In case wine connoisseus (Minsky and Gupta, basically) are interested.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8520980.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8520980.stm)
QuoteFrance wine producers guilty of US scandal
A dozen French winemakers and traders have been found guilty of a massive scam to sell 18 million bottles of fake Pinot Noir to a leading US buyer.
The judge in Carcassonne, south-west France, said the producers and traders had severely damaged the reputation of the Langedoc region.
The 12 more than doubled profits passing off the wine to E and J Gallo under its Red Bicyclette brand.
E and J Gallo was not involved in the court case.
In a statement on its website it said it was "deeply disappointed" to learn its supplier, Sieur d'Arques, had been found guilty of selling falsely labelled French Pinot Noir.
'No complaints'
The court ruled the 12 had deliberately and repeatedly mislabelled the wine as one of the more expensive varieties of grape in order to get a better price from E and J Gallo.
The Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir single grape wine is hugely popular in the United States.
French Customs officers spotted the swindle and called in investigators.
They found the amount of Pinot Noir being sold to Gallo was far more than the region produced.
Some of those in the scandal were not even Pinot Noir producers.
The judge handed out suspended jail sentences ranging from one month to six months for the most prominent wine trader and ordered all the defendants to pay fines.
The fines ranged from 1,500 euros ($2,050; £1,300) to the top figure of 180,000 euros ($247,050; £156,500) for Sieur d'Arques. The judge said that the accused together made seven million euros in profits from the scam.
The judge said: "The scale of the fraud caused severe damage for the wines of the Languedoc for which the United States is an important outlet."
A lawyer for Sieur d'Arques, Jean-Marie Bourland, told Agence France-Presse: "There is no prejudice. Not a single American consumer complained."
A lawyer for three other defendants argued his clients had delivered a wine that had Pinot Noir characteristics.
E and J Gallo said it was no longer selling any of the wine to its customers.
Feel free to add the Simpsons' screencap with the French winemakers spiking wine with antifreeze.
By the way, the Guardian article is funnier to read. BBC can be too cold and institutional at times. :lol:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/17/gallo-conned-french-fake-pinot-noir (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/17/gallo-conned-french-fake-pinot-noir)
QuoteCe n'est pas pinot noir: E&J Gallo conned into buying cheap plonk from French vineyards
The Californian wine buff testing his glass of wine in the sunshine might have noticed many things from his mouthful of Red Bicyclette pinot noir: "dark fruit aromas", as the website proudly proclaims, or "flavours of black cherry and ripe plum". But if he had paused a little longer and maybe sniffed a little deeper, the connoisseur might have detected another, rather different note: the bitter taste of being had.
Quote from: The Larch on February 19, 2010, 06:14:40 AM
In case wine connoisseus (Minsky and Gupta, basically) are interested.
Meh, I thought only pretentious "smarter-than-thou" intellisnots would be winetards. Oh. Wait.
Fucking wine fags.
I seem to recall a piece a while back suggesting certain "wine connoseiurs" could more accurately be described as "wine cons;" the piece suggested that they were making claims that couldn't possibly be backed up by the normal human olfactory sense.
Crap I hope this never happens with boxes of Franzia
I avoid French wines. :)
Italian, Spanish, American, and Oz/Nz wines are all that I permit in my home. :smoke:
QuoteThe Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir single grape wine is hugely popular in the United States.
You can make a wine with one grape? Huh, must be a big grape.
Quote from: Caliga on February 19, 2010, 09:48:48 AM
I avoid French wines. :)
Italian, Spanish, American, and Oz/Nz wines are all that I permit in my home. :smoke:
This would have looked American unless you read the label carefully. Of course, anyone buying Gallo isn't going to be bothered about what it tastes like.
This story is a good illustration of the idiocy that goes on in the wine trade. Pinot Noir is "hot" b/c of the sideways movie. The problem is the pinot noir is a very tricky grape to grow and only makes decent wine in certain climates and soils. The Languedoc is a completely unsuitable region for growing Pinot Noir, and I have never tasted, seen nor heard of decent pinot noir being grown there. The only reason to consider sourcing PN grapes there would be that it is much cheaper than Burgundy and thus could hit Gallo's price point (with plenty of room for a fat profit margin).
Syrah OTOH is a good warm weather grape that thrives in the Languedoc; apparently the scam here consisted of replacing Pinot with a Syrah-Merlot blend. The irony here is that the consumer was probably far better off drinking the Syrah-Merlot blend than whatever crappy pinot noir that could be extracted out of Languedoc. No doubt that is how the Languedoc producers justified their fraud to themselves.
Heh, I like the idea of a court at Carcassonne.
lol can i be: cathars
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 19, 2010, 06:31:12 AM
Quote from: The Larch on February 19, 2010, 06:14:40 AM
In case wine connoisseus (Minsky and Gupta, basically) are interested.
Meh, I thought only pretentious "smarter-than-thou" intellisnots would be winetards.
"-you" not "-thou"
We pretentious intellisnots prefer the formal to the familiar second person. Unless we've had too much wine.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on February 19, 2010, 06:31:12 AM
Meh, I thought only pretentious "smarter-than-thou" intellisnots would be winetards. Oh. Wait.
Fucking wine fags.
Joan told me it was my destiny to become one. :(
Quote from: Gups on February 19, 2010, 10:09:11 AM
Quote from: Caliga on February 19, 2010, 09:48:48 AM
I avoid French wines. :)
Italian, Spanish, American, and Oz/Nz wines are all that I permit in my home. :smoke:
This would have looked American unless you read the label carefully. Of course, anyone buying Gallo isn't going to be bothered about what it tastes like.
:face:
Haterade fail
Quote from: Caliga on February 19, 2010, 09:48:48 AM
I avoid French wines. :)
Italian, Spanish, American, and Oz/Nz wines are all that I permit in my home. :smoke:
I avoid all wines. :yuk:
I much prefer spirits.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on February 19, 2010, 10:47:53 AMapparently the scam here consisted of replacing Pinot with a Syrah-Merlot blend. The irony here is that the consumer was probably far better off drinking the Syrah-Merlot blend than whatever crappy pinot noir that could be extracted out of Languedoc.
:lol:
Too true.
Quote from: Razgovory on February 19, 2010, 10:06:54 AM
QuoteThe Red Bicyclette Pinot Noir single grape wine is hugely popular in the United States.
You can make a wine with one grape? Huh, must be a big grape.
I wish.
Veeery tangentially related, heard on NPR that American wine producers have coined a new term to describe high-end blended wines: meritage. Wine snobs are incorrectly pronouncing it in the French style, the nobs know it's supposed to be pronounced a l'americaine.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on February 19, 2010, 03:20:39 PM
Veeery tangentially related, heard on NPR that American wine producers have coined a new term to describe high-end blended wines: meritage.
That term has been used for at least 20 years.
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on February 19, 2010, 03:30:52 PM
That term has been used for at least 20 years.
Quit stalking me.
QuoteMerlot, the comeback kid
Once a darling, then condemned by a movie––this grape deserves another taste
Pouring wine
Five years ago, a fictitious character shredded the reputation of one of the world's great grapes.
No matter that there's more Merlot than Cabernet planted in France's legendary Bordeaux region.
When Miles threw a tantrum in the movie Sideways at the prospect of someone ordering Merlot, a ton of us stopped buying it.
Yet just a few years before that, the grape was golden.
There's the rub: A wine is "discovered" by fans, gets planted in spades to chase the demand, and loses credibility because it really shouldn't have been planted in all those places.
Even so, don't write Merlot off. More and more West Coast winemakers are turning out versions that defy the wine's wimpy reputation.
We asked Jeff Smith, who recently launched a beautifully structured Merlot from his new Hourglass Blueline Vineyard, in Napa Valley, just what he was thinking.
ASK THE EXPERT: Jeff Smith, Hourglass Blueline Vineyard
What do you love about good Merlot? Merlot is one of the most seductive wines in the world. It relies less on power and more on finesse, drifting toward red fruits (dark or sour cherry, raspberry) rather than the black fruits of Cabernet. Most important, its delicate balance and structure make it an incredible food wine.
Obviously, you planted Blueline long before the economy went south. Has it been hard launching a vineyard now―and with such a maligned grape? We've been fortunate, probably because of committing very precious land to Merlot. It's a site with some of the best-drained soils (an ancient, gravelly, upturned riverbed) that in the hands of our winemaker, Bob Foley, produce truly magical wines.
Our big challenge ahead has less to do with the economy and more to do with getting people over the hump to taste our Merlot. We're working for that lightbulb moment when they say, "Wow, that's what Merlot is all about."
So you don't think Merlot deserved Miles's scorn in Sideways? Of course, the true irony is that Miles's Holy Grail wine [the bottle he chugs with a burger at the movie's end] is Cheval Blanc, a Merlot-inspired Bordeaux! The fact that most people missed the irony highlights that we have a lot of educating to do.
5 TOP MERLOT PICKS
Firestone "Discoveries" Merlot 2007 (California; $10). With tart red cherries, a touch of mocha, and chalky tannins, there's a lot of Merlot here for the money.
Buena Vista Merlot 2005 (Carneros; $18). Spicy dark fruit, mocha, herbs, and leather are set off by the lively acidity and good bones that cool temps create.
Franciscan Merlot 2005 (Napa Valley; $22). Aromatic forest aromas surround minty berries and black cherries, with a touch of soft cocoa.
Chateau Ste. Michelle "Ethos" Merlot 2006 (Columbia Valley; $31). This is a plush, complex wine with lovely red fruit, vanilla, spice, herbs, and firm but velvety tannins.
L'Ecole No 41 Seven Hills Vineyard estate Merlot 2006 (Walla Walla Valley; $37). Dark chocolate, dried herbs, and mint accent beautiful black fruit from this Merlot pioneer in eastern Washington.
PAIR WITH:
Merlot goes best with hearty proteins–think beef, lamb, or pork–that are big on flavor. Try a glass with a pot roast, for a cozy winter night in.
I decided to look if there were images on the Internet of the Simpsons episode where they put anti-freeze in the wine. I did find something far more amusing. An honest question on Yahoo answers: "What percentage of antifreeze should I use for grape wine?"
QuoteI've heard from places that you can put antifreeze in wine and it acts as a preservative and keeps it fresh. But I've heard if you put too much in then it can cause harm. My question is, how much antifreeze would be too much? For reference, I will be making wine with fresh orchard grapes to sell at the fair down here. It's actually for my girlfriend to raise money for her school. Even if I could just use like 5% or 10% antifreeze it would save me a lot of money because I'm making like 50 bottles and I have spare antifreeze bottles lying around my shop. My other question is, what can I do to prevent the wine from turning green after I add it? I can use dark bottles but obviously when people pour it they will see it's green. Can I use food colouring in the wine to disguise it? Thanks for the help!!!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070104215402AA9cedB
The sad part was some people suggested an actual amount to put in the wine.
I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?
Merlot is not a particularly good "food wine" b/c it is rather low in acidity.
The best Merlot-based wine is made in Bordeaux and virtually all of it is blended. "Meritage"-style. :) On its own, it tends too much to flabbiness.
The Ecole 41 wine from Washington is pretty decent, but it is also a blend.
QuoteSo you don't think Merlot deserved Miles's scorn in Sideways? Of course, the true irony is that Miles's Holy Grail wine [the bottle he chugs with a burger at the movie's end] is Cheval Blanc, a Merlot-inspired Bordeaux!
Cheval Blanc is 57% cabernet franc!
Quote from: The Minsky Moment on February 19, 2010, 04:03:27 PM
QuoteSo you don’t think Merlot deserved Miles’s scorn in Sideways? Of course, the true irony is that Miles’s Holy Grail wine [the bottle he chugs with a burger at the movie’s end] is Cheval Blanc, a Merlot-inspired Bordeaux!
Cheval Blanc is 57% cabernet franc!
:o Now THAT is a wine scandal!
Quote from: Razgovory on February 19, 2010, 03:51:18 PM
I decided to look if there were images on the Internet of the Simpsons episode where they put anti-freeze in the wine. I did find something far more amusing. An honest question on Yahoo answers: "What percentage of antifreeze should I use for grape wine?"
QuoteI've heard from places that you can put antifreeze in wine and it acts as a preservative and keeps it fresh. But I've heard if you put too much in then it can cause harm. My question is, how much antifreeze would be too much? For reference, I will be making wine with fresh orchard grapes to sell at the fair down here. It's actually for my girlfriend to raise money for her school. Even if I could just use like 5% or 10% antifreeze it would save me a lot of money because I'm making like 50 bottles and I have spare antifreeze bottles lying around my shop. My other question is, what can I do to prevent the wine from turning green after I add it? I can use dark bottles but obviously when people pour it they will see it's green. Can I use food colouring in the wine to disguise it? Thanks for the help!!!
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070104215402AA9cedB
The sad part was some people suggested an actual amount to put in the wine.
Great find, Raz, I like the best answer:
QuoteBest Answer - Chosen by Voters
Just use 50% per bottle, add green food coloring and some liquorice candies and call it absinthe. That way you can charge more and make a killing!!!
:lol:
Quote from: Jaron on February 19, 2010, 03:56:35 PM
I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.marlowheights60sand70s.com%2FBoones_Farm_Strawberry_Hill.jpg&hash=624fad269dd131b85e11b8f8735c32232631b17d)
Quote from: Jaron on February 19, 2010, 03:56:35 PM
I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?
Ask Marty. He seems to always has some fruity whine going.
Quote from: Razgovory on February 19, 2010, 04:57:12 PM
Quote from: Jaron on February 19, 2010, 03:56:35 PM
I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?
Ask Marty. He seems to always has some fruity whine going.
:face:
Quote from: Jaron on February 19, 2010, 03:56:35 PM
I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?
:facepalm:
Drink some red Zinfandel-- it'll put some hair on your chest
Quote from: Caliga on February 19, 2010, 02:52:13 PM
Quote from: Agelastus on February 19, 2010, 02:03:01 PM
I avoid all wines. :yuk:
I much prefer spirits.
FAIL.
So what - I just don't like wine.
There's only a couple of beers I can stomach as well.
Most of my alcohol consumption is brandy or whisky.
Quote from: Jaron on February 19, 2010, 03:56:35 PM
I tried a merlot once, I found it too overpowering for me. Could someone suggest a more mild, perhaps fruity wine?
Moscato d'Asti :)
White zinfandel.
Languedoc (or Septimania :D) is famous for producing crappy wine namely abominations such as rosé. Some voice say the wine there is improving though.
Pinot Noir ? Try from Burgundy or Alsace.