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Blog de Blogs
In our latest round-up of what’s hot in the blogosphere, we take a look at one of Champagne’s lesser-known wines, listen as the bloggers defend their territory and wonder what to do if one’s lonely on Valentine’s Day.
Brooklyn Guy takes a look at the Champagne wine that is often forgotten by trade and consumers alike, Coteaux Champenois.
With sparkling wines dominating the region’s identity, it’s easy to forget that effervescent Champagne is a relatively recent invention and the region’s mainstay from Roman times was still wine, something still produced to this day.
Produced as red, white and now rosé as well, Coteaux Champenois was once the wine of choice at the court of Louis XIV. Brooklyn Guy gathered up a collection of these wines readily available in New York.
The major problem is production. Grape prices are too expensive to waste too many on the largely unprofitable still wines. And they’re expensive.
However, although styles vary between light and “disconcertingly big and concentrated”, he declares that there are “true gems” to be discovered.
Wine Conversation
Robert McIntosh isn’t happy. In fact, he’s really rather angry.
“Last week, an organisation called Wine Intelligence put out a press release concerning the apparent lack of trust consumers had in wine bloggers,” he writes. “I can only imagine it was intended to bait bloggers and commentators into some sort of argument to create headlines.
“Ryan Opaz and I talked about it and found there were simply too many questions raised not to comment on it. We’re not sure how else to explain some of the conclusions from an organisation that is trying to sell a research report ‘worth’ £1,300.”
The Wine Intelligence report claimed: “Independent bloggers are one of the least trusted wine information sources in the UK, US and France.”
McIntosh is at pains to try to understand what is meant by the term “independent blogger” but says he finds no explanation among the Wine Intelligence release.
“Does it include blogs written by the same merchants that the “regular wine drinkers” apparently trust so much,” he asks. What about the blogs published unofficially by their staff? What about the many blogs published by wine magazines, journalists, importers, wineries, and even research organisations? What about blogging wine personalities like Jancis Robinson, Tim Atkin, Alder Yarrow, Dr. Vino and others? No?
“I’d love to see the definition, and the carefully vetted segmentation applied to the 1000+ worldwide wine blogs covered by this statement.
Maybe it is just intended to capture all those individuals who don’t happen to work in the wine business, have not gone through standardised wine trade education schemes, and happen to be writing about wine for their own entertainment and education? The folks who have no “borrowed’ trust and must establish themselves individually. In which case they seem to be doing pretty well to be considered at all and we should salute them!”
The cocktail nerd has spent many hours pouring over the various cocktail-related iPhone apps in order to let us know which of them represent true value for money and those that simply aren’t worth the effort.
The focus of his attention this week is Drink Genie – an application which features more than 10,000 recipes entered individually, by a licensed bartender.
Though he is impressed with the scale of drinks the app features, the Cocktail Nerd is unimpressed once he delves deeper.
He writes: “The depth of this library of drink can’t be denied. It can’t be admired either. I could forgive the inclusion of “Cream de Spooge” and the “Monkey Poop Shooter” if the quality of recipes for the classics weren’t atrocious and/or there were quality photographs or drawings of the drinks.
“Instead, the user is treated to the recipes for drinks like the Bronx and the Martinez being displayed with a shoddy graphic that shows a tall glass with a lime wheel garnish.”
In awarding the app a one-star rating, the Cocktail Nerd concludes: “It tries a bit too hard to be fun and in the process crams too many things into a small space and limits its usability in the process.”
It’s safe to say that the Wine Chap isn’t exactly feeling the love as we approach Valentine’s Day.
Opening with the poem “Roses are red, Violets are blue, Since I’m on my own, I’ll be drinking for two”, it’s clear that the Wine Chap is in need of cheering up.
Offering advice to people who are single on Valentine’s Day, he recommends a comforting bottle of Champagne as the top tipple to banish the single blues.
“Make it a good one then you won’t mind being alone as now you don’t have to share,” he writes.
“Avoid the smug couples by nestling in for the evening with a good movie. Might I recommend “Fatal Attraction” or “Valentine”, tales of obsessive love that will leave you grateful to be alone and relieved that no one else has your front door key.”
The Wine Chap recommends the following Champagnes: Taittinger NV (Save 33%, was £34.99 now £23.32 at Sainsbury’s) and Bollinger Rose NV (Save 20%, was £49.99 now £39.99 at Waitrose).
Another alternative he suggests is to indulge your love of wine by taking part in a speed dating / wine tasting evening. “The worst that can happen? You get a mouthful of bad wine”.
db, 11.02.2011