Megan Yelenosky - All Comments

RE: Guild Trip, New Zealand 2010 screwcap vs. cork and it's not just Sauvignon Blanc

Admin User — Sat, 01 May 2010 21:47:57 GMT

Great blog. I had the opportunity to taste through some of the Twelve Families' wines at the Guild Tasting in San Francisco about a month ago, and it really opened my eyes to the quality beyond Sauvignon Blanc on the two islands. Overall, the wines showed expressive, true varietal character. Milton's Chenin, Fromm's Riesling and (of course) the Felton Road Pinot Noirs were exemplary. There was, however, a clear quality difference between the Felton Road Otago Pinot and the other two Pinot Noirs in the tasting (both from the North Island, if I recall correctly).

RE: Guild Trip, New Zealand 2010 screwcap vs. cork and it's not just Sauvignon Blanc

Yoon Ha — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:26:29 GMT

Meagan,

I forgot to mention, James Millton's 2007 Chenin is fantastic, probably the truest Chenin in all of the New World. I was very impressed with his Pinot Noir Clos St. Anne and have them both on the list.

RE: Guild Trip, New Zealand 2010 screwcap vs. cork and it's not just Sauvignon Blanc

Yoon Ha — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 20:21:26 GMT

Great post Meagan. In regard to the cork vs. screw cap closure, I have a story to share that occurred in the Napa Valley in 2007. Some Plumpjack principals brought in 2 bottles of the 1997 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon to enjoy with dinner. One was screw cap, the other cork and I was instructed to serve them blind side by side, undecanted. The six tasters were asked to evaluate the wines on 2 criteria: 1) aroma/flavor. 2) texture. I was asked to do the same. To prevent tasters from being "led" the evaluations were recorded on paper and handed in to me. This was conducted twice: immediately upon pouring, and one hour later.

Immediately upon pouring:

Unanimously six out of six tasters, including me, preferred the screw cap for aroma/flavor. There were no signs of reduction. Unanimously six out of six preferred the cork for texture, as the tannins were much more harmonious with the fruit.

One hour later:

The five of the six tasters could not distinguish a difference in aroma/flavor between the two, including me, while one preferred the screw cap. Six of the six tasters, including me, once again, preferred the texture of the cork closure.