October 25, 2007
Since Halloween is right around the corner, the thought crossed my mind that a column on the “scary stuff” in the wine world might be in order. I could instead of course write about what wines could pair well with bat, or what might a vampire pair with their prey. I’m just not sure how well these would pan out, simply due to a lack of experience in the pairings of the underworld. I have heard though that Chateauneuf du Pape pairs beautifully with roasted gargoyle.
There are three things that winemakers are most scared of, specifically when it comes to what happens in the bottle after their wine leaves the winery. They include the wine being “corked”, maderized, or oxidized. It is important to be able to notice these flaws when present in a bottle of wine. If not, you may unfortunately endure an unpleasant experience from a potentially great wine that has been misrepresented.
Comments
Ali wrote:
I think it's very important to give a good wine another chance. I had recommended a certain wine to my mom after a great experience. Her response was that it was awful. I asked her to try again and sure enough, she enjoyed it! Sometimes you just get a bottle that's "scary"
posted on October 25, 2007 at 6:34 PM
Robin Carter wrote:
I had a problem when a cheaper wine that i enjoy on occasion oxidized in the cooler. I opened it for a dinner party and decided to use a "better" wine instead. I left my standby in the cooler for 4 days and when i went to take a drink it was sooooo sour and acidic i considered making a salad dressing out of it. Good thing i already knew how good it could be when fresh.
posted on October 26, 2007 at 12:29 PM
victoria wrote:
Another informative blog, which a dash of humor for good measure! I will keep this in mind the next time I'm shopping for a bottle of wine.
posted on October 26, 2007 at 4:16 PM
clara wrote:
Hi Stephen,
This is some great information for a novice wine consumer like me. There is so much to learn and it is wonderful that you are willing to share your knowledge. Hope you don't mind if I refer to you as my "wine mentor".
Wine protege,
Clara
posted on October 26, 2007 at 4:24 PM
Mike wrote:
Stephen,
Was is the secret of your "perfect omelette? It looked very good.
posted on October 28, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Melanie wrote:
Dear Stephen, Could you give some advice to someone who doesn't like the taste of wine. I know it's healthy to have a glass every day and would like to but I just don't like the sour taste. I do like grape juice (o.k). Can you recommend a wine that tastes more like a juice so I can learn to like it?
posted on October 28, 2007 at 1:19 PM
Max B wrote:
Hello Stephen,
Very nice blog well written, concise, and informative. I'd really like to hear your take on cooking with wine. What wines should be used in cooking and does quality matter? I also would like to know what wine to buy when throwing a part for about 20 people who have different palates. What are the safest wines to buy?
posted on October 29, 2007 at 9:46 PM
Jane Claire wrote:
Hi Stephen!
How can I tempt my friends to stray from the nonthreatening white zinfandel they so swear by? I have been trying to introduce them to various reds and whites, but most are convinced that white is too dry and red is too strong, and they seem unwilling to budge. I think there is still hope, and I don't want to give up on them because I find that trying new wines is exciting. I would appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks! You're hot.
Jane
posted on October 31, 2007 at 11:04 PM
Anthony N. wrote:
Great blog, Stephen. I understand what Jane Claire is talking about. I can't get my wife off the pink stuff either. She said that she would like to be able to enjoy red wine, but she's afraid that her palate is too simple and that it would probably be wasted on her. I don't believe that's true. We have a couple of important holiday parties coming up, and one of them is a wine tasting. I'm afraid she feels intimidated, butI want her to be comfortable and have a good time. Any tips? Thank you.
posted on November 2, 2007 at 1:48 AM
Susan M. wrote:
Hi, Steven! Thank you so much for the much needed help with picking out the right wine! I will definitely try your suggestions! I have a question: have you ever heard of a product known as a wine clip magnetic attachment for wine bottles? I recently ran across this item web-surfing and you attach the clip w/magnets to the nose of the bottle, as you pour wine through nose the magnets supposedly do something to make the wine much better. I was obviously skeptical but all 8 reviewers on this website who reviewed it gave it 5/5 stars and said they were surprised it actually worked very well (yes, a reputable web site) I was curious if you'd ever run across this and, if so, your opinion. Thanks!!
posted on November 2, 2007 at 11:55 PM