Cercle de Rive Droite En Primeur Tasting
Posted by Ray O'Connor | Filed under Out and about, Uncategorized
The French Ambassador’s Residence was the impressive setting for yesterday’s En Primeur tasting of the 2009 vintage of wines from the Cercle de Rive Droite. Only a moderate turn out of people there but in these cases it’s more about quality than quantity I think. Robert Parker’s UK man on the ground and IWC Panel Chair Neal Martin was present and making his way through the wines at comfortable pace.
The producers all seemed content with their latest offering, and so they should be. Great grape growing conditions have produced wines with lots of purity of fruit and real elegance. Although most producers are undecided on the pricing of the new release, we can expect a more cautious approach on their behalf when announcing any figures. A few felt that they came out a bit too soon with prices for the 2008 vintage and are reluctant to be so forward this year.
Dr. Alain Raynaud, President of the Cercle de Rive Droite, told me he believes we might expect to see figures below those of the 2005 vintage which knocked a few merchants off their feet. Although the wines may be of a similar, if not superior quality, there may be more sensitivity to the current economic situation when assigning price tags this year. Of course, as he explains in the video interview with the IWC, this all depends on each producers intentions. They can only price their own wines and therefore it’s difficult to speak on behalf on any individual château, but he gave a good impression on what the thoughts are down on the Right Bank.
Tags: 2009 vintage, Bordeaux, En Primeur
Sauvignon with something to shout about
Posted by Ray O'Connor | Filed under Out and about, Uncategorized
Sauvignon from the Loire Valley is on a mission. The grape believes it has the true potential to reflect its best characteristics is this particular terrain. Sam Harrop MW has the same vision for the grape and, along with a panel of experts, has selected a group of wines that portray exemplary quality and style.
In search of the Sauvignon Ambassadors, the experts have selected wines from the total spectrum of the varieties abilities, from the tropical notes to the crisp citrus flavours, which they believe will best enthuse the British market. The goal is to raise the profile of Sauvignon Blanc de Loire to increase the perception and value of its wines. The wines will be on show at the London International Wine Fair on May 18th and all attendees are invited to taste the selection of Sauvignon Ambassadors.
Sauvignon Blanc de Loire Project Ambassadors – 2009 Vintage
AOC Touraine Ambassadors
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Secrets de Chai 2009, Les Vignerons des Coteaux Romanais
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Tonnerre de Vignes 2009, Les Vignerons des Coteaux Romanais
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Sélection Château Ante Vinum 2009, Château de Quincay
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine de Fontenay
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine de la Renne
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine Malet
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Elysis 2009, SICA des Vignerons de la Vallée du Cher
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – les Grenettes 2009, Domaine Beauséjour
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine Frissant
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc Châteauvieux Cuvée 2009, SAS Pierre Chainier
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – Famille Bougrier 2009, SA Bougrier
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine du Haut Perron
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Domaine Gibault
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – Domaine Paul Buisse 2009, Domaine Paul Buisse
AOC Touraine Sauvignon Blanc – Cristal Buisse 2009, Domaine Paul Buisse
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Ambassadors
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine Saint Roch, Bardon, 2009
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine du Salvard, 2009
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Rémy Pannier, S.A. Ackerman, 2009
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Fauvette, S.A. Ackerman, 2009
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de la Houssais, 2009
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Privilège de Drouet, Drouet Frères/ Les Celliers de la Roche, 2009
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Désiré François, Drouet Frères/ Les Celliers de la Roche, 2009
Vins de Pays Val de Loire Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvage de la Brie, Auguste Bonhomme/ Les celliers de la Roche, 2009
The art of Rosé Champagne
Posted by Ray O'Connor | Filed under IWC, Trade Tasting
Watch Richard Bampfield’s brief explanation of the production of Rosé Champagne on the video player to your right.
At last weeks Harpers Wine & Spirit Champagne Summit attendees were treated to a MasterClass on Rosé Champagne by Richard Bampfield MW. Bampfield was recently awarded the 2009 European Champagne Ambassador award, beating off competition from seven other European countries. His masterclass focused on the styles and methods used by 6 different Champagne houses when producing their pink fizz. Recognising Laurent Perrier’s hand in changing the Rosé Champagne category by aspirational pricing and “brilliant packaging” , Bampfield believes other houses have them to thank for the recent success.
Amongst many things explained, we were told that grapes from the top red wine producing villages are used for Rosé wines. Any lesser quality grapes would be tasted through the green tannins in the wine. Through research carried out by the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC), we have learned that aromas and flavours from Champagne are found in the bubbles. As the bubbles burst they reveal the aroma characteristics that represent the wine, which is similarly found on the palate. This proves to be true when you consider the nasty flavour of flat Champagne left in the glass for too long. Another interesting discovery from the CIVC is Champagne bubbles appear to be hexagonal. Close up photographs of the mousse in a glass discovered the unusual shape of the bubbles.
A Panel Chairman for the IWC, Richard Bampfield MW gave a thoroughly interesting class that seemed to simulate interest in Rosé Champagne in all present. The Harpers event was well attended by the trade and you will be able to read more about the debates held on the day on the upcoming issue of the magazine.
Tags: Rosé Champagne
A tasting of high calibre
Posted by Ray O'Connor | Filed under Trade Tasting
Watch the 3 mins interview with the entertaining Willi Klinger of the Austrian Wine Board on the video player to your right. Willi breaks down the regions and explains the DAC system.
Last week, apologies for delay, was the annual trade tasting of Austrian Wines at the the Institute of Directors on Pall Mall, London. It appears I wasn’t the only one chomping at the bit to taste this year’s release as the room was completely full by the time I got there. One of the comforting things about walking in to a room with so many Austrian producers is that you can rest assure every wine you try will most likely be a cracking one. Sounds like a bit of an over-statement but if the medal figures from last year’s International Wine Challenge results are anything to go by this belief is spot on. Austria claimed the most medals by percentage of wines entered in the entire competition with 89% of wines picking up a gong of some sort. Lucky streak? Not at all. The impressive tally of topping the table has been consecutive since 2006. Can they make it 5 in a row in 2010?
Out of such a candy shop of tastings I would mention the following two as outstanding:
Bernhard Ott, Gruner Veltliner ‘Der Ott’ 2008. A fantastic wine from a quality producer. Gruner is his main focus across his 30 hectares, farmed bio dynamically. This had intense white pepper notes on nose and palate with a wonderful viscosity on the latter. A wonderful complexity of grapefruit and citrus notes maintains wonderful freshness.
Hirtzberger, Riesling, Hochrain Smaragd, 2008. Riesling producers take note. This is amongst the finest example of Riesling in the world. Already in it’s youth it has begun to show complex characters of development with whiffs of petrol and ripe fruits. The palate is intense with lime fruits and the length goes on and on. Wonderful.
Tags: Austria, Gruner Veltliner
Future of Australian wines
Posted by Ray O'Connor | Filed under Trade Tasting
Watch the interview on the video player on the right.
Education played a large theme at last weeks Australian annual trade tasting in London, with a room solely decked out to the purpose of broadening the attendee’s knowledge of the country. I was fortunate to grab a few words from Paul Henry, Market Development General Manager for Wine Australia . He explained to me the reasons for Australian grape growers move to planting more Mediterranean varieties, suggesting that the early plantings of Shiraz and Chardonnay followed the European mould a bit too closely. Today, Australians are realising that some regions like McLaren Vale in South Australia would be better suited to varieties like sangiovese for example. I’ll let Paul explain it in greater detail in the video to the right of the screen.
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