Wine: Meursault (my favorite chardonnay) Take 2

[Mike Buckley]

I explained my love of Meursault in the other thread. The photo shown below is of the same Meursault plus another one made by the same producer. My guess is that the background and tabletop won't be to some people's liking, but I am in the process of being more adventuresome about that and I do like it.

Setup
The background and tabletop are a painter's drop cloth. A medium continuous-light lamp is positioned above on the front left but not directed downward. A white reflector positioned above the lamp reflects additional light downward onto the scene to lift the shadows. The reflections on the sides of the bottles are of the background and tabletop material, not separate reflectors.

[Wavelength]

The background is a really wise choice here; it brings a rough mood to the image.... Excellent

[Shadowman]

I like take #2 as a presentation of the wine, take #1 was to me a graphic design.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you to Nandakumar and John!

I like take #2 as a presentation of the wine, take #1 was to me a graphic design.

Agreed! That was my intent.

[Plumcrak]

I really like the drop cloth, it gives it a more earthy feel to me. Wine is not just for the snooty folk!

[Mike Buckley]

I really like the drop cloth, it gives it a more earthy feel to me.

Thanks, Jon! That's my thinking as well and is part of the reason I chose that look.

[Donald]

I just want to open them!

I like the idea of the backcloth. Its informality and 'less-than-pristine' state sits well with what those of us who know Burgundy feel is the more down-to-earth, get-your-hands-dirty, smaller wine-growing environment (when compared to Bordeaux). I deliberately didn't say 'rougher' as you could never describe Burgundy as rough. It is gentle and round and soft .... and glorious. Take me back there ...NOW!

The only bit of it that doesn't work for me is that fairly sharp crease that runs top-left to bottom-right and cuts across the shoulder of the 2006. I would have liked that to have been a more gentle fold. But that's just me.

[Kaye Leggett]

I just want to open them!

Perhaps a shot with the corkscrew at the ready is required ??

[Clactonian]

Perhaps a shot with the corkscrew at the ready is required ??

I'm sure even the Scots are sufficiently refined in their wine drinking habits to require a glass too!

I'm with Donald on this one Mike, everything except that crease or is it a seam.

[Donald]

I'm sure even the Scots are sufficiently refined in their wine drinking habits to require a glass too!

Or if there's not a glass, a drinking straw will do fine!

[John 2]

What's to say Mike. Another well set up and executed shot. Might be tempted to lift the shadows slightly but that's choice not technique. A good bottle of wine is really a memory. It transits through your life and rarely stays. Worth recording therefore. sorry, is that a bit deep?

[Kaye Leggett]

Or if there's not a glass, a drinking straw will do fine!

With an Australian Oaked Chardonnay at £3.99 a bottle maybe, but please not with a Mersault

[Donald]

With an Australian Oaked Chardonnay at £3.99 a bottle maybe, but please not with a Mersault

Don't worry, Kaye. I jest. My collection of white premier crus is safely tucked away in my little cellar and I promise I won't use a straw. Only the finest Reidel glass will do!

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, everyone!

Donald and Mike: The background characteristic that bothers you is a crease. The drop cloth is folded and I decided to leave the creases as is rather than try ironing it. I'm really surprised that only that one bothers the two of you. I thought sure that if any of the creases would be objectionable they would be the pair of creases that intersect at the top of the 2011.

Kaye: If I add a corkscrew to the scene, I think I'll also need to add an empty glass. I hadn't ever thought of that concept, so it's definitely worth a try. There may be a "Take 3" in my near future, though I think this scene commands a corkscrew with a wooden handle and I don't have one.

John: I don't record wines that I've drunk except that I keep a list of daily drinking wines as a reminder of what to buy. I'm sure some people do record their favorite wines, so your thinking about that is not at all too deep.

[Mike Buckley]

As for the idea of the drinking straw, perhaps Kaye and Mike started following my photos of wine later than others and aren't aware of this one.

[Bobobird]

Nicely done as usual.

[John 2]

.................................John: I don't record wines that I've drunk except that I keep a list of daily drinking wines as a reminder of what to buy. I'm sure some people do record their favorite wines, so your thinking about that is not at all too deep.

I meant in the form of your photographic efforts Mike.

[Mike Buckley]

Ahhhhhh, now I understand, John. You're absolutely right that part of my reason for combining my wine and photography hobbies is to photographically record the wines that are special for whatever reason. There can be a lot of different reasons a wine can be special for me. In the case of these two wines, the reasons have to do with the high quality of the wine and some sentimental remembrances of occasions that go along with them.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Mike I like the color and the texture of the cloth very much. It makes a good contrast with the bottles and brightens the background in a natural way.

[Clactonian]

As for the idea of the drinking straw, perhaps Kaye and Mike started following my photos of wine later than others and aren't aware of this one.

Zut! You can't even jest about drinking a fine Alsace with ice and a straw Mike.