tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604297838201539175.post5934072456823161249..comments2023-10-19T09:46:53.613-04:00Comments on Artisan Wine on a Budget: Domaine de l'Espigouette Cotes du Rhone Villages Plan de Dieu, 2004Fred McTaggarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01568104809300139407noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604297838201539175.post-48229338184383608892009-04-01T08:46:00.000-04:002009-04-01T08:46:00.000-04:00Eric, ripeness is a precise matter. As in cooking,...Eric, ripeness is a precise matter. As in cooking, let the grapes hang too long, and the flavors become stewed.<BR/><BR/>When winemakers say a wine is "complete," they mean that the grapes were picked when they were completely ripe--when all the skin tannins had ripened but the berries still had sufficient acid to sharpen the flavor. A good winemaker can tell that by tasting the grapes. The scientific method is by testing the sugar content. Either way there is some gambling involved. Because of the weather (too hot, too cold, too much rain, not enough sunshine), some vintages simply don't allow the grapes to ripen to completeness.<BR/><BR/>Winemakers like to hype the vintage they're trying to sell. I believe the hype for the 2007s; I didn't (don't) believe it for 2003.Fred McTaggarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01568104809300139407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1604297838201539175.post-58194211862235649352009-03-31T23:52:00.000-04:002009-03-31T23:52:00.000-04:00Fred, I thought longer hang times increased flavor...Fred, I thought longer hang times increased flavors. Isn't that why people are saying 2007 was so great?<BR/><BR/>Do you know of any good books that explain the French appellation system with big pictures and small, English words? <BR/><BR/>~EricAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com