tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post1299707198998611535..comments2023-12-18T15:03:52.326+00:00Comments on Jim's Loire: Why rely on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon to express a Tuscan terroir?CRMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12356808627188214016noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-49030225631950384392011-10-31T11:11:41.885+00:002011-10-31T11:11:41.885+00:00So, clearly not only childish and immature Léon th...So, clearly not only childish and immature Léon thought Mr. Ricasoli’s comments totally inappropriate. He is, for sure, a literate man, and well travelled (Jim says so), and probably commercially astute. How come then he lost control the way he did ?<br />I like to have a glass, now and again. If the wine’s really good, it sometimes doesn’t stay at that and I find the bottle empty. And if I take a pen (or hit a keyboard, which is more likely) afterwards, I tend to write things that go beyond what I really mean.<br /><br />What about this little parody, “anonymous”?<br /><br />“How does it feel<br />How does it feel<br />To live in splendor at home<br />Not at all unknown<br />Just a rogue Stalone ?<br /><br />You've gone to the finest school all right, Mr. Ricasoli<br />But you know you only used to get drenched in it<br />And nobody has ever shown you the man in the street<br />Still you’ll need to learn to cope with it<br />You said you'd never sympathise<br />With the ordinary man’s camp, but know you realize<br />You should seek some allies<br />As you stare into this journalist’s eyes<br />And see he doesn’t like your disguise. ....”Luc Charliernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-56200692328880721882011-10-31T10:05:14.102+00:002011-10-31T10:05:14.102+00:00Many thanks Andrew for your comments, which could ...Many thanks Andrew for your comments, which could well have usefully formed all or part of a considered and intelligent response from Francesco Ricasoli.<br /><br />Francesco is well travelled – he was a photographer in Paris before the family regained control of the brand and the vineyards in 1993.Jim's Loirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696024920441263899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-43246927660888754922011-10-31T09:49:39.882+00:002011-10-31T09:49:39.882+00:00Francesco Ricasoli's aggressive attitude is so...Francesco Ricasoli's aggressive attitude is somewhat baffling and one is tempted to impute that linguistic problems have led to his entirely misunderstanding your point. But his English in those emails is well nigh perfect. <br /><br />Of course, you're asking him essentially to admit that planting merlot, cab etc and making super Tuscans was a mistake: maybe that's too bitter a pill to swallow. <br /><br />The hegemony of international grape varieties like merlot, chardonnay, cabernets etc is a concern to me, but far from limited to Italy (as Bob notes). As similarly is the international nature of many wines, whether using local, international or a blend of varieties. <br /><br />As writers, bloggers and all-round wine enthusiasts, we all welcome the traditional, local styles of winemaking and the use of indigenous varieties. But it's sometimes easy to overlook that most wineries are commercial operations and decisions to plant and use international, or even unsuitable, varieties are often commercial decisions. Increasingly, consumers make their day to day wine buying decisions based on familiarity and prejudice. Chianti suffers in those terms partly from the image problem of straw-covered flasks in the 60s and 70s with the double whammy that the local grape varieties (and I include sangiovese in this) are not ones with which your everyday consumer is familiar. I'm not saying this is Francesco's rationale, but in other areas of the world it certainly is. If you make more money growing and producing merlot than ciliegolo, you're going to concentrate on merlot if you want to maximise income.<br /><br />Of course it may well be the case that Ricasoli have experimented with plantings and come to the conclusion that specific terroirs on their estates are best suited to merlot, cab etc …<br /><br />Doesn't excuse Francesco's attitude though!Andrew Stevensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15057719890907604381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-11541318311178160032011-10-31T08:35:09.548+00:002011-10-31T08:35:09.548+00:00I had met Francesco before on a small press trip, ...I had met Francesco before on a small press trip, which included Charles Metcalfe, in 2006. I forget who else was on the trip but I'm sure Francesco's attitude was quite different as I had a favourable impression of him after that visit.Jim's Loirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696024920441263899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-37713389360619395932011-10-31T08:00:59.525+00:002011-10-31T08:00:59.525+00:00To quote mr Dylan and mr Reed, "How does it f...To quote mr Dylan and mr Reed, "How does it feel", JimQ, to be so stupid?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-18889825609757121272011-10-31T07:57:56.903+00:002011-10-31T07:57:56.903+00:00Fin de race, maybe?Fin de race, maybe?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-50738275524262308482011-10-31T07:36:16.117+00:002011-10-31T07:36:16.117+00:00Bob. Always knew you were a man of discernment!Bob. Always knew you were a man of discernment!Jim's Loirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696024920441263899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-42937183971665648482011-10-31T05:30:02.186+00:002011-10-31T05:30:02.186+00:00"Proof if any were needed, that the Chiantian..."Proof if any were needed, that the Chiantians should definitely continue to investigate - and value - their native plant material and its interaction with the Terroir."<br /><br />Very good quote and I agree. I tend to avoid any cab sauv, syrah, merlot mixed in with my fave wines from Portugal, Spain Italy etc.<br /><br />Bob Alberta.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-31699353079747430622011-10-30T22:19:20.817+00:002011-10-30T22:19:20.817+00:00Luc. An intriguing idea!Luc. An intriguing idea!Jim's Loirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696024920441263899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-14919932155357856092011-10-30T22:01:58.809+00:002011-10-30T22:01:58.809+00:00Absolutely right Simon. I could well have included...Absolutely right Simon. I could well have included Ciliegiolo and its cherry-like characteristics as its Italian name infers.Jim's Loirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06696024920441263899noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-29963988427166439432011-10-30T21:41:01.208+00:002011-10-30T21:41:01.208+00:00Jim,
Casting aside the extraordinary exchange bet...Jim,<br /><br />Casting aside the extraordinary exchange between yourself and Francesco Ricasoli for a second, I just wanted to mention a third native Tuscan variety that should also be considered along with other marginal varietals such as Caniolo.<br /><br />I didn't attend the EWBC Chianti post trip, but toured around Chianti Classico in early September of this year. One of the most accomplished and complex wines I tasted was Querceto's riserva - made with Sangiovese and Ciliegiolo (I think there may have been a smidgen of Merlot as well). I then happened to taste a 100% Ciliegiolo at the EWBC Italian tasting (La Busattina, Maremma, Tuscany) for which my tasting note reads: <br />"Excellent structure, dark cherry, savoury animal note. Will age. Good".<br /><br />Proof if any were needed, that the Chiantians should definitely continue to investigate - and value - their native plant material and its interaction with the Terroir.<br /><br />SimonSimon Woolfhttp://www.themorningclaret.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-456611623448834500.post-41504513411338797292011-10-30T20:51:43.228+00:002011-10-30T20:51:43.228+00:00Italians are always softly spoken, especially thos...Italians are always softly spoken, especially those originating from Tuscany, where anything pleasant can grow ans flourish. They are considerate, always charming, on the edge of overdoing exquisite politeness. They always try to seduce and have a skill for trade and commercial relations. They are also very concerned with experimentation, full of genius and ingenuosity and keen to discover new sensations, new combinations, better solutions ....<br /><br />At least, I thought so till I read some of Mr. Ricasoli’s remarks.<br /><br />I think he should meet .... Fabien Hyon, Jim. In Flemish, we say : « twee handen op één buik » (= two hands on the same belly), meaning on the same line, two of a kind, in full agreement.<br /><br />You know what ? I’ll stick to my good old Castello di Ama instead, you stupid idiot !Luc Charliernoreply@blogger.com