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'The world's wine media fails in its duty'
An article that should appeal to the likes of VineSugar and the commentators on a recent post of his - Attilio Scienza, professor of viticulture at the Università Statale di Milano in Italy, has slammed the state of wine communication, through distribution and retail, but especially through the media. He says the world’s wine media “fails in its duty to be self-critical and to engage the arguments the wine industry needs to have to about its performance and future.”
Scienza’s comments are concerned with the present crisis confronting Europe’s traditional wine industries, but they address the same wine media that serves New World producers, and are actively engaged by New World industries to spin their stories in what Scienza calls, “a perverse plot between communication and promotion.”
“Wine communicators are incapable of raising the actual quality level because they have are no competitive ideas and are ignorant of the cultural background. Too much communication is at the level of the fascination of a newly discovered writer who describes facts and the elementary manner of everything, but without context,” Scienza says.
He also refers to wine writers’ “terminological commotions”, with meaningless terms and an attitude that is isolated from the everyday experience of wine making and drinking. What is actually absent, he says, is persuasion and real communication.
For wine communication to stimulate the inherent choices wine offers, Scienza says it must be clear, serious, and honest, but instead there is, ‘a malicious confusion between who communicates and who promotes that is obvious in the eyes of the middle-market consumers who are especially in need of clarity and honesty.”
He claims that too many wine writers are underpaid and make a living by doing “hidden promotion” which, apart from its suspect ethics and unprofessional nature, “primes a progressive loss of credibility.”
“Banal wine writing is not enough,” he says. “Wine needs its culture to be communicated.”
Source:Sommnet
TN: Vigouroux Château de Mercuès, 2001, Cahors, France.
Wine Tasting Note: George Vigouroux Château de Mercuès, 2001, Cahors, France.Allez Vins £8.99.
Very deep and brooding in colour with an equally masculine aroma – deep stewed fruits with an earthy touch. The palate is a delight – lighter perhaps than the colour and aroma would indicate but with a good tannic grip on the finish. Packed with deep plumy fruit flavours backed up with sweet oaky notes.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
TN: George Vigouroux Coteaux du Quercy, 2002, Cahors, France.
Wine Tasting Note: George Vigouroux Coteaux du Quercy, 2002, Cahors, France.Allez Vins £4.89.
Smooth with finely grained tannins and perfectly balanced acidity. This has a touch of blackberry and apple pie flavour and a fruit pastille edge to the red cherry vibrancy. Medium bodied. Very drinkable. Very enjoyable.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Quercy is one of those obscure little regions scattered across South West France. The area is not, as yet, at full appellation controlee status but is on the rung below – VDQS. Stretching between Cahors and Gaillac the wines are limited to red and rosés from combinations of Cabernet Franc, Tannat, Cot, Gamay Noir and Merlot. I am waiting to hear from John at Allez Vins on the exact composition of these wines – they are new to the AV list incidentally.
TN: Jack and Knox Frostline Riesling, 2004, Swartsberg, South Africa.
Wine Tasting Note: Jack and Knox Frostline Riesling, 2004, Swartsberg, South Africa.Oddbins £10.99
An intense minerality comes forth on the nose with a mass of unripe apple, mango and guava nuances. The palate too is intense. Rich fruit upfront, a touch of spritz, powerful acidity finishing with an impress length. Lime juice, green strawberries and more tropical fruits cascade over the palate. Alcohol 13.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 94/100
Notes from the Seasons imbibing.
Some good and not so good wines were sampled in the days around Christmas. A small pre-Christmas gathering of five started with a sparkling Burgundian Chardonnay from Waitrose. Labelled simply Sparkling Chardonnay it was on offer at £5.99 (down £3) the wine has disappeared from the shelves at my local store and is not available online. It was rather good though. Another sparkler, the Cuvée Royale Crémant de Limoux Brut, also from Waitrose (online at £83.88 for 12 – or £6.99 in the shops) was nice enough but not nearly as good.
A dinner party for 6 the Wednesday before Christmas was a jolly affair. One wine really stood out for me – the Frostline Riesling. The full tasting note is in a separate posting. Available from Oddbins for £10.99 this accompanied a simple starter of Goats Cheese and Cherry Tomato Tarts (topped with a slice of Pama Ham and fresh basil) superbly; the high acidity cut through the richness of the pastry and goats cheese perfectly. At the same dinner party another Oddbins offering, The Walker’s Pass Reserve Chardonnay 2002, Central Coast, California (£5.99 and 2 for £10) was disappointing. Selected to accompany pork steaks baked with cherry tomatoes and pine nuts it failed to do anything – least of all excitement me beyond the obvious oak. Cheap admittedly for an American Chardonnay but I should have brought something a little more expensive. I was after a white with a nutty edge to emphasise the pine nuts. This didn’t.
The starter for Christmas dinner was a superb paté from The River Cottage. This was included in HFW’s Cured Pork and Paté Taster pack (£45).
Pinot Noir is often quoted as a wine for roast duck, the main course for our Christmas Day meal. Scotchmans Hill Swan Bay Pinot Noir, 2003, Geelong, Australia (Oddbins £7.99) was totally swamped, not just by the sweetness of the accompanying fruit sauce, but by the richness of the duck itself. It clashed horribly with the Brussel sprouts and chestnuts. The Matthew Jukes quoted endorsement persuaded me to buy it – “we think this is the finest inexpensive Pinot in the world”. I didn’t.
To complete the meal a micemeat and apple tart with brandy cream was served separately from a stickie - De Bortoli Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon, 2000, South East Australia (Unwins £5.99). We tried the two together but the delicate nature of the wine was lost against the flavours of the tart and cream. It was a last minute purchase as a dessert wine – but proved to be superior on its own. A sweet Maderia would have been a superior choice.
The starter for Christmas dinner was a superb paté from The River Cottage. This was included in HFW’s Cured Pork and Paté Taster pack (£45).
Pinot Noir is often quoted as a wine for roast duck, the main course for our Christmas Day meal. Scotchmans Hill Swan Bay Pinot Noir, 2003, Geelong, Australia (Oddbins £7.99) was totally swamped, not just by the sweetness of the accompanying fruit sauce, but by the richness of the duck itself. It clashed horribly with the Brussel sprouts and chestnuts. The Matthew Jukes quoted endorsement persuaded me to buy it – “we think this is the finest inexpensive Pinot in the world”. I didn’t.
To complete the meal a micemeat and apple tart with brandy cream was served separately from a stickie - De Bortoli Vat 5 Botrytis Semillon, 2000, South East Australia (Unwins £5.99). We tried the two together but the delicate nature of the wine was lost against the flavours of the tart and cream. It was a last minute purchase as a dessert wine – but proved to be superior on its own. A sweet Maderia would have been a superior choice.
Technology in the Vineyard.
"a network of vineyard sensors and radios that monitor conditions for the grapes, from temperature to rainfall. The result is more information that could help the vineyard cut labour costs, improve yield and reduce its use of chemicals."
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley
/news/10423950.htm
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley
/news/10423950.htm
Swiss wine of 2004 will be a corker.
Something to make Nick Dobson smile - the Swiss harvest was of high quality this year with fine autumnal weather making up for a poor summer.
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=5425475
http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/Swissinfo.html?siteSect=107&sid=5425475
Hip Chicks Do Wine.
Another contender for the next Wine Blogging Wednesday - The Wine Cellar blog reports on Hip Chicks Do Wine - such classics as Riot Girl Rosé, Bad Girl Blanc and Drop Dead Red – all from a woman only team. Sadly not available in the UK.
US v EU product name struggle resolved?
"The US claimed victory yesterday in a trade battle against Europe over the protection of names of regional products such as parmesan or Champagne. A World Trade Organisation panel had agreed that the existing European rules on ‘geographical indications’ were discriminatory, US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Zoellick said in a statement."
http://www.just-drinks.com/news_detail.asp?art=25660
http://www.just-drinks.com/news_detail.asp?art=25660
Fine Wine List Download
We Love Fine Wine have provided a direct link to download their PDF formated fine wine list. This is updated daily (well as often as required at any rate)...
http://www.welovefinewines.com/latestfinewineslist.pdf
http://www.welovefinewines.com/latestfinewineslist.pdf
Here Come the Women of Wine.
Women of Wine UK (WOW), a new organisation aimed at providing a forum for women in the wine and spirits trade, has announced that its launch will take place on 10 January at a Champagne party in central London.
http://www.harpers-wine.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=1664
http://www.harpers-wine.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=1664
It's All Languedoc Now.
As a foretaste of what is likely to become a widespread rationalisation of French regional wine names, producers belonging to the Syndicat de Coteaux du Languedoc have agreed to the use of their name in neighbouring districts. Instead of seven wine names, growers across the south now have the option of using, and promoting, just one - Coteaux du Languedoc.
Winegrowers in Cabardès, Collioure, Corbières, Fitou, Limoux, Minervois and Côtes du Roussillon will be able to use the name with the further classification of vin rouge, vin blanc or vin rosé. Wines from the 2005 harvest will be able to carry the new name.
Will this change make a difference to the market performance of these wines? With the possible exception of Fitou, the name Languedoc is much more widely recognised by the general public than the old alternatives. What ever the result it will be watched with considerable interest by wine producers in other parts of France.
Winegrowers in Cabardès, Collioure, Corbières, Fitou, Limoux, Minervois and Côtes du Roussillon will be able to use the name with the further classification of vin rouge, vin blanc or vin rosé. Wines from the 2005 harvest will be able to carry the new name.
Will this change make a difference to the market performance of these wines? With the possible exception of Fitou, the name Languedoc is much more widely recognised by the general public than the old alternatives. What ever the result it will be watched with considerable interest by wine producers in other parts of France.
Planet Party
Planet Party - all part of a Bacardi viral marketing campaign. Obviously the 'only' place to party is Earth...http://www.planet-party.net/.
"So, you use your fingers. Amazing"
UKWinesOnline Update - Last Orders.
A new website for brands dominated LastOrders. And very good it is too - clear and concise, nice graphics and the ability to alter the text size is a nice touch. Not entirely convinced that the 'unusual gifts' are actually gifts (no gift packaging for a start) or that unusual really. The range is broad - the site allows brand owners to set up their own micro site to plug their products (a little like Everywine but more obviously branded). The range is dominated by brands - Gallo, Wolf Blass, Montana, Blossom Hill for the wines, Smirnoff, Absolut, Bacardi for the spirits; but a few unusual products do slip in - Hago's Vanilla Vodka Cream liqueur for example. Beers, Ales, Ciders, Alcopops and mixers complete the product range. LastOrders for Christmas delivery is today.
TN: De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000, Maipo Valley, Chile.
De Martino Cabernet Sauvignon, 2000, Maipo Valley, Chile.£5.49 Wine-Parcels.
A touch of age to this new world Cab, seems to have done wonders. The palate is still fresh and lively but with a depth of flavour and complexity that must have come from a little aging. A touch of mint enters the finish, while vanilla and blackberries dominate the palate. Good value.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
TN: Finca Los Leiva Malbec, 2000, Mendoza, Argentina.
Finca Los Leiva Malbec, 2000, Mendoza, Argentina.Vinos Vinos £6.99
Another Malbec from Argentine specialists Vinos Vinos. It has a lovely nose – lightly vegetal with a floral touch. Sweet, up-front fruit give way to a tannic food friendly structure. It was better the following day when a port-like dimension emerged adding more complexity. Very nice indeed and a more French-styled Malbec than other, more New World rich styled, Malbecs on the Vinos Vinos list.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Chocolate and wine - the healthy alternative?
Scientists claim it is possible to extend your life and avoid heart disease by regularly eating a simple set of ingredients hailed as the Polymeal. Researchers gathered evidence on the beneficial effects of different types of food, including fish, dark chocolate, wine and garlic, in reducing heart disease, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
http://www.channel4.com/news/news_story.jsp?
storyId=1740078
http://www.channel4.com/news/news_story.jsp?
storyId=1740078
Hungary wins sole rights to Tokay name.
A European court has ruled that Hungary has the sole right to the name Tokaj and told Italy it must stop using the name Tocai from March 2007.
http://www.just-drinks.com/news_detail.asp?art=25605
http://www.just-drinks.com/news_detail.asp?art=25605
Diana's Champagne Fizzles at Auction.
"The sale of a magnum of champagne from the 1981 wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles fizzled when auction bids failed to reach the reserve price. Bidding for the bubbly fell flat at $1,736, short of the $1,929 reserve price at an auction in Swindon, west of London, on Wednesday.
The 1961 vintage Dom Perignon - chosen for the year of Diana's birth - was one of 12 magnums bottled in a limited edition for the royal wedding."
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/story.jsp?
floc=ne-ent-8-l0&flok=FF-APO-1404&idq=/
ff/story/0001%2F20041216%2F0826761876
.htm&sc=1404
The 1961 vintage Dom Perignon - chosen for the year of Diana's birth - was one of 12 magnums bottled in a limited edition for the royal wedding."
http://channels.netscape.com/ns/news/story.jsp?
floc=ne-ent-8-l0&flok=FF-APO-1404&idq=/
ff/story/0001%2F20041216%2F0826761876
.htm&sc=1404
Last Order Dates for Christmas.
Time is pressing ladies and gentlemen. To guarantee delivery of gifts and orders in time for Christmas Day many merchants have announced last order days. Of course the smaller specialist will make extra effort to ensure deliveries placed are delivered in time (especially if the delivery address is local to them); it is just they cannot guarantee it! Specific details in the extended entry.
December 10th
Oddbins
December 12th
EveryWine
Thursday 16th
Villeneuve Wines
Friday 17th December
Only Fine Beer, Bordeaux Vin, Lea and Sandeman (Home Counties)
December 10th
Oddbins
December 12th
EveryWine
Thursday 16th
Villeneuve Wines
Friday 17th December
Only Fine Beer, Bordeaux Vin, Lea and Sandeman (Home Counties)
Monday 20th December
Allez Vins, Wine-Parcels, Vinos Vinos, Gourmet Essentials, Virgin Wines, Noel Young Wines, Surf4Wine, Great Grog (England)
Tuesday 21st December
Roger Harris Wines, Modern French Wines, Great Grog (Scotland), Allez Vins (Warks, Oxon, Barks & Bucks), Wine-Parcels (Warks, Oxon, Berks & Bucks)
Wednesday 22nd December
LS Fine Wines, Lea and Sandeman (London), The VineKing, Nick Dobson Wines
Thursday 23rd December
Wooden Wine Box Company
TN: Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Shiraz, 2003, Western Australia.
Willow Bridge Estate Dragonfly Shiraz, 2003, Western Australia.Unwins £6.99 Everywine £82.10 for 12.
Willow Bridge Estate is a new and significant member of the southwest Aus wine industry. Situated in the rolling pastures of the Ferguson Valley, this 180 hectare property is producing wines, which are claiming gold medals from around the world. This is a classic Australian Shiraz - up-front fruit, soft and elegant, rich fruit flavours and a creamy finish. Mouthfilling pepper led blackcurrant fruit. Alcohol 14.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
TN: Heidi Schröck Ruster Ausbruch, 2002, Bugenland, Austria.
Heidi Schröck Ruster Ausbruch, 2002, Bugenland, Austria.
£26.95 half bottle Nick Dobson Wines.
Heidi Schröck, an Austrian Winemaker of the Year, is at the forefront of reviving the noble sweet wines from the town of Rust. This is made from a blend of Welschrielsing, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. It is sweet, viscous and gorgeously complex. Botrytis evident but subtle with immense peach and citrus flavours. Stunning.
Scribblings Rating - 94/100
£26.95 half bottle Nick Dobson Wines.
Heidi Schröck, an Austrian Winemaker of the Year, is at the forefront of reviving the noble sweet wines from the town of Rust. This is made from a blend of Welschrielsing, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat. It is sweet, viscous and gorgeously complex. Botrytis evident but subtle with immense peach and citrus flavours. Stunning.
Scribblings Rating - 94/100
Ale's well again for Newcastle Brown.
Marketing gurus decided the word "ale" on a bottle of Newcastle Brown carried an "olde-world" image that could not compete with modern lagers.
So, with a large fanfare, "ale" was dropped from the label for the first time in 70 years to give the brand, according to the Press release at the time, "a contemporary new look."
But now the three-letter word has, ever so discretely, re-appeared on the label after bosses realised their contemporary new look was making absolutely no difference to sales.
http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/thejournal
/tm_objectid=14973056%26method=full%26siteid=50081%
26headline=ale%2ds%2dwell%2dagain%2dfor%
2dnewcastle%2dbrown-name_page.html
http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/thejournal
/tm_objectid=14973056%26method=full%26siteid=50081%
26headline=ale%2ds%2dwell%2dagain%2dfor%
2dnewcastle%2dbrown-name_page.html
TN: Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition, NV, Champagne, France.
Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition, NV, Champagne, France.£22 Maison du Champagne.
From a true organic artisan producer this Champagne is a delight. A frothy mouthful of nuts and gentle fruits, very creamy. Delicious. Made from 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Using the MSN Search on UKWOL.
The new MSN desktop search facility has been released (in beta I should add). One super feature is the ability to set up quick seach links. Enter the following in the taskbar box -
@ukwol,http://www.ukwinesonline.co.uk/$w
Don't include any spaces. To search UKWinesOnline for a specific wine you would then enter ukwol vergelegen for a list of all the wines from South African producer Vergelegen. It also works for Chablis (ukwol chablis) or a grape variety (ukwol malbec).
With over 6200 wine tasting notes now available via UKWOL this makes for an excellent quick link.
@ukwol,http://www.ukwinesonline.co.uk/$w
Don't include any spaces. To search UKWinesOnline for a specific wine you would then enter ukwol vergelegen for a list of all the wines from South African producer Vergelegen. It also works for Chablis (ukwol chablis) or a grape variety (ukwol malbec).
With over 6200 wine tasting notes now available via UKWOL this makes for an excellent quick link.
Cheers to flavourants as everyone knows wine in its natural state is undrinkable .
"The only people who can stomach wine of any vintage are teenage girls, unemployed journalists, middle-aged homosexuals and housewives who use it to wash the Valium down.
KWV was so concerned about their reputation that they took out full-page advertisements in the Sunday papers saying, "management is confident that the problem is isolated", as if the entire workforce was under quarantine after a foreman was diagnosed with the bubonic plague." An opinion.
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=273&fArticleId=2344273
KWV was so concerned about their reputation that they took out full-page advertisements in the Sunday papers saying, "management is confident that the problem is isolated", as if the entire workforce was under quarantine after a foreman was diagnosed with the bubonic plague." An opinion.
http://www.capetimes.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=273&fArticleId=2344273
UKWinesOnline Update - York Wines.
A new and improved website for clicks and bricks operation York Wines. Despite a few spelling mistakes and missing images a good website that offers easy access to a broad range of wines. Prices are generally in the under £10 category with some interesting selections (Peppermint Creek and Gloucester Ridge from Australia being personally imported) amongst the 'big names' of McGuigan, Jackson Estate and Drostdy Hof. It is now possible to order less than 12 bottles but with free delivery for a case you really shouldn’t limit yourself!
KWV to ask wine experts to assist company in investigation.
The chairman of scandel-hit KWV has asked three "individuals highly respected in the wine industry to assist the company to find out where it had gone wrong and to point out how it could have done things differently".
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=2343046
http://www.busrep.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=&fArticleId=2343046
UKWinesOnline Update - Bordeaux Vins.
An email from Mike Bird, the creator behind Bordeaux Vins, prompted a fresh look at his site. As the name suggests the specialisation here is the wines of Bordeaux - I love the interactive maps showing the location of each and background of the region. Plenty of work has gone into giving the site plentiful information on the wines - each wine has a label displayed and a good tasting note. In the information section more details on each chateau and wine can be found (grape varieties, yield etc). Since our last visit the delivery charge has been reduced, the minimum purchase has been also been reduced (now 6 wines) and mixed case selections have been added. Excellent news for those with even a passing interest in the wines of Bordeaux.
TN: Les Coteaux de Neffiez Cuvée Baltazar, 2002, Coteaux du Languedoc, France.
Les Coteaux de Neffiez Cuvée Baltazar, 2002, Coteaux du Languedoc, France.LS Fine Wines £10.49.
This is a ‘mostly Shiraz’ blend with a touch of Grenache. A slight vegetal touch to the deep fruit aroma. Medium to full-bodied in style with a mass of deep black fruits edged with chocolate. Lovely. A wine with refinement and more than a touch of class. A heavy weight bottle enhances the quality. Should mature well too.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
TN: Domaine Sol-Payre Cuvée Imo Pectore, 2001, Côtes du Roussillon, France.
Domaine Sol-Payre Cuvée Imo Pectore, 2001, Côtes du Roussillon, France.LS Fine Wines £10.95
You really couldn’t get a simpler minimalist label; luckily this simplicity does not continue inside the bottle. A super aroma of stewed fruits – embracing plums, cherries, strawberries and blackberries – leads into a concentrated, smooth palate. Just a touch of tannin appears on the finish with the rich, velvety mouthful offering a beguiling, almost port-like, deep savoury touched finish. Alcohol 14%. A blend of Carignan, Syrah and Grenache.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
TN: Sumaridge Sauvignon Blanc, 2003, Walker Bay, South Africa.
Sumaridge Sauvignon Blanc, 2003, Walker Bay, South Africa.Worldly Wise Wines £7.29.
A great Sauvignon – crisp and fresh with a lovely pineapple and grass nose. Plenty of punch on the palate with tropical fruit adding complexity to the mineral crispness.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
While the company website has not been updated for a while - the latest news is dated 2003 - there are some interesting details concerning the siting of the vineyards. The estate overlooks the Atlantic. The cooling winds from the sea exhert a calming influcence on the vineyards providing conditions perfect for Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc; both wines have won several awards.
http://www.sumaridge.co.za/
TN: Ghost Gum Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002, Victoria, Australia.
Ghost Gum Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon, 2002, Victoria, Australia.Worldly Wise Wines £6.89.
A full-bodied, big red but soft and juicy with it. Generously fruity with ripe red fruits with an edge of spice and liquorice; a touch of vanilla oak too. If you enjoy the richly fruited Aussie wine style then this Ghost Gum should be high on your must-try list.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Wine Warehouse Open Day.
Allez Vins is having an open day! Saturday 18th December (10am – 4pm) – a great selection of wines (specialising in France and Argentina) open for tasting and some superb gourmet food items too. Unit 4, Station Road, Stockton, CV47 8HA – see the website for directions. ‘No obligation to buy or say nice or clever things!”
http://www.allezvins.co.uk
http://www.allezvins.co.uk
TN: Cellier de Pezens A Fleur de Sens, 2003, VdP des Côtes de Lastours, France.
Cellier de Pezens A Fleur de Sens, 2003, VdP des Côtes de Lastours, France
LS Fine Wines £7.50.
Not a grape you see an awful lot off is Chasan – it’s a crossing of Chardonnay and Palamino (aka Listan) which in the correct hands does produce wines of interest and character. This medium-bodied wine has a nutty edge to the apple and orange flavours. Production is limited to 3000 bottles. 13.5% Alcohol.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
LS Fine Wines £7.50.
Not a grape you see an awful lot off is Chasan – it’s a crossing of Chardonnay and Palamino (aka Listan) which in the correct hands does produce wines of interest and character. This medium-bodied wine has a nutty edge to the apple and orange flavours. Production is limited to 3000 bottles. 13.5% Alcohol.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Austrian Wine Range Extended.
Nick Dobson Wines has announced an extension to their wine range - they now list over 100 Austrian wines. New producers include Heidi Schröck, Josef Lentsch, Matthias & Melitta Leitner, Franz Klein and others. The original list of mainly white wines from the Wachau is now complemented by a comprehensive selection of reds, other whites and dessert wines.
http://www.nickdobsonwines.co.uk
A selection of these new wines were sampled at the recent Independent Wine Merchants Fair.
http://www.nickdobsonwines.co.uk
A selection of these new wines were sampled at the recent Independent Wine Merchants Fair.
TN: Domaine de Brock Sancerre, 2003, Loire, France.
Domaine de Brock Sancerre, 2003, Loire, France.
European Vineyards Direct £10.04.
Certainly a good depth to the nose – complexity in droves thanks, no doubt, to some extended sur lie aging. Great palate too – a softness to the strawberry and grass flavours. Clean, crisp finish. Very stylish packaging. One to snap up.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
European Vineyards Direct £10.04.
Certainly a good depth to the nose – complexity in droves thanks, no doubt, to some extended sur lie aging. Great palate too – a softness to the strawberry and grass flavours. Clean, crisp finish. Very stylish packaging. One to snap up.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Wines to Dine For - at Threshers.
The Decanter magazine website is reporting this morning that Threshers, in partnership with Lay and Wheeler, will introduce a fine wine section in 25 stores. The 'Wines To Dine For' unit will include wines priced from £10 - £40 and appear in stores mainly in the South East.
http://www.decanter.com/news/60131.html
http://www.decanter.com/news/60131.html
TN: Quinta de Val da Figueira 1995 Vintage Port, Portugal
Quinta de Val da Figueira Vintage Port, 1995, Portugal.Bat & Bottle £25.
Ten years is generally judged to be the time to broach your vintage ports; so by that reckoning this relatively unknown single vineyard wine should just about be ready. Lots of personality tied up with good blackberry and damson fruit with touches of savoury complexity.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
SA 'Tainted' wine to bite the dust.
Another angle to the South African flavourant scandle. According to this report the flavourant found in one of the wines was as little as one teaspoon in a 45,000 litre tank.
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1633177,00.html
http://www.news24.com/News24/South_Africa/News/0,,2-7-1442_1633177,00.html
Win six bottles of Lanson Black Label Champagne from Drinkon.
"Ebenezer Scrooge obviously didn't have his Christmas gifts delivered by Drinkon and the ghosts are still causing trouble for him. Help Scrooge in our seasonal game, Humbug. If you have the highest recorded score on Monday 20th December you will receive 6 bottles of Lanson Champagne. And, as it's the season of goodwill, second and third places will be rewarded with a bottle each."
http://www.drinkon.com/humbug/
Note: UK only competition.
http://www.drinkon.com/humbug/
Note: UK only competition.
TN: Andresen Century 10 Ten Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal.
Andresen Century 10 Ten Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal.
Chase Wine & Bat & Bottle £15.75
Founded in 1845 by a Danish sea captain, this tiny shipper remains a guarded secret among in-the-know Port lovers. Quite tasty with a smooth palate full of sweet black cherry and damson flavours. Nice to try a port that does not, for once, hail from one of the major shippers.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Chase Wine & Bat & Bottle £15.75
Founded in 1845 by a Danish sea captain, this tiny shipper remains a guarded secret among in-the-know Port lovers. Quite tasty with a smooth palate full of sweet black cherry and damson flavours. Nice to try a port that does not, for once, hail from one of the major shippers.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Square Oak.
Oak barrels are round, right? Seven years in development Swiss company Cybox has developed a square barrel. Three occupy the same space as a traditional round barrique apparently. The article is worth a read if you have any interest in this aspect of wine production. Not the most enticing of advertising illustrations though... http://www.foodproductiondaily.com/news/news-NG.asp?
n=56667-square-barrels-could
Cheers. Not.
"Wine is less a beverage than an elixir of life in France, but the country’s vintners say they’re confounded by a problem that threatens their livelihood – too much of a good thing and not enough people drinking it."
"We are a sector in crisis, said Jean-Michel Lemetayer, the head of France’s main farmer union."
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3861475
"We are a sector in crisis, said Jean-Michel Lemetayer, the head of France’s main farmer union."
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3861475
Va-Va-Va-Viognier!
"Viognier (pronounced Vee-own-yay) grapes are thought to have been transported to France's northern Rhône region by the Greeks or the Romans. In 1965, there were only eight hectares of the grapes being grown. But that is quickly changing as wine lovers clamor for this crisp, yet voluptuous, vino."
http://www.nbc6.net/food/3963128/detail.html
http://www.nbc6.net/food/3963128/detail.html
Champagne Winners.
The winners of the free prize draws from the Henley, Vinopolis and Harrogate wine shows have been drawn. Congratulations to Mollie Wilmot of Lower Shiplake, Geoff Cox of East Dulwich and E M Stewart of Harrogate – all win a bottle of Jean Dumangin NV Champagne.
Prohibition still hurts America's wine makers.
"There is a strong view that America is the land of the bonfire of red tape. It's a place where bureaucracy and regulation never arrived with the Pilgrim Fathers. The free market rules. Try telling that to the wine-makers of 24 states whose wineries are forbidden from selling directly to customers outside the borders."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4074723.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4074723.stm
The Best Festive Wines.
Here are the Telegraphs recommendations for a non-traditional Christmas Day.
http://wine.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?
xml=/wine/2004/12/04/edxmaswine04.xml
http://wine.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?
xml=/wine/2004/12/04/edxmaswine04.xml
China was drinking wine 9,000 years ago.
Most of the major news sources have picked up on the wine in China 9000 years ago story. This is one of the shorter reports published in the UK.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
xml=/news/2004/12/07/wine07.xml&sSheet=/news/
2004/12/07/ixworld.html
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?
xml=/news/2004/12/07/wine07.xml&sSheet=/news/
2004/12/07/ixworld.html
'Toast'.
"The English term "toast" has been traced to the 17th century, and had reference at first to the custom of drinking to the ladies. In Stuart times, it was the practice to put a piece of toast in the wine cup from belief that it improved the flavor of the wine. Having trouble picking the right words to say at a holiday gathering? We're here to help."
http://www.realbeer.com/fun/toasts/winter_holidays.php
http://www.realbeer.com/fun/toasts/winter_holidays.php
Wine Blogging Wednesday - Wacky Wine Names.
Now what should I select? There are the Old Gits of course, Skuttlebutt and Goats do Roam in Villages sprang to mind; but are they wacky enough I ask myself? 'Cause those crazy Americans are bound to find something unusual...
http://chezpim.typepad.com/blogs/
2004/12/wine_blogging_w.html
Why didn't I think of Peter May's label site! Not sure if all are still available but loads of inspiration...
http://www.winelabels.org/list.htm
http://chezpim.typepad.com/blogs/
2004/12/wine_blogging_w.html
Why didn't I think of Peter May's label site! Not sure if all are still available but loads of inspiration...
http://www.winelabels.org/list.htm
Vinopolis with a cold.
Despite the leading edges of a cold Peter May reviews two of the exhibitors at our recent Independent Merchants Fair in Vinopolis.
http://www.wineoftheweek.com/pmay/0412snorbens18.html
http://www.wineoftheweek.com/pmay/0412snorbens18.html
Mingling fine wine and Christmas food.
Ready for a deluge of seasonal wine and food articles? Here is the first ... this one with a Kiwi bent.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3120561a7773,00.html
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3120561a7773,00.html
Odd-Name Wine Snub.
Millions of drinkers steer clear of wines such as Gewurztraminer and Pouilly Fume because they are worried they will sound ignorant.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14942
762&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=odd-name-wine-snub-
name_page.html
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14942
762&method=full&siteid=50143&headline=odd-name-wine-snub-
name_page.html
Wine elite accused of ruining its own image.
A new film has provoked fury by revealing French vineyards produce bland, identikit vintages.
http://www.sundayherald.com/46408
http://www.sundayherald.com/46408
White Marsannay is subtle and satisfying.
"White Burgundy, made almost exclusively from chardonnay, is one of the most sought-after wines in the world. Despite tremendous advances in California and other New World locales with chardonnay, white Burgundy remains the benchmark for wines made from that grape."
http://www.boston.com/ae/food/wine/articles/2004/12/02
/white_marsannay_is_subtle_and_satisfying/
http://www.boston.com/ae/food/wine/articles/2004/12/02
/white_marsannay_is_subtle_and_satisfying/
Illegal Flavourants.
After extensive testing of almost 25% of the country's producers of Sauvignon Blanc wines for the use of illegal flavourants, only one winery has been found to have possibly been guilty, according to the South African Wine & Spirit Board, the oversight body for the local industry.
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/
business/business1101821190.aspx
UPDATE: "Senior KWV winemakers, Ian Nieuwoudt and Gideon Theron have been summarily dismissed after being found guilty by the company of using illegal flavourants in two batches of Sauvignon Blanc - including this year's South African Young Wine Champion.
KWV Limited MD, Dr Willem Barnard, attributed the reason for the use of illegal flavourants in the wines, the 2004 KWV Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and the 2004 Laborie Estate Sauvignon Blanc, this year's champion, to ego and a drive to win medals. "
http://www.wine.co.za/news/news.aspx?NEWSID=6353&Source=NewsFeed
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/zones/sundaytimesNEW/
business/business1101821190.aspx
UPDATE: "Senior KWV winemakers, Ian Nieuwoudt and Gideon Theron have been summarily dismissed after being found guilty by the company of using illegal flavourants in two batches of Sauvignon Blanc - including this year's South African Young Wine Champion.
KWV Limited MD, Dr Willem Barnard, attributed the reason for the use of illegal flavourants in the wines, the 2004 KWV Reserve Sauvignon Blanc and the 2004 Laborie Estate Sauvignon Blanc, this year's champion, to ego and a drive to win medals. "
http://www.wine.co.za/news/news.aspx?NEWSID=6353&Source=NewsFeed
Wine Blogging Wednesday - The Round Up.
Should I have mentioned that Laski Rizling (Lutomer) is one of the cheapest and horrible wines you can buy? No perhaps not... The WBW4 results are now available to peruse... some great reports out there.
http://www.obsessionwithfood.com/2004_12_01_blog-
archive.html#1101975
http://www.obsessionwithfood.com/2004_12_01_blog-
archive.html#1101975