Are we overly focused on the %'s of grapes that go into a blended wine? For instance, I go to Winex for a lot of their tastings, and something they always seem to provide (verbally) is a breakdown of the grapes in each one of the wines that are likely to be blends - Cab, Bdx, CdP, CdR, etc. They do it with nearly every red (except Pinot) and many whites as well. Do you really need/want a break down of all the components of every blended wine – domestic AND import.
I like to know for curiosity and geekiness sake. Can be a good learning tool. Love the Ridge bottles for that. It appeals to my inner engineer in much the same way screwing around with Cellar Tracker does.
if I don’t know the wine, it’s helpful to know the blend just to get a sense of what it’s like. For example, I posted on a Syrah a couple of days ago that’s 20% Viognier, and it was dramatically different than a Syrah that’s got maybe 2% Viognier blended in. As for the exact percentage of the given grapes in a specific vintage of a wine I drink regularly-- no, that doesn’t matter to me.
I definitely like to know whats in the blend. In a wine I know, just because it’s fun and in one I don’t to help me decide if I even want to try it.
I love to know and really like when there is lots of information on the back label.
Take the 06 Quimera I had recently. It details the complete blend, when it was harvested and bottled, % of new oak vs used, the vineyard elevations above sea level, etc. It’s great and really helps you learn about what you are tasting and why it may taste the way that it does.
I also like to know for no other reason then to just know ![[dontknow.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/2/259bbc27e64baab255bbf586025626180d3e97e8.gif "dontknow"){kind=small}
I always enjoy labels with lots of info.
I, personally, don’t really care about cepage because I buy based on maker, year and region. That said, when I post in American wine sites, I try to include the cepage (when I remember to take not of it) because I know it is important to many.
N
Ditto, ultimately it’s whether I like it or not, but I am curious.
Otto
I don’t know if its so much the percentages as knowing the components. I like seeing if I can detect what a varietal brings to the table in a blend. Sometimes I’ll try to go blind on a blend then follow up to see what the composition was, it can be humbling.
That brings up a good point, Noel. Somehow, Wine Exchange seems to know the cepage of all of the Bordeaux they pour at tastings. So, they apparently make the effort to get it from the distributors, or sometimes it’s actually on the bottle.
As New World consumers, we have become accustomed to having this info available to us, and now it appears that Old World producers are being very obliging. While visiting Bordeaux last year, I half-expected some push-back from the Bordelais when asking about their cepage. But, they actually seemed pleased that I’d ask.
From a geeky perspective I like to know what percentages are there, but from an enjoyment perspective I just care if it tastes good.
Agreed! But, do you ever get surprised when you find out what’s actually in there?
I don’t think surprised is a term I would use…unless it was a blind tasting and somebody tossed in a ringer.
What’s in the blend doesn’t affect whether I like the wine/my purchase decision - it’s just good to know for reference on future tastings/purchases. All I care about is, how does it taste?
I generally like to know after I’ve tasted the wine. Before I really paid attention it took me a while to realize I enjoy wines with a decent % of cab franc. Also, not having the most sophisticated palate, I need the percentages to help me decipher what I think might different about a particular wine.
i like to know but after i have tasted the wine. reduces pre-conceived notions and often becomes more interesting that way.
That’s a good strategy. Perhaps a hybrid…taste some, then look, then taste again!