Notes from a Laithwaites Tasting
A little tasting a few weeks back (I'm falling behind with my note writing!), in the high Victorian Gothic splendours of Oxford Town Hall (such a welcome change from having to trundle all the way to the metropolis), offered a just under 30 wines from the companies range.
A vast majority of the wines offered are own label - just a smattering from well known names (Cloudy Bay, Royal Tokaji, Hunters for example) appear on their list. The company owns a Chateau in Bordeaux where many staff are sent to learn the intercacies of wine making. Visiting a vineyard and winery is an amazing experience and really brings home the connection between land and final product.
Shame then that the Laithwaite Sauvignon Blanc (£7.89) from this estate, Chateau La Clarière was one of the worst wines available at the tasting. Perhaps they should send me a bottle to try for the girls running the tasting were hugely enthused by it and their experiences of visiting the estate, but my notes read slightly over extracted, harsh nose, sharp acidic finish.
But other drinks were more palatable:
Wine Tasting Note: Alessandro Gallici Prosecco Brut, NV, Vino Spumante, Italy.
Price: £8.89 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
Gentle nose, vibrant fizz (like you were expecting something else?), frothy, fun. Tranch of peachy, appley, fruit. Good price. Alcohol 11.5%.
Wine Tasting Note: Royal Tokaji Dry Furmint, 2006, Hungary.
Price: £10.69 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
An unusual wine with which to tempt the masses; I imagine trying is the best way to sell this (there was a wine club tasting, with the same wines as offered to me occurring simultaneously in an adjacent room) . No nose but an interesting array of flavours on the palate - clean, minerally, citrus, slightly honeyed, apricoty.
Wine Tasting Note: Rocky Rombola Rosé, 2008, New South Wales, Australia
Price: £6.29 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
Delicious looking colour, vibrant. Very Aussie in style, ripe fruit, full, good price. A freshness and vibrancy (that were lacking in a couple of other rosés at the tasting). Along with the fruitiness there is a nice, sharp berry edge on the finish. Alcohol 13%. £6.29.
Wine Tasting Note: Gran Valle de Niebla Pinot Noir, 2007, Rapel, Chile
Price: £9.15 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
From the reliable Cono Sur stable. Easy drinking, soft, but over-priced. Alcohol 13.5%.
Wine Tasting Note: Stony Creek Tarrango Shiraz, 2006, Big Rivers, Fleurieu & Gundagai, Australia
Price: £7.39 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
An interesting blend (70% Tarrango, 30% Shiraz) Light and fruity almost pinot in style. Tarrango on the nose, Syrah on the finish. Offers a juicy softness. Alcohol 13%. £7.39.
Wine Tasting Note: Tenca Tree Shiraz , 2007, Central Valley, Chile
Price: £6.29 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
Deep,almost opaque in colour. Good blackberry spiced nose and decent spicy finish. Commercial,soft but nice expression. Alcohol 13%.
Wine Tasting Note: San Floriano Ripasso, 2005, Valpolicella Classico Superiore, Italy
Price: £11.39 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
The best red of the tasting - lovely palate, and rich, expressive nose. Plenty of tannins, concentration and ripe, stewed fruit. Good length. Alcohol 13.5%.
Cider Tasting Note: Cidre Artisanal Le Brun Brut, NV, Cidre de Bretagne, France
Price: £4.29
Not really a cider fan but this is rather nice - not 'dirty; as some ciders can be on the nose, not to alcoholic either (which is the normal region I dislike cider). Alcohol 5.5%. Sweetish fruit, dry finish £4.29.
Wine Tasting Note: Miranda Golden Botrytis, NV, Riverina, Australia
Price: £11.15 half bottle [More: Adegga / Snooth]
A mix of Riverina Semillon and King Valley Riesling. Fresh, treacle and orange syrup nose. Rich, full, sweet, mouth-filling, ripe and good complexity for the price. Alcohol 10%.
Many years ago I was interviewed for a job at Laithwaites essentially writing the (prodigiously large and frequent) mailing material; much to their loss I didn't get the job!
Brief Notes from the Top 100 Vins de Pays 2008
Of the 1,214 samples submitted to the competition tasting there were 520 red wines, 518 white and 176 rosé. Of these wines 14 trophies were awarded to six white wines, one rosé and seven reds.
"So how did the Top 100 pan out this year? As you'd expect, Vin de Pays d'Oc had the largest number in the winners' enclosure, with exactly half the wines selected - although statistically speaking, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne had a better hit rate (15 wines out of 95 entries). "
"The judges were impressed by the diversity and overall quality of the top 100, and most were surprised by what the much criticised 2007 vintage had produced. Most of them singled out rosés as the area of greatest improvement. The Merlots were also a lot better than last year, although several judges felt it was the red blends that really stood out."
From my tasting of the top 100 (not all of the 100 were tried, I should mention) it was the red blends that stood out for me. Stockist information and links are included but most wines are now out of stock; you might be able to secure stocks of follow on vintages.
White Wines
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine de la Coche, 2007, VdP du Val de Loire
[More: Adegga / Snooth]
Winner Sauvignon Blanc Trophy. 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown in Retz south of Nantes. 12% Alcohol. Grassy, green aromas. Very pure, gravelly, palate complex hints of orange. Alcohol 12%.
Wine Tasting Note: Rive Haute Sauvignon, 2007, VdP des Côtes de Gascogne
Stockist: Adnams Price: £8.49 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
£8.49 Adnams. Rounder than the previous (south, warmer climes) good, long length. Alcohol 11.5%.
Wine Tasting Note: M&S Grenache Blanc, 2007, VdP d'Oc
Stockist: Marks and Spencer Price: £5.49 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
Grenache Blanc Trophy and Best Wine of Show
Grenache Blanc grown around Carcassonne. Delicious stone-led palate, zesty, lemony, floral hints. A little oak aging adding complexity. 12.5% Alcohol.
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine le Roc Anges Les Vieilles Vignes, 2006, VdP des Pyrénées-Orientales
Stockist: Les Caves de Pyréne Price: £11.85 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
A blend of Grenache Gris (80%) and Macabeu (20%). Crisp, toasty flavours, orange and lime rind. Excellent length. Alcohol 14%.
Wine Tasting Note: Vignoble Guillaume Chardonnay Collection Réservée, 2004, VdP de Franche-Comté.
[More: Adegga / Snooth]
Chardonnay Trophy Winner. Chardonnay from 28 year-old vines. Honeyed, buttery, peachy palate. Unfiltered. Alcohol 13%.
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine L'Hortus Grande Cuvée Blanc, 2006, VdP du Val de Montferrand
Stockist: Les Caves de Pyréne Price: £12.40 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
£12.40
A mix of Chardonnay (80%), Viognier (15%) and Roussanne (5%). Crisp but rounded, full of flavour and great length. Alcohol 13.5%.
Wine Tasting Note: Producteurs Vignoble de Gascogne Fleur de Givre Florenbelle, 2007, VdP des Côtes de Gascogne
Stockist: Waitrose Price: £7.99 [More: Adegga / Snooth]. - Gros Manseng Trophy Winner
£6.99 Late harvested. Lingering, cleanly fresh, exotic was one word overheard as a description. Alcohol 11.5%.
Red Wines
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine Py Merlot, 2007, VdP d'Oc
Price: £5.49 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
- Merlot Trophy Winner
From a 32ha at the foot of Mont Alaric in the Corbières region. Deeply coloured with a open, straw and blackcurrant and leaves led nose, creamy, rounded, good structure, good price.
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine Paul Mas La Forge Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, VdP d'Oc
Price: £7.49 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
- Cabernet Sauvignon Trophy Winner
Heavy weight bottle, full, rich, lashings of raspberry and blueberry. Great length. Alcohol 13.5%.
Wine Tasting Note: Camplazens Syrah, 2007, VdP d'Oc
Stockist: Majestic Price: £6.49 [More on Adegga / Snooth] - Syrah Trophy Winner
Deep, deep, colour, wonderful bacon edge aroma, violets and similar on a gorgeous palate. Plenty of cassis laced with inky fruit. Super. Alcohol 13%.
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine Familongue, Le Carignan de Familongue, 2007, VdP du Mont
Price: £5.99 [More on Adegga / Snooth] - Carignan Trophy Winner
Excellent packaging. 100% Carignan from 50-60 year old vines. Juicy. Not as heavy as the colour would suggest, deeply flavoured.
Wine Tasting Note: Camplazens Marselan, 2007, VdP d'Oc
Stockist: Majestic Price: £6.49 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
£6.49 Majestic. Very deeply coloured, nice lifted aromas and a rather tasty, curranty, palate.
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine de La Jasse Vieilles Vignes, 2006, VdP d'Oc
Stockist: ay and Wheeler Price: £9.95 [More on Adegga / Snooth]
Red brick in colour but a lovely balanced palate and lingering flavours.
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine Phillippe Nusswitz Miratus, 2005, VdP d'Oc
[More on Adegga / Snooth] - Best Red Wine of Show
Striking packaging. Blend of Syrah (60%), Grenache (20%) and Mourvèdre (20%) vines are grown in the foothills of the Cevennes between the Languedoc and the Rhône. Wonderful nose, gorgeous palate, complex but not heavy. Sadly no details of stockists or price.
Alsace Wine with Food - thoughts from the Hugel Twitter Tasting
With each course to be as simple as possible a couple of matches were easy: with the Gewürztraminer a foie gras (with toast and a little fig chutney) and with the Pinot Blanc an Alsace speciality (or the closest we could locate) an onion tart. I read somewhere that coconut macaroons were a sensational match to sweet Gewürztraminers, so that was the final dish sorted which left a course for the mixed grape blend and another for a top-notch Riesling. The host, Rob, insisted on a pork dish and I came up with Pork Medallions with Mustard Mash with Apple and a Cider Reduction. A triumphant match as it transpired. Scallops from Borough Market formed the opening course; which I was unexpectedly asked to cook!
A few shavings of fresh ginger, a little garlic, slithers of a mild, fresh red chilli and a sprinkling of dried coriander were added to the pan before the scallops turned rubbery. A splosh of white wine and a pinch of pepper, a quick shake of the pan and a squeeze of lemon and then out to the expectant guests. To be honest I thought I had overdone the spice but nods all round seemed to indicate a success!
Continue reading "Alsace Wine with Food - thoughts from the Hugel Twitter Tasting" »
Ginger Beer Taste Test
Each ginger beer was tasted blind and ranked out of 5, with 0 being undrinkable and 5 being damn tasty. The average scores are detailed below with the products listed in taste order. The tasters, who incidentally were of a wide span of ages (from early teens to 'getting on a bit'), were encouraged to write a few words some of which are quoted.
Ginger Beer 1 - Whole Earth Sparkling Organic Ginger (can) Score
"lacks body/light", "fizzy, long after-taste", "subtle taste, pale in colour" "my favourite"
Ginger Beer 2 - Fentimans Botanically Brewed Ginger Beer (bottle) Score
"odd smell" "really strong taste of ginger", "ginger kick", "strong after-taste"
Ginger Beer 3 - Bunderberg Diet Ginger Beer (bottle) Score
"lemon like smell", "cloudy, very lemony", "too much lemon", "a ginger kick on the finish but why so lemony?"
Ginger Beer 4 - Belvoir Fruit Farms Organic Ginger Beer (bottle) Score
"smells horrid", "dirty water smell", "unpleasant", "chemicals, burning aftertaste", "yuck!"
Ginger Beer 5 - Old Jamacia Ginger Beer (can) Score
"Best, if slightly sweet", "quite nice", "very sweet, very pleasant, syrupy"
Prior to organising this tasting I had tried the Belvoir Fruit Farms version; and was astounded at just how terrible the drink was - a smell of dirty washing up water, and an unbelievably bad, dirty, taste made worse by the ginger kick that is suddenly sprung on you. So bad, so undrinkable yet sold at a premium at various delis. I actually thought I had an off bottle but it would seem not.
Personally either of the two canned products I would be happy to drink as they are over ice. The strong ginger kick in the Fentimans would be my choice for a cocktail mix, as in some of the Pimms cocktails.
With thanks to the various members of the extended Barrow-clan for conducting the tasting.
Ses'Fikile Wines, South Africa
Although they don't own their own vineyards the wines are made in conjunction with the winemakers from the Flagstone winery.
Showing a distinct 'estate' character and an over-riding style, the wines come highly recommended. The style encapsulates a new-world level of sweet upfront fruit married with old-world structure - exactly what one should expect from a decent South African wine.
Ses'fikile 'we have arrived'. These three words are built on a foundation of personal and communal struggle, yet they also look forward positively, with the hope of a better tomorrow. Most importantly the words sparkle with a sense of adventure. This is a pioneering exploration of new South African opportunity in one of our most glamorous and exciting industries."
Other wines from Ses'Fikile are listed by Marks and Spencers.
Food and Wine Matching at The FrontLine
Luckily my diary for last Saturday was empty¹; so the invite for a meal at the FrontLine Restaurant was taken up with gusto. The evening was advertised as a 'Special evening with Malcolm Gluck and John Taylor'; a food and wine matching event to all intense and purposes. Malcolm Gluck is the wine buyer for the Front Line restaurant.
While Malcolm Gluck was obviously there, entertaining us with a great evening-long impression of a drunken Worzel Gummidge, I never did find out who John Taylor was.
I did run into the Cooksister, whose skillful hand with the compact camera provided the images here and had an all too brief chat with Fraser Lewry who writes over at BlogJam and is eating his way through the alphabet over on the Guardian's Word of Mouth (where you can also find me occasionally).
We also had the pleasure - which impressed the rest on our table no end - to be interviewed by the delightful Chris. We were forewarned that "Chris is keen to record a radio feature on food bloggers for BBC Radio 5 Live" and to "come equipped with wit". This I think we did with gusto but perhaps I should mention (if on the off-chance I actually make it through the cutting to the broadcast) that it was quite late in the evening; and the wine had been quite free flowing.
The meal:
Aperitif: Henri Bourgeois Petit Bourgeois Sauvignon Blanc, 2006, France - Grassy with a touch of Lychee and a nice softness. Enjoyable.
Starter: Cock-a-Leekie Soup served with Voyager Estate Margaret River Semillon, 1998, Australia. A revelation and really a sublime match. Normally I dislike waxy aged Semillon, and the grape can be dull without age, but when matched with the soup a real harmonious combination resulted.
Main Course: Boiled Beef with a pearl Barley and carrot Broth, Parsley and Beetroot Dumplings accompanied by Fairview Estate Agostinelli Barbera, 2006, South Africa. A couple on our table didn't enjoy this at all. I can see why but I found it very interesting. It is big, ripe, perhaps a little over-extracted but with good structure and acidity. It cut through the rather mouth-clogging, unusual, dumplings wonderfully. Not totally convinced it was a good match with the salty beef. Interesting grape variety though with high alcohol.
Cheeses: I forget the cheeses - something from Ireland, a Lancashire and a Stilton I think. The wine, a Segna Le Roc des Domaine Anges Cotes du Roussillon, 2006, was not good. A heavily accentuated 'feral' aroma (I think I used the word 'shit' during the BBC interview). Underneath this though was an interesting wine full of dark fruits. I found it undrinkable.
Dessert: A Bread and Butter Pudding matched with a Don PX Toro Albala Dulce de Pasas Montilla-Morales, 2004, Spain. The pud was very flavoursome, which we put down to a layer of Quince jam. It was a typical English pudding, big and filling. It failed to match the wine which, while excellent in its own right, was extremely big and rich. The sweetness was enough to be a dessert in its own right. I would have served it with some simple biscuits or matched something lighter and less sweet with the Bread and Butter Pud.
¹ - for which read 'rubbish social life'
Continue reading "Food and Wine Matching at The FrontLine" »
Two Wines From San Lorenzo
Wine Tasting Note: Fattoria Mantellassi Morellino de Scansano, 2006, Tuscany, Italy.
Available from San Lorenzo for £9.73.
A super burst of ripe, almost sweet, fruit initially with plenty of cherry and blackcurrant flavours. Perfectly drinkable but could do with a little more age to come together - being open a-while helped in opening out the palate adding hints of spice and vanilla to a really nice wine.
Mostly Sangiovese plumped up with a little Cabernet Sauvignon, Malvaisa Nero and Canaiolo Nero. Alcohol 13.5%. The cheese pictured I believe is Bitto that worked rather nicely with both the Chianti and the Scansano.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100 [3.75 out of 5]
Wine Tasting Note: Fattoria di Luiano Chianti Classico 2005, Chianti, Italy.
Available from San Lorenzo for £10.83.
A spirited acidity marks this out as typically Chianti - a wine that proved its worth in matching the various Italian cheeses available on the night. Vibrant and crisp finish with a nice lingering flavour. Red fruits and cherries to the fore here with an edge of rusticity giving character.
Alcohol 13%. Mostly Sangiovese with a small amount of Canaiolo.
Scribblings Rating - 86/100 [3.25 out of 5]
In general Morellino di Scansano is less acidic than Chianti and, coming from a warmer area, are broader and with more sweet fruit. This is born out by comparing these two wines - the acidity in the Chianti was much more marked with the fruit being fleshier and riper in the Morellino. Both are great although my preference is for the Morellino (that riper fruit was a winner) if only on price.
Prosecco and Food
Now of course you don't have Michelin starred food at home - or maybe you do and it's just me that has to slum it - but these fine-wine/meet the winemaker dinners are a superb opportunity to sample high quality cuisine and enjoy some innovative wine and food matching combinations at the same time.
They do have relevance on a more everyday level in that the matches can be 'replicated' at home with more humble fare. At the very least they can provide indications of the versatility of the wines in question as I discovered at a Bisol Prosecco dinner held at L'Ortolan in Berkshire the other week.
The menu is detailed below. The wine and various notes were scribbled at the time on the back of the napkin. Sadly no images of any of the beautifully presented dishes are available.
One of the most interesting and 'extreme' matches was the combination of roasted pork with a Prosecco. The Cartizze bottling, with its hint of sweetness, would not have been my initial choice of wine to accompany such a dish, but the Roasted Loin and Braised Shoulder of Suckling Pig had an inherent sweetness and made for a sublime match with the wine. The apple butter sauce and sage gnocchi, served alongside, picked up similar flavour components in the wine. A heavenly match.
Howard Park Wines at Hotel Du Vin
To my right is Michael Kerrigan winemaker for Howard Park and on my left sits Henri Chapon, something very important in the Du Vin hotel chain. I polish off the last of the aperitif – Howard Park Sauvignon Blanc 2005 – as the first course arrives.
Du Vin hosts regular wine making dinners across the estate this, covering the wines of Western Australia’s Howard Park wines, just happened to be in their Henley branch – built in part of the old Brakspear Brewery.
Being seated next to the winemaker was a coup; had a great chat about his aims for the estate, his constraints (more terroir based than anything) , his passions (a white wine lover) and his hates (don’t mention Pinot Gris!), screw-caps verses cork (“who cares? The debate is over”) and future plans (“Nebbiolo and Tempranillo; but it takes an age to get cuttings into WA”). And it’s nice to get his views on each wine as they were poured.
Howard Park is the premium range; the more familiar Madfish Bay comes from the same people. Grapes are sourced from two distinct regions that of Margaret River south of Perth in Western Australia and the lesser known Mount Barker down on the south coasts aptly named Great Southern region. While the soils are similar – for those who relish in such things it is a mix of gravely loams and loamy sands – the climate between the two are where the variations arise. While Margaret River is maritime influenced by the warm currents from the Indian Ocean, Mount Barker is cooler taking its influences from the cooler waters to the south.
ABSA Top 10 Pinotage Competition 2006.
I was invited for a second year to the Top 10 Pinotage London tasting last month. The tasting, followed by a rather nice lunch, was attended by several of the winning winemakers no doubt in town for the London Wine Fair in addition to this tasting.
Wines listed below with more details on the day at Wine Sediments
Alsace Wines From The House Of Leon Beyer.
Cost for the evening was £30; great value considering the cost of some of the wines available. The food was a little basic (bread, a little salad and two slices of savoury tart) and didn't really measure up to the 'dine' portion of the name and certainly doesn't compare to the spread offered by Ultimate Wines at their similarly styled tastings.
Brief notes to each of the wines are below but for those who find ready such notes a touch dull... don't bother with the Pinot Noir (why do they continue with Pinot Noir at all in Alsace?), the Riesling Cuvee des Comtes d'Eguisheim is drinking superbly but has years of promise ahead, while the Pinot Gris 2000 Cuvee des Comtes d'Eguisheim and the Gewurztraminer Cuvee Comtes d'Eguisheim 2000 display the house style (a touch of austerity) to the palate and aroma beautifully and are heartily recommended. Finally the sweeter wines - Vendages Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles - while stunningly delicious are seriously expensive. If you can afford them, then great. If you are poor like me then....
Continue reading "Alsace Wines From The House Of Leon Beyer." »
Top 100 Vin De Pays Tasting
The great and the good of the UK wine world (and no that doesn't include me) tasted a few wines earlier in the year and came up with the Top 100 Vin de Pays. More than a few wines actually; more like over 1,000. As last year the winning wines were available for tasting at the London Wine and Spirits Fair last week. Reflecting the poor quality harvest in 2004 the 16 judges chose not to award trophies for Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Viognier. As the white wines were mostly from the 2005 vintage they showed better.For me it was the whites, especially from the more obscure varietal end, that excited. A stunningly delicious Rousanne from Domaine Sainte Rose stood out (Charles Simpson, owner of Sainte Rose is third from the right in the photo) as did the Rolle (aka Vermentino) from Domaine des Lauriers. Both offer a great array of complex and interesting flavours; really I can't recommend them more highly.
For the reds a Cabernet Franc (Carnaval) and a blend of Cabernet and Syrah (Mas des Bressades) led the pack. The former is a little expensive at around fifteen quid but worth a punt if you are feeling generous but both were eclipsed by the superb La Crois Cascaillou that hit the spot with its blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre.
Framingham Wines, New Zealand.
Wine Tasting Note Framingham Dry Riesling, 2004, Marlborough, New Zealand.Approximately £11.
The only Riesling sampled at the tasting that displayed that elusive and haunting kerosene aroma. Lime and a mineral, steely edge to the palate. Finishes in a long, dry finish. Held more interests and complexity than many other punchy, lime dominated Rieslings.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
Wine Tasting Note: Framingham Pinot Gris, 2004, Marlborough, New Zealand.Approximately £11.
A delicious weighty rendition. Pears, apples and a hint of citrus, an Alsace-like touch of spice and musk. Excellent balanced. Rounded and a small level of sweetness on the finish.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
Wine Tasting Note Framingham Gewürztraminer, 2004, Marlborough, New Zealand.Around £11.
Not an overly flowery nose but layers of ginger and spice play on the nose. A distinct touch of sweetness which adds to the rich texture. Apricot and lychee. Lovely weight and a delicious chocolatly finish. Alcohol 14.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Maven Wines, New Zealand
Wine Tasting Note Maven Wines Chardonnay, 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand.Approximately £10.
Here the grapes are purchased from other growers and average 20 years. Just a smidgen of oak influence here with 10% in new oak and 10% in old. Certainly fruit-driven with the oak underpinning the whole. Citrus and orange flavours enliven the palate.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Wine Tasting Note: Maven Wines Sauvignon Blanc, 2005, Marlborough, New Zealand.Approximately £10.
Six different blocks output are blended into this. The vines are still young at just three years old, but with selection and post-fermentation blending produce a tight, crisp but lively wine perhaps lacking a touch in complexity (young vines) - still bright, crisp, vivacious.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
I was lucky to sample the yet to be released oak aged Chardonnay. While they have engaged in battonage and full oak treatment the balance was spot on. Hard to fully pronounce on a wine that isnt going to be released for six months but it seemed damn good to me!
Wine Tasting Note Maven Wines Pinot Gris, Marlborough, New Zealand.Around £10.
I love a good Pinot Gris here we have a good weight, broad delicious flavours and good balance. Nice golden hue to the colour and a goodly amount of pear and honey aromas. Peach and honeyed-apple with a sprinkling of spice, coupled with a good creamy texture, provide the interest in a broad, full palate. All this squeezed from the seven year old vines.
Scribblings Rating - 96/100
New Zealand Wine Tasting.
It was the Maven range that really stood out - the packaging is superb, each wine in the range labeled with vibrant photographs of local huts, barns or bridges in an over-saturated, blurred style. Sadly the website is down otherwise I would direct you to look before I write-up the notes; I will have to scan the images in. The stuff inside the bottles wasn't bad either!
Mike's passion for his job and his wines was very evident. He has a great story to tell, not only does he sport an eye-patch, loves donning a full suit of armour and waving around a sword but he has plans to build a medieval house on the edge of his estate. He also claims to be descended from Edward III one of the Plantagenet's.
South Africa Mega Tasting - Wine Recommendations.
The biggest South African tasting in the UK ever I believe. A mass of producers from every region offering wine in all the permutations you can think of. Confronted by the huge number of producers and wines I stuck to the generic tasting tables - those covering the Platters Guide Top Ten, Chenin Blanc and stickies."The cap's wine-growing regions are influenced by the Atlantic and Indian oceans. The beneficial maritime conditions this creates, like regular coastal fog and cooling sea breezes, combine with a mild Mediterranean climate, distinctive and varied topography, diverse soils and adequate sunshine. These influences are also the story of wine. Each resulting mesoclimate produces a wine that is different from any other wine. And every quality winemaker is looking to make wine which reflects a unique sense of place."
Continue reading "South Africa Mega Tasting - Wine Recommendations." »
Rioja In Retail Tasting.
I am falling behind in writing up all the tastings I have been to recently. This small tasting, dedicated to just one region and with the wines readily available on the high street was a joy. Split between two rooms one area covered the supermarkets and the larger retailers, while the other offered wines from the smaller independent. It was with this group that I spent most of my time.
I have excluded the old style leathery, dried fruit Riojas for more fruit driven wines. Six wines here with a seventh covered a while ago. The Dioniso Ruiz Ijalba, (2002, Rioja, Spain) was a joy made all the more special by being made from an extremely rare variety.
The Independent has coverage of this tasting written by Anthony Rose as does the Observer Magazine written by Tim Atkin.
Mitchelton Wines Australia.
I seem to be having a fling with the Antipodes at the moment. One minute New Zealand, next Australia. This estate was founded in 1973 and has the prominent tower making the winery one of Australia's most architecturally fascinating. The tower rises 55m above the cellar door giving an "inspiring view of the vineyards set on the meander of the pristine Goulburn River". The wines ain't bad either. All are available from Bibendum.
Spy Valley Wines, New Zealand.
The Spy Valley estate did not get off to a great start. Back in 1992 Bryan Johnson (a wealthy Wellington stockbroker - aren't they all!) planted 200 acres on the edge of Marlborough, New Zealand. But was forced to replant almost immediately as phylloxera swept through the vineyard. Proving that wine-making is all about experimentation depending on local conditions - it is after-all farming and thus dependent on so many variables - the first two vintages were cropped too high. "We reduced our cropping levels in 2002, and then started to get very serious about quality in 2003."
From then the estate prospered and now covers 365 acres and has to buy in Sauvignon Blanc grapes to cope with demand. In 2004 the winery made 58,000 cases of Sauvignon Blanc and another 18,000 cases of other varietals.
In the UK the wines are available from Bibendum and several independents (a couple of which I have listed). Surprisingly for a boutique producer, they are not excessively priced.
Wines from Matetic Vineyards, Chile.
The second 'discovery' at the Explore Chile Tasting was the range of wines presented by Matetic Vineyards. It was the packaging that caught my eye; good shelf presence as they say. The vineyards are planted in the San Antonio region. This has a cool climate being 18km from the Pacific. The estate has 60 hectares under vine, all of which were planted in 1999. The grapes are grown organically. There are two ranges the Corralillo and the EQ (equilibrio/equilibrium).
Notes taken at Explore Chile Trade Tasting September 2005.
Wines From Casa Marin, Chile.
Vina Casa Marin is located just 4 km from the sea in the San Antonio Valley Region, making it the closest vineyard in Chile to the Pacific Ocean. The unique climatic exposure and wide variety of soils found here give birth to a unique viticultural terrior modified, as it is, by the cooling breezes from the Ocean."We allow nature to tell us when the time is right for picking. Our aim is to let the wine reflect the terrior where it comes from and delight us with its aromas and textures." Maria Luz Marin, winemaker.
Notes taken at Explore Chile Trade Tasting September 2005.
The Mountain Valley Range.
I wasn't expecting much from these to be honest. Another range of cheap Eastern European wines with 'rustic' and 'requires food' appearing in the less than positive tasting notes. Well I was surprised. The reds were every bit as drinkable and 'international' in style as you could hope. You might not try them and immediately think 'Montenegro' but then what would but in terms of quality and drinkability they certainly held their own. The whites were less successful. I thought the Sauvignon Blanc might be suffering from some poor wine-making while the Chardonnay, well, just wasn't that great.
At the time of writing there are no listed UK stockist of these wines. But they are going to be served at Fifpro World X1 player Awards a 'mega-do' with 1500 guests.