tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388643415483799555.post4753451054357996811..comments2023-09-22T08:24:51.726-04:00Comments on Two Wine Brothers: Fireside Winery "Hearthside" Red WineBrad Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16736183283982566159noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388643415483799555.post-39329229619994169772009-02-06T13:29:00.000-05:002009-02-06T13:29:00.000-05:00How interesting there was such a difference betwee...How interesting there was such a difference between the two bottles. I suppose they could have come from two separate batches...but didn't think so. <BR/><BR/>There are advantages and disadvantages to being a small producer. Fireside bottles about 5,000 cases per year - certainly small by California standards, but on the high-average side for Iowa. <BR/><BR/>Some might say the reduction of variability is a good thing - mostly. Formulaic, masssed-produced wines have to potential to be uninteresting; whereas, the small-scale (micro-producer) can produce wines with interesting varietals - yielding spectactular wines sometimes...and other times purely bad wines.<BR/><BR/>One serious problem, in my mind, with some of our smaller producers is the "I know all I need to know" phemomenon. This is where our local producer has attained a sufficient amount of winemaking knowledge to make decent wine, but not a consistenly decent wine. Frequently the troubles are related to post fermentation decisions: additions and evaluation (SO2 levels, in particular).<BR/><BR/>One more thing...about the tannin levels of the Chambourcin and Chancelor grapes. This is a common problem with hybrid grapes - lack of tannins. This is easily remedied with an appropriate addition of tannin at pre-fermentation. <BR/><BR/>Glad you liked bottle #2!Brad Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16736183283982566159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388643415483799555.post-80152239657276078202009-02-04T07:47:00.000-05:002009-02-04T07:47:00.000-05:00I enjoyed my second bottle last evening and WOW. ...I enjoyed my second bottle last evening and WOW. What a difference!<BR/><BR/>This bottle had a huge fruit nose and was very easy to drink. Not nearly as "hot" as the first bottle. The tannins were still absent, but the fruit made up nicely.<BR/><BR/>One issue with smaller producers is quality control and reduction of variability. I sort of liked the first bottle, but I LOVED the second bottle. There was a night-and-day difference between the two bottles.<BR/><BR/>This wine I'd put on my wine list!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388643415483799555.post-70978475669544705582009-01-23T13:32:00.000-05:002009-01-23T13:32:00.000-05:00Here is what Saveur Magazine said about Fireside W...Here is what Saveur Magazine said about Fireside Winery's "Hearthstone" in their Tasting Notes:<BR/><BR/>http://www.saveur.com/article/Wine/Tasting-Notes-Wines-of-Americas-Heartland<BR/><BR/>And about Midwestern Wine in an article by David Wondrich, titled: American Originals:<BR/><BR/>http://www.saveur.com/article/Wine/American-Originals/2<BR/><BR/>Hearthstone is a tasty, easy-to-drink, and very approachable wine. And made 35 miles from where I live. <BR/><BR/>Cheers!<BR/>~BradBrad Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16736183283982566159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388643415483799555.post-79635047343615486032009-01-04T23:08:00.000-05:002009-01-04T23:08:00.000-05:00I've found Chambourcin to be a very good wine to c...I've found Chambourcin to be a very good wine to cook with. I've made beef stew and tomato sauces with it, and the Chambourcins I've used have imparted better flavors than the Cabs I've used for the same purposes. Not sure why this would be, but I've had some great dinners because of it!Josiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05967667618412122986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1388643415483799555.post-9982715726909301482009-01-04T13:00:00.000-05:002009-01-04T13:00:00.000-05:00I haven't had the Fireside product, and can't offe...I haven't had the Fireside product, and can't offer an opinion on it, but found a Chambourcin/Chancellor blend from Wallace Winery (West Branch, IA) to be quite good. Not great, but good. It's called "Iowa Barn" Red. Hate the name, like the wine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com