by Dan Berger

Back in the 1970s, when I first began writing about wine, a co-worker at the Associated Press chided me: “All red wine tastes the same.”
I was amused by the line since I could usually tell the differences between the major red grapes. The task wasn’t particularly difficult back then since wines from different grapes had distinctive aromas and tastes.
Cabernet sauvignon was slightly herbal and had a nice dusty, earthy/cherry fruit, occasionally with a bit of tarragon, thyme or savory. And its aftertaste was a bit astringent. Tannin was the culprit, but it responded to aging, diminishing over time.
Merlot had more olive and tea-like characteristics, a lot softer tannin structure and less of the dry herb notes. Though it could be less complex, it had a more obvious level of fruit.
Zinfandel had a jam-y, plum-y aroma with hints of violets, strawberries, plums and even blueberries.
And syrah, for all intents and purposes, didn’t exist. Little of it was planted in California. (Its rise as a major variety has been spectacular. In 1991, California had just 141 acres of it. In 2010, that figure was more than 19,000 acres.)
Syrah’s popularity as a red wine grape seems to have coincided with California wine makers’ desire to make a wine with little if any of the distinctive varietal character of the past.
This began to happen in the 1990s as alcohol levels for most red wines rose in response to higher scores from some people who believed that the “best” wines were the biggest.
By the late 1990s, we were seeing red wine alcohols in the 14.5 percent to 16 percent range; previously most red wines were 12 percent to 13.5 percent, and most wine lovers had been fine with that.
But newer consumers, notably those who read scores as facts, believed that the best wines had loads of alcohol.
Higher alcohols are the result of far more sugar in the grapes at harvest than previously, indicating that the grapes were harvested later than in the past. And the later that red grapes are harvested, the less they show the distinctive varietal character for which we once lusted.
What syrah added to the varietal mix was its ability to, chameleon-like, take the character from where it was planted. And since most of the plantings of syrah were in warmer-to-hot climates, most of the wines were rather bland in aroma and character, lacking the distinctiveness that the variety shows when planted in cooler areas.
Over the last few years, many red wines began to show less varietal character. But those who rate wines by score seemed to be uninterested in varietal character as much as power and concentration.
In the mid-1990s, I began to notice a trend: It was increasingly more difficult to say which wine was made from which grape. Among the least distinctive were warm-climate Syrahs.
And it was then I recalled my friend’s remark about all red wines tasting the same.
Not all red wines, of course. But for the most part, any wine listed as having more than 14.5 percent alcohol has a sameness and a simplicity that can be rather boring.

Wine of the Week
2008 Greg Norman Cabernet-Merlot, Limestone Coast ($15) – There is a nice bit of complexity in the aroma here, with some of cabernet’s herbal character, some Merlot fruit, a softer entry from the latter grape, and a bit of cellar potential from the former. Occasionally seen discounted, a great value.
Dan Berger lives in Sonoma County, where he publishes “Vintage Experiences,” a weekly wine newsletter. Write to him at winenut@gmail.com.

http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/wine/columnists/dan-berger/all-red-wines-are-not-the-same/article_e55ebb3c-068f-11e1-a523-001cc4c03286.html

Philippines wedding planners and wedding reception caterers recommend Clark Philippines as this year’s premier destination for beach weddings and garden receptions. Wedding couples in Philippines no longer prefer traditional indoor venues and hotel ballrooms for wedding receptions in Manila, Angeles City, Subic and Clark Freeport.

Selecting a good and safe event venue in Philippines is not that easy. Many public event venues in resort hotels in Philippines can’t deliver assurances of safety and security. This exposes our corporate and private events to risks that are not acceptable to us as event organizers in Philippines.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassions

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

This hotel in Angeles Philippines has the perfect ambience for a romantic beach wedding and a garden style wedding reception, exactly the kind of wedding venue we have been looking for to get married in the Philippines. Angeles City is near Clark Philippines and just 90 minutes from Manila. It is one of North Luzon Philippines’ top hotels that is trouble free, risk free, and a nice place to have rest in Subic. A well-recognized and interesting hotel.

Garden style wedding reception can take place within a few meters from the beach of this hotel in Clark Philippines so guests and observe the ceremony at the comfort of their seats on the table.

It is important to visitor that the family feels safe in a hotel in Angeles Philippines. That is a main reasons that we choose to stay in this hotel in Clark Pampanga outside of Manila Philippines. Many don’t like the hotels in Subic or some of the hotel in Angeles City Pampanga. This highly recommended hotel in Angeles city Clark Philippines does not make them comfortable and secure.

Traffic along the North Expressway NLEX from Manila to Clark is always light and the new Subic Tarlac Clark Expressway ScTex takes visitors straight into Clark Freeport without going through any towns and cities along the way.

For information as well as assistance with reservations in hotels and resorts in Pampanga, Clark Philippines, click here to contact HotelClarkPhilippines now

Or call us at

Hotel Clark Philippines
Creekside Road corner of Centennial Road,
Central Business District, Clark Freeport Zone,
Pampanga, Philippines 2023

Tel: (045)599-5949 0917-520-4403 0922-870-5177

Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Rd Ortigas Metro Manila, Philippines 1605
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 Rea or Chay

http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

Email: Info@ClarkPhilippines.com

Getting to this hotel in Clark Philippines
After entering Clark Freeport from Subic, Manila, Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along Clark’s main highway MA Roxas, passing Clark’s largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center on your right, continue to bear right making no turns at all, go past Mimosa Leisure Estate on the opposite side of the road, you will hit a major intersection. Go straight and the road becomes Creekside Road. YATS Clearwater Resort and Country Club is on your right just 200m down. Traffic in Clark Philippines is light so it should be quite easy for get to this hotel in Clark Philippines.

YATS Leisure Philippines is a HK-based developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine outlets http://www.YatsLeisure.com

To inquire with the beach resort hotel in Clark Pampanga visit http://www.ClearwaterPhililippines.com

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.