CHAPTER 20: WHAT IS A WINE SNOB?

Greetings and salutations!  Matt Kramer of Wine Spectator recently wrote a fascinating article entitled “Is Wine Snobbery Dead?” After digesting Mr. Kramer’s thoughts, I managed a few of my own and formulated my theory of just what makes a Wine Snob.  Does having a discerning taste in wine make one a Wine Snob?   Hardly.   Does the thirst (pun intended) to learn about new and different wines make one a Wine Snob?   I think not.  Does the knowing and educated avoidance of pedestrian or just plain bad Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon in favor of a glass of cool water make one a Wine Snob?   Negative!

So in the interests of public service, your humble Wine Bargain Sleuth proposes an updated definition of “Wine Snobbery” for these the ‘Teens.

First, let us reaffirm our fundamental tenet that Life Is Too Damned Short to Drink Bad Wine.  This tenet of course is built on the premise that Not All Wines Are Created Equal.   If you accept these cornerstone principles, then it must logically be concluded that there is nothing wrong with striving for drinking great wine within your budget.   Nothing snobbish about that, any more than doing your best to avoid ingesting bad food!   I think it unfair criticize a person as a food snob when that person intentionally avoids late-night runs through drive-through windows or nuking TV dinners as a repast after a long day.  Why should we wine sleuths be labeled and harangued simply because the Good Lord Above bestowed upon us sensitive taste buds?  That being the case, we can now safely remove a sensitive palate from the cause of being a Wine Snob and search for other characteristics.

Second, the basis for this blog is largely to regularly provide concise and useful wine information for my favorite wine sleuths.   Presumably a major reason for this is the thirst for information about new and diverse wines from the Old World (Western Europe) and the New World (Everywhere Else).   We will continue to endeavor to provide quality information on wines from around the globe and to not focus solely on the usual suspects for our monthly Value Wines and Worth a Splurge Wines.   This month, for example, one of our Value Wines is from the underrated wine producing nation of South Africa.  Would a reasonable person argue that educating oneself about great wines from new and unique places is a bad thing?  Really?!!  I thought not.  We can accordingly conclude that the literal and figurative thirst for knowledge of new and unique wines does not a Wine Snob make!

Next, I submit that it is not the sharing of carefully researched information with others that makes one a Wine Snob.   For example, if you are the person among your regular dinner group who typically is asked to make the recommendations for wine, that fact doesn’t make you a Wine Snob.   Rather, it simply makes you the person that others trust to choose an appropriate and delicious wine to pair with food for the enjoyment of your crew. Isn’t that role something to strive for among your friends rather than be heckled from the cheap seats as a Wine Snob?

Instead, my belief is that being a true Wine Snob is all about attitude.   One can convey good wine information without preaching or “talking down” to an audience, whether a close group of friends and loved ones or a larger group seeking your advice.   What is the point of making petty, silly statements about contrived real or imagined qualities of a wine to convince others that one has solid wine knowledge?  The people I have met within the wine trade rarely display this quality, instead typically erring on the side of inclusiveness and sharing their real enthusiasm about great wine with what is clearly a growing audience of fans of the grape.   Although the calendar rudely reminds me that I am on the “back nine” of life, I am personally quite encouraged that people in their 20’s and early 30’s are turning to wine as their “go-to” beverage in greater numbers, something that those in my generation rarely did at the same age.   As a result, producers and marketers of value wines from, for example, Chile, South Africa, New Zealand or even the State of Washington in the good old US of A are thankfully pushing their quality offerings toward this new generation of wine enthusiasts.  While some will contend that France is the world leader in wine, the facts are that Italy now produces more wine than France and many New World producing countries are quickly gaining.  One’s attitude in being receptive to new producers and even new wine countries can be the difference between Wine Snobbery and intellectual curiosity about one’s passion. For that matter, wine is a fun pastime that I have been known to get extremely fired up about.  In many ways, you are currently living in the Golden Age of Wine when you consider the numerous producing countries which make available such a large number of great wines!  Who says that wine has to be intimidating and overwhelmingly stodgy?   Remember, only YOU can prevent Wine Snobs!

As a bit of homework between now and the end of 2013, I challenge you wine sleuths out there to reach out to sample new varietals from new producers outside your normal comfort zone to see what you really enjoy, rather than simply defaulting to that same old producer you’ve habitually grabbed for years.   Try that Austrian Gruner Veltliner; treat yourself to a bottle of Chilean Pinot Noir; consider an Oregonian Riesling; live a little with a South African Pinotage; or pop the cork on the bubbly Spanish Cava!  And do so with the excitement that you are exploring a new world to hopefully be shared with your significant others and dear friends!   Finally, by all means let the Wine Bargain Sleuth know of any gold you mine in the process!   The new website has a comments feature, or if you prefer leave a comment on our Facebook page please do so.  The more interactive we are, the more fun all of us will have with our humble blog!

One last confession for this month’s Chapter: although I am not a Wine Snob, I am decidedly a wine glass snob!  As I may have mentioned in earlier Chapters, I have been enlightened that drinking wine out of a proper crystal wine glass with a thin rim can greatly enhance one’s experience with modestly price wines and even classic wines, and conversely that drinking wine out of a thicker, non-crystal rim (yes, this means you, Red Solo Cups) can significantly detract from an otherwise excellent wine.  My recommendation is that you purchase quality crystal wine glasses of your choice (my favorites are made by the Austrian crystal maker Riedel); the size and the shape of your wine stems (or glasses, if you prefer a stemless version) do make a difference in your enjoyment, whether you prefer sparkling wines, Sauvignon Blancs, Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays or Big Reds.   Check with your favorite wine retailer for more information, but trust me, there is a major difference in taste!

That’s quite enough for this month’s ramblings, and without further ado here are this month’s delicious recommendations:

Value Wine No. 1:   A Classic White from South Africa

One of my dear friends recently reminded me that her husband’s native land of South Africa makes some outstanding value wines.  Well, Teresa, I want you to know that I took you at your word, and accordingly this month’s Value Wine No. 1 is a delicious Sauvignon Blanc from that country, the 2012 Graham Beck Coastal Region The Game Reserve.  This lovely South African Sav Blanc displays the typical varietal citrus flavors, although it leans more toward lime than a more frequently detected grapefruit, with a touch of sea salt and even a touch of white asparagus to tickle those taste buds.  The 2012 Graham Beck would be a terrific pairing for ceviche, scallops or even a baked white fish.   Wine Spectator referred to the Sav Blanc as “juicy and lively…(showing) energy and zip through the finish,” while awarding the Graham Beck Sav Blanc an impressive 88 rating.  Even better, this wine is widely available (10,500 cases made) and has a suggested retail of a very reasonable $16!   No reason to wait around on this Sav Blanc—go load up today!

Value Wine No. 2:  Class in a Bottle from Tuscany

After giving props to Italy for becoming the world’s largest wine producing nation, it seemed only fair to demonstrate a great reason that dynamic has occurred.   From the legendary Italian wine region of Tuscany hails the remarkable 2011 Cecchi Sangiovese Toscana.  This month’s Value Wine No. 2 retails for an unbelievable $11, and is fortunately in wide distribution due to approximately 10,000 cases that were made.  I would characterize the 2011 Checchi as a terrific pairing for Wednesday night pizza, or even a hearty chicken parmigiana.  Quite fruit forward, the Checci Sangiovese shows red fruits such as cherry and raspberry, with balancing spice flavors that add complexity.   I would echo the endorsement of the balanced red wine by Wine Spectator, which named the 2011 Checchi as a “Best Buy” and awarded a rating of 88.  At this bargain bin price point, a wine sleuth will have to dig hard to find a better quality red wine.  Go pick up a case or two!

Worth a Splurge Wine of the Month: Cabernet Goodness from Paso Robles

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to taste a terrific Cabernet Sauvignon from one of California’s upcoming but lesser known wine regions, Paso Robles.  I was so impressed by the 2009 Niner Paso Robles Bootjack Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon that it became this month’s Worth a Splurge Wine of the Month.  Retailing for approximately $30, the 2009 Niner Cab Sav drinks like a much more expensive wine which packs lots of complexity and a surprisingly lengthy and satisfying finish into the bottle.  This young Big Red is best with a 45 to 60 minute period to breathe after popping the cork, following which the wine opens up beautifully.  I tasted both red fruit and blueberries, with a tasty hint of pepper, followed by an oaky, vanilla finish.  While many Paso Robles winemakers prefer to focus on Rhone varietals such as Syrahs and Grenaches, Niner joins its neighbor Justin in producing a quality Cab Sav that will compete with those from Napa and Sonoma.  I have seen the 2009 Niner Bootjack Ranch Cabernet at a large warehouse club retailer for a substantial discount, making this Paso Robles a serious value.  Steven Tanzer, a notoriously hard grader, loved the 2009 Niner and awarded it a strong 90 rating, while the 2013 Los Angeles International Wine Competition awarded the wine a 93 rating and a gold medal.   At this price, clever wine sleuths can afford to splurge for several bottles!

Thought for the Day:  The Holidays Are Around the Corner

            As I put the finishing touches on this month’s Chapter, October is quickly counting down to become November.   Please put some thought into your wine pairings to enhance already-wonderful holiday meals!  If, like your humble Wine Bargain Sleuth, cooking is not your strong suit, then make sure you utilize your newly-discovered or enhanced wine knowledge to do your part for a festive, lively table.  If you haven’t yet seen last year’s Thanksgiving Chapter, that is a pretty fair starting place for your research.   But rest assured, we will add at least five new selections before Turkey Day to pump up your shopping list!

Until next month– Cheers!

© The Wine Bargain Sleuth 2013—All Rights Reserved