Craig Camp

I think this is exactly correct and shows what a disaster this process was - picking a name that people would almost certainly pronounce in a French way for wines that they were trying to differentiate from Bordeaux and establish as a legitimate American type. Yes, even the correct pronunciation seems a bit clumsy.

No, that is not what this topic is about. What is being discussed is the success of this concept. The fact that it is mispronounced is just one example as to the effectiveness of their marketing of the Mertiage concept. So what should we get over?

Venica Sauvignon Ronco delle Mele - the Ronco delle delle Cime is a Tocai. Vie de Romans was the regular chardonnay.

Beautifully said. This is the secret to a happy life.

No, but rigidity and a blind adherence to tradition will certainly kill creativity. Drugs don't make you creative they just make you think you are.

The only thing worse is eating there.

I think you will find the laws somewhat different in the UK than in Memphis. That is what they were discussing.

Mark - I love the wines of Montus. Upfront and hedonistic they meet and defeat the rich foods of the area. The XL is $70 retail? I have not had it - can you fill me in?

What overpriced crap are you referring to? The revolution in Italian white wine is relatively a recent phenomenon as it did not emerge until the early 80's. Like many, the first great Italian white wine I tasted was Jermann Vintage Tunina from Collio. This outstanding and deservedly famous wine still sells for about $50 even though it is in demand world wide. The finest Italian whites are almost all under $60 - so who is overpriced? Just taste Tunina and Jermann's other great white Capo Martino, Borgo San Daniele Tocai, Miani Bianco, Vie di Romans Chardonnay, Villa Russiz Sauvignon de la Tour or Gravner Ribolla Gialla and tell me these are not great white wines. Double dare.

I think therefore I am?

Please welcome Jean Fisch - also known at THE palate of the Netherlands and encyclopedia of Friuli wine knowledge - to eGullet!

Yes - that's them.

Have these guys considered the negatives of naming a wine "Super White"? Kind of a public relations nightmare in the American deep south, I'd say. No - not a bit. This concept was created in Italy where they do not have a clue about such American embarrassements.

Merlin - I know what you mean. In Italy where we live, most pronounce merlot with he hard last syllable as you describe. I just can't get the hang of it!

The Lafarge wines are exceptional and have been for a long time. $18 for a wine like this! Who said there are no good values in Burgundy. I am sure this wine can embarrass many a $50+ new world pinot noir wines. Jim that was a particularly lovely tasting note on the Lafarge. I could almost taste it.

Sorry - not in many years (decades? ) I remember them as regular, middle-of-the-road California wines with the usual funky reds common in that area at the time. What wine did you have?

Here are the top 16 restaurants in Italy according to the 2003 Gambero Rosso Ristorante d'Italia. It is worth noting that Balzano has two on this list while Roma has only 1 and Milano 0 and the only one in Piemonte is now closed. Toscana leads the pack with 4 while Ancona, Terni and Napoli are the only ones holding up the pride of the south. Do you agree with these rankings? Please share your experiences with these restaurants. 95 - Gambero Rosso, San Vincenzo (Livorno) 93 - Ambasciata, Quistello (Mantua) 93 - La Pergola dell'Hotel Cavalieri Hilton, Roma 92 - Vissani, fraz. Civitella del Lago, Baschi (Terni) 92 - Dal Pescatore, Canneto sull'Oglio (Mantua) 91 - Da Guido (closed) 91 - Don Alfonso 1890, Massa Lubrense (Napoli) 91 - Paolo Teverini, Bagno di Romagna (Forli Cesena) 91 - La Stua de Michil, Corvara in Badia (Bolzano) 90 - Antica Osteria del Teatro, Piacenza 90 - La Madonnina, Senigallia (Ancona) 90 - Enoteca Pinchiorri, Firenze 90 - La Tenda Rossa, San Casciano in Val di Pesa, (Firenze) 90 - La Siriolo de l'Hotel Ciasa Salares, Badia (Bolzano) 90 - Il Desco, Verona 90 - Da Caino, Manciano (Grosetto)

A Burgundian who is friend with Parker and even likes his taste in Burgundy! I don't think a Parker recommendation for a Burgundy will turn many heads around here. Decanting Madeira and Burgundy don't have a thing to do with each other. Madeira is already oxidized - not much can happen to it in a decanter. The gorgeous aromatics of fine pinot noir are another story. By the way I will ask Joe about that wine. He is an old friend.

Was the 1947 a Givry or a Santenay? It can't be both. Who was the producer? You also do not list the producer of the Vougeot. Naming Burgundy without naming the producer is not very helpful. I have often tasted old Burgundies the day after a tasting and they have always been shot. I can see no possible reason to decant a 56 year old pinot noir for 24 hours. It is certain to destroy the wine.

Gordon Ramsay will demand drugs tests on all new members of staff after the death of his head chef David Dempsey as fears grow of a widespread culture of drugs use amongst the nation's young chefs.

Nine years after Burgundy's Maison Joseph Drouhin sought outside financial help and relinquished control to a Japanese food-product conglomerate, the Drouhin family has regained a majority stake in their wine-merchant firm.

To find these documents you can only hammer away on www.google.it and follow Lord Lewis' suggestions. The USA google does not work because you are overloaded with tourist and cooking school information.

OSCAR FOR FOREIGN WINE 2003 AWARDED TO A SPANISH SHERRY (AGI) - Rome, Italy, June 10 - The Spanish sherry, Pedro Ximenez - Emilio Hidalgo, imported into Italy by 'Vino & Design' has received the Italian Oscar for best for foreign wine; the annual prize awarded by the Italian Sommelier's Association. The awarding of the 2003 Wine Oscars, which took place in Rome, was a sell-out, attended by international wine experts and buyers, but also people from the world of politics, culture and theatre. The jury's Special Prize, this year went to Ezio Rivella, one of the greatest experts in the sector, who with his professionalism has made a decisive contribution to Italy's wine being considered the best in the world. Sixteen Oscars were awarded for as many categories, after the nominations by 19 000 "great electors": the readers of Duemilavini and Bibenda, visitors to the 37th Vinitaly and surfers of the www.bibenda.it web site. The best white wine was the Collio Sauvignon Ronco delle Mele 2001 from Venica & Venica; the best red was the Barolo Monfortino Riserva 1995 by Giacomo Conterno; the best rosé was the Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Cerasuolo 2000 by Edoardo Valentini; the best spumante was the Franciacorta Cuvee Annamaria Clementi 1996 by Ca' del Bosco; the best sweet wine, the Alto Adige Gewurztraminer Vendemmia Tardiva Terminum 2001 by Cantine Termeno. The jury gave a further prize for the relationship between quality and price for the Franciacorta Saten Brut by Ricci Curbastro. The Oscar for the best wine merchant's went to Enoteca Ferrara in Rome; for the best publicity campaign, to 'Gruppo Italiano Vini', for "The Best Seller"; for the best label to the Greco di Tufo 2001 by Feudi from San Gregorio. Finally the best sommelier 2003 was awarded to a woman, Patrizia Leonardi of Ristorante Poggio Antico in Montalcino; and best oenologist to Carlo Ferrini; best producer went to Donatella Cinelli Colombini – Casato was Best Woman of Montalcino, and best journalist went to Lamberto Sposini for the Tg5 television programme 'Gusto'. (AGI) 100350 GIU 03 COPYRIGHTS 2002-2003 AGI S.p.A.

Christofaro works for the Marcel Deiss domain in the northeastern wine region of Alsace, where unlike most of the rest of France, wines have historically been named after grape varieties, not after the places, or domains, where the grapes are grown.

Not at all. They have been making wine this way for many decades. It is part of their way of life. As long as the vineyard is respected I do not see a problem or any confusion. You know you are only talking about a few kilometers. Beaujolais is a small place.