I agree that tastes are quite personal. Some of the folks I regularly
taste (cue for rant from you know who)with have stylistic preferences
quite opposed to my own, but I respect their tastes. Others I might
agree with in some regions, and not others. That's why looking at a
critic's points is pretty useless to me, while a combination of having
an idea of palate convergence AND actually reading the notes might give
one a clearer view.

Of course, beyond style, there are issues of quality, too. I've seen
"Claret-styled" used as an euphemism for "anemic" - within all styles
there are some wines that are better (for my tastes) than others.


Godzilla wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:56:35 -0800, DaleW wrote:
>
> > Mark,
> > Claret-styled zin is a rather inexact concept, but to me it means not
> > as fruit forward, less brawny, less noticable new oak, yet with some
> > structure. The producers I can think of who tend to get it right (for
> > my tastes) are ones like Dashe and Nalle, where they go for a
> > restrained style, yet are relatively faithful to the character of the
> > grape (you might include some of the Ridges,even). As opposed to the
> > big Baile/Renwood GrandPere style or superripe Turley or the light
> > fruity styled ones. There are wines I find attractive in most styles,
> > and ones I find unattractive in all styles.
> > Did you like Storybook? Never tried that I can remember
> >
> > Mark Lipton wrote:
> >>
> >> Can you give a few examples of this style? To me, the most Claret-like
> >> Zin I can think of is probably made by Storybook Mountain, but I happen
> >> to quite like it. Perhaps you're thinking of a different style, though.
> >>
>
> Our tastes in food, wine, coffee, art, music, etc. are highly individual
> conclusions. I readily admit that "One mans meat is another's poison."
> For example, many "experts" have long touted Schramsberg as being the
> ultimate expression of California Sparkling Wine making. Somehow, on the
> several occasions that I have had it, I didn't even find it enjoyable.
> My description would be "A mouthful of excess carbonation, with very
> little flavor elements."
>
> Back in the days when I could afford it, I looked forward to our annual
> seeing in the New Year with a bottle of Roederer Crystal, which I
> considered the pinnacle of Champagne.
>
> As for Zinfandel, I really did somersaults when I came across some
> HELLACIOUS ACRES 1998 Necromancer Zinfandel. Some others may gag at this
> style, and that is their right.
>
> Drink to me only with thine eyes, -- etc. etc.
>
> Godzilla