Ron Johnson
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Posts posted by Ron Johnson
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"Artisanal" refers to products offered for sale to the general public with no warranty as to their merchantibility or fitness for a particular purpose.
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I believe that the importer is a good indication of the quality of the wines from the Rhone. This is not always true of course, but it does provide one with some idea when confronted with unfamiliar producers. Some particularly savvy importers to look for are:
Kermit Lynch
Eric Solomon
Peter Weygandt
Robert Kacher
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this is priceless. "particularly experienced with wine" - compared to who - you 
are u implying that a chat-du-pape tastes better in so. rhone as opposed to a tasting @ a Chevaliers du Tastevin??
still too bad the main premise of my comments have been missed by all. and jeez, here's a news flash "Lindbergh Landed!" how does a mag stay n biz, particularly a WINE mag? another news flash, not by the self-appointed connoisseurs here - duh!!!
Q? ummm, what makes ms nesita enough of a wine critic to compare her mont olivet to a guigal OTHER THAN FOR HERSELF?? nevertheless, she almost got the point, but, alas, it gracefully eludes her @the end. by having such a thin skin, it unfortunately clouds her vision.
does it not make more sense to match fact to advertisement vs. being a "winsob" & all that that implies??
english dude, you have to write it in english.
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Hollywood,
It is my experience that most wines will not improve with bottle age. Most wines are meant to be consumed within a year or so of purchase or release. However, some wines have the ability to improve with bottle age because they develop secondary flavors or characteristics, and the tannins resolve (actually fall out of the wine in the form of sediment), making an almost entirely different wine from the one bottled. These wines usually go through a shut down or "closed" phase when they are past theri fruitful youth but not yet to their improved with age stage.
Most of the wines I drink improve very little with age (Languedoc-Roussillons, Non-AOC southern rhones, Cote du Rhones, Finger Lakes rieslings, Loire Cab Francs, simple IGT tuscans, vernaccia di San Gigmigano, Orvieto, for example). However, some of the wines I drink (Cote Roties, Cornas, Hermitage, St. Joseph, Crozes Hermitage, Chateuneuf du Pape, Gigondas, Bandol, Super-Tuscans, Brunellos, Barolos, Barberescos, Bordeaux) do indeed improve with bottle age.
However, because of price, I own and consume a lot more of the former than the latter.
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Mogsob
I had the Argiano Brunello 1997 on Saturday night. It was wicked good stuff. It was consumed at dinner with several high-end cal cabs from 1994 vintage and it shone above them all. Perfectly balanced, great acidity, a wine that will only improve with bottle age.
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Indeed, we should expect more from the leading wine magazine, but if we did it would only lead to our disappointment. Per Henrik Manson, who covers the Rhones for WS, shows an amazing lack of knowledge of the region's best producers. He fawns over Chapoutier and Guigal, while dismissing or entirely ignoring individuals like Graillot, JL Chave, and the Ogiers.
It is a shame, but something that I have come to expect. Sad really.
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I think that Nesita had the most appropriate reaction to this list. I mean why is anyone surprised by their choices? Its the Wine Spectator after all, hardly a serious wine magazine.
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Nice reviews.
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Ass kickingly good. This was way back in '96 when Helmet was Helmet. Got most of it on video.
Helmet kicked ass alright. Crunchy crunchy guitar. Think I will break out Meantime tonight.
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Hey, it only holds so much. I still need the self-refrigerated sandwiches. And in the winter, who wants the AC running?
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One of this nice options in my car is an AC vent directly into the glove box, which is insulated. In the summer I open this vent and bottled water, sodas, etc. stay chilled. The vent is large and because the glove box is small and insulated it actually gets quite cool.
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Ron: How was "Summerland"? I adored "Kavalier and Clay", but could not get into "Mysteries of Pittsburgh".
I am reading Paul Auster's "Moon Palace" now and enjoying it greatly. What other of his books should I read? The only other one I have read is "Timbuktu".
Sorry Mixmaster, just getting back to this thread.
Summerland is a guilty pleasure, as it is technically a "children's book", although Chabon has written a novel to be enjoyed on many levels. The guy is a genius. I am reading bits and pieces of it as I read other books. It is just delightful. True escapism.
Moon Palace and Timbuktu are both good, but not Auster's best or most exemplar. Read Leviathan and the New York Trilogy. You will be mesmerized. Follow those up with Mr. Vertigo. There is something about Auster's work that I find so engrossing.
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Next round of food, for mid-afternoon, will likely be sandwiches. If you make them on frozen bread, they'll stay fresh and vibrant for the better part of a day -- a self-refrigerating mechanism if you will.
Brilliant. This one I will use on my journey to St. Louis on Wednesday. This is the type of tip that make this site simply indispensable.
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When the use of oak is not heavy-handed, Spanish reds can be wonderful, especially Rioja, Ribera del Duero, and Priorat.
I have seen great riojas mistaken for burgundy when they are at their medium-bodied best. I think it is a mistake to try to manipulate the tempranillo grape into a cab copycat. Although often thought of as less of a wine, I prefer crianzas in many instances because of the less dominant role of oak.
Also for whites, the albarino from Rias Baxis is a very interesting wine.
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I've also made the switch to Manhattans, although perfect manhattans, which are less sweet and garnished with lemon twist instead of cherry.
Also various kentucky bourbons on the rocks or neat.
Benedictine warmed in a snifter. Fino sherry before dinner, and madeira after.
Port, lots of Port in the winter with a good cheese course.
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Roast Turkey (brined for sure and perhaps done on Weber grill)
Oyster Stew
Corn Pudding
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans
Brocoli Casserole
Sweet Potatoes
Oyster Dressing
Cornbread Dressing
Bread Dressing
Cranberry Sauce
Gravy (my contribution)
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Custard
Jam Cake
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Holly and Mark mentioned some real gems.
Crown Candy has great chilli dogs and shakes and malts.
Ted Drewes is the best frozen custard in the country.
Riddles has an amazing wine list, a great bar, and good live music. The food can be inconsistent.
Arcelias is the real deal mexican, located down in Lafayette Square.
Bar Italia has moved and is not quite as impressive as it was in its heyday.
I would also say that Duffs, Big Sky, Blue Water, and Balabans, while good, are entering their twilight years. I still go to Duffs for lunch when I am in town, but the other three have been surpassed. Big Sky and Blue Water are owned by the same people, who also own Remys and Ellie Forcellas.
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I clearly was not kneading enough. clearly. and the bread flour thing, who knew?
Thanks dudes.
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I would love some advice on this topic as well. My homemade dough always makes a crust the is more bready and crumby than good pizzeria crust. I want crisp outside with a slight chew inside and a thin crust overall. Whats the secret?
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I bought several of the '97 of this wine. It does have a great QPR, especially in light of the recent price hikes for cali cabs.
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I eat in St. Louis a lot. It is a great food city. Here are my favorites.
Chez Leon: Great provincial French, $30 3 course prix fixe. I love this place.
Cafe Provencal: Former partner of Chez Leon's owner. Same concept, also great food and wine list. Not expensive either.
Remy's Wine Bar: In Clayton, mid-priced. Different wine flights offered.
Barcelona: Tapas in Clayton. Inexpensive, but does not take reservations.
Gian-Tony's: On "The Hill" the Italian neighborhood of St. Louis.
Giovanni's: Same thing
Annie Gunn's: Located in far west county, but worth the drive.
I Fratellini: Tuscan casual joint in Clayton.
For Thai or Vietnamese, go to any of the joints on South Grand.
I would avoid Harvest and The Crossing, both get lots of media exposure but are very pricey and have lots of attitude and mediocre food in my opinion.
Click here for reviews of these restaurants and others in St. Louis.
Have fun. I recommend Central West End, South Grand, the Hill, and Clayton, as places to hang out and eat.
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I just bought Parker/Rovanni's lastest edition of their tome. While my taste for wine is not always the same as Bob's, this book is very useful. It profiles an astounding number of producers from all the major wine regions. I have found it particularly helpful for discerning what grapes make up the blends in my favorite Languedocs and Southern Rhones. For instance I was amazed to find that there was 30% cabernet sauvignon in this lovely $10 wine I have been drinking from Domaine Alary called La Grange Daniel. Coming from L'Orange, I just assumed it was all grenache and syrah. I should have bought more of this wine.
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Yes, thank god someone is defending the Zagats. I understand they are very fragile.
seems more like he was picking apart the inane questions posed by the writer rather than defending the zagats. double
Seems that way, doesn't it?
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Yes, thank god someone is defending the Zagats. I understand they are very fragile.
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines
in Wine
Posted
Marty,
I have had the '99 and '00 of the Gilles Robin. The '99 is better, but not by a lot, and the '00 is a steal at $13/btl.