Polarizing wineries

Jeff_Pf0h1 · April 3, 2009, 12:58am

I’ve talked with friends about this, and will throw it out for discussion. Some wineries, and we’re talking entire wineries and not just one bottle, are polarizing in that people LOVE them or HATE them. No exceptions. There isn’t a “they are ok” comment. There isn’t a “some stuff is good but some not so good”. It is truly if you try your first bottle, and love it, you’re a fan for life. And if you try your first bottle and hate it, you’ll never like their wines so move along.

I’ll comment that this is different than “Jeff hates Chapoutier” (and I do) or “Jeff loves Beaucastel” (and I do) because you DO find people who are “ok” with those houses. They will drink them and enjoy them if they are poured. These examples aren’t polarizing across a BROAD demographic (only polarizing at my dinner table). So those types of personal preferences don’t count in this discussion.

My two top candidates for this:

Turley
Sine Qua Non

I’ve never seen anyone have a mixed opinion. Love or hate. I’m in the love for both.

Michael_Bowden · April 3, 2009, 1:33am

Musar

Jorge_Henriquez · April 3, 2009, 1:53am

Lopez de Heredia
Radikon/Gravner
Anything that involves Rolland.
Silver Oak

Guillaume_Deschamps · April 3, 2009, 2:03am

I’ve never met anybody that the Blaufrankish grape left indifferent. Same for Savennieres. Also oxidized wines, it’s usually love or hate.

Rolland wines are polarizing alright, but I know several people who are neutral towards them - they aren’t bad, even drinkable, but life is just too short to drink that.

Turley (and many of the cough-syrup style) are really polarizing from what I’ve seen. 2003 Clos des Papes too

Brian_G_r_a_f_s_t_r_o_m · April 3, 2009, 2:21am

this is easy: Tobin James

Linda_Baehr · April 3, 2009, 2:26am

OK, then I guess I am a first- Turley- really not my style, but can take them or leave them. Although, I have never had any aged ones. I just really don’t know why some many people pray at their altar.

Mel_Hill · April 3, 2009, 2:28am

Nicolas Joly
Vin jaune wines

Rick_Smith · April 3, 2009, 2:31am

KB

Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l · April 3, 2009, 2:38am

I seriously hate Pegau…great potential but their unwillingness to deal with their brett problem leads me to not ever buy the wines again.

Tony_V_e_l_e_b_i_l · April 3, 2009, 2:39am

Oh and Luc Morlet wines…after the stories I heard about that guy, I will never buy one of his wines ever.

William_Segui · April 3, 2009, 3:15am

Kongsgaard. I’ve never had one remotely close to drinkable.

Michael_Bowden · April 3, 2009, 3:17am

Dunn on the same note…

Humberto_Dorta · April 3, 2009, 3:33am

Holy crap, really? this long and Mollydooker hasnt come up? Quintessential polarizing winery.

Jeff_Pf0h1 · April 3, 2009, 7:20am

You hate them sure, but have you found that others either hate or love. One person doesn’t make a good sample. My 1 person notes on Chapoutier,so I threw them out. Polarizing on a global scale is what I’m talking about.

Jeff_Pf0h1 · April 3, 2009, 7:21am

Let me know if you want me to pour you some from the mid to late 1990s.

Paul_L_i_n · April 3, 2009, 7:23am

Indeed, no producer is more polarizing than Mollydooker.

Bill_Tex_Landreth · April 3, 2009, 1:58pm

Have to agree on the Dooker.

Bud_Carey · April 3, 2009, 1:59pm

Martinelli

Dave_Morris · April 3, 2009, 3:28pm

I’m not really sure I’ve ever read about someone hating SQN. The couple wines from SQN I’ve tasted haven’t overly impressed me but I certainly don’t have enough experience with them to claim even a dislikef ro them.

I’ve seen some polarizing opinions about Adrian Fog Savoy pinots. Not too much on them out there but I’ve read some pretty negative tasting notes about them. I’ve very much enjoyed these from multiple vintages.

M_Dildine · April 3, 2009, 3:41pm

I agree with that. Count me as “adverse.” If he’s involved, I assume the product is overpriced.