Comments on: Let’s Make Some More Rules: Old Vines http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/ Tue, 22 May 2012 19:59:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Bantik http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-172214 Bantik Sat, 21 Mar 2009 12:54:48 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-172214 ?? ? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ???????? :) ?? ? ??? ??? ?????? ??? ?? ???????? :)

]]> By: Joel Peterson http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-86142 Joel Peterson Sat, 07 Jun 2008 18:04:51 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-86142 Frederic, thank you for the interesting and informed comments on the old vine debate. I agree that simple is better. The key to good wine is good vineyard practice whether the vines are young or old. In my experience old vines are just more consistent. Bye the way, I still make wine at Ravenswood and besides that I am not sure that a winemaker can ever be "former". You may have heard that my son is starting a winery. Check out his blog at bedrockwineco.com. Frederic, thank you for the interesting and informed comments on the old vine debate. I agree that simple is better. The key to good wine is good vineyard practice whether the vines are young or old. In my experience old vines are just more consistent. Bye the way, I still make wine at Ravenswood and besides that I am not sure that a winemaker can ever be “former”. You may have heard that my son is starting a winery. Check out his blog at bedrockwineco.com.

]]> By: Fredric Koeppel http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-54935 Fredric Koeppel Sat, 19 Jan 2008 23:27:15 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-54935 Yes, I saw that in some context, I think on Ton Warl's "Fermentation" blog. At least Yalumba is trying to be honest and open about they're older wines. California should follow this lead. Yes, I saw that in some context, I think on Ton Warl’s “Fermentation” blog. At least Yalumba is trying to be honest and open about they’re older wines. California should follow this lead.

]]> By: Scott Smith http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-54545 Scott Smith Thu, 17 Jan 2008 18:29:41 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-54545 Fredric, Just read this in Gourmet Traveller Wine: Yalumba Winery and owner Robert Hill Smith have declared their own internal classification for age of vines on their wine labels. The new guidelines will apply to all Yalumba wines from the 2007 vintage forward. Old Vine - Min. 35 yrs. Antique or Very Old Vine - Min. 70 yrs. Centenary Vine - well, ok Fredric,

Just read this in Gourmet Traveller Wine:

Yalumba Winery and owner Robert Hill Smith have declared their own internal classification for age of vines on their wine labels. The new guidelines will apply to all Yalumba wines from the 2007 vintage forward.

Old Vine – Min. 35 yrs.
Antique or Very Old Vine – Min. 70 yrs.
Centenary Vine – well, ok

]]> By: Gabrio Tosti http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-49380 Gabrio Tosti Tue, 25 Dec 2007 16:50:31 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-49380 Could be a quite simple rule: If you write Old Vines on the label, the average age of the vines has to be written as well. Also the age of the plant start from the moment is planted which is documented . Buone Feste A Tutti Could be a quite simple rule:
If you write Old Vines on the label, the average age of the vines has to be written as well.
Also the age of the plant start from the moment is planted which is documented .
Buone Feste A Tutti

]]> By: Benito http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-49276 Benito Tue, 25 Dec 2007 02:14:56 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-49276 I like my vines the way I like my old biker women: "thick, gnarled, somewhat stunted". I'm not an expert on botany or viticulture, but what are the chances that over time these plants have diverged from their original planting? If you can graft vinifera vines on labrusca roots or cross the two for a hybrid, I can only imagine the genetic drift from a century of cross pollination and random mutations. (Not to say that the final product wouldn't make good wine, just that it might be a "Zinfandel 2.0" rather than a true Zin.) Cf the 150 year confusion of Merlot/Carménère in Chile and more recent arguments over Zinfandel/Primitivo/Crljenak Kaštelanski. Biology rants aside, I'm always in favor for more information on the backs of wine labels... as long as we don't end up with a federally mandated B&W ingredient label like we see on packaged food. Between the bar code and the warnings about pregnant women and driving, there would hardly be room for a humorous story or poorly written doggerel. I like my vines the way I like my old biker women: “thick, gnarled, somewhat stunted”.

I’m not an expert on botany or viticulture, but what are the chances that over time these plants have diverged from their original planting? If you can graft vinifera vines on labrusca roots or cross the two for a hybrid, I can only imagine the genetic drift from a century of cross pollination and random mutations. (Not to say that the final product wouldn’t make good wine, just that it might be a “Zinfandel 2.0″ rather than a true Zin.)

Cf the 150 year confusion of Merlot/Carménère in Chile and more recent arguments over Zinfandel/Primitivo/Crljenak Kaštelanski.

Biology rants aside, I’m always in favor for more information on the backs of wine labels… as long as we don’t end up with a federally mandated B&W ingredient label like we see on packaged food. Between the bar code and the warnings about pregnant women and driving, there would hardly be room for a humorous story or poorly written doggerel.

]]> By: Fredric Koeppel http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-49198 Fredric Koeppel Mon, 24 Dec 2007 15:00:06 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-49198 Yes, we all have those pet peeves! and that's an intriguing idea for a label warning: "This wine was made from five-year-old vines and may not display the depth or nuance or character of wines made from more mature vines." Yes, we all have those pet peeves! and that’s an intriguing idea for a label warning: “This wine was made from five-year-old vines and may not display the depth or nuance or character of wines made from more mature vines.”

]]> By: Thomas Pellechia http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/comment-page-1/#comment-49082 Thomas Pellechia Sun, 23 Dec 2007 20:57:46 +0000 http://biggerthanyourhead.net/2007/12/23/lets-make-some-more-rules-old-vines/#comment-49082 Addendum: I favor the reverse: a regulation that forces producers to tell us when wines are from new vines (under 10 years). In my opinion, they offer more chance of inconsistency and of course, immaturity. But that's my pet peeve! Addendum:

I favor the reverse: a regulation that forces producers to tell us when wines are from new vines (under 10 years). In my opinion, they offer more chance of inconsistency and of course, immaturity. But that’s my pet peeve!

]]>