Fattoira le Sorgenti Scirus, 2003, Tuscany, Italy.
Wine Tasting Note: Fattoira le Sorgenti Scirus, 2003, Tuscany, Italy
Stockist: Cadman Fine Wines [More on UKWOL] Price: £24.99 [More: Adegga / Snooth]
Textured and smooth, wonderful richness but balanced. A flow of savoury edged fruit - hints of tomatoes laced with chocolate, raspberries, cherries and other fleshy fruits. Very 'Bordeaux' on the nose - hailing from the blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (mixed in a 60%/40% blend) thrown in a little oak.
All rather scrummy, full and rich. Perhaps a tad young and missing a little development and complexity and also a tad short on the finish but highly drinkable. Accompanied that delicious lamb dish beautifully. Alcohol 14.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100 [4 out of 5]
Normally only 8000 bottles are produced annually, however the hot summer of 2003 reduced this to a meagre 6000 bottles, where deft handling, skilled winemaking and the benefit of vineyards at 400 metres have ensured that another outstanding wine has been crafted by Paolo Caciorgna and Le Sorgenti.
This months Wine Blogging Wednesday has, as its theme, 'The Letter S'. Sorgenti Scirus I guess qualifies!
Origin Fairtrade Viognier, 2007, Western Cape, South Africa
Like many this month Wine Blogging Wednesday caught me unprepared; nothing to hand to fit Dr. Debs choice of Rhone varietals. Threshers then. Of course when in said Threshers you have to make use of the buy 2 get a third free else the prices are a little steep. No Rhone whites on the shelves and precious little else that caught the eye. I exited with a bottle of Spanish rosé and an Italian Pecorino. The third bottle being a South African Viognier; a little ubiquitous but with a saving grace of being Fairtrade.
Wine Tasting Note: Origin Fairtrade Viognier, 2007, Western Cape, South Africa
Stockist: Threshers/WineRack Price: £6.99 [More on Adegga]
Origin is Threshers own-label range; so this has immediately clouded my thoughts with some negativity. But the Origin Viognier ain't that shabby. The bonus through is being branded with the blue, green and black logo; a real plus point for me. The range of FairTrade wines in the UK has grown marvellously over the years from a little under 150 wines available in 2003 to over 2000 today.
A pea-pod and honeysuckle aroma, nice weighty palate too. An edge of spice - quite gingery on the finish with a finishing 'bite' very reminiscent of the ginger beer tasting. Apple and apricot flavours add to the enjoyment. By the time I realised there might be a touch of residual sweetness, adding to the weighty mouth-feel, it was too late. Bottle emptied! Alcohol 13.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100 [ out of 5]
Through buying Equality Fairtrade wines, the producers are guaranteed to receive a fair and stable price plus a premium which a democratically elected farmers committee ensures is used for projects that directly benefit farmers, workers and the local community.By choosing Fairtrade wines, consumers are supporting growers to receive a fair price for their grapes, improving access to health care for the Cooperative members and their families, increasing access to education for the workers' children, delivering a higher standard of living for the workers and their families and assisting in housing projects.
Rudesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spatlese, 2002, Rheingau, Germany
I understand that many rave about Riesling being the epitome of fine wine making. These people see the poise, quality, long life and expression of terrior while not overshadowing the grapes inherent characteristics, as representing the very best of the classic grapes.
Me? I don't give a monkeys. Dessert wines aside, I just don't like the grape.
I would rather not drink something akin to kerosene (aged Riesling) and when young most taste of little more than lime-splashed sugar water. Some of the mineral and lime Australian dry Rieslings I do enjoy; it might just come down to the European versions (generally) being low in alcohol. This is a bit strange as the weighty wines, often with an inkling of sweetness (thinking Pinot Gris, New World Chard's) are just what I enjoy. Alternatively high acidity as found in New Zealand Sauvignons is another characteristic of Riesling; love the former; ignore the latter. OK, so I WILL drink Rieslings; I just wish I was drinking something else, that's all.
In the spirit of Wine Blogging Wednesday a bottle of German Riesling found its way into the fridge. The Riesling range in Waitrose was rather impressive. Ranging in price from £6.99 up to £15.99 I do wonder how many they actually sell. Good to see a distinct lack of those Germanic scripted labels put down as one of the main reasons for disappointing sales of German wine over the last few years.
Wine Tasting Note: Rüdesheimer Berg Rottland Riesling Spätlese, 2002, Rheingau, Germany.
Stockist: Waitrose Price: £9.99 [More on Adegga]
Rather a surprise in the quality here - nicely judged acidity balanced with a under-ripe pear and lime flavoured lightly sweet palate. Honey on the nose. Fresh crisp acidity and no noticeable kerosene from a wine still young from the 2002 vintage. Alcohol 8%.
The Dr Wegeler estate was founded in 1882 and is now run by the 4th generation of the same family.
Scribblings Rating - 86/100 [ out of 5]
The picture is a little dark (taken late in the evening) but highlights the wines (and sweeter Rieslings in general) affinity with spicy food. The dish is Chili Beef Ramen from the Wagamama Cookbook
Domaine de L'Engarran, 2005, VdP d'Oc, France
Not something you see much of in the South of France is Cabernet Franc - the grape and country of choice for this months Wine Blogging Wednesday. Rare enough to be interesting despite not being totally Cab. Franc; although the major component there is a hearty douse of Grenache with a smidgen of Syrah and Cinsault too.
Wine Tasting Note: Domaine de l'Engarran, 2005 Vin de Pays d'Oc, France
Off the middle shelf at Oddbins for £7.99.
A weighty palate, tight gravelly tannins and a inky-berry led flavour. A touch of sweet fruit, especially on the finish with an edge of black currants. No hints of the leafiness/herbaceousness often associated with Cabernet Franc, perhaps due to the warmer growing conditions down in the Languedoc, but there is a touch of earthiness, another 'sign' of Cabernet Franc. Opens up nicely with an edge of something akin to roses or spiced rose petals. Alcohol 13%. The actual blend is a mix of 46% Cabernet Franc, 40% Grenache, 11% Syrah & 3% Cinsault.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100 [3.75 out of 5]
Gracing the label (you might just make out from my photo) is a line drawing of a lion devouring a bunch of grapes. As with the other wines from this estate this label detail is taken from statues and details from the house -
In the shrubbery of the "Allée des Lions" stands a sleek, proud and greedy lioness. This statue enjoying its grapes represents tamed strength (of stone... or wine?) and once again the alliance of wine and heritage in the spirit of Engarran."
WBW Just 7 Words - the round-up
Number of entries: 53 (+8 missed) = 61
All the wines (bar a handful) were Italian reds. I'm wondering if anyone can work out what type from the description? I think not...
Rather than listing the specific wines I've detailed the seven word note to demonstrate the inventiveness and creational prowess of the participants. Thanks to all who took part. How did you find it - a challenge, serious head-scratching or a bit of frivolous fun?
My entry "Chewed end of a wooden ink pen"
Honest-Food.net "A gulpable feast of cherries and leather"
Vu lu Su : "Rubis Sombre Terre Melon Jeune Aromatique Court"
Journal 23 "Earthy, melon, medium-bodied; needs sharp cheese"
Catavino "Frizzante stone grapes, inoffensive from a mug"
1 Wine dude : pour, sniff, slurp, cherries, leather, yum! empty"
Wine In The 'Peg : Tart cherry goodness - fire up the grill!
NYC Wine Notes : "Light. Earthy but bright. Shift Finish. Essence..."
The Wine Hiker : "Decant today, and you will smile tonight!"
Domaine 547 : "Rustic, textured, delicate, strong. Another glass please!"
Tales Of A Sommelier : "Reminds me of Vimto and Wham bars"
My Wine Info : "like your mother-in-law; spicy, tart and sweet"
My Wine Education : "Chocolate, berries delight. Passing time, leathery. Saporous."
Behind the Vines : "where family pride and good wine meet"
Cheap Wine Ratings : "Leather clad cowboy embraces innocent luscious berries"
Wine Connections : "Two scoops of raisins in every swallow."
Bloviatrix's Website : "Salice Salentino Is Too Bitter For Me"
Smells Like Grape : "Victoriana is now and it is rose-scented."
A Good Grape : "Cherry Trees in Tobacco Field by Barnyard" and "Vintner Makes Production Wine that Tastes Small"
Oenophilia : "Evil Head Cold keeps my bottle corked!"
Wine Lovers Journal : "Brash fruit, bright acid straddle tight tannins"
Wine Peeps : "Excellent! A bright, fruity, robust, balanced steal."
Joe's Wine : "Acidic palate Vegetal cappuccino A Cabernet franc?"
Recently Consumed : "Smooth, raspberry, vanilla, drinkable, nothing special, over-priced"
Flowery Song "Inky leather-scented silk. Spiced nuttiness demands Puttanesca"
Doktor Weingolb : "Better than 2004's -- now I taste oak!"
Rouge Blanc : "The Patriots' Collapse in Super Bowl XLII"
Fork and Bottle : "Thelma, Louise partying with bodacious red wine" and "Drink while reading The Castle of Otranto"
WineCast : "Cherries, earth, raspberries on a dusty highway" and "Raspberries, cranberries, tar and spices on horseback"
Manage You Cellar : "Montepulciano, crimson, fleshy, savory, terrestrial, armonico,
persistente!"
Good Wine Under $20 : "Musky flowers perfume this bright, cherry wine"
Indiscriminate Ideas : "Never thought to put raspberries in coffee!"
The Wine Camp : "A wine I could drink every day"
Lenndevours : "Earth, flowers entice. Thin, dirty cherries. Underwhelming."
Vino da Burde : "Faded Violet Around An Ancient Fruity Abbey"
Anything Wine : "Hey, who put cherries in my campfire?"
Dr Vino : "Acidity, berry, cherry, delicious, earthy, food-friendly, gonzo"
A Food and Wine Blog : "Closed for business - opens in three hours."
McDuff's Wine : "Beautifully Articulated Red Berries Evoke Romantic Associations"
Eating Leeds : "It is red and I like it" and "Red berry fruit, a hint of leather"
Wanna Be Wino : "Riding horses through eucalyptus and berry fields"
Just Grapes : "Fruit alive with wit, but classically tempered"
Cork Dork : "Please decant me for dusty cherry magic"
Wino-Sapian : "Prancing stallion Rustic. Man in Armani. Tasting Note"
West Coast Wie Country Adventures : "opulent cherry, rustic leathery tannins, fantastic acidity"
In a section of their own are a group form the Louder Voice community. Time pressures have meant that I haven't explored Louder Voice to any great degree but it seems to be a review site with entires submitted by SMS, webpages and the like. There is a social network aspect to it. Not all the wines were Italian reds but many thanks to those who participated:
ManicMammy : "Berry, baccy, nutty, good value, smooth, quaffable"
ConorONeill : "Friendly but forgettable featherlight softruitlicious strawberry northerner"
Laurence Veale : "Sippin' Poli's hedonistic, very cherry docious"
Craig Powell : "Not quite Monica Belluci but very tasty"
And finally those who ALMOST got to play by the full rules. Three entries of Italian-native grapes but grown elsewhere (and one Merlot) :
CookSister : "Cicadas, baked earth, warm purple juice - bottled"
Wild Walla Walla Wine Woman : "Gold medal winner. Pair it with tiramisu"
Jim Eastman : "Three Italian grapes Spiciness, leatheryness, Palate happiness"
Recently Consumed : "Smooth, raspberry, vanilla, drinkable, nothing special, over-priced"
And there you are! If I have missed anyone please leave a comment below with the link.
Cantine Sasso Aglianico del Vulture, 2005, Basilicata, Italy
Except for this tasting note I neglected to photograph the bottle before it hit the bottom of the recycling-bin. Which is more important than normal for this note for it is my entry to Wine Blogging Wednesday where I set the theme as an Italian Red in Seven Words. An image might just give you more of an impression than I can convey in seven words. (So nothing to add to the WBW flickr group either)
Wine Tasting Note: Cantine Sasso Aglianico del Vulture, 2005, Basilicata, Italy.
Waitrose £6.99.
Chewed end of a wooden ink pen.
Scribblings Rating - 86/100 [3.25 out of 5]
This was actually one of a dozen alternative 'seven word' sentences I came up with for this wine. More 'descriptive' and interesting I think than 'rich, tannic and inky, wooden and lengthy' which was one of the other contenders.
Some thoughts on WBW Just Seven Words
But I had nothing, hence the call. Luckily their plans changed and my posts publication has been postponed. (I don't think they quite grasp the essence of these rolling blogger events). Still it was lucky they changed the publication date as the result from the twitter-call was zilch.
Understandable perhaps. Most will want to keep what they have for the day itself. That evening, glugging on a decent Portuguese white (at £3.49 a bargain), I came up with a couple of seven word tasting notes, which may aid (or perhaps hinder) those thinking of taking part -
- horrible if you suck a mint beforehand
- eases passage through Hollyoaks, awaiting C4 news
- cheap as chips, great with them too
What these three examples don't do is explain the flavour, the colour, the 'taste' which was the aim. But it is damn hard. Have you tried?
What did result from the exchange with the editor was a rather interesting thought - if you can't find the exact word, why not invent one?. Just an idea.
WBW 42 - Just Seven Words
Can you see where this is heading?
Before I go further I should just say that I have no idea if this will work. I've not tried it myself. It could all end in tears... but can you sum up that wonderful glass of grape juice you are cradling in your hand using just seven words?
The theme for Wine Blogging Wednesday #42 is Just Seven Words. The wine should be an Italian Red. It matters little really for this exercise what type; but try and find something new, interesting and thought provoking. And get that thesaurus out!
JUST SEVEN WORDS. The finished tasting note must make sense, be grammatically correct(ish), punctuation will help of course. The wine name, type, producer, vintage do not have to be included in the 7. But a reference to aroma, flavour, length, food matching etc etc should be considered. Inventiveness is the key.
I have a feeling this could be trickier than it first appears but it is supposed to be a fun, light-hearted approach to wine.
You should post your tasting notes on Wednesday 13th February either on your own blog or on the Wine Blogging Wednesday site.
PS Don't forget to post your wine picture to the WBW flickr group.
Scarbolo Le Fredis Pinot Grigio, 2005, Venezia Giulia, Italy
Should I have been surprised at how few wines from Venezia Giulia I can find on the high street? Just one is the answer. It is to the independents one should look for a decent selection - Italian specialists such as Bat & Bottle, San Lorenzo and Amordivino offer so much more. With no time to source from these retailers my entry for this months Wine Blogging Wednesday (hosted by Fork and Bottle) is from Oddbins.
Wine Tasting Note: Scarbolo Le Fredis Pinot Grigio, 2005, Venezia Giulia, Italy.
Available from Oddbins for £8.49.
An interesting twist of minerality to the full-on lemon flavours. A slight edge of vegetal (peapod or is that lees ageing?) complexity adds a lot to the flavour while unripened pears and quinces linger in the background. Crisp acidity, medium-bodied with a reasonable length. It's light and refreshing and a step up frm the usual Pinot Grigio dross but at the end of the day it is still a Pinot Grigio. Alcohol 13%.
Scribblings Rating - 84/100 [3 out of 5]
Valter Scarbolo acts as grower, cellar-man, restaurateur and acclaimed pork butcher with a proper 'hands-on' attitude to the vineyard. A majority of his production is white but it is the reds that gain the high ratings in the various competitions and yearly wine guides.
Campbells The Barkly Durif, 1997, Rutherglen, Australia
Guys and Gals, it was well worth waiting for - the match with Oven Roasted Partridge was sensational!
The locally shot brace (brought from the covered market in Oxford) was subjected to a Slater recipe (Roast Partridge with juniper and thyme) from a November issue of the Observer Magazine and was served with Brussels Sprouts stir-fried with Chestnuts and Pork Chipolatas and huge amounts of bread sauce. Simply delicious.
Wine Tasting Note: Campbells The Barkly Durif, 1997, Rutherglen, Australia.
This vintage purchased from Cooden Cellars [more] for £15.99.
Full-bodied, ripe but with a good structure. Nice tannic backbone supporting the red berry fruit with a complexity of dusty spice, a cherry edge, inky depths and a plummy whole. A long lasting, chocolaty almost port-like finish. The acidity is still lively and balancing. Good length to boot.
Scribblings Rating - 96/100 [4.5 out of 5]
The 2003 seems to be the vintage currently available in the UK and one that is highly recommended for placing in your cellar for 5 plus years. As soon as funds become available I'll be buying!
Durif is an extremely rare variety first propagated by Dr Durif in the Rhone Valley of France in the 1880's. It is now virtually extinct in France. It arrived in Rutherglen in the early 1900's and has become synonymous with the region. Its unique qualities have been recognised by other Australian producers and plantings are increasing throughout Australia.
We have experimented and refined our techniques for handling durif over several decades. In 1992 we introduced The Barkly Durif, the ultimate expression of this variety. Only the very best parcels of fruit from good vintages are used and the resultant wine is carefully aged in a mix of oak barrels, both old and new,
from France, Germany and America."
Wine Tasting Note: L A Cetto Petite Sirah, 2005, Baja California, Mexico
Many moons ago I ran, rather successfully I should add, a little wine merchants for a now defunct chain. One of the first wines I recall that caused a storm - in terms of sales and discussion - was an unknown red from Mexico of all places.
I am sure it won some sort of Best Wine of the Year award at the International Wine Challenge which caused the sudden increase in sales. It was a long time ago, so long in fact I can't remember if the retail price was £3.99 or £4.99 and I fail to remember if it was the Cabernet Sauvignon or Petite Sirah bottle that won.
I mention all this as, in a brief hunt for a bottle of Petite Sirah for this months Wine Blogging Wednesday, I found a bottle of that very same Mexican wine in Waitrose. Not the same vintage, of course, and now sporting a more modern label but great to see the wine still kicking around.
Wine Tasting Note: L A Cetto Petite Sirah, 2004, Baja California, Mexico.
Available from Waitrose for £5.49.
One of the deepest coloured reds I have seen - opaque, but young with a vibrant purple rim. Lovely perfumed edge to the aroma. Palate is big, flavoursome and ripe. An interesting rustic edge leeds the finish with an inky, dry, well rounded. Needs some substantial foods. Alcohol 14.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100 [3.5 out of 5]
This wasn't intended to be my WBW entry. I have a little wine order with Cooden Cellars on its way to me that has, what I hope, a fine example of Durif/Petit Sirah.
Wine Tasting Note: Duque de Viseu Tinto, 2002, Dão, Portugal
The swinging pendulum of time takes us to another Wine Blogging Wednesday. This month hosted by Catavino with a theme of Portuguese table wines. If the intention was to highlight the myriad local grape varieties used for wine making in Portugal, then with this wine that aim has succeeded. Seldom do you see single varietal red wines from Portugal, blends are the norm - this is a blend of Touriga Nacional, Jaen, Alfrocheiro and Tinta Roriz.
Wine Tasting Note: Duque de Viseu Tinto, 2002, Dão, Portugal
Waitrose £5.99
It actually has a very port-like flavour but one without the weight and added alcohol. So it is medium to full-bodied with a complex spicy palate. A nice level of tannin and a food-friendly red berry bite on the finish.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100 [3.5 out of 5]
Half a bottle went into poaching pears an accompaniment for Roast Chicken Stuffed with Pears, Pistachios, Sausage and Bacon as suggested in a new Spanish cookbook - 1080 Recipes by Simone and Inés Ortega. Chilean Pinot Noir was a better match with the food, the Duque de Viseu being a little heavy to match well. The Pinot also had a little sweetness of fruit that mixed with the stuffing and those poached pears to a more harmonious degree than the Portuguese wine.
Wine Tasting Note: La Belle Terrasse Unoaked Chardonnay, 2005, VdP d'Oc, France
I was about to give in with despair at finding anything vaguely interesting. Having moved, temporarily as it turns out, to a new town the discovery of the best spots to buy wine still await. A run-down Threshers over-looking a busy A-road was not a great magnet so the Sainsbury's further along became my first port-of-call. Un-Oaked Chardonnay being this months Wine Blogging Wednesday restricted my attentions - there was a half-bottle of something vaguely Burgundian and a Villa Maria Unoaked Chard but little else. The 'Managers Choice' shelf-barker beckoned with just one solitary bottle remaining. Something French, something now £3.99 down from £5.99. At the checkout it looked familiar; hasn't another blogger reviewed this recently?
Wine Tasting Note: La Belle Terrasse Unoaked Chardonnay, 2005, Vin de Pays D'Oc, France.Available from Sainsbury's for £3.99/£5.99.
The heat from the Cous Cous (Toasted Israeli cous cous mixed with whole chickpeas and crumbly Feta With a chilli dressing for a bit of a kick) has indeed kicked my mouth into a chilli-heat zone; the Chardonnay fights back. The orange-peel and lemon flavour may-be deadened a little by the heat but the weight and the slight-sweetness soon sooth the palate. The alcohol is noticeable (it's listed at 14.5% which could mean anything up to 15%). Chilli is not the best background to taste a wine but this seemed rather good for £3.99.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100 [3.5 out of 5]
Wine Tasting Note: La Riada Old Vines Garnacha, 2005, Campo de Borja, Spain.
No mention on the rear label specifying exactly how old the 'old vines' actually are, sadly. (There really should be some legislation to define such statements). There are two awards plastered on the front - a 'Great Value Red Wine' and a Silver Medal, both awarded from the International Wine Challenge. Wine Tasting Note: La Riada Old Vines Garnacha, 2005, Campo de Borja, Spain.Available from Threshers for £5.99 (£3.99 on buy three deal).
Deep in colour with a corresponding richness to the palate too. Smooth to the point of new-worldness but still with a Spanish twist. Full-bodied with a soft lick of gravelly tannins on the finish. Plenty of peppery fruit. Alcohol 14%. At £3.99 very good value, at £6 not so.
As with so many wines listed by Threshers the wine is only good value when purchased as a threesome (buy two get one free).
Scribblings Rating - 88/100 [3.5 out of 5]
I should just point out the totally dismal state of the Threshers store where I brought this - while I realise the Henley Regatta is a busy time and is going to have some effect on stock levels there really is no excuse for the shocking mess in the store. No attempt had been made to keep the fridges topped up, face-up wines on the shelves and the like. If that had been my store (and in my time I have run busy wine shops) I would have been acutely embarrassed.
La Riada Old Vines Garnacha - entry for Wine Blogging Wednesday #35 Passionate Spain as hosted by Wine-Girl.net.
Wine Tasting Note: Tesco Sicilian Red Wine, NV, Sicily, Italy
What I really wanted to cover for today's Wine Blogging Wednesday were these pre-filled Tulip glasses. Sadly getting through to the supplier/producer has been a might troublesome. The inter-blog event has alternative packaging (non-standard wine bottle) as the theme.
Apparently they have invested £500,000 in developing these 'high-strength bio-degradable' plastic glasses. A person weighing up to 100kg can stand on them without them breaking. The wine inside is either Trencherman Shiraz and Chardonnay from South Australia and Trenderman Rosé from California. Twin-packs are to go on sale in UK stores in about three months, priced at £3.75 a pair.
They would have made a great entry to Wine Blogging Wednesday. Instead I had to make do with this box of rubbish.
Wine Tasting Note:Tesco Sicilian Red Wine, NV, Sicily, Italy.
Brought as a 3litre Wine Box for £11.95.
God its terrible. Sweet fruit initially, simple, then a hollow centre, a whack of tannins and the overwhelming feeling of disappointment. Acidic. Rough. Unbalanced. It appeared about drinkable initially; the sweet fruit dominating but just a small glass in and the tannins and acidity just overwhelmed. Marginally improved with food. Length short and stubby. Alcohol 12%.
It comes in a box but I hope that this didn't taint the tasting with pre-conceived ideas. Snobbish attitude aside, even though it comes in a box, it is just not very nice. The equivalent of just under £3 a bottle. And you can tell.
Scribblings Rating - 74/100
Wine Blogging Wednesday - Box Wines & Non-Traditional Packaging
Is it the wine snob in me? Why have I never reviewed a bag-in-box wine? Have to admit though that they have this 'image', an image that is so much more than just 'cheap'.
Who buys them? Are they the preserve of those unfussed by what they drink or kept in the fridge for 'cooking purposes'? Party wines perhaps. I don't think I have ever brought one. I know little of the market - Stowells of Chelsea I know from my days flogging the stuff as a Wine Shop manager... and doesn't Hardys of Australia offer a fruit-juice sized carton under their brand name?
It would appear I am about to expand my wine-packaging knowledge as the next Wine Blogging Wednesday has as its theme 'Box Wines & Non-Traditional Packaging'. Hosted by Box Wines it is certainly going to get me to think outside-the-box (ho ho)!
Any recommendations or other non-traditional packaging I should look out for that grace the shelves of Britain?
(The wine in a tube, Dtour, pictured, is not available in the UK I believe).
Wine Tasting Note: Di Martino Legado Syrah, 2005, Choapa Valley, Chile
Is it Syrah or Shiraz? Not that it matters but unusually for a New World bottling the label uses the French Syrah rather than the more established (for non-French wines) Shiraz. Perhaps they are trying to differentiate themselves from the Australians. It matters little. This wine selected for Wine Blogging Wednesday as hosted by Tim at WineCast. Wine Tasting Note: Di Martino Legado Syrah, 2005, Choapa Valley, ChileEverywine £96.99 case. Oddbins £7.49 (not listed on-line). A big lad in every respect apart from the rather closed nose. Big, deep and brooding in colour; bold, rich and concentrated on the palate. There is a little oak but generally smooth and ripe with a lick of pepper on the finish.
Nice enough and good with a Potato, Cheshire Cheese and Spring Onion puff pastry tart but too young and one dimensional to be classed as anything above average.
Scribblings Rating - 84/100
The Legado Reserva wines come from the family's own estate in the Maipo Valley. Produced from grapes carefully selected and hand-picked, these wines have good colour, individual personality, great structure, and are concentrated and fruity, expressively representative of each variety. The wines receive 12 months ageing in French oak (except Sauvignon Blanc) and production is limited
New World Syrah - the next theme for Wine Blogging Wednesday
My participation in Wine Blogging Wednesday recently has been noticeable by my shear non-participation! For one reason or another the last two or three rounds have not seen a contribution from Spittoon!
Tim at WineCast is hosting round 30 with the theme of New World Syrah. Tim writes "The only rule here is the wine needs to be made from at least 51% Syrah or Shiraz and come from the New World. That leaves quite a bit of freedom to find great examples from Australia, South Africa or the Untied States. Other places to check out are Chile and Argentina where some interesting Syrah is being produced. Your wine can be 100% Syrah/Shiraz or a blend. It can be a simple $5 Washington State bottling or Penfolds Grange. Whatever expression of the classic grape of The Rhone made outside of it’s Old World home is what I’m proposing. Join me on or before February 7th."
I doubt I'll be opening a bottle of Grange but part of the fun of WBW is the hunt to find something interesting.
Wine Tasting Note: Osborne & Lynch Le Renegade, 2004, Minervois, France
Not sure exactly where Osborne & Lynch were prior to January of this year but Ciaran Lynch, the marketing brains behind the label, let me know that the Minervois 'has become our permanent physical home'.
He continues "It has always been our primary source [for grapes] but it was this year that we were able to establish ourselves in a physical as well as spiritual sense. Minervois has been an AC for just over twenty years and has finally become recognised for offering extremely good value 'Rhone Style' blends with their own particular garrigue-like character."
I first came across the Renegade as it was trumpeted across the (now defunct) Unwins estate; it must have been pre-blog days as no record is coming up in a search (and I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of every wine I have sampled). This is a new blend though offering a greater proportion of Grenache than previously. The wine has just received a placing in Waitrose at the £5.99 price point.
As Ciaran confirmed Minervois does not really receive much attention. Despite being a favourite region of mine, the wines are not seen that often on retailers shelves. Osborne & Lynch hope to counter this trend by focusing on 'the brand'.
Wine Tasting Note: Osborne & Lynch Le Renegade, 2004, Minervois, France.
Retails for £5.99.
A lick of licorice, a splash of dark chocolate on the finish and a goodly amount of soft, dark fruits wrapped up in a herb encrusted while. medium-full bodied. Screw-capped. Alcohol 13.5% It's lighter than I recall, probably from the increased Grenache component. Ciaran describes this being 'Rhone in style' - that it maybe with its herby flavours and similar grape varieties (55% Grenache, 33% old vine Carignan and 12% 'others') but it is the distinct Southern French richness that I enjoyed immensely - distinctly different than many a simple Rhone red.
Scribblings Rating - 90/100
It's red and it's French - so this is my belated entry to the Beau hosted Wine Blogging Wednesday.
Wine Tasting Note: Gosset Brut Excellence Champagne
Wine Tasting Note: Gosset Brut Excellence Champagne, NV, Champagne, France.Independents around £30.
Straw yellow in colour with a fine stream of bubbles. There is a touch of maturity to this bottle – reflected in the straw yellow colour, the complexity of the aroma and the fine array of flavours to the palate. Yeasty, bready notes dominate the aroma while the palate has a softness. Rather good with a fine flow of the bubbles and a fullness that I rather like.
I undertook a little research into food matching with champagne; as one of the stipulations for this round of Wine Blogging Wednesday was matching the wine with food. While duck was not specifically mentioned, Chinese spring rolls were; mini duck spring rolls stuffed full with scrummy strips of lightly spiced meat seemed an interesting choice. It would need a full wine, which the Gosset luckily is, a lighter wine may have been swamped by the rich flavours.
Weight is not all though as a high acidity is need to cut through the richness. The crispness to the roll itself with the richness of both the meat and oiliness of the roll was perfectly cut and cleansed by the wines acidity. I suggest that little duck rillette canapés would also be a suitable match; although I found the mouth-feel of the warmth of the deep fried spring rolls contrasted wonderfully to the crisp coolness of the wine.
Scribblings Rating - 92/100
Continue reading "Wine Tasting Note: Gosset Brut Excellence Champagne" »
Champagne - the theme for the next Wine Blogging Wednesday.
All these aspects to explore in the next Wine Blogging Wednesday as San Franciscos Brit-It-Girl, Sam, has selected this most wonderful of wines as the theme for round 25.
Wine Tasting Note: Terre de Fumée Sauvignon Blanc, 2004, Coteaux du Gennois, Loire, France.
I text Jeanne.. "Is Wine Blogging Wednesday for white Loire or Red?" I ask. The reply is simple and to the point "Loire Whites". Vinography is the host and I'm a day late anyway.
My soon to be housemate, he of French origin and prolific swear words (the quotes above are toned down), points out a nicely presented bottle and translates 'Terroir de Silex' as the stone that makes sparkles... I think he means sparks and assume he means flint.. which fits in nicely, if I remember correctly, with the flint and clay soils of the region. But what I hadn't come across before is 'Coteaux de Gennois'. This, the little rear label map helpfully shows, is just north of and on the other side of the river to that most famous of Loire towns, Sancerre.Wine Tasting Note: Etienne de Loury Terre de Fumée Sauvignon Blanc, 2004, Coteaux du Gennois, Loire, France.Oddbins £8.99
Rich and quite creamy, spiked through with piercingly clean lemon acidity.Crisp, flavoursome, and nicely aromatic with a combination of herbs, flowers and citrus fruits mirrored on the palate. Strawberry leaf flavoured finish. It's good but would have been even better with a seafood or fish dish. It's a 100% Suavignon Blanc and, apart from being a little richer perhaps and less obviously stony, could pass for a might good quality Sancerre. Alcohol 12.5%.
Scribblings Rating - 94/100
Wine Tasting Note: Weingärtner Cleebronn-Güglingen Samtrot Lemberger, 2004, Württemberg, Germany.
The task for the June round of Wine Blogging Wednesday is to investigate a wine with an alcohol level below 12.5%; a tricky task in these days of headie 15%'ers. As luck would have it I received three wines recently that all come in 12% and all hail from Germany. Red wine from Germany is not something you see that often in the UK. I don't imagine they are hugely expensive, they are screw-capped and in litre bottle size. One was selected at random for today's Wine Blogging Wednesday which this month is hosted by Tim at WineCast.Wine Tasting Note: Weingärtner Cleebronn-Güglingen Samtrot Lemberger, 2004, Württemberg, Germany.Samtrot and Lemberger are the grape varieties, the latter perhaps better recognised as Blaufränkisch from Austria. Samtrot is Müllerrebe or the 'miller's grape' and is a local mutation of Pinot Meunier which I have seen described as "Germany's closest shot at Beaujolais". This is a light wine, almost rosé in hue with a gentle red fruitiness on the nose. Palate is dry, very light in tannins, gentle acidity with a pleasant enough fruity flavour. The grape varieties are often described as giving the German equivalent of Beaujolais and in this case they are not wrong. Very drinkable, very very drinkable on a warm summers evening but nothing that really grabs your collar and hurls you around with excitement. Alcohol 12%. A little sediment was in the bottle.
Scribblings Rating - 88/100
