A Trio of wacky names

Since I am the one hosting this edition of Wine Blogging Wednesday, which has –ahem- the ingenious theme of wacky wine names, I’ve been searching far and wide for wine with the oddest name. My search concluded with two pretty wackily named California wines, but as the tasting proved to be rather underwhelming, I decided to open another bottle –also with a pretty wacky name, though in another language- which I knew to be a lovely wine.

So here's the trio:
HRM Rex Goliath, Central Coast Chardonnay, 2003
Slow Lane Cab 2001, Vinum Cellars, Napa Valley
Pascal Cotat 2003 Les Monts Damnés, Sancerre

So, shall we begin? The first bottle I opened was a HRM Rex Goliath, 2003, a Central Coast Chardonnay. The name was taken from a show Rooster, who, at a whopping 47 lb, was a huge attraction at a Texas circus. The wine billed itself to be “free range”, though frankly I am not entirely sure what that means.

I am famously allergic to huge, oaky, buttery California chardonnays, but this name was so wacky that I decided to give it a try anyway. The result was not so bad. The wine was pale straw color, with a very light body, and somewhat oaky, yet not offensively so. The nose was of pineapple and green apple. It was lacking in acidity though, so the wine appeared very flat on the palate and without a lot of flavors. At $9 this wasn’t bad, but I wouldn't buy it again.

The second bottle I opened was the 2001 Slow Lane Cab from Vinum Cellars in Napa Valley. The back of the bottle reads:

Yes, we are the guys driving in the slow lane with a heavy load of grapes and the hazard lights on. We like doing things the hard way, hand crafting small lots of wine from small vineyards while keeping it affordable. So please be patient and slow down… we like the old truck, and we think you will too!

Promising, no? And at $12 for a half bottle, it’s not exactly cheap. The wine turned out to be pretty typical California cabernet, that is to say, dark red, with a fruity, over-ripe berry nose –so overripe it in fact reminded me of stewed tomato. The ripe berry also gave me a somewhat sweet mouthfeel which I get with extremely fruity wines. It wasn’t bad really, just unremarkable.

Fast forward two days, I was thinking about writing up my entry for the Wacky Wine Wednesday, and found myself not entirely satisfied with the choices I had so far. I decided to do yet another one, this time an old favorite, a Sancerre from a hamlet of Chavignol, and particularly from the best vineyard sites in the whole of Sancerre called Les Monts Damnés, the damned mountains. 2003 Pascal Cotat Sancerre "Les Mont Damnés", Pretty wacky, no?

The site, Les Monts Damnés, or the damned mountains, is so called because of the dangerously steep slopes on which the vines are grown. The steepest parts of which require grape pickers to slide down the mountain on their behind, with a cushion of course. I am not kidding you.

This Sauvignon Blanc wine is from the Cotat family, one of the best producers in Sancerre. They are an old fashioned producer who refuses to change with time. The grapes are harvested later than at other vineyards in Sancerre, pressed by hand using an antique crusher from the 19th century, and bottled completely unrefined and unfiltered.

The nose is of acacia, citrus, and apple. It is medium in body –as it is young yet- and light gold in color. The wine is balanced with good acidity that will help pair it well with food. If you are still unconvinced by the virtue of food and wine pairing, try this wine with Crottin de Chavignol, a goat cheese from the same region as the wine--you will taste the very definition of terroir and will immediately understand what the French wine makers have been yakking on and on about. I also like this wine with a salad of mâche, goat cheese, and almond in a light white wine vinaigrette.

This wine is retailed at $40, so it is probably not a fair comparison with the two lower priced CA wines that I reviewed for this, oh well.

And you? Have you got a wacky one? Let me know. I'll wait till 12pm PST before I do a wrap, so you've still got time my friends. ;-)

Comments

[Laurent]

i know a very good french wine named "syranausaurus Rex" due to a reference to the Syrah cepage. Syrah is really good wine for all your recipes made with wine because it keeps the colors during cooking. Try this inside a Boeuf Bourguignon

Bon appétit

[HALFAGLASS]

From a good, if ill named, commune in France:

Chateau Pech Redon 1999 Coteaux du Languedoc "LA CLAPE"

A fine example of what our Southern French friends do best: berry fruit, spice pantry and smoky earth. Well structured with good, forward flavours while showing some age. No bacterial infection detected.

[anthony]

Goddam no backtracking blogger.

Here you are

http://spiceblog.blogspot.com/2005/01/wbw5-swagmans-kiss-2001-chardonnay.html

[Kate]

Pim...The sorry, sorry tale of my wine choice can be found here:

http://www.accidentalhedonist.com/index.php/2005/01/26/wbw_wacky_wine_names_2003_wolf_trap

Thanks for hosting this month!

[Rich]

Love your site, Pim. Thanks for hosting and the too cool theme! Link to my WBW#5 post is below.

Can't wait to see the wrap-up...

Thanks,
Rich

http://thewinecellar.blogspot.com/2005/01/winecology-bonny-doon-le-cigare-volant.html

[jens]

I may be duplicating this message, but here is my entry for one "bad wine":

http://cincinnatiwinegarage.blogspot.com/2005/01/bad-wacky-wine-wednesday.html

[Pim]

Well Alder, that fruit-bomb cab was quite offensive compared to the '83 Tempier La Tourtine I was drinking last night.

Context is everything I suppose. ;-)

And if Premier Cru ever deliver the case of 01 Les Monts Damnés I bought on pre-arrival months ago I'll let you swap something for one of them so you could try some with a crotin.

[Alder]

Awww. Pim. you pulled some punches here! Last night you used the word offensive to describe at least one of these wines, and I, for one, want to know which it was!!

Harrumph. Did I mention I love Crotin? Mmmmmmm.

[Niki]

I hope this entry is not way too late. It was Australia Day here yesterday and we had a public holiday. Public holiday in the middle of summer means....late night!
So, here's my entry:
http://esurientes.blogspot.com/2005/01/wbw-wacky-wine-names.html

[Kathryn]

Love your blog and especially this topic -- always looking for a new theme for our wine tasting nights. A good one from north of the border: Blasted Church, especially their Pinot Noir and Late Harvest Wine

www.blastedchurch.com

[beau]

Howdy Pim,
Keep a lookout for those oversized roosters. My god! They're free ranging..

My WBW#5 contri is here:
http://basicjuice.blogs.com/basicjuice/2005/01/wbw5_whooh_whoo.html

Cheers,
beau

[Shannon]

Oh dear. I went for the 47 pound pigeon myself, but my Merlot wound up corked and undrinkable.

http://tornado6other.blogspot.com/2005/01/no-wine-blogging-wednesday.html

[Lenn]

Pim you're awesome! Great post and I can't wait to see the roundup tomorrow. I emailed you my contributuion's URL.

Cheers!

[benjamin]

My blog is between homes, I just put this up. My first contribution to la causa!

[Amy Langfield]

You already know about RedNeck Red and White Trash White from the Oildale Winery?

[Andrew]

Cant seem to find an email address to let you know I have posted my contribution. An excellent theme by the way!

http://www.spittoon.biz/archives/wine_blogging_wednesday_wacky_wine_names.html