Old vs. New style Riojas

[brappy]

Posted by Vouvrayhead
"but for my favorites, and I'll second the Pesquera rec, it is definitely NOT about the fruit. Tar, leather, dirt... yum."

Why would you capitalize "NOT" when talking about fruit with wine. The next descriptors you give are all secondary flavors in which one likes or doesn't. But if you don't want to taste fruit??????? Seriously, what the hell are we drinking? Not to mention that the wine you mention certainly shows off dried and baked red cherry fruit.

And while I'm on this subject, this statement by Foodie: "When I think of new style Rioja I think of alocholic prunes infused with oak." is total bullsh. If I have to drive up and personally show Thomas wines with perfect balance "new world wines" from Spain, I will. How can you, a writer, categorize wines in such a limited way? IT would be like me categorizing NY FL wines as being thin, acidic, overly mineralized, lacking of fruit crap in a bottle. I don't feel this way, but there are a lot of them that exhibit these qualities. Instead, I look for the wines that are serious; That show the varietal correctness or at least show what the maker is wanting the wine to show like.

Its very simple...... Does the wine taste good? Does it show some complexity? Does it exhibit balance? Does the wine make you want to keep drinking it? You answer.........

mark

[This message has been edited by brappy (edited 02-21-2009).]