What unpopular (wine) opinions do you have?

[Wizz]

OK lets try this again.

What opinions do you have that are unpopular in the wine world?

Lets see if we can do this without all the shitposting. And if you agree or disagree with someone, just type "agree" or "disagree" and leave it at that.

Me:
Australian Riesling (as a whole, there are exceptions) is nowhere near as good as Australians think it is. Germany Austria France and New Zealand have it all over us.

[Hacker]

For all the Coonawarra fanatics out there, Margaret River is so much better at producing Cabernet.

[Ozzie W]

Most Shiraz/Syrah is a bit boring.

[Ian S]

I rarely enjoy Brunello di Montalcino, typically preferring the bonier profile of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, to the richer profile of Brunello

[Chuck]

For all the Coonawarra fanatics out there, Margaret River is so much better at producing Cabernet.

+1

[Chuck]

Most Shiraz/Syrah is a bit boring.

Agree but it's good in blends.

[AndrewCowley]

Margaret River shiraz is crap.

[TiggerK]

If you like it bone dry, Australian Riesling is enormously better value than German GG wines, and mostly as or more enjoyable, each should stick to what they do best.

NZ Riesling is too sugary feeling most of the time and lacks proper acid balance. (Framingham and Rippon aside)


Once you've had wonderful well-aged reds, enjoying young New World red wine is difficult most of the time, just too boring and fruity. And more whole bunch and stalks often make wine worse!
(Luckily there is a new wave of more experimental producers providing exceptions to this opinion)


Margaret River Cabernet is very rarely complex or interesting, at any age. Varietally quite correct perhaps, but mostly meh, the occasional old Moss Wood the only exceptions. Coonawarra at least has its eucalyptus terroir character giving it some extra regional personality.

[Waiters Friend]

I rarely enjoy Brunello di Montalcino, typically preferring the bonier profile of Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, to the richer profile of Brunello

Agree

[Waiters Friend]

If you like it bone dry, Australian Riesling is enormously better value than German GG wines, and mostly as or more enjoyable, each should stick to what they do best.

Agree, but only for bone dry styles.

[TiggerK]

If you like it bone dry, Australian Riesling is enormously better value than German GG wines, and mostly as or more enjoyable, each should stick to what they do best.

Agree, but only for bone dry styles.

Yes, Germany is unbeatable for off-dry Riesling.

[Chuck]

Margaret River shiraz is crap.

Not crap IMO but boring. No wow factor.

[Chuck]

Margaret River Cabernet is very rarely complex or interesting, at any age. Varietally quite correct perhaps, but mostly meh, the occasional old Moss Wood the only exceptions. Coonawarra at least has its eucalyptus terroir character giving it some extra regional personality.

Interesting you say that as I'm finding MR cabs can taste similar (flavour profile) which can get boring. It gets better with blending. My problem with Coonawarra is I dislike eucalyptus and mint that the district is known for. Opened a Majella 2012 Cabernet for tonight's meal and thankfully these 2 components are not significant.

[Wizz]

If you like it bone dry, Australian Riesling is enormously better value than German GG wines, and mostly as or more enjoyable, each should stick to what they do best.

The best of the GG's Iv'e tasted are streets ahead of anything I've ever encountered from Australia - Keller, Robert Wiel, Donnhoff, Schaefer Frohlich. Same territory as the Montrachet slopes.

Did a tasting in NZ in the run up to the 2013 vintage to help us decide what that year's Auburn Dry would be. Clemens Busch Marienberg won the day, but Grossett Polish Hill was a close second for me.

Agree completely on VFM, Australian Riesling remains (in Australia anyway) one of the worlds great bargains.

[odyssey]

I find Margaret River Cabs too green and stalky, athlough I’ll put up with it for a well aged high quality example such as an old Jack Mann.

[JamieBahrain]

Red Burgundy drinking is an ostentatious cult. They actually don't age that well.

[Craig(NZ)]

Shiraz/Syrah doesn't improve in the cellar. It only changes

[michel]

Shiraz/Syrah doesn't improve in the cellar. It only changes

I concur Craig

Buddha said Shiraz is
Let’s leave it at that

[michel]

Red Burgundy drinking is an ostentatious cult. They actually don't age that well.

I agree big time
1978 Rousseau Chambertin looks like robbish
Slurp sip

[JamieBahrain]

OK lets try this again.

just type "agree" or "disagree" and leave it at that.

Simple rules folks...

Me:
Australian Riesling (as a whole, there are exceptions) is nowhere near as good as Australians think it is ( AGREE ) Germany( AGREE ) Austria( AGREE ) France ( AGREE ) and New Zealand ( DISAGREE ) have it all over us.

[TiggerK]

Red Burgundy drinking is an ostentatious cult. AGREE. They actually don't age that well. STRONGLY DISAGREE - are you serious?

[Mahmoud Ali]

What opinions do you have that are unpopular in the wine world?

That many more wines age better than often thought.

And more recently, that almost all pinot noir, including non-Burgundy ones, need considerably more age.

[Mahmoud Ali]

If you like it bone dry, Australian Riesling is enormously better value than German GG wines, and mostly as or more enjoyable, each should stick to what they do best.

Can't really disagree with that. Many fine Australian rieslings on display at a Riesling show in Sydney last year.

[mjs]

Coonawarra makes far more and better age worthy cabernet than MR, possible exception being Moss Wood

[Chuck]

I recall someone saying - The Hunter Valley makes 5% of OZ wine but 95% of the noise.

[brodie]

OK here goes...

Wendouree make the most interesting,long lived and complex red wines in Australia.

[dingozegan]

I think most responses here have focussed on particular wine styles/regions. The unpopular opinions that I hold are probably more to do with winemaking/viticultural approach and stylistic appreciation in general. Some examples might be:

• Brett can add interest and its character can make a wine beautiful
• The mantras of wine quality being due to low yields, deep rooted vines (in bedrock), grape homogeneity at harvest... aren't necessarily true
• Australian wine imports have a tendancy to be biased by an Australian-wine-palate that seeks bigger/richer/fruitier/oakier wines
• Lighter-bodied, fresh, grippy styles of red have a deliciousness and "smashability" that warants special value being placed on them (alongside more complex and ageable wines)
• Fruit/oak-dominant wines can tend towards boredom (I have to qualify this as more tenuous, because it is a big generalisation and it really depends on the style)

[Andrew Jordan]

Margaret River shiraz is crap.

+1

[Mike Hawkins]

OK here goes...

Wendouree make the most interesting,long lived and complex red wines in Australia.

Disagree

[Mike Hawkins]

Cullen DM and most Wendouree are immensely over rated. This is based on drinking many dozens over 30 years at different stages of their lives.