The Wine Classics / Gold Standards

WINE TALK
1

I’m curious as to what the board thinks are the wine “classics” or “gold standards” by varietal. Wines should be:

  • Admired - generally and consistently admired by both critics and enthusiast alike
  • Proven - have a long track record of excellence over multiple vintages
  • Durable - wines are recognized as ageing well, where appropriate for the variety

Extra bonus points if these wines are attainable both in terms of quantity of production and price!

Let’s start with the “noble” grapes:
Pinot Noir
Cabernet Sauvignon
Merlot
Syrah
Chardonnay
Sauvignon Blanc
Riesling

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2

Are these only from the US or from all over the world?

3

All over the world. And we can use Bordeaux Blends under the cab and merlot designations.

4

A starter…

Sauvignon Blanc - Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex

5

Syrah - Saxum

6

Cabernet - Ridge Monte Bello
Chardonnay - Hanzell

7

Zinfandel (an egregious omission by Scott) - Ravenswood Old Hill Ranch

8

Petite Sirah (another inexcusable omission) - Turley Hayne

9

Old Vine Field Blend (oh Scott …) - Ridge Geyserville

10

Grenache - perhaps Rayas
Mourvedre - perhaps Tempier
Syrah - hmmmmm. Alban, Jaffurs, Guigal . . .

11

Well, I’m thinking that “gold standards” are perhaps less useful if it’s all four-figure-plus bottles, so I’ve tried to stick to stuff many of us can / could actually buy, and selected multiple options

Syrah: Chave Hermitage, Clape Cornas, Jamet Cote Rotie
Chardonnay: Roulot Perrieres, Dauvissat Les Clos, Sauzet Combettes
Pinot Noir: Hudelot Noellat Clos Vougeot, Rousseau Cazetieres, Armand Epeneaux
Sauvignon Blanc: Cloudy Bay, Dagueneau Silex
Riesling: Grosset Polish Hill, Trimbach CSH (or CFE will do), Doennhoff Eiswein (or anything else really)
Cabernets / blends: Mount Mary Quintet, Pichon Baron, Leoville Barton, l’Evangile (for Merlot I suppose)
Semillon: Climens, Tyrrells Vat 1, Chevalier Blanc

12

Technically not a noble grape, but thanks for adding - we’re not too fancy around here!

13

Another non-noble but…

Pinotage - Kanonkop

14

Well, I guess it is not worthy, but I will highlight it anyway:

Cabernet Franc:

Classic -
Olga Raffault, Chinon, Les Picasses
Readily available even back to benchmark vintages like 1989. Current releases under $30. Check out 2010, 2009, 2007.

Gold Standard -
Clos Rougeard, Saumur Champigny
Expensive, difficult to find, best of class.

15

Out of curiosity, when was Saxum’s first syrah vintage?

16

^probably one of the best, if not the best Jon.

Grenache: Aonair

17

Alban for syrah

18

Scott - says who?

19

I’m sure everyone will think DRC immediately, but I gotta say Ponsot based on how influential it was to my PN my experience.

20

For me, place has to be part of the equation. If we’re looking for the best and most classic example of Loire SB (and I do think Loire produces the best examples), that’s Pur Sang rather than Silex, and must be '07 or before, when Didier was making the wines. Maybe most of the Silex I’ve had was too young, but it’s such a singular wine that it’s harder for me to fit it into the context of place.