California Wine Month 2012 has been a non-starter. What had the potential of being a great marketing tool for California wines fizzled and sputtered into oblivion. This blog was perhaps one of only a few places to even mention California Wine Month's existence. The whole concept was generally met with great apathy the few times I brought it up in conversation with various folk. I won't bother mentioning it next year. So jettisoning my well meant intentions, I reverted to imbibing in an old favourite rosé when I was craving something pink the other night.
The 2011 Château Routas Rouvière is a blend of 45% Cinsault, 35% Grenache and 20% Syrah. With a pleasing aroma of red currant, pear and fresh mint leaves this really is just a wonderful wine. At 13% alcohol and with wonderfully balanced acidity I treated myself to 2 glasses. And to be had for the paltry sum of $9.07 at BevMo it was a steal.
Yum!
7 comments:
Nice review V-girl, and the picture reveals an eye through the view-finder of a D3100?
In England, is French wines prized over California wines, or is there no difference?
NHW: Yes, that was taken with my D3100.
The Rouviere is a nice wine, I'd recommend you track it down.
There is a very strong bias against all things Californian and winey in the UK. The selection is atrocious (and I check it out every visit home), even in what you'd call high end wine shops. Ravenswood Zinfandel and Sutter Home White Zinfandel are however very easy to find.
And it's not like it's a logistics issue with distance or anything because there is an abundance of Argentinian and Chilean wines to choose from.
I personally like the selection of Italian wines to be had whilst I'm in Blighty.
NH wineman - speaking as a UK import agent, the main problem with the choice of Californian wines is probably the export price. To be competitive in a supermarket here, ex cellars price need to be 3 dollars or less, which is why the shelves are full of Blossom Hill and other Gallo offerings. Small quantities of finer wines leak through to a few specialist merchants, but the choice is not great.
Wow! That's interesting; I wonder what the real reason is. The two samples you give don' speak highly of what Ca. wines have to offer.
Thanks for your reply,
Dennis
Nick Oakley, okay, but isn't that true of other imported wines?
Nick: Thanks for your input here.
I can see Napa wines, because of their not insubstantial cost, would be a bit of a problem in that department then.
But on the other hand I have spoken to an employee of a Nicolas wine shop who told me of their French owner's aversion to stocking anything Californian.
NHW: The real reason probably lies somewhere in the middle!
Attitudes of pre-1976 "Bottle Shock" are deeply imbued! Reminds me of V-girl's wine class; it's not called a rut for nothing!
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