Portugal with Miguel Leal 28/04/09 1 Arca Nova 2007 £7.95 2 Morgado do Perdigao 2007, £10.95 3 Quinta da Lagoalva 2008 £12.75 4 Pousio 2008 £8.95 5 Animus 2007, £8.95 6 Cunha Martins 2005, £9.95 7 Sanguinhal Touriga Nacional 2005 £14.95 8 Damasceno 2005 £12.75 9 Conde d'Ervideira 2005 £ 17.95 10 Pontual 2005 £ 14.95 11 Casa de Santa Eufemia Tawny £13.95 Call My Bluff 24/02/09 Heaton Moor The wines were 2008 Ca di Ponti, Sicily £4.95 2007 Galeria branco, Portugal £6.95 2006 Tulloch semillon, Australia £11.95 2007 Grenache noir, France £5.95 2005 Laderas de "El Seque" £8.50 2005 Dau, Quinta da la Garrida £8.95 2006 Don Nicanor blend £9.95 Dinner wine 2007 Adobe Carmenere £6.95
Organic wines in Marple bridge
Pinot Blanc, Alsace
£8.95
Adobe Sauvignon Blanc, Chile
£6.95
Fuenteseca, Macabeo/Sauvignon
£6.95
Artesa, Rioja
£7.50
Adobe Cabernet sauvignon, Chile
£6.95
Pica Broca, languedoc
£10.50
Novas Syrah/Mourvedre £11.95
Coyam, Chile £14.95
Winter warmers 20/01/09
Classic
Fino Bodegas Rey Fernando De Castilla £9.50
Macia
Batle Blanc, Mallorca £10.95
Keith
Tullloch Semillon, Australia £11.50
Il
Meridione Primario, Italy £7.50
Quinta
da Garrida Dao, Portugal £7.95
Cascabel
Tipico, Australia £10.50
Coyam,
Chile £12.95
Chardonnay
Trockenbeerenauslese, S Moser, 37.5cl £17.95
Credit Crunch Wines
Domaine
de Vedilhan Sauvignon Blanc £6.25
La
Masquerade Vermentino £6.50
False
Bay Wild Yeast Chenin Blanc £6.50
Galeria
Branco £6.25
Chateau
Trois Colombes Les Rameaux Shiraz £6.25
Winston
Hill Zinfandel £5.95
Nieto
Reserva Malbec £5.95
Canus Verus £11.95
Spanish wines by John Booth
12th June 2007
We showed a cross selection of Wines that showed the strength of Spain Frpm a crisp sauvignon style to a bright,cheap wine to the stunning Alaia the very smooth rioja Valenciso and the fabulous Tres Picos. The point wasmade that although Spain has the most vines grown in the world. It is not the biggest supplier Italy then France are the leaders. The answer is obviously lower yields probably due to the shortage of rain, but giving more intense flavoured wines at very low prices.
A wine in the crisp Loire sauvignon blanc style, probably the best white wine area in Spain (sorry Galicia). Bodegas Antaño was created in 1988, when a number of eminent Spanish restaurant-owners joined forces to produce their own wine. However, one of the partners, José Luis Ruiz - founding father of the popular Spanish cafe chain "José Luis" - bought up all the shares. He just wanted to make his wine passion a reality Goes well with.crustaceans and shell-fish, Poached or steamed fish, White meat, Poultry , Grill and barbecue
2 2006 Senorio de Sarria Rosado, Navarra, Spain£5.95
navarra probably produces the Rosado in Spain. They do come into their own in hot weather where you can chill a bottle of rosé and it has much more flavour than w hite but is more refreshing than a red wine. This has lovely soft garnache fruit and a long dry finish.
3 2005 Borsao Garnacha, Borja Spain£4.55
Campo de Borja is in the north central area of Spain, located on the south bank of the river Ebro and just below the border of Navarra. Borsao has an open, forward nose full of fresh red raspberries and oaky vanilla spice, with hints of black fruit and a touch of something floral -- maybe violet. A soft, velvety texture in the mouth carries bright berry flavours -- mostly ripe raspberry, with a nice touch of vanilla oak spice. It finishes rather quickly, with a chalky acidity. Very mild tannins make a cameo appearance at the tail end of the finish. This is a soft, pleasant, berry-filled, spicy red wine with a flavour profile that many people will find appealing. It is enjoyable by itself, and will match well with beef (stews, meatloaf, burgers) and sausage dishes
2005 Vina Borgia Garnacha, Borja£5.25
Lucrecia Borgia was one of the most infamous women to ever grace the countries of Spain or Italy. She was well known for her fiery temperament and aptitude with poison. This wine though will revive you. The Borsao Vina Borgia is the colour of a bright ruby. Perhaps the colour of a jewel that would grace a noble woman's hand. It is made from 100% garnacha. The nose is full of ripe berries. There are chewy tanins that accompany lush flavours. You will find jucy black cherry and spice tones to play on your tongue. There is good body and a medium-long finish. At under £6 a bottle, this is a deal. You can afford to enjoy it at almost every meal. It will accompany a wide variety of dishes: a hearty soup, strong cheese, grilled steak. Just please, let it breathe before you drink this wine
4 2005 Marques de la Villa, Toro, Spain£4.95
A super rugged wine from an area that is not recognised by the public in Spain.it has been supplying wines to the nearby university of Salamanca from the 12th century. Tempranillo has evolved into Tinto de toro which produces a darker more intense wine than Rioja with aromas of damsons and dried fruit and a tremendous concentrationof spicy plumy fruit on the palate. Super value.
5 2001 Vega del Rayo Reserva, Rioja, Spain£8.50
A wine from Tempranillo,Mazuelo and Graciano aged in American oak barrels for 24 months, giving aromas of plums and blackberryand from the wood sweet vanilla and brown spices. Quite well structured and capable of further ageing.
6 2001 Valenciso Reserva, Rioja, Spain`£16.50
100% Low yielding tempranillo vines that a third has been aged in new French barriques, the rest aged in 1 year and 2 year old oak.. This vintage was one of the best in the last 50 years. This coupled with the careful winemaking has resulted in a high quality wine that is classically structured, subtle and elegant. Robert parker in the Wine Advocate Issue 169 wrote 90 pointsDeeple coloured,it offers a beautiful nose of vanilla,blueberry and blackberry liqueur. It combines a velvety, almost Burgundian palate feel with superb depth and enough structure to evolve for several more years. This is a very stylish harmonious wine that is well worth the money.
7 2004 Alaia, Castilla y Leon, Spain£5.95
sing 50% Prieto Picudo, 50% Tempranillo with traditional vinification with 12 months in oak. Enticing nose of warm, red, juicy fruit. Pleasant dark fruit palate, a touch of spice and a sweet chocolatey character brought together with light tannins and good acid. Something a little different from an up and coming area of Spain. Alaia, Dehesa de Rubiales 2004 - 89 points The 2004 Dehesa de Rubiales is a blend of 50% Prieto Picudo, 45% Tempranillo and 5% Merlot. The nose offers up vibrant aromas of smoke, mineral, blueberry and cassis. This is followed by a juicy wine with layers of black fruits and a supple, seamless texture. Drink this sensational value over the next 1-2 years. Robert Parkers Wine Advocate Issue 169 Feb 2007.
8 2005 Tres Picos, Campo de Borja, Spain£11.95
Deep and cherry red in colour with a hint of purple. A boundless bouquet of mature red fruits with traces of flowers that are typical of the best Garnachas. The palate is rich and well-structured showing flavours of blackberries, strawberries and tones of leather, vanilla and plums. Perfectly combined with a sweet and pleasant tannin, with a long, silky and balanced finish. Tres Picos
Bodegas Borsao, Tres Picos Garnacha 2005 - 91 points This remarkably hedonistic wines has been a perennial Best Buy in the pages of this journal. The 2005 Tres Picos Garnacha is purple coloured with a cherry-scented nose that roars from the glass. It is intensely fruity, with terrific depth and concentration, oodles of sweet fruit and terrific length. This wine which can be likened to cherry pie in a glass, is awesome value. Robert Parkers Wine Advocate Issue 169
Summer Wines by Ben Booth
8th May 2007
Ben Booth{ no relation]of Armit wines selected a magnificent range of mainly white wines that showed spectacvularly well, Ben was also a very knowledgable speaker and most entertaining.
Gruner Veltliner Strasse Hasel 2005£8.50 Birgit Eichinger is one of 11 female winemakers in Austria and was awarded International winemaker of 2005 by decanter magazine. She is dedicated to improving herwines by testing new clones and varietals and different vineyard management. Austria's unique Grüner Veltliner grape gives aromas of honeyed, exotic fruits, spices and smoke. The palate is full of fruits: melon, passion fruit and baked apples. Superb with exotic spicy cuisine, seafood and summer salads
Heyl zu Herrnsheim Niersteiner Riesling Kabinet 2005 £9.50 When they simpify German wine labels, itwill aid sales immensely. There is just too much information. This is from Rheinhessen which is the southernmost part of the Rheingau region and the extra warmth brings slightly higher alcohol 11.5% and marginally less acidity. Riesling picks from the terroir its typical characteristics floral fruit, delicate lingering body and a long, long finish. Organic methods are used here.
Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 2006 £10.95 Michael Seresin is an extremely successful cinematographer who always desired his own vineyard so in 1996 he acquired this vineyard,. He has adapted organic principles since its inception but more recently he is now bio dynamic.Refreshing, crisp and distinctive, this Sauvignon Blanc is the perfect solution for summer time get-togethers. This exemplary Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is light and zingy, yet its intense aromas and flavours leave a lasting impression and complement everything from grilled asparagus to spicy Asian food
Chateau Grand Village Blanc 2005 £6.95Unlike any other major Bordeaux property, Lafleur is almost like a Burgundian domaine. Guinaudeau family may have owned ChâteauGrandVillage since 1650. it is based in Mouillae on the far side of Fronsac. A blend of sauvignon and Semillon ,using no wood aging but still giving a full flavoured wine happily partnering light dishes and white fish courses.
Steenberg Semillon 2006 £9.95Established in 1682, the Steenberg Estate, is one of the oldest in South Africa. The 64 hectares are planted in the ConstantiaValley, which is among the coolest regions in the Cape’s winelands, fresh green fruit crush, dried apricot & citrus abound. Rich bold flavours of citrus & apricot to the fore - crisp & appealing, nicely balanced by softer caramel & creamy spiciness from wooding. Long rich & silky!!! A real treat!! This wine will age well like a Hunter valley semillon
Ama al Poggio Bianco 2005, Castello di Ama£14.95 Ama is a self-contained hamlet in the hills above Lecchi, about 10 miles from Siena. The estate, was selewcted by The Italian “bible” Gambero Rosso with 80 hectares of vines produces top class Chiantis around£65.00 a bottle and this stunning white.The grapes, were hand-picked with 60% fermented in stainless steel tanks and the rest in oak barrels. This has produced an interesting blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and Malvasia showing an intense nose of honey and toasted nuts. The palate is loaded with rich stone fruits and a lovely creamy mouthfeel with a long finish
Mulderbosch Cabernet Rose 2005 £8.95 A brilliant, lively, clear wine, the colour of freshly cut watermelon. Displays a rather complex nose comprised of pink grapefruit, peppery nasturtium and hints of strawberry jam. The palate is full of pomegranate, pink grapefruit and honey, with just a touch of spice in the aftertaste. A pleasantly dry, lingering finish
Gaja Ca`Maranda Magari 2002 £23.95 Gaja having made his name in Piedmonte has now moved on to SuperTuscans The Italian word ‘Magari’ has no direct English equivalent. It is best rendered as ‘if only’, and combines a touch of irony with optimism and an up-beat mood. The wine’s components (50% Merlot and 25% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc) are vinified separately and blended, after fermentation, in the February following the vintage. The wine is then aged in new, one and two year old barrels for 18 months. Dark ruby red. Spicy dark purple fruit on the nose with fresh underbrush and hints of tabacco. A rich, voluptuous palate presents more ripe dark fruit with woody undertones and well-integrated tannins. Spices reappear and stretch into a lingering finis=
Hidden Italy, 7th March 2007
A most enjoyable tasting led by Graham Wharmby who had picked some exciting wines
1 2003 Franciacorta Saten £19.95 A fantastic sparkler from a very tiny region of Italy ( total all the growers wines and you get half of of Moets production), using 100% Chardonnay, grown on granitic soils giving less acidity than Champagnes but with a very creamy peachy style and long finish. Verystylish, very Italian
2 2005 Da Uve Riesling, Poderi Colla, Piemonte £11.95 Riesling in Barbaresco country. A northern slope that 35 years ago was thought ideal dor Riesling. This is the first year it has hit the jackpot, less acidic than its German neighbours and not as oily a Alsace a full flavoured fresh zesty wine I deal with fish and creamy sauces. Unfortunately this is a sick vineyard and a virus is killing individual vines at random. There is no cure.
3 2006 Contesa Pecorino, Abruzzo £9.95 We always thought Pecorino was a cheese. Anyway,a fresh incisive white from a local grape enjoying a revival. Herbacous hedgerow and blossom characters mingle with citrus fruits. Soft and ripe palate with zesty acidity. Try with Parma ham, cold fresh prawns, salads or light seafood dishes
42005Pra Staforte, Soave £14.95 Very steep hill around the town of Soave produce the best wine from very low yields of 19 or 20 hl per hectare. It goes to show that the old adage youget what you pay for is very true. A full wine with complexity and long finish that is capable of aging very well
5 2004 Sassaiolo Rosso Piceno, Marche £5.95 Using 50% Sangiovese / 50% Montepulciano, this traditional Italian red has a bold ruby red colour, a vibrant red cherry/berry nose and a smooth, rounded palate with sweet, ripe tannins.Perfect with rich pasta dishes with a meaty sauce or pizzas. Great value and really enjoyable drinking
6 2005 Il Meridione, Primario Beneventano £6.95 A blend of 80% Aglianico / 20% Barbera. A robust and full-bodied red with the complex, smoky and spicy aromas typical of the local Aglianico grape variety. Rich and full-flavoured on the palate with firm tannins giving way to ripe plum and berry fruit and a long, savoury and spicy finish with hints of vanilla, coffee bean and leather. Approachable now but will improve with 5 to 10 years in bottle.
7 2005 Valpolicella Capitel Crosara Ripasso, Veneto £8.95 a blend of 60% Corvina Veronese / 30% Rondinella / 10% Molinara, Made by the Ripasso method, in which young Valpolicella is fermented on the lees of Amarone. After the luscious flavours of Amarone have been imparted to the wine it is matured for 16 months in some French and some American oak casks. Deep ruby red colour, quite powerful nose displaying aromas of almonds, black fruits and cinnamon; sour cherry flavours backed up by spices, earth and wood followed by a velvety and reasonably long finish.The Ripasso technique has been described as being the marriage of King and commoner, via the extra plushness and polish imparted it adds a welcome extra dimension to the wines of the Veronese.Try with chicken cordon bleu, calf's liver or a mushroom pasta dish. Also particularly good with dried and smoked meats, the inherent acidity working well with the natural fattiness of the meats. In the region it is a fairly common partner to 'Bollito misto' which is an assortment of boiled scragg ends and offal - o.k. if you like that sort of thing! Fantastic wine that converted my white wine drinking partner to this red wine.
8 2001Montepulciano Contesa, Abruzzo £11.95 Deep Red ruby colour.Bouquet contains very mature red fruit, with toasted cocoa and chocolate notes. Beautiful red with elegant tones ,powerful but smooth. Full, warm, justly tannic taste. Which with food would not be aproblem will age very well. A beautiful complex wine
With dinner
2003 Nativo Verdicchio Marche £8.95 Regular battonage in stainless steel. Lees ageing. No filtering or clarifying.Richly textured white with aromas of ripe fruit, particularly apple, pineapple and apricot. On the palate, fresh citrus and mineral characters give way to an attractive nutty, savoury finish. An extremely, well balanced wine showing good depth and complexity.
John`s Wines of the Year, 14th Nov.
12006 Crowded House Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, NZ£7.95
Although this was a bumper vintage (up 26%) Ant Moore has made a more refined restrained wine not the usual kiwi gooseberry, cats pees, sweetish and alcoholic type. This is more classic Loire style, zesty dry wine with lovely hints of tropical fruit, very refreshing and only 12.5 % alcohol. A great aperitif or with light dishes and a joy to drink by itself
This is from a new appellation Controlof Macon Viré and Clessé and becoming the new funky AV. Ageing in barriques for 12 months which has created a rich opulent wine with bags of fruit supported by the oak which will mature onto 2009. Ideal with fish dishes in cream sauces.
Roero is just north of Barolo and the Arneis grape translates as whimsical in Piedmontese. However there is nothing light about this wine this is a concentrated white showing fine mineral characters, almond flavours, white peach and pear fruit really big flavours on the mouth and along finish. Only 10% of the wine has been aged in wood. A lovely alternative to Chardonnay would go well with the proverbial turkey and fish dishes that have been cooked in ginger or coriander.
42005 Peacock Ridge Merlot, Stellenbosch, S. Africa£7.95
This won a silver medal at the decanter awards. This is a blockbuster of a wine weighing in at a sprightly 15%. The massive fruit copes with the alcohol and alovely mix of cassis, cedar wood with smoke and herb flavours.A really dark deep wine. It has 12% cabernet sauvignon and 20% of the blend is aged in new barriques the rest in second year fill barrels,. Also there is a surprisingly long finish.
52005 Les Ruffes, La Sauvageonne, Languedoc£5.95
It is extremely difficult for a lighter wine to follow a heavier one, this carries it off superbly which tends to make me believe that it is a very deceptive wine. Made from a blend of the local grapes, Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache and Carignan grown on vivid red soil and made by a perfectionist. . Hehas the passion to obtain the best possible wine out of his vineyards and he will go to any length to achieve this. He does not use any pesticides and he tries to be as natural as possible. He even prefers concrete vats to stainless steel as he says that concrete comes from natural ingredients and lets the wine breathe… I could go on and on but do try this wine it is fantastic value.
Another powerhouse of a Shiraz from Australia 14.5 % alcohol and aged in barrels for 14 months, [over 80% in new oak]. This sound like a typical sweet Ossie, however this passes the first glass and second glass stage and you still want more. The fruit shows such ripeness that it is almost chewy. The oak adds to the huge structure and apowerful finish. It is still developing and the huge edges will round off and smoothen over the next 6 months. This has great cellaring potential.
72004 Pica Broca, La Sauvageonne, Languedoc£8.95
I have included another wine from this vineyard as I feel that they are outstanding, especially this one. Pica Broca translates as little one meaning the grape bunch size rather than the wine. It is grown in 20cm thick rubble [ a mixture of schist and grit] on high slopes 250 metres. The vineyard tends to look like a lunar landscape and there is even an extinct volcano nearby. A mixture Syrah and Grenache gives intense, complex flavours with sweet dark fruits with black olives and liquorice. Will develop over the next 5 years Jancis Robinson is a great fan of this wine. It is a stunner. Double decanting will improve this wine tremendously.
A blendof the 3 local grapes Tinta Roriz ( Tempranillo) , Touriga nacional and Tinta Franca made with the help od Michel Rolland to create refined posh claret style of wine. Still Portuguese with great power and fine tannins of a top medoc. Stylish plum and black fruit supported by balanced oak. Perfect with saddle of roast pork and of course turkey. A good keeper
12th July 2006 Call My Bluff
This was a most enjoyable fun evening led by ” 3 experts” who read more or less the following descriptions to match the wine that was being served.3 teams won but on a draw the champagne was won by the Bishops & Hancocks
Wine 1
Pinot Grigio comes from Italy. In France it is called Pinot Gris, the best Pinot Grigio comes from the northern part of Italy.
A light to medium-bodied Pinot Grigio from Cavit’s higher altitude vineyards. The wine is very pale in colour with a clean, floral nose. The palate shows further delicate yet complex floral notes and some nice white fruit. A very refined and elegant Pinot Grigio with great structure and quite a long, smooth finish. Straw yellow colour.
Clean and floral nose with fruity notes hinting at banana and pineapple. Nice white fruit on the palate with fresh acidity on the finish.It has 12.5 % alcohol level
Excellent with lemon sole, snapper (plain grilled) or baked seabream. For something a little more exotic, try it with Carpaccio with Parmesan cheese.
This is 2005 vintage of 100% Pinot Grigio made by Cavit from Northern Italy.
Wine 1
This is a new concept. This wine comes from the Alsace, France. It is made in the Co-op at Turkheim which is one of the prettier villagesIt has a screw cap. This is Pinot Grigio at its best. Dry, delicate and wonderfully aromatic. Luscious white peach, delicate citrus fruit aromas and a crisp dry finish make this a wine of real finesse and elegance. This wine has much more flavour than other Pinot Grigios It has 13.5% alcohol level
Lovely served quite chilled, simply on its own, or with fish or poultry dishes.
This is 2005 vintage of a dry 100% Pinot Grigio from Alsace France
Wine 1
This is an Australian Pinot Grigio from Norfolk Rise. Their winemaking philosophy is to simply embrace, then express the unique characters of our vineyard. Clear varietal definition, generosity of flavour, and an abundance of fruit derived complexity define our style.
The grapes were harvested in March and fermented using protective handling to avoid any oxidation or browning of the juice. The juice is then clarified and fermented for 20 days at less than 17 degrees C in stainless steel vats. To maximise the retention of fresh fruit flavours and aromas, the resultant wine is bottled early under screw cap. It has 13.5 % alcohol level. Pale straw colour with a tinge of bronze. Gently lifted aromas of pears, musk, exotic fruits, peach and honey. The wine is complex, rich and full bodies and balanced by refreshing acid, mineral backbone and persistent finish.
Mixed seafood antipasti, vegetable frittata and chicken cooked with robust flavours.
This is 2005 vintage of 100% Pinot Grigio from the Limestone coast, Australia
Wine 2
This is a vin de pays called Domaine de Maubet, it is situated at 150 kms from Bordeaux and 120 kms from Toulouse, between Eauze and Vic-Fezensac, in the middle of Gascony in the South West of France in the village of Noulens.
Citrus fruits aromas, grapefruit, very fresh and fruity, typical from Gascony. It is a deceptively light wine with only 11.5% alcohol A blend of Colombard – Ugni Blanc – Gros Manseng – Sauvignon Aperitif, Salads, Fish and shellfish, white meat Served at 10°C Drink it in the year.
So it a 2005 French vin de pays using a blend of grapes fromGascony, France
Wine 2
This is a wine that has lost its popularity It a Muscadet -sur-lie. Classic Muscadet with all the typical rich fruit flavours present as a result of the wine having been left on its lees (to you and me this means having all the bits left in the bottle until the last minute- therefore adding loads of flavour. It is 12.0% alcohol It is made from the strangely named grape Melon de Bourgogne which is no longer used in Burgundy
Will go wellwith light fishes dishes and of course oysters.
A 2005muscadet sur Lie from the Loire France
Wine 2
This is a Chenin blanc from Stellenbosch south africa. 2005
Canned pears and ripe peaches twinged with citrus evident on the nose; rich tropical fruit salad flavours with creamy mouthfeel, long aftertaste but well balanced, crisp and dry-ish finish. Good balance, great backbone of acidity with a rich tropical honeyed palate.
It has 13.5% alcohol
Smoked salmon with dill and cream cheese, mature cheddar or ripe brie served with dried apricots.
This is the 2005 L`Avenir Chenin Blanc from S. Africa
Wine 3
This is an exciting new wine from Rueda in Spain using a blend of Verdejo and Viura. A crisp, aromatic, unoaked Spanish white. The Viura gives the wine freshness and floral aromas and the Verdejo body, texture and herbaceous aromas.
An excellent example of a crisp and aromatic Rueda. A lively, lemony, fruit driven style with good weight and balancing acidity.
Goes well with seafood, white fish and light dishes such as rice with vegetables.
A 2005 vintage Vina Mocen from Rueda Spain using a blend of grapes
Wine 3
This a a 100% sauvignon from Touraine A flinty and mineral Sauvignon Blanc with notes of grapefruit and tomato leaf on the nose. In the mouth the wine is elegant and subtle. Very typical of the region.
Wine should be served at 10 degrees centigrade and goes very well with pork, smoked and grilled fishes, seafood and cheese.
Poultry, cooked meats, fishes and seafoods. It is 12.0% alcohol
2004 Chateau de la Roche Sauvignon from Touraine France
Wine 3
Absolute rubbish this is a new world sauvignon Blanc.
Initial aromas of lemon, lime and a hint of cut grass. It opens up in the glass to reveal passionfruit, pineapple, honey and melon with a full and round palate due to the extended lees contact and influence of oak. This wine has great intensity, complexity and real interest with a fine mineral edge and fresh acidity providing natural balance. Drinking at its best after 2-3 months in bottle, this wine will develop greater complexity to around 12 months, but has enough weight and natural acidity, plus complexity to last past this. Alcohol level of 12.0%
This wine can be enjoyed on its own, or accompanying a variety of foods such as oysters, grilled fish or spicy thai
A 2005 sauvignon Blanc from Catalina sounds New Zealand
ABV: 13% Tache is a French word meaning 'stained' and refers to the rare winemaking method used since 1985 by Taltarni to create this fine rose-coloured sparkling wine. It's amazing delicate salmon pink colour is achieved by adding a dash of red wine liqeur to the finished tirage wine at disgorgement. Created from a blend of the three classic sparkling wine varietals sourced from our cool climate vineyards in Victoria and Tasmania.An engaging salmon pink colour enhanced by a fine persistent bead. The wine expresses an assortment of fresh fruit, turkish delight, rose petal, apricot blossom and luscious white peach aromas complemented by complex nougat and yeast aromas. Layered with elegant red berry fruit and nutty savoury flavours. The wine had great length, finishing clean, dry and refreshing. An ideal aperetif or serv with fresh prawns, sushi, oysters, soft cheese or fresh ocean trout. Works equally well with fruit salad, rhubarb tart or a croissant for breakfast.
It is a 2004 Pink Australiansparkler called Taltarni Brut Tache
Wine 4
a Pink Cava Rosado The wine is an unusual and very good example of pink Cava, lovely soft, red berry fruit and deep colour, guaranteed to raise the spirits and make people feel good whatever the occasion. It’s made near Tarragona and principally from Trepat, a local grape speciality of Conca de Barberà which is thought by some to be related to Garnacha/Grenache and seems in this case to have imbued the wine, made by the traditional (champagne) method, with an exciting mouthful of raspberry fruit. No-one could mistake this wine for Krug rosé, for all sorts of reasons. But it’s an honest, clean, very fresh bottle of froth that is well balanced but, unlike so much cheap fizz, is not so dry or tart that it would be painful to drink a second glass.
It is a non vintage Cava from Penedes called Palau Rosa
Wine 4
This is a non vintage pink champagne 60% Pinot Noir , 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% ChardonnayABV: 12 Underground cellars dug deep into the chalky soils provide naturally cool year round storage conditions (11C). Wines are allowed to rest for at least six months after disgoregment to allow the wines to settle and achieve perfect harmony.
De Venoge rosé comes in a clear glass bottle so as to reveal its beautiful colour. The label shows Yvonne de Venoge, Marquess de Mun, at table with her husband and evokes her appreciation of this particular Champagne.This Champagne is available in an enamelled gift box or in half bottles.
Delicate salmon pink in colour with strawberry and red fruit characters on the nose. A soft mousse in the mouth, elegant and restrained red fruit and a bitter twist on the finish make this a serious rose with real character.
A perfect aperitif served on a sunny day or poured over red berry fruits. De Venoge Rosé Brut is always made with lower pressure to give finer bubbles, making it subtle match for adventurous seafood dishes such as stewed lobster in truffled seafood cream.
Wine 5
This is soft Merlot, a vin de pays from the south of france. The wines from the south of France often offer excellent value. The grapes for this wine are selected from the Languedoc region, one of France's largest wine growing areas. In Languedoc's soils the Merlot grape variety is able to express its typical characteristics of: rich, vibrant and aromatic fruitiness, with a soft plummy flavour. This style of wine is perfect all year round, either as an accompaniment to food or by itself. Rich, vibrant and aromatic fruit showing soft plummy flavours but with full jammy fruit too then quite dry tannic bite giving it structure and length in the mouth. It has 14% alcohol
Can be drunk by itself .and as it is Soft and pliable red capable of matching with most foods. Easy choice for a devouted red drinker. Try with mushroom risotto
It is 2004 Bellefontaine Merlot from the Languedoc.
Wine 5
This is Clos du Napa Merlot which actually has a mix of 84% Merlot / 14% Cabernet Sauvignon / 2% Cabernet Franc. Alcohol level of 13.0%
A smooth and generous oak-aged Merlot, which shows plenty of ripe plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit but still manages to exhibit elegance and finesse. The palate shows concentrated dark, ripe fruit and a hint of toasty oak. Rich, lengthy finish.
A merlot from Chile. Merlot is definitely a grape variety that has adapted to Chile with great success., from the torrid coastal strip to the coolest of areas, Río Claro.
A fine accompaniment to pulses, white meats and even backed, grilled or fried fish such as conger eel or Chilean ’reineta’. A Merlot with great aromatic intensity, plum and blackberry jam mixed with spicy hints of vanilla and liquorice. A very attractive and elegant palate, enriched with toasted notes acquired through its oak ageing and a long aftertaste with lingering spices.
This is the 2004 M. TorresSanta Digna Merlot from Chile
The different varieties are aged separately in Allier and Vosges oak casks for 12 to 14 months before bottling, to soften the wines and impart distinctive characters.
This spectacular castle was a Commanderie of the Knights' Templar in the 12th Century but didn't finish taking shape until the 19th Century. Grezan, currently owned by Remy Fardel and Jean-Louis Pujol, now has guest rooms and a restaurant and the vineyards cover some 126 ha in total. This top cuvee is selected from a very old vineyard parcel of 10 ha planted in schist soils on the slopes that border the village. Concentrated deep red colour, powerful aromas of blackcurrant and leather with a hint of toasty oak; rich, full bodied with flavours of raspberry and blackberry and further smoky leather notes, then a tad of liquorice riding with hefty dry grip. Needs about 5 years to reveal itself.
Strongly flavoured casseroles like rabbit cooked in a sauce such as reduced wine, root vegetables and fragrant fresh herbs. A blend from Faugeres, Languedoc
Warm, rich and velvety with a mere hint of the bitterness typical of Negro Amaro. On the palate the wine is ripe and meaty with sweet, raisiny, cooked black fruit flavours. A soft, dry finish completes this perfectly balanced wine.
This wine is perfectly poised between sweet and tart so it is not easily over powered by food. It is the perfect accompaniment to Italian dishes such as pasta with tomato. Also works with red meats, like hot roast beef and grain mustard, spicy hearty pork sausages or guinea fowl in a rich sauce. Good too with a casserole of beans or lentils.
A full spicy red from Puglia, from the heel of Italy called Salice Salento
Wine 6
100% Monastrell from SpainVintage: 2005 ABV: 14.5
The ultimate expression of Monastrell! The 2005 vintage is much more serious than its predecessors the fruit is fresher, still full of blackberry and plum fruit with hints of vanilla spice and coffee but in a more refined and elegant way. The palate is warm and rich with layers of lush spicy plum and cherry fruit, with an overlying atractive perfume. Rich, sweet tannins and a touch of chocolate on the finish.
Wine 7
Barbera Rive Vintage: 2004 ABV: 14.5
The grapes for Rive Barbera are hand-picked, de-stemmed and crushed then inoculated with selected yeasts. The must is fermented in temperature controlled, stainless steel vats with pumping over four times a day. The wine is pressed just before dryness and then racked to a mixture of new (2/3) and one year old (1/3) French oak barriques, where it undergoes malo-lactic fermentation and is aged for 18 months. The wine is left to develop in bottle for 6 months before being released.
A deep garnet hued Barbera with vibrant aromas of black cherries and prunes with chocolate and toasty oak undertones and a touch of mint. An abundance of vibrant red currants, black cherries and a touch of spice show through on the palate, which has a rich, voluptuous texture balancing taught acidity and fine oak tannins.
Mature hard cheeses, pepperoni pizza, gnocchi with pesto and sun-dried tomatoes, smoked gammon with onion mash.
A barbera from Tuscany Italy made by Araldica
Wine 7
This is a chateauneuf-du-pape from the Rhone valleyRhone
Grape Variety: 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 10% Cinsaul and10% Mourvedre Vintage: 2001 ABV: 14 Domaine Chante-Cigale is owned by the Favier-Sabon family - it's been in their hands for generations and is one of the oldest in the region - and occupies some 40 hectares comprised of different parcels of land around the village of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, located between Orange and Avignon. The wine has lots of warm red fruit and damson aromas, with cinnamon, spices and jam but also concentration on the palate; then liquoricey richness and elegance to finish.
Try with traditional lamb or lentil and vegetable moussaka, and any rich hot-pot that heavily features 'herbes de Provence' or similar aromatic herbs.
2001 Chante Cigale Chateauneuf-du-pape from the Rhone valley France
Wine 7
A hefty Australian Shiraz: 2003 with 14.0% alcohol
All the grapes are hand picked and transported to the Cascabel Winery to be vinified.. Wines receive 18 months in French oak barrels 20% new, with the remaining 2 and 3 year old..Deep dark red. Subtle earthy nose, with good depth of fruit. The palate is rich and concentrated, with succulent black fruit intensity, and good grip on the finish.
Eggs with truffles, leg of mutton with french beans or pigeon pie.
2001 Cascabel Shiraz from Australia
The wines were
1b2005 PinotGrigio Alsace£6.95
2a2005 Domaine de Maubet, Gascony£5.50
3b2004 Chateau de la Roche, Touraine£6.95
4a2004 Taltarni Brut Tache, Australia£10.95
5c2004 M.Torres, Santa Digna Merlot,Chile£6.50
6c2005 J Gil Monastrell/monastrell, Spain£5.95
7b2001 Chante Cigale Chateaneuf-du-pape£16.95
Dinner wines
Served with the poached salmon on a bed of spicy Thai noodles2005 Le Guincare Verdiccchio£11.95
Local strawberries and fresh whipped cream 2002 Moscato Passito37.5cl bottle£4.95
11th November 2005 A fascinating tasting,the excellent speaker,Michael Garner showed that the wines he had selected, did not need heavy oak or to be left in a sweet style to be enjoyable. Even the Pinot Grigio was super, and as for the bouquets of the Valpolicella and the Chianti, they were great. Do try the wines.
1. Domaine Gournier Vin de Pays de Cévennes Blanc 2003 based between Avignon and Nimes, this historic beautiful place makes delightful wines, using local grapes a soft well balanced white with herbal edges and a dry finish. Drink by itself or with fish in sauce or with tomatoes £5.75
2. Malvira Roero Arneis DOC 2004Great nose of tropical fruit lychees,guavas , apricot andwalnuts and in the mouth a full flavoured with great structure enabling it to partner white meats and rabbit. Probably the best white in piedmont £9.75
3. Tenuta Luisa Pinot Grigio Isonzo del Friuli DOC 2004 Not the usual thin watery cheap Pinot Grigio, this has the nose of its Alsace cousin Pinot Gris, nutty and buttery with spicy edges. Ripe pears come through on the mouth. Good long finish £9.95
4. Domaine Gournier Vin de Pays de Cévennes Rouge 2003 Most wines from this areas and Languedoc tend to be on the sweet jammy style, this is more refined showing a stalkiness or greenness. Soft fruit with light tannins and acidity make this an easy wine to enjoy. Can be chilled. £5.75
5. Fratelli Recchia Valpolicella Classico Superiore DOC The bouquet on this wine sings to you, it is typical of great valpolicella, cherries and cedar. Delightful silky fruit, with good acidity, can be chilled to go with oily fish, like mackerel. Ideal with turkey. A very satisfying wine that will please many people. £7.95
6. Cantina Birgi Syrah IGT Sicilia 2003 if you want sweet oaky Australian Shiraz this is not for you, this has a great depth of firm fruit, full in the mouth, peppery and smoky, with a great finish. More wine is produced in Sicily than in all of Australia. This area finally shaking off its religious restrictions and is an excellent place to invest in and see. £8.50
7. Cantine Sasso Aglianico del Vulture DOC 2002 from the sleepy area of Basilicata, the instep of the boot of Italy, using a greek grape Aglianicoon the edge of Mount Vulture, an extinct volcano, It has been called the Barolo of the South, it is a full rich wine with a super structure. This demands food steak, jugged hare. A great wine for little money . £8.95
8. Le Cinciole Chianti Classico DOCG 2003 This is proper Chianti, fantastic sangiovese bouquet, great concentrationof fruit, fresh rasping tannins, great depth and very stylish. This is their 4th year ofbeing organic, and in the 5th year they can put it on the label, but they probably will not. £12.95
A most enjoyable night in the Arden Arms, where the wines were matched by excellent food,. The cava and provence wines were very satisfying as was the Roussillonand Portuguese but they were lost for breathing room with the sherry.
1N.v Mas Macia Cava Brut£6.95 A clean fresh creamy sparkler from a single estate in Penedes. Complex flavours of apples, pears and stone fruits with light nutty yeasty tones from some time on its lees. A lovely wine and fantastic value.
22004 Chablis La Colombe £7.95 Classic Chablis or as the Australians would saya n unoaked Chablis with no fat fruit. No oak, a firm flinty nose with a delayed reaction creamy fruit opening out, foolowed by a crisp finish. This wine gets better as you go along. Ideal with smoked salmon, chunky prawns possibly vegetarian Indian or Thai food without the chilli front.
32004 Rimauresq Cru Classe£9.95 A very pretty wine from province 35 Kilometres from the sea. This is one of 14 properties picked as cru classe in 1955. Owned by a Scottish family Weyms thisis an elegent and poised wine made from 100% Rolle - delicate, elegant and floral with uncharacteristicly fresh lemony acidity on the palate. Rounded and full with a delicious textural element and a long soft creamy finish. A very refreshing and delightful wine
42003 Montepulciano d`Abruzzo Vigna Corvo£6.95 Many Montepulcianos have little flavour or depth to them. This had had over 5 days maceration to extract more flavour than normal. A deep colour with smoky dried raisiny fruits, dark cherries giving smooth rich flavours, ideal with sausage and beans[ Italian style]
52003 Reserve Cotes du Roussillon Villages £6.95 Grapes are sourced from 2 areas.. Tautavel at an altitude of 200m and Maury, even higher at 400m, maximum yields 20hl/ha. Grapes are harvested and vinified separately (50% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre and 10% Carignan) with an average vine age of 80 years. After vinification, the cuves are blended and transferred to medium toast Francois Freres barriques for 15 months. The wine has aromas of ripe blackberries on the nose and front palate leading to a voluptuous middle palate with tar and spice flavours. A backbone of acidity and fine tannins supports the long, elegant finish. A cheap wine to buy and one that will reward you for keeping a short time. One of Paul Boutinot`s discoveries.
62003 Norfolk Rise cabernet sauvignon£7.95 I thought it would be balanced to include a modern Australian wine. This has huge, intense structure with minty cabernet fruit that is overwhelmed by a blast of sweet fruit.
2003 VistaTN [Touriga Nacional]£5.95 Touriga Nacional is the best grape grown in Portugal typical that it produces half the weight of fruit compared to other vines. The berries are small, thick skinned and give averty concentrated burst of rich black fruit with chocolate/toast edges. This wine will also improve for keeping.
N.V Antique Pedro Ximinez (50cl bottle)£18.95 There is one recurring theme with this wine Xmas pudding. Over 20 years old this thick unctuous wine has coffee,liquorice,prunes,raisins and a dozen other fleeting scents with a surprising lightness and delicacy. Oozing with richness and sweet fruit perfect with Xmas pudding will also enhance ice- cream.
Rioja Tasting 11th October
This was splendid selection of Riojas reflecting old and new styles. Graham Wharmby showed some new wines that were modern and fruity, whilst the old style of Bodegas riojanas were excellent and classy
Artesa Tempranillo A soft easy drinking style with purity of fruit and the spice indicative of tempranillo from Rioja. This unoaked wine is fresh and undemanding drinking. The perfect second bottle, it is drinking well now .£4.95
Artesa Crianza 2001 Soft, ripe, plummy mouth-filling fruit complimented by vanilla and spicy oak. A modern style crianza with a savoury touch on the finish.'Classic plum fruit and cream nose. Quite perfumed with lots of raspberry and redcurrant fruit. Good balance, easy drinking. Up to 3 years. £6.50
Vega del Rayo Seleccionada.2003 . This wine was going to be a crianza ie. A minimum of 12 months aged in wood, but on examination after 8 months it was decided that there was a good balance of fruit acidity and vanilla tones, further aging would over-oak the wine. It is a typical example of a flaw in the regulations. Good drinking now and a superb price £5.95
Puerta Vieja Crianza 2000The first of the wines made by the classic Rioja house Bodegas Riojanas.A move up in class.. a very stylish refined nose of orange peel and dried fruit with the spice of a little new wood, but mostly second use giving a smooth but robust wine of harmonious character and long finish. Ideal with lamb dishes. Drinking very well £6.95
Monte Real reserve 1998All bodegas Riojanas wines have the same grape mix 80% Tempranillo,15% Mazuelo and 5% Graciano. Aged in American casks for over 24 months. A bigger wine carrying more complexity than the previous deep cherry red colour,a nose of sweet ripe fruit and oak opening out into a rounded chunky wine that will go well with pheasant or duck £9.95
Vina Albina reserve Vina Albina Reserva is highly representative of a classic Rioja Alta wine. The colour is ruby red with a tawny rim. The nose is complex, smoky and aromatic with plenty of dried fruits and a hint of vanilla. The wine has a firm but velvety palate with more dark fruit, rustic flavours and well-integrated oak. This is a well-structured wine with good acidity and some appealing, leathery notes on the finish. Perfect with roast lamb. £9.95
Monte Real Gran Reserva 1994 wine is allowed to mature for 24 - 30 months in American oak casks with appropriately timed rackings. The wine is aged in bottle for at least another 3 years before being released.An ochre-red Tempranillo with a rich, smoky bouquet. The fruit is dark, pruney and decadently ripe with a good balance between tannins and acidity. An earthy, opulent wine, which is drinking well now. Serve at 17 - 19 degrees C. Excellent with roast meats, particularly loin of lamb with mustard potatoes and oxtail sauce. Winemaker Felipe Nalde (first vintage 1964) reckons that this is the best vintage he has made since then. £15.95
Monte Real Gran Reserva 1981 Stunning Rioja from the wonderful 1981 vintage, showing what is possible in this famous wine region with good grapes in the hands of careful and attentive winemakers. This wine is at its peak, lovely soft nose suggesting elegance which is matched by its flavours. Although 1981 was not a great year. It still a delight to drink even at £23.95
Gran Albina 2001 The only wine to have a different cepage, in this case Tempranillo33% Mazuelo 33% Graciano 33% After fermentation the wine matured for 24 months in 100% new American Oak casks. The wine was bottled unfiltered and aged in bottle for a further 12 months before being released. A big, fruity wine with a beautiful, cherry-red colour. Powerful bouquet of dense, black fruits and tobacco. Nice concentration of ripe, cherry flavours on the palate. Chewy tannins, balanced acidity and a raisined fruit finish. Drinking well but will keep developing well for a further 5 years. Excellent with roast meats such as lamb. £19.95
Quotes 'Delicate, pefumed nose. Good structure with soft fruit, some tannin definition and elegance. 3 Stars.' Decanter, Rioja Crianza & Reserva (red) 2001 Tasting, June 2005. 'Leather, honey and fruit pastilles; lovely dense, rich fruit; new style but wholly Iberian.' 5 Stars Decanter, June 2004.
S.America tasting 19th April 2005
Casa Silva Sauvignon £5.95 this appears initially as lighter than other Chilean Sauvignons, but then a burst of tropical fruit powers through , also it is very well balanced with good but gentle acidity
Cristobal Verdelho£5.95 Argentina-- and now for something completely different……this grape originally Portuguese [Madeira] offers a big flavoured dry white. A fresh zesty bouquet, firm assertive fruit with a good structure to go with food will happily partner white meat dishes.
Quinta generacion £12.95 an intriguing blend of Chardonnay, Viognier and the very rare Sauvignon Gris, from vines approaching 90 years of age. A proportion of the Chardonnay is barrel fermented. The rest in stainless steel. Really good ripe, citrus fruit is powerful but not sweet with long lasting flavours.. Good with strong fish like sworfish.
Casa Silva Cabernet/Merlot £5.50 clean ripe fruit, unwooded with gentle tannins, good rounded wine for easy drinking.
Los Lingues Carmenere GR £8.50 A very styloish wine from this single vineyard Deep dense colour, big flavoured wine with huge body and structure, touch of oak good acidity and finish great value for this wine that will happily partner casseroles.
Casa Silva single vineyard cabernet sauvignon Los Lingues £8.50 huge body, great structure loads of blackcurrant fruits with form but ripe tannins giving a slight austerity then the fruit comes through good with roasts and gam dishes.
Don Cristobal Malbec £6.50 asuper wine from Argentina…. incredibly deep colour, super rounded fruit with a spicy edge. A well made wine with a good finish. Great with strong dishes and cheeses.
Quinta Generacion£12.95 Super structure, great length, rich smokey fruit, super style Harmonious structure which will alos age well will improve for 2 years and keep 5+/
Casa Silva Late harvest Semillon£6.95 a good example of an unfortified sweetie, rich marmalade fruit coupled with genle finish and acidity
Burgundy Vallet freres
The wines of Vallet Freres [better known in France as Pierre Bouree] provided a fascinating tasting of Real Pinot Noir. Pierre Bouree was the founder, his nephew Louis Vallet [now 85 years old] took on the firm andson Bernard now runs with the help of the next generation Jean Christophe.. Yhey all have this strong belief that the olf fashioned winemaking is still the best for Pinot Noir. Grapes are trodden by feet, and most importantly there is no de-stemming. This entails leaving the grapes on the stems a week later than the rest . To counteract the bitterness and tannins absorbed from the stalks. Bernard Vallet firmly believes that these measures give his wines longevity. Until the 2000 vintage he had concentrated on red wines but he broadened his sights acqired some quality white grapes, a new pneumatic press and temperature controlled fermentation. His whites now rank alongside his impressive reds.
1 Domaine Maillettes, St Veran £8.50 this is an intruder. Nothing to do with vallet but the wine is so good we had to include. Alovely mouthful of fruit. No oak ageing He only makes one wine, so only the best grapes are used,ggod balance and long finish.
2 Bourgogne Blanc 2002 £10.50 grapes have been sourced from85%Auxey Duresses and 15& gevrey Chambertin to make avery stylish Bourgogne Blanc. lovely chunk of oak on the nose, restrained fruit, but really concentrated flavours that will open out with a little ageing, in fact with wine open an hour trhere was a distinct improvement.. Could be classed as a poor man`s Meursault.. Perfect with grilled trout.
3 Meursault 2001 £23.95 Earthy, herbaceous aromas, restrained style not fat or flabby, goos acidity giving more complexity and long finish. Will improve and keep another 5 years. A good partner for white meats
4 Cote de Nuits Villages £13.95 Grapes come from a declassified Fixin [Gevrey Chambertin neighbour] complex fruit flavours, good length and finish. Bags of life with fine tannins will improve with alittle keeping.
Cockfighters Ghost wines
with Patrick Auld at the Arden Arms 5/10/04
A most enjoyable evening with restrained stylish whites showing equally well as the bigger reds especially the premium Cabernet
1 Cockfighter`s Ghost Verdelho 2002 £6.95 this verdelho from the Hunter valley, has a fine fresh bouquet with sharp zippy acidity. No wood ageing ensures a crisp dry white that will compliment spicy Asian food.
2 Cockfighter`s Ghost Semillon 2002 £6.95 the combination of Hunter valley & Semillon is an Australian classic and generally considered to be Australians best white grape variety. Rich opulent nose, huge fruit levels with great chewy acidity. A really tasty wine that will improve over the next few years. Also hard to believe that it is only 10.8% alcohol.
3 Cockfighter`s Ghost Chardonnay unwooded 2004 £6.95 always a shock to discover the flavour of Chardonnay, that has not been aged in wood. Pineapple and fruit cocktail persist in this low acid easy drinking wine.
4 Firestick Chardonnay 2004 £5.95 the surprise of the night. Only 20 % of this wine has been aged in new wood with a low toast rating. This just supports the round fruit and gives it a little complexity. Super vaue for such decent wine.
5Firestick Shiraz/Cabernet 2002 £5.95 Huge sweet fruit, big bouncy body rich tropical fruit flavours and a whopping 14.5% alcohol
6 Cockfighter`s Ghost Merlot £8.95 Fine typical plummy nose, clean stylish fruit, with a touch of violets and pepper Still improving for another 3 to 4 years. Not the typical clumsy fruity Chilean Merlot.
7 Cockfighter`s Ghost Shiraz £8.95 Mclaren Vale was the source of Jacobs Creek, here Shiraz grapes have flourished with low yields, then matured in oak for 15 months. Deep colour, big body of pepper and chocolate. This as an excellent vintage
8 Cockfighter`s Ghost Premium Cabernet £11.95 Sheer class, minty fruit, lovely cigar box nose, great structure and depth of flavour, still evolving, great beefy Coonawarra style. Huge but well balanced
Cockfighter`s Ghost Riesling £8.50 Clare Valley produce the best flavoured dry Rieslings in Australia It has the lime and citrus flavours with a crisp dry finish. A super example of a dry Riesling
Italy tasting by Michael Garner 28/09/04
This was a fantastic tasting, not only were the wines showing well, the speaker was brilliant ousing knowledge and information and all this under duress whilst his beloved Man United were playing football.
1) Grillo Birgi 2003 Sicily £6.50 A complete opposite to what you think you are going to taste.. a grape only grown in Sicily, at sea level and in a very hot climate. You would expect some hideous, oxidised monster. Instead, there are fresh aromas of peach and juniper, a fresh clean and zesty wine, with surprisingly good acidity, that will happily partner grilled seafood like lobster
2) Arneis Malvira Trinita 2002 Piemonte £8.95 Trinita is a single vineyard growing only he Arneis grape which translates as little basket]. 25& of this wine has been barrel fermented [ lvery light toast].Firm chunks of pineapple flavours with some tannins and knife edge acidity, opening out into acomplex wine with a very long finish. Will improve over the next 18 months and will keep 3 to 5years 3) Sauvignon Vielles Vignes Gournier, 2003 Gard, France £7.95 This French wine from Cevennes has crept into this tasting because it is so good. Super firm nettley nose, great balance of gooseberry fruit, good weight and balance with surprising long finish. Great finish.
4) Vigna Pedale Torrevento 2001 Puglia £7.95 Limestone soils bring out the best in this unique grape Uva di Troia [Troy]. Fine fruit ,fine acidity, beautiful perfumed nose of damsons, cherries and atouch of cassis, now wood ageing gives a lovely soft rounded wine. Excellent and unique.
5) Chianti Classico Volpaia 2001 Tuscany £11.95 All chiantis since 1996 are allowed to use 100% sangiovese instead of using some white wines to blend, This is a lovely vintage with hints of nutmeg and oak on the nose, light delicate, rounded fruit opening out into a big juicy wine, a fine balance is achieved, nothing aggressive or assertive
6) Aglianico del Vulture Sasso 2001 Basilicata £7.95 Aglianico the superstar. Grown on the slopes of an extinct volcano giving rich juicy fruit with complex flavours. It may sound bizarre but a delicate but powerful wine that will age well and will improve and improve with keeping. A good partner for spicy food. Absolute bargain for so little money
7) Montefalco Rosso Colpetrone 2001 Umbria £10.95 A great winemaker Lorenzo Landi has used mainly the unique Sagrantino. It has produced a real fine wine, it has a long polished structure very well balanced and deceptively smooth. Strangely the harmonious structure masks the strength and power of this wine. Brilliant
Portugal Tasting notes 25th May
1 Grand Arte Albarino £6.50 Wonderfully aromatic floral grape, not as fine as Spanish Albarino but much cheaper, greeny yellow colour limey and acidic some comparisons with Riesling. More body weight makes this wine less suitable as an aperitif but with food it is a different story.
2 Belafonte T.Franca/T.Roriz £5.95 vivid red/purple colour, spicy nose of ripe raspberries. Lovely concentration os sweet cinnamon and vanilla laced fruit with spicy tannins hiding. Great acidity and good structure. Great for BBQ would cope well with the charcoal. Will probably chill well.
3 Esplanada Algarve £5.95 made from Negra Mole & Trincadeira, a neighbour of Cliff Richards and sadly that`s the best fact we can find on this wine. Earthy fruit, touch of graphite finish with a dull thud of tannins Rough and ready will go well with cheese
4 Fonte do Beco £5.95 star of the night, Made from castelao grape [formerly Periquita] slight vegetable nose that is soon passed by sweet berry fruit. Bright red colour. The wine is rounded but not soft, intensely fruity with very juicy berry fruit, good acidity with a touch of spiciness. Everything is in perfect harmony. Great to drink by itself or will happily partner a whole range of foods a great all rounder.
5 Patamar Douro £4.95 First wine from the north good robust wine from a blend of the usual 3 suspects T.Franca/T.Roriz/ Super weight and value at this reduced price.
6 Grand Arte Touriga Franca 1999 £5.95 you can see this component in wine No2 rich cedary fruit with a touch of spicy greenness like a green pepper, wood aged giving a full body. Although wine no 2 was a lighter style it seemed to have afuller flavour due to the Tinto Roriz addition, Still a very good buy at this reduced price , normally £7.95
7 Quinta de Saes Dao £7.95 We should have decanted this wine, we opened it 2 hours before tasting and we noticed at the end of the evening the wine in the bottle had softened into areally aromatic and enticind red The owner Has beenhelped by his daughter to bring out afruitier softer style than the tradiotional fruitless Dao that needed 20 years to be drinkable.
8 Quinta do Cotto Douro £12.95 Miguel Champalimaud bought his property in1976 it only produced port . He wanted to produce top wines like the best of the Medoc, he pulled up the existing vines and replaced them withTouriga nacional, Tinto Roriz and Touriga Franca and then aged them inamixture of new and second year casks. The result is a very complex wine with fine tannins and a touch of oak. Will happily partner most meat and roast dishes.
9 Grand Arte Touriga Nacional Estremadura £10.95 fabulous bouquet of violets and soft fruit, it is one of those bouquets that is so intense you repeatedly re-smell. Great structure and style. Very good balance of fruit acidity and wood, if only more wines were like this
Merlot tasting 9th March
Robin Nugent selected these 100% Merlots to show their differences. It did highlight the point that there is no typical aroma or fruit flavour of Merlot apart from there being a little bitterness to wards the finish of the wine. A really enjoyable tasting
1 2001 Les Jamelles d`oc £5.95 unwooded simple wine strait forward and easy going
2 Merlot I Cjamps Veneto £4.95 Firmer nose, soft light appealing fruit that has a refreshing style. Good drinking by itself or will go well wth pizza and pasta dishes
3 2000 Vigna Mora Veneto £10.95 A more serious wine with more fruit weight, matured for 12 months in large oak barrels, which has given extra depth to this wine. Good style with a long finish.
4 2000 Santa Rosa Argentina £5.50 Rounded ripe fruit gives a very easy pleasant un wooded red
5 2002 La Ronciere Chile £5.50 Stronger bouquet of spice and vanilla, aged 6 months in oak. There is much more flavour and extract, spicy fruit and a hint of chocolate a
6 2002 Havana Hills S.Africa £8.50 Although made from young vines [5 years] there is refined fruit and a super harmonious structure of fruit acidity and tannins. A wine to watch, definitely for the future. This vintage is good but follow on vintages will be even better
7 2001 Du Plessis Reserve S.Africa £12.50. Fantastic wine, this is all about terroir. Merlot thrives on clay rich soil giving intense concentrated flavours 25% of wine is aged in new barrels. Brilliant with roast and and steak dishes . The rich owner du Plessis made his fortune from Linpac
8 2000 Plunkett Reserve Victoria £9.50 This was described as having been aged in a Eucalyptus barrel with Polo mints. Rich aromatic flavours smooth and with vanilla. A rich up front wine .
9 1999 Belvedere Estate Sonoma £14.95 A refined nose with gentle smooth fruit balanced by fine tannins and light acidity. Very soft, plumy and unctuous.
10 1999 Havens Hill Napa £19.95 Superb fruit flavours dominate like a very youthful wine. Great fruit way ahead of the tannins and a long long finish. They have used a process micro oxygenerate to soften the wine by pumping oxygen into it. It seems to soften the firm tannins and leaves the fruit unaffected.
