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September Wines of the Month: a Majestic pair
My September Wines of the Month are a Majestic pair in every sense of the word: Altano Douro Organic 2008 (Douro) – this blend of Tinta Barroca, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Nacional and Touriga Franca is the second vintage of Altano’s organic wine from 7ha at Quinta de Assares, one of three vineyards the Symington family own [...]
Continue reading...Turning Portuguese
Posted Monday 2nd August 2010
My August Wines of the Month are the real McCoy from Filipa Pato, one of 3 bargainful Bairrada beauts I tasted last week at The Wine Society (see here for my report). My red, on the other hand, hails from the Cape but it’s an exciting blend of Syrah with Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira made by David Traddord. [...]
Continue reading...Two refined, single vineyard Aussie reds
Posted Thursday 1st July 2010
I know that last month featured two Aussie wines, but I make no apology for selecting two more Aussie wines, both reds, for my July Wines of the Month, they’re so darned good. La Violetta La Ciornia 2008 (Denmark, Great Southern) – signals loud and clear that Western Australia can make really exciting Rhonish reds. [...]
Continue reading...Abercrombie & The Florita on overdrive: finesseful Aussies
Posted Tuesday 1st June 2010
My June Wines of the Month reflect an inspiring month of tasting really great Australian wines. Both these wines come from members of Australia’s First Families of Wines about whom I’ve already blogged here and here, with detailed tasting notes of several vertical tastings yet to come. These are, however, recent releases, indeed, yet to [...]
Continue reading...Vinho Verde, variety and variety
Posted Sunday 2nd May 2010
Most Vinho Verde is a blend of several varieties, but if there’s a stand out grape, it’s got to be Alvarinho (known over the border in Galicia, Spain, as Albarino). The variety is spreading its wings outside Vinho Verde and fast assuming the mantle of Portugal’s flagship white grape variety. Take Poeira Pó de Poeira [...]
Continue reading...Bordeaux blends Margaret River-style
Posted Thursday 1st April 2010
Last week I discovered that “hair of the dog” is as applicable to holidays as hangovers. The evening after I returned from a particularly fabulous break in Western Australia (see my top 10 tips here), I presented a Western Australia tasting – a great opportunity to extend that holiday glow and flash my rapidly receding [...]
Continue reading...A pair of Secateurs
Posted Monday 1st March 2010
Ex-Rustenberg man Adi Badenhorst’s Paardeberg Rhone blends, white and red, were one of my finds of the 2008 Cape Fair (see here). A A Badenhorst Family Red 2006 received plenty of plaudits when I showed it at my “Cape Rhone blends with a twist tasting” last summer (reported here). The only grievance? That it wasn’t [...]
Continue reading...Rieslings to be cheerful, part 1,2 not 3…
Posted Monday 1st February 2010
A cheeky reference to Sex, Drugs & Rock & Roll, the excellent Ian Dury biopic? Yes and no. We’re into February, not my favourite month of the year, and I’d love to be transported somewhere warm and sunny. So if my monthly selection, two Rieslings, seems a bit perverse, there’s your answer! Grosset Springvale Watervale [...]
Continue reading...Two skinny Loire stars: French Connection Classics Saumur Champigny 2008 & Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-sec 2002
Posted Monday 4th January 2010
The New Year ushers in a fiscal tightening of the belt and resolutions of the type aimed at tightening actual belts, so how about a cut price, trophy-winning red which weighs in at a feather-weight 12.5%? French Connection Classics Saumur Champigny 2008 is made by Eric Laurent, the gifted winemaker at the Cave de Saumur, [...]
Continue reading...A Christmas selection box…naughty and nice!
Posted Monday 7th December 2009
It’s that time of year to go for it on the wine front and, if you’re in need of some vinous inspiration, here are some of my favourite wines of the year for each of my areas of focus and a couple more besides, starting with Champagne of course! Champagne Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1998 [...]
Continue reading...Two top notch Coonawarra Cabernet vintages from Katnook
Posted Tuesday 3rd November 2009
I’ve posted tasting notes of some terrific Australian verticals lately (de Bortoli, Shaw & Smith and Clonakilla). My wines of the month for November – Katnook Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 & 2005 - give you an opportunity for your own Oz mini-vertical because both are currently available from their UK distributor, Bibendum. The double-barrel release marks [...]
Continue reading...Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007 & Rustenberg John X Merriman 2006
Posted Friday 18th September 2009
Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007, Margaret River, Western Australia – I must declare an interest, albeit minor…my biceps played some part in the batonnage when I did 2 weeks cellar ratting at Cullen in 2007. I well remember the floral and grapefruit perfume of the Chardy room and the meditative tonic of lees-stirring in between [...]
Continue reading...Kleine Zalze Chenin Blanc & Kooyong Pinot Noir
Posted Thursday 27th August 2009
Kleine Zalze Bush Vines Chenin Blanc 2008 (South Africa) This is a great value example of a rich, ripe, wooded Chenin brimming with honeyed, lipsmacking tropical citrus fruit. With a deft touch of residual sugar it perfectly offsets the heat of a Cape Malay fruity curry and, closer to home, I’ve found it a great [...]
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Posted Wednesday 1st September 2010
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