Bordeaux Style 20

Paul E. Lehmann

But you're trying to cross the US and France's way of doing things but, IMHO, throwing out the best parts of each.

I'm OK with the US way of labeling it with grape name, as long as they say where the grapes are grown, such as Napa, Sonoma, etc. or with specific vineyard names.

I'm OK with the French way (generalization, as not all French growing areas follow this), of labeling with the area grown because it implies the grapes used because of their regulations.

Either way, we are given information on what type of grapes are used and the area they are grown, so I know what to expect out of the wine. I still don't know if it is a quality wine, but I know the basic flavor profile I should expect.

But it is to me and many other people. If someone was to sell Napa wine, I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole unless I was able to get information on the grapes used. If St. Julien decided that their wineries could use whatever grapes they wanted, I stop buying it unless the winery gives me information on what grapes it is using.

But the taste comes from the type of grape, or at least should. Of course there are some wineries where you can't tell their Shiraz from their Cabernet, but those are of little interest to me.

But there must be a certain percentage which helps the consumer identify the general characteristics of the wine. It means that when I buy a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, I probably won't get something that tastes like Grenache.

But this is different from saying the wine labeled with the AVA could be Cabernet, or could be Pinot Noir or could be Chancellor.

But it wouldn't provide the name recognition of your AVA that you should really be looking for. I know a Pauillac will have a certain flavor profile. If I try a Pauillac and like it, I'm more likely to try other Pauillacs.

I know RRV Pinot Noir has a certain flavor profile, if I try one and like it, I'm more likely to try another one.

If I try your Catoctin and I like it, there is nothing that says to me any other Catoctin will be similar. Chances are I wouldn't buy it in the first place because I have no idea what to expect.

Sonoma isn't an attractive name? Alexander Valley? Russian River Valley? I think the reason it's not well received goes deeper than that

In general, I think consumers, at least at the higher end of the market, want more information, not less.

Andy