Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Melon-Queue-Rouge. What is it, Exactly?












Fillay said...

Excellent sleuthing! I've always parroted the line that it was a regional name for chardonnay. Now at least I know that I am picking sides in a simmering, decades-old argument when I say that.

Anonymous said...

I like Stéphane's answer. It jives with what I've always believed to be the existential essence of Melon-Queue-Rouge. What struck me in this post was Ed's statement that Puffeney's edition is topped up. I'm not sure that's always true. The 2003 (incidentally one of the best '03 white wines I've had, a wine that gives me shivers to remember) tasted topped up but the current 2005 release most definitely tastes like a voille wine. I agree that even the topped up styles of MQR "hint at" oxidation so maybe I'm wrong. I'd love to know the truth but I have a feeling that might require a trip to Montagny-les-Arsures and an interrogation of The Pope.

Anonymous said...

This is a wonderful post. I am a huge novice and don't claim any sort of advanced or complex knowledge but it seems that vitis vinifera does a great job of adapting to its surroundings. A great example is Zinfandel. Having originated in Croatia, brought to America, brought back to Italy...etc. The grape you see in California is probably quite different from that in Italy (Primitivo).

This "chardonnay" may have the same genes but taste and look like a different animal all together. It seems old school vintners decide what a grape is based on its looks, taste, feel, smell, etc (which seems to be what matters). I think its worth the argument to discuss which is more important; genetics or what the grape actually produces and does for the average oenophile.