The Wine Classics / Gold Standards

[GregT]

Nebbiolo - Giacosa

Tempranillo - Vega Sicilia Unico for RdD, CVNE Imperial Gran Reserva for Rioja, but if you’re more interested in place, then Contino Gran Reserva.

And I agree with Rayas for Grenache.

[Benjamin_Goldberg]

Cabernet: If we’re grouping Bordeaux under here then, to me, the Gold standard for consistent excellence is Haut Brion (although it generally has almost as much Merlot).

Nebbiolo (how could that have been left out???): If we’re talking about a producer, then I have to agree with the poster who said Giacosa. If we’re talking about an individual wine, however, it would probably be Monfortino.

[M.Kaplan]

@Doug Schulman

@Scott Fitzgerald

A starter…

Sauvignon Blanc - Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex

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.

I’ll take Vatan.

[Rauno_E_NZ]

Alvaro Palacios l’Ermita as another option for Grenache. Leaves a lot of that Southern Rhone lolly water way way in the dust

[John_Webber]

@Rauno E (NZ)

Alvaro Palacios l’Ermita as another option for Grenache. Leaves a lot of that Southern Rhone lolly water way way in the dust

never heard of that one. based on the price, i don’t think i’ll ever get to try one either.

[Daniel_Kim]

I think by necessity a wine being the gold standard for the varietal will have a high price. Production can range from very large like Bordeaux 1st Growths to miniscule

Pinot Noir - Roussea Chambertin, DRC La Tache, and RC, Comte de Vogue Musigny, Ponst Clos de al Roche
Cabernet Sauvignon - 1st Growths and super 2nds + Palmer
Merlot - Petrus, Cheval Blanc, Lafleur
Syrah - Chave Hermitage, Clape Cornas, Jamet Cote Rotie, Gonon St. Joseph
Chardonnay - Leflaive Montrachet, Jadot Chevelier-Montrachet, Roulot Pierriers, Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne
Sauvignon Blanc - Haut-Brion Blanc, Dagueneau Pursang
Riesling - JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Donhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle, Keller G-Max, Egon Muller Scharzhofberger, Trimbach Clos St. Hune

[Sc0tt_F_tzgerald]

@M. Dildine

@Scott Fitzgerald

@M. Dildine

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

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

Scott - says who?

I read it somewhere on the interwebs so must be true!

[scott_c]

@Alan Eden

Syrah - Saxum

Oh, come on!

[Ron_Slye]

@Jon Clements

Another non-noble but…

Pinotage - Kanonkop

I would have to say Saxenburg over Kanonkop - though my experience with both is somewhat limited.

[R_Smith1]

@Robert Alfert

@Alan Eden

Syrah - Saxum

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

I believe it was the 2000 Bone Rock.

[John_Morris]

@Scott Fitzgerald

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

What about nebbiolo, tempranillo, grenache and sangiovese?

[Robert.A.Jr]

Bordeaux (left bank, heavier Cab):

Lafite - uber expensive
Montrose, Leoville Barton - expensive
Cantemerle, La Louviere - moderate
Lanessan - inexpensive

[Sc0tt_F_tzgerald]

@John Morris

@Scott Fitzgerald

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

What about nebbiolo, tempranillo, grenache and sangiovese?

Sure, why not?

[Alan_Rath]

Nice idea. Though I’ll shy away from “consistently admired by critics”, because that would force me to include wines that aren’t my style. And some of the California producers I love haven’t been around long enough to be labeled as “benchmarks” in my book (e.g., Peay, Ceritas, Rhys, Halcon).

Pinot Noir: Roumier, Mugnier, Bruno Clair
Cabernet Sauvignon: Ridge Monte Bello, Mayacamas, Montrose, Haut Brion, Pichon Baron
Syrah: Chave, Allemand, Clape, Jamet, Lagier Meredith
Chardonnay: Roulot, Bouchard, H. Boillot, Fevre, Dauvissat, Raveneau
Sauvignon Blanc: Dagueneau, Lucien Crochet, Gerard Boulay,
Riesling: Alzinger, Brundlmayer, Nigl, Trimbach, Weinbach, Donnhoff,

[Markus_S]

I’m really not interested in more lists of unaffordable wines. Anything that is “gold standard” these days I generally cannot buy. If you read these boards long enough, you’ll find many suggestions for wines that are good in their categories, and “good” is good enough for me. I don’t need to impress people.

[Dennis_Kanagie]

@Markus S

I’m really not interested in more lists of unaffordable wines. Anything that is “gold standard” these days I generally cannot buy. If you read these boards long enough, you’ll find many suggestions for wines that are good in their categories, and “good” is good enough for me. I don’t need to impress people.

Who said anything about impressing other people? Hell, most people wouldn’t even know the names of most of the wines we drink. They’re busy buying Barefoot and the likes by the case.

The only person I want to impress is me… and maybe my wife… with a properly aged great tasting bottle.

Besides, “affordable” is different to everyone, and not always based on income alone.

[Sc0tt_F_tzgerald]

I think my post was a bit misinterpreted. I’m interested in wines or wineries that are considered old guard standards for their regions / varieties. For example, Chateau Montelena - certainly well respected, proven track record for cabs and chards, but also affordable, relatively speaking. Ridge would be another. I’m not deep enough into euro wines to comment, so defer to others.

[Jay_Miller]

@John Morris

@Scott Fitzgerald

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

What about nebbiolo, tempranillo, grenache and sangiovese?

Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Gamay?

[DougS]

I have thoughts on a couple of those.

Gamay: Roilette (but I could understand any one of several other options, depending on preferred style)
Chenin: Chidaine

Both totally unaffordable trophy producers, of course.

[J_Diven]

@Doug Schulman

Chenin: Chidaine

As much as I really do enjoy Chidaine, it is hard to name him here with both Huet and Foreau having a history back to the 1920s and still producing extraordinary wines at very affordable prices. So for me, Huet and Foreau as tier 1, and Chidaine and Pinon a strong tier 2. Of course this is a US perspective and we are giving short shrift to Savennieres, Samur, et al But I suppose that is unavoidable in this sort of thing.