True dat!
That looks like studs of tannin.
Here’s another doozy of a sentence from Allen Meadows that could be on the final in a syntax class. Perhaps some linguist here can provide a full parcing:
2017 Louis Jadot Clos Vougeot
A markedly floral if decidedly reticent nose that is trimmed in subtle oak influence speaks of spiced plum, lavender, violet and red cherry. The attractively concentrated and generously proportioned medium-bodied flavors brim with sappy dry extract that also buffers the moderately firm tannins on the powerful and slightly grippy finish that exudes a hint of bitter chocolate. At least some patience is definitely advised.
Note that in the first sentence, the subject is “nose” and the verb is “speaks.” In the second sentence it takes nine words before we get to the subject (“flavors”), which (miraculously for Meadows) is next to the verb (“brims”), while “dry extract” is the direct object.
I’m not sure the terminology for what follows – some sort of multi-layered modifying phrase(s)?.
The dry extract functions as the subject for the verb “buffers”, with “firm tannins” as an object, with yet another object phrase after that (“on … the finish”) that is, in turn, modified by yet another phrase with a subject, verb and object (“finish … exudes … bitter chocolate.”)
Amazing. Apparently, he doesn’t believe in commas.
Or periods to end short, declarative sentences.
Periods would be even more helpful.
Parsing ![]()
I’ve seen a lot worse.
Perhaps that is why he advises patience. ![]()
The problem with the stringy series of “that” clauses is, first, that they are both restrictive clauses when they need to be non-restrictive (replace that with which preceded by a comma), unless there are more that one kind of dry extract and grippy finish; and, two, that the clauses are stringy. The second one should be its own sentence. The first sentence really is the atrocity, however, featuring a trimmed nose that speaks. Given how hairy this mixed metaphor is, maybe trimming was in order.
Ah, I was hoping you’d weigh in, Jonathan.
“Stringy”? Is that a technical term?
Is “run-on” a technical term, because it comes to mind as well.
A run-on sentence is a series of clauses that grammar requires to be two or more sentences. “Stringy” is school marm speak for a sentence that is, formally, grammatically correct, but really, as a matter of style, needs to be two or more sentences.
If you ever read any of my post, kindly turn off the grammar filter(s) ![]()
Forget the syntax, the more egregious aspect is a “markedly floral” nose that is also “decidedly reticent” ![]()
I have to wonder how much alcohol these writers have consumed when they are writing their reviews.
This is a description that didn’t quite work for me. (And I like fish/seafood.)
Then… you take a sip of the latest vintage’s Petit Chablis. It seems to leap like a trout in the mouth, scattering silvered acidity in a fish-scale cascade. For all that, it is not an ‘articulate’ wine. It’s taut, pungent and vinous, but even the most logorrhoea-prone wine writer would struggle to lavish it with an allusion-laden paragraph.
This writer didn’t seem to have any problem with allusions.
Catching up on this thread from bottom up and came across just this excerpt and my head nearly exploded. Best I could do was aged rose champagne with the sparkling base pinot noir dominant, but couldn’t see how one could get toffee and big fruit and shortcrust pastry all at once. An age of wine conundrum. And then I scrolled up and saw it was a 2022 Napa Cab and my jaw dropped.
Ted Henry, I don’t trust you.
And who deserves credit for that gem of a note?
Maybe a maillart reaction?
