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In this video, I discuss a very sensitive subject: trophy wines vs insiders picks! And to make things even more interesting, I will taste one of each.. blind.
**WINES TASTED IN THIS VIDEO:
🍷 2017 Pierre Gonon Saint-Joseph, Rhone, France
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/pierre+gonon+st+joseph+rhone+france/2017/
🍷 2018 E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Mouline, Rhone, France
https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/e+guigal+la+mouline+cote+rotie+rhone+france/2018/
**LET’S CONNECT:
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**CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO:
0:00 Trophy Wine vs Insider’s Pick
5:08 The Tasting
12:54 The Reveal
#winetasting #wineeducation #wine
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32 Comments
Nothing exclusive about Sassicaia (and similar trophy wines) with 300k bottles produced every year…. just unjustifiable expensive
For me, anything over $100 is approaching trophy status, especially since I retired. I love northern Rhone wines, especially Hermitage, Cote Rotie and Saint Joseph. I was introduced to a Clape Cornas wine some years ago, which I guess was an “insider” wine simply because of their small production? I have not seen their wine in my local market since and rarely see Cornas wines.
Rhone, like Burgundy in my opinion is all about the maker. If you like Guigal’s style, (yes, I do) you will more than likely love all of their wines. Guigal’s Croze Hermitage and Cote de Rhône are staples in our cellar. Chaputier also makes a great Croze — Petite Buche. Again, great producers produce great wine!
I have never had any of the lala’s. I do have a bottle of Guigal Chateau d’Ampuis that I am saving for a special occasion and a bottle of Chave Saint Joseph — a little less dear but nonetheless less not an everyday drinker either. And lastly, three bottles of 2021 La Chapelle. It will probably be a while before I pull one of those corks.
Another great video, but I had no idea that St Joseph has become so incredibly expensive. The blind tasting I would like to see is 2018 Guigal La Mouline up against 2018 Guigal Chateau D'Ampuis. That is two Cote-Rotie wines by the same producer from the same year, but the latter costs less than a third as much as the former (much the same price as the St Joseph here). Can Agnesa tell the difference? Is the former noticeably better than the latter? If so, I doubt by much.
Agnese!!! Another excellent video. While i was watching i told to my wife that your youtube channel is my favorite in wine world. You’re knowledgeable, humble, and charismatic
Great topic. I like your take on this sensitive issue.
pricey
Kudos !!! Great video again. btw…4th L wine, La Doriane (Condrieu) ???
Beautifully done, Agnese. Gonon is such an interesting wine in the quality-to-price debate. I'm scaling down for health reasons – I can still taste but can't drink – and even thinking to sell my small stash of older Gonon. Thanks for the work you do!
It really is fascinating how the most revered producers seem to consistently produce exceptional wines year after year. It goes to show that there is a true artistry involved in making the best wines. I suppose it could be argued that there is a cult like following to many of the top winemakers but I think that the proof is in the assessment by experts and amateurs alike generally agreeing that quality shines without prior knowledge of the acclaimed producer. I've been to many many blind tastings and I've concluded that (on the whole) the esteemed makers come out on top. Rather frustrating but exciting when you discover the affordable hidden gems. I suppose it goes to show that winemaking is a true artform with little if no luck is involved I'm creating a masterpiece.
I loved your opening line, in our wine club we have one board member who will not let anyone talk about Italian wines besides himself. I've been with this club for two years and have only done ONE Italian tasting.
Very nice. I like the theme and the simplicity. Nice choices
Nothing quite like tasting great Rhone wine in a Maiden t-Shirt! Another excellent video as always.
well ok thanks a lot for this brilliant demonstration..however I'd think it would be even more relevant to show the same comparison with the "second wine" (supposed to be second) less expensive…I mean this second wine, the St Joseph, is already a top wine that nobody will ever have the chance to sip (I am exaggerating but I guess you understand) :))
“Maybe we should leave it to the winemakers”. Massively true just like you mentioned that we should drink what we like….thank you and great video.
I loved the video introduction! And of course, the wine tasting. After all, small wine producers can also create good wines, less mass-produced but more focused on quality. Sometimes small producers are underestimated, and of course, those hidden gems are missed. 😊
Great blind video. Your explanation was on point. No one can call you biased in this tasting. But the blind tasting did show why the trophy is called a trophy. However, I also agree that the smaller label is important to explore. I have the same experience all the time. Well done.
Good evening from France. I like your videos, which are entertaining and they are made seriously too. The Gonon Saint Joseph is most difficult to find, and much more at a "reasonnable" level price. I have only one in my cellar, bought with the help of a friend. I opened and tasted the Guigal La Mouline 2014 and 2015 four months ago, on my 50th birthday. It was very good, elegant, but it took time to open on the glass. This wine has to be waited to open, so how did you do for the 2018 to open this wine before your video ? Thanks for yours videos, and i hope you will continue to taste french wine, they are the best 🙂
The concept of banking wine sells less wine. A winemaker will tell you to drink it immediately (and buy more). One window on the disconnect between the wine industry and the IMW.
👍
I remember when Chave Hermitage was a third the price of the current Gonon.
I believe the topic of wine snobbery parallels the concept of people who believe that there is such a thing as "Authentic" <insert single ethnic group> Cuisine because no one (including Natives to said culture with an encyclopedic knowledgea of said cuisine) can claim absolute authority over something as vast as a tradition's culinary history, its many subcultures (across socioeconomic classes and religious groups), and its evolving history. The only thing that can be "authenticated" are specific dishes like Neapolitan DOC Pizzas or agricultural products like Cheese and Wines (e.g. Grand Cru Champagne, Rioja Reserva, etc.). The more accurate term would be "Traditional," though this would still be describing one end of a spectrum.
As with cuisine, great wines can be found whether it is a big house, boutique producer, or even an entry-level mass-produced wine. I love finding trying small producers, but some of my favorite ones have been famous labels (Mondavi Winery, Dom Perignon, Domane Wachau, Donnhoff, and Chateau Minuty) or even very inexpensive ones (Chateau Ste Michelle pre-2022, Voga Pinot Grigio).
Hit a resonance with me. Enjoy the wine! The fun is in the exploration. Surprises are out there. Great video, thank you Agnese.
Look at that puppy dog!
Great video as always Agnese! I had the privilege to taste more than 30 bottles of La-La-La, including the 2018 vintage. You're so right : we do not neglect less prestigious wines. I've tasted many 100 R.P. , for example 2008 Penfolds Grange. I do prefer 2010 Grange. Greetings from Lyon.
So glad you did not cut out the wine splash! 😂. Gives an authentic real feeling to the video. Also makes me feel better about the times I have doe the same! Cheers 😊🍷🍷
Right on.
Saint Joseph is my favorite zone in price quality from Rhone. And La Mouline is the best Rhone wine I've ever tasted (and Château Rayas😉).
You nailed it with the instagram and Rolex observation !
For 50-60 EUR, a decent winemaker makes a decent wine.
Above that it’s marketing, ratety, status, blabla – just how this world works. Capitalism combined with lotta bullsh*tism 🤷🏼♂️😏.
You can also make money by „blindtasting“ two wines you know and market the „cheaper“ one. 🤷🏼♂️😏
Agnes, I think you where talking about La Doriane from Guigal, wich is the white LaLa wine, a beautiful Condrieu, and it's been on the market from some time…With all due respect, I think the St Joseph from Gonon is already a trophy wine for some time now, but a beautiful wine whtasoever. For me personally, La Turque is the best LaLa, with the best balance between power, spices, freshness and fruit! Great stuff!
Excellent comparison, the “smoked meat” gave it away😊 Syrah is my fav and the best in the world are Cote Rotie and Ermitage, still reasonable value when you compare to Burgundy and Bordeaux top wines.
I thought I was the only one that spilled! I call it "baptizing the table".
To my customers, I always recommend "Estate grown, family owned, operated" labels as a huge plus.
Revealing episode on a hidden topic.
m/