Writing about the wines of Piemonte, Italy and France
Being an orderly sort of soul, in general, I much prefer to go to a themed tasting, rather than a broad sweep across regions. Comparison is a very powerful tool but I would rather limit the field and try to learn a bit more about an area or grower in depth. Occasionally you get the
Zind-Humbrecht at Coe Vintners Read More »
Some wines have a defining quality. The sharp acidity and mineral quality of Chablis or the big bones of Molletieri’s Taurasi have been commented on in recent posts. The defining character of Roussillon’s wines is sunshine and lots of it. Tucked up against the Spanish border, this Catalan region is literally sun-drenched, with the most
Roussillon – sunshine and big fruit Read More »
In sharp contrast to Campania, the wines of Chablis are are all northern edginess and elegance. The region is equidistant from Paris and Beaune (where most Burgundy comes from), and so are on the northern limits of viable viticulture. With a semi-continental climate and no moderating effect of the sea, the winters are cold and
Chablis – all flints and fossils Read More »
For the English ‘Bordeaux’ means just one thing – claret, the English word for red wine from the part of SW France that ‘we’ used to rule (back in the twelfth century was it?). Somehow we feel proprietorial about it, with a little justification as it was the export trade to England that originally created
Bordeaux Masterclass (2) Read More »
One of the best reasons to start a wine group is to taste wine you would not normally choose or way beyond your normal price level. So for Andover Wine Friends’ second birthday party, there were no candles but a major treat, a tour around Bordeaux with Martin Hudson, MW. When not racing motorbikes, Martin
Bordeaux Masterclass (1) Read More »
The weekend has that nice relaxed feel about it, a moment to search the cache of bottles in the kitchen or beyond for something different to try. My recent trip to Berry Bros & Rudd’s Aladdin’s cave at Basingstoke produced one of these. Chateaux de Lascaux 2006 from the Languedoc, with a galloping horse on
After the anticipation, the tasting. Ten members of Andover Wine Friends gathered to try two of Alsace’s great white grape varieties followed by a simple supper. We settled quickly to the task after a taste of Aureus, Cremant de Loire, a bottle-aged single vintage Chardonnay, 2002. Toasty, decent acidity if slightly milder than much Champagne,
Particularly Alsace Read More »
To Sunday evening dinner with long-standing friends, a retired diplomat and wife who was a skilled saleswoman, where you expect quality with a French accent. In this case both literally and in the glass. We knew that the other guests included the chef and front-of-house couple of our excellent local French restaurant (www.closdumarquis.co.uk), not to
Red Burgundy’s contribution to European unity Read More »
Half the fun of putting a tasting together is in the search. We will all have our favourite places to start – in your own cellar (under the stairs), your local supermarket, on the web or in a local shop. I had already put together a tasting of Gewurztraminer and Riesling from Alsace and could draw
Searching for older Alsace bottles Read More »