World-changing wines

Here are a few I think you missed ("Wines That Changed the Industry," January 2009):

1. Almaden Grenache Rosé--Available in 1.5L jugs as well as 750ml; it was perhaps the first varietal jug wine, as well as a unique dry rosé.
2. To have left out the first box wine is nearly unforgiveable.
3. After referring to KJ Chardonnay in another article Inquiring Winemaker in the same issue as starting the trend toward RS in Chardonnays, it seems a crime to leave it off. In fact it isn't just Chardonnay, but nearly all wines. This wine single-handedly changed all commercial wine forever.
4. What was the first U.S. vineyard-designated wine? The first Meritage?

David L. Creighton
Wine educator, Ypsilanti, Mich.

Not so sweet

Tim Patterson's January Inquiring Winemaker column, "Residual Sugar--'How Sweet It Is,'" was interesting as usual, but a bit perplexing. He begins by saying, "There is a widespread hunch among wine writers and winemakers that a lot of New World reds…contain a pinch or two of residual sugar, even if they're marketed as dry wines." But then he says there are no stats to back it up: "Getting good, hard information on this topic isn't easy."

Yet instead of then testing at least a sample of wines to prove or disprove his thesis--maybe even just a half-dozen reds--he basically says that lab fees are too high. If you're going to put something out there, particularly a science/research issue that is indeed knowable, then please follow it up. Anecdotes are fine when spinning tales, reminiscing or merely giving one's opinion, but really not the best approach here, don't you think?

David Gaier
Wine educator, Metuchen, N.J.

Judgment day

As per wine judging, Dr. Robert Hodgson used probably the worst-case scenario for his sample. The (California) State Fair grabs people off the street to be judges, as they have too many wines to judge. I disregard any medals from the fair, as they also have a policy mandate that 40% of the wines submitted have to medal (to promote Cal Ag products).

Other competitions (see Orange County Fair) use very seasoned judges and are very consistent.

Robert Zimmer
Pacific Star Winery, Fort Bragg, Calif.

I saw Peter Mitham's "How Consistent Are Wine Judges?" on winesandvines.com. The American Wine Society has an excellent training program for wine judges. It focuses on both varietal knowledge and consistent standards. See americanwinesociety.org/ for details.

Mary Anne Wassenberg
Pearmund Cellars, Broad Run, Va.

On a white horse…

I found the article by Dr. Steven S. Cuellar ("The 'Sideways' Effect", January 2009) to be a very interesting read. My thoughts were pretty much along the same lines as Dr. Cuellar's, especially when, as a home winemaker, I've made Merlot for years and still enjoy it very much. There is one little bit of trivia that I have found to be very interesting, especially among those in the wine and vines community.

In the movie, the lead character's favorite wine was Château Pétrus. Miles hated Merlot. Unless things have changed, and to the best of my knowledge, Château Pétrus is 100% Merlot.

Very few of my friends picked up on this large (in my mind) flaw in the movie. Why on earth didn't the producer or director of the movie use Chateau Laffite Rothschild or some other premier cru instead?

Alan Turner
Sales associate, The Valley Vintner
Livermore, Calif.

Miles' most prized wine actually was a 1961 Château Cheval Blanc, a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, another grape he disparaged.--Ed.