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

Ian Sutton

I reckon you’ll get some more tailored recommendations if you note which Zins you’ve enjoyed so far and which ones you didn’t. That said, Bedrock and Ridge are a few of the thread darlings, so do check those out if you haven’t already. Indeed - there is a massive difference in experience from the 1...

Ian Sutton

Got the reviewer right, but no idea about the wine

Ian Sutton

Wide variety, yet half is Italian and half of that is Piemontese. Very much not *just* Barbaresco and Barolo though.

Ian Sutton

Maybe impractical for you, but I really like Timorasso (a white grape grown around Tortona in Piemonte) with Goose. A feeling amplified by sharing a bottle whilst eating a platter of goose prepared in a number of different ways, at the appropriately (and not coincidentally) named Taverna dell'Oca on...

Ian Sutton

Young or semi-mature red burgs definitely not my thing, but I do have a pair of 1993 Lafon Volnay 1ers (Santenots and Clos des Chenes). Potentially still too young for my tastes, but that's an English necroviniac palate for you!

Ian Sutton

I never remember - which top normally signifies one late released 'reconditioned' and topped up at the winery?

Ian Sutton

Ian d'Agata is very good at describing why certain grapes / wines show particular aromas or flavours, but referencing the aromatic compounds present in the wine that give rise to them. His Native Grapes book well worth a read if this stuff interests you.

Ian Sutton

The standing up is non-contentious. Views on aeration vary and I personally don't feel I know for sure which is best. I would however say that decanting in one smooth motion into a decanter, allows you to avoid stirring up the fine sediment that can easily ruin the experience of tasting mature nebbi...

Ian Sutton

Whilst I like thumbs, I'm not liking the current implementation, where the counts are below our profile pics. It makes it look like a popularity context, which isn't a good look.

The positive feature of a 'thumb' is merely a thumb up of appreciation or support for a post. No more and no less.

Ian Sutton

Cascina Saria Langhe Nebbiolo 'La Riddolina': I've only had one vintage of it (2011), but a large number of bottles (CT says 28, but I think 3-4 were given away), as it became our 'house nebbiolo'. It was still shining at 8 years old, at which point our source finally ran out. £10 a bottle, so well ...

Ian Sutton

Arguably the 2015 might have been the safer bet, catching it when the fruit was big enough to fight the tannins. They can close up, though perhaps that's not the risk it once was?

Ian Sutton

We've seen similar pricing challenges in the UK, with the suspicion that the prime suspects are the importers, followed to a lesser degree by increases at the winery and merchants knowing demand remains strong. Personally, at the prices charged in the UK, I don't see PdB as the nailed on bargain it ...

Ian Sutton

I'm used to the thanks icon elsewhere, and on the whole I like it (the rare exception being when a conversation descends into an adversarial argument). It's probably at it's best as a way of saying "Thanks for the tasting note" when you've really got little or nothing to add in response. I...

Ian Sutton

Suckling is simply playing the game. High scores get him mentions and in the good books of producers. I'm sure he can milk it for a few years yet and presumably already has himself a comfortable lifestyle.

Ian Sutton

2000 was a hot year in Piemonte, but I don’t know how it compares to 1997 in that respect. Oh 97 was hot, first of the new climate change 'Hots'. Suckling loved the vintage. If ever a red light and klaxon warning should have sounded neener Oh hang on, he loves every wine and every vintage [wink.gif...

Ian Sutton

be as safe as you can Nola (and indeed that goes for all forumites)

Ian Sutton

Those places are considered as generally safe ones. But I would also be prepared, since in Italy, in general, are a lot of muggers and pickpocketers. So always, keep an eye on your belongings. Paris is, also, not a very safe place in these terms. So keep an eye on your belongings, and don’t take al...

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 fi...

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...

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