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Gomer's Midtown Weekly Newsletter
The Proof Is In The Bottle.
About a month ago, I received an email touting a brilliant German Pinot
Noir - one that cost less than $20 and would blow the doors off
anything comparably priced from Burgundy or the West Coast, As
such things have been, in the past, about as likely as a real
Vice-President of a Nigerian Oil Company contacting me via a Yahoo
email account with a legitimate business proposition, I scoffed.
You see, as much as I love German white wines, both dry and sweet, my
experience with German red wines was that, while the Germans seemed to
think they were competitive with the best of Burgundy, I thought they
were obscenely expensive and rarely ripe. Several years ago I went
through a line-up of some of the most acclaimed (and staggeringly
expensive) examples from Germany, and found not one single wine I
thought worth the price asked.
So when this email announced Becker Estate 2008 Pinot Noir as the finest Pinot value of the year, as I said, I scoffed.
One lesson I have learned from more than a decade loving wine is that
wine loves to take your preconceived notions and embarrass you (me, at
least).with them. I scoffed at German Riesling. I scoffed at
single-vineyard Soave. Every time I can think of that I developed a
prejudice against a wine style or region, a wine would promptly come
along and show me up.
The proof is in the bottle. As mentioned a few weeks ago, the importer
of Becker opened the 08 for us over lunch, and I was reminded of that
fact. This is one of the best values in Pinot Noir that I have had in
years - most domestic Pinots in this price range are clumsy efforts
from industrial wineries, and the last $16 Burgundy I had seemed to
have more in common with water than wine.
Becker is considered to be the pinnacle of Pinot in Germany, and this
wine makes a compelling bit of evidence to support that notion. The
warmer climes of the Pfalz allow this fickle grape to ripen fully,
draining it of the leafy, rubbery, underripe aromas and flavors that
emerge further North. The 08 Estate Pinot is silky, with beautiful red
cherry and strawberry fruit, and checks in at a modest 13% abv.
Becker 2008 Estate Pinot Noir - $16.59/bt
Other Upcoming Events!
September 29th - Farm House Dinner and Martine's Wines
Fortunately, we learned with a month to go that we have to change the
date on ths dinner. Instead of the 28th, it will be on the 29th.
We're partnering up with the Farm House in the River Market to feature
delicious French wines from Martine Novato's import portfolio. Cost of
the dinner is tentatively $75 plus tax and tip, with 40 spots
available. The Farm House is very seasonal, so menu details will be
forthcoming...
Jim Coley
Wine Director
Gomer's Midtown
August 29th Newsletter
August 24th Newsletter
August 13th Newsletter
August 6th Newsletter
July 30 Newsletter
July 23 Newsletter
July 16 Newsletter
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