Overton’s blind tasting group themed tasting this month was quite simply Rhône reds. Between us, we managed – without any conferring – to bring 10 different appellations, five from the north and five from the south. Out first challenge was to identify whether the first flight of five wines was northern or southern. Mercifully there
Getting a grip on the Rhône Read More »
The still wines of Piemonte region have something of a double reputation. On the one hand, bottles of Barolo and Barbaresco are among Italy’s greatest and most sought after wines. Some of them have a price tag to match. Then, on the other hand, there are inexpensive reds from less prestigious areas, made from higher-yielding
Artisan wines of Piemonte Read More »
The Overton-based blind tasting group took a new step into the dark last Tuesday. I encouraged it to break the remaining link which can give you some clue as to the identity of the wine – the person who brought it. In the past this has led to some useful clues and some wrong deductions:
The Eyrie Vineyards are widely credited with the creation of Oregon as the Pinot Noir state of the USA. The state has just celebrated 50 years of growing grapes for one of the world’s most elusive wine styles, celebrated by Stephen Brook in his up-to-date tribute in the February 2012 edition of Decanter magazine. But
Eyrie Vineyards: more than Pinot Noir Read More »
Nobody would now be surprised if you drank Australian Riesling with Thai food or a robust southern French red with Bolognese sauce. But what about Chablis with its cool climate imprint and association with fine French cuisine? I can well remember a casual conversation with a wine merchant complaining about the latest in a long
Fish and chips … and a glass of Chablis? Read More »
Claret is for collectors. It is quite rare to be able to buy and compare wines from a top estate that are ready to drink and which allow you to compare across vintages. The Wine Society’s recent offer of a small mixed case of Domaine de Chevalier offered just that. It made the perfect basis
Domaine de Chevalier–shining knight? Read More »
The theme for the blind tasting group in Overton for February 2013 was nominally Germany. But as most people brought wines they already had in their collections, it turned into something of a Rieslingreise, a Riesling journey. Even though there were eleven wines, this was no bad thing as the variation in age, sweetness and
February’s Bring a Bottle Club was off into unchartered territories … again. It was, however, the last time when we had some clues. The custom has been for each person to bring their bottle or bottles suitably shrouded but for all to know who has contributed each wine. This inevitably leads to inferences being made
Inferences true and false Read More »
Saturday’s Andover Wine Friends’ fine wine supper was based on a six-bottle case sold by the Wine Society as ‘World Class Pinot Noir’. The marketing worked perfectly – I duly bought the case and we enjoyed the wines. It was very good value at just under £140. But ‘world class’? I don’t think so. In
Pinot Noir – home and away Read More »
The Overton based blind-tasting group has long repeated the mantra ‘Can anything this good come out of South Africa?’ This rather patronising remark can now officially be retired after a splendid tasting which had only one rule – not too much Pinotage please. (Even that does not do justice to the best offerings from Kanonkop
Quality in South Africa Read More »