO). If priced at the level of a good langhe nebbiolo, then it's good to buy for short-medium t...

Ian Sutton

you ever tried 'Marchesi di Barolo' ? In general I'd not recommend them. We've had some good older bottles from when negociants ruled, and they were a big negociant. These days I find neither interest or value in their wines. Very tourism focused at the winery as well. I'd love to see a resurgence,...

Ian Sutton

modest intentions. Not actively chasing anything, but might pick up the odd bottle in time, or if we head over to Italy next year.

I'm in the nice position that I've got a good amount of nebbiolo in the cellar already, so no huge urgency to top it up.

Ian Sutton

Hi Claus Many thanks for that. Nice to know the visual charm is backed up 'on the ground'. Yes Timorasso a favourite white of ours for a few years now, though I do lean towards the lower alcohol versions and mostly avoiding those at 14.5+% where it can feel hot and heavy for my palate. Ruché also a ...

Ian Sutton

A very good point about the change. For us, often having a holiday in Italy (or elsewhere in the euro-zone) every year, we'll always come back with a selection of small change. Unlike holidays pre-Euro or elsewhere, we don't bother to get rid of change on the last day / at the airport. It becomes ve...

Ian Sutton

Hi Claus I'd be interested in your thought on Tortona itself and the area around it. The wines of course are a great draw (and interesting to see a prestige / single vineyard bottling from a producer at the value for money end of the spectrum). I did catch sight of the city / surrounds from the TV f...

Ian Sutton

Hi Mike ... and welcome to the world of variety vs. varietal, something that has occupied far too much space on this little corner of the internet! [wow.gif] I hope that thread drift doesn't make us come across like a load of old pedants Regards Ian * The fact that many of us are isn't the point [wi...

Ian Sutton

Welcome. The track record of the same wine/producer over history is the best gauge. This plays into all the points mentioned above. Yes, there are two ways to do this 1) Study the structure (tannins, acidity) judge how much depth the fruit has, then understand the grape and what happens to wines ma...

Ian Sutton

If you do have time planned in Torino, rather than it being simply an airport or train station entry point, then do let us know. Many of us have been there, and personally having had >10 visits now, my love of the city is pretty obvious.

Ian Sutton

Hi Justin Plenty of options, but if heading down to Florence afterwards, then the obvious suggestion of the Langhe region also feels the best one (though for a more under the radar option with whites the equal of the reds, Tortona is worth a thought). www.langheroero.it tourist site is a wonderful r...

Ian Sutton

Hi Jordan Tastes can differ dramatically so one person's perfect QPR ir another's dreadful rip-off. People new to the hobby often turn towards leading critics to guide them to great qpr, but that's a flawed approach for that very reason. What can someone do then? - Read for information, rather than ...

Ian Sutton

In my opinion there is no need to stand up the bottles. The far easier method is to buy a wine cradle and retrieve the bottle from the cellar in the cradle and decant with the bottle still in that position. I have never had an issue with sediment with this method. That may be true, but you're repla...

Ian Sutton

I'm in agreement with Ashish.

I'd probably accept it for a younger Barolo/Barbaresco, when less sediment has preciptated out. Not for an older one though.

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