Wine Focus - September: A love once new has now grown old

[David M. Bueker]

Getting personal this month. What’s a wine or a grape that you used to love but now you just pass it by? There’s probably a few bottles languishing in the cellar, silently asking “what did I do?” The answer is probably “it’s not you, it’s me.”

I know I have been through a number of these. Sometimes it passes and I re-find the love. That happened for me with Zinfandel. I loved it when I was starting out, then it just made me groan for a while. Now I love it again. There was a time when I fell deeply for Muscadet. Now, though I will drink it, the idea of it is more appealing than the actual wine for me.

So what wine or grape has fallen out of favor for you? Grab one of those forgotten bottles and let’s discuss.

Bonus points for getting the musical reference.

Getting personal this month. What’s a wine or a grape that you used to love but now you just pass it by? There’s probably a few bottles languishing in the cellar, silently asking “what did I do?” The answer is probably “it’s not you, it’s me.”

I know I have been through a number of these. Sometimes it passes and I re-find the love. That happened for me with Zinfandel. I loved it when I was starting out, then it just made me groan for a while. Now I love it again. There was a time when I fell deeply for Muscadet. Now, though I will drink it, the idea of it is more appealing than the actual wine for me.

So what wine or grape has fallen out of favor for you? Grab one of those forgotten bottles and let’s discuss.

Bonus points for getting the musical reference.

For me, it would have to be Cabernet Sauvignon. Even when I do have red meat, I will now reach for a Syrah, Cab Franc, Zinfandel or Nebbiolo in preference to CS. I'm now down to about 4-5 bottles in the cellar.

[David M. Bueker]

Interesting. I seem to be gravitating more towards Cabernet. Of course inheriting 1000 bottles of it will force that a bit!

[Jenise]

Kind of like Mark--I've been through a Syrah phase for the last five-ten years, having not been a fan outside of the Rhone but having an epiphany in my new home state of Washngton. During that time my interest in cabernet languished and I hardly ever bought any. However, unlike Mark, cabernet has been catching my attention again. I haven't made any significant investments vs. just drinking what I have, but I'm finding it refreshing.

Chardonnay might be my problem area. I went thru the ABC thing and then reached a point where I was over being over it. Now, however, except in rare instances (White Burgundies) it's mostly just another white wine and Sauvignon Blanc is my preference among things that are readily available, however I'm also exploring Other Whites more than I ever have.

It’s a little complicated to separate falling out of love from the vagaries of (depth and breadth of) availability, but I’d say that Gewurztraminer, with or without the umlaut, is a notable one for me, and, relatedly, the wines of Alsace in general. (Whereas I buy very little Chenin Blanc now but still really love it: that one is about what can be found locally in Ithaca versus Chicago, and about my diminishing willingness to spend time chasing harder-to-find bottles from online retailers, auction sites, etc. — I use that part of my brain on a different hobby these days).

... I’d say that Gewurztraminer, with or without the umlaut, is a notable one for me...

The bigger story here is that you used to actually LOVE Gewurztraminer? It's not just that you enjoyed it, you actually loved it and drank it often, with great relish?!

[David M. Bueker]

I still love Gewurztraminer!

I did! Very early in my wine journey, but yes. It was unlike anything else I’d ever tasted and I found it exotic and seductive. Sort of like the vinous equivalent of thinking that the coolest thing in the world was to stay up all night with your best friend burning incense and talking about philosophy. Although in this case that’s a bad analogy, because, Reader, I married her.

I still love Gewurztraminer!

Ok. More power to you!

[David M. Bueker]

I still love Gewurztraminer!

Ok. More power to you!

But I really don’t care for Pinot Gris. Never have been a fan.

Quite a Cab Franc fan but whites still my main interest these days. Chenin Blanc, Pinot Gris , Albarino my mainstays.