ABC is all you need ...........

Au Bon Climat, Santa Maria Valley, Knox Alexander, Estate Bottled Pinot Noir 2007

Grape:     Pinot Noir

Where:    Santa Maria, California, USA

Booze:     13.5%

Food:       Quiche, Roast Duck, Veal

Story:      Certified Organic

Not that I advocate drinking to solve a bad mood, but just sometimes you need some inspiration, and the heavy weight Au Bon Climat Pinot 2007 is just the lifeline I needed.

The gorgeous red berry fruit  and red cherry is nothing short of masterful.  It is fresh with a kiss of vine leaf that practically has me dancing in my living room. And that is only after the first sip. On second pass, the wine delivers a leather pouch of soft vanilla spice. Very enticing.

With food, this has the acidity and tannin structure makes this a suitable guest at the dinner table.

It is not every day you enjoy a wine as good as this.  Only if life was as good as ABC.

Available from D Vine Wine, for  £35

If you're good enough, you're old enough ....

Domaine de la Ferme Saint Martin, Les Terres Jaunes, Beaumes de Venise 2009

Grape:     75% Grenache 25% Syrah

Where:    Beaumes de Venise, Southern Rhone, France

Booze:     14.5%

Food:       Pulled Pork, Slow Roast Pork, Steak, Roquefort Salad

Story:      Certified Organic

With the prospect of a couple of grilled steaks being served for dinner, I had a quick rummage in the cellar and pulled out a Christmas gift from one of my wine suppliers.  I was possibly a tad keen and could have left this youngster to see in another Christmas before cracking it, but what the hell..... and it couldn't have been further from hell if it tried.

With a nose carrying flavours of black cherry, leather and a bit of  black earth it was certainly going to be up to the task of a Roquefort salad and a grilled steak.  During the dinner the acidity and tannins worked a treat and the cherry and white pepper flavours sat well alongside the steak.  In fact I was taken back how well this was drinking now and will be listing this in the weeks to come.

Without breaking the bank, I was delighted with this wine which proves the theory.....

"If you're good enough, you're old enough"

Available from D Vine Wine for about £15.

Undeniably Australian........

The Musician by Majella 2010

Grape:     56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Shiraz

Where:    Coonawarra, South Australia 

Booze:     14.5%

Food:       Ribs or BBQ Lamb 

Story:      damn honest people and mainly sustainable

On a day where Michael Clarke came of age as Australian Cricket Captain with a score of 329 and declared in the shadow of several personal records, I just felt the need to toast to my homeland.  Not because of Mr Clarke's fantastic efforts but because of the fact that occasionally I get homesick for 3 things...

• my family
• my mates (you know who you are)
• the wine !

and tonight Bruce Gregory it is your turn to bat... on the wine front anyway.  

12 months ago,  Sara Lager and I sat in Bruce's lab as he was blending and we just went along for the ride and questioned this and that.  I dare say it may have been this very wine.... maybe, maybe not.  Even with Majella's level entry (the Musician) Bruce's character comes through..... interesting, diverse but most of all an understated quality!

First ball, the Musician delivers a waft of blackcurrant, bramble and eucalyptus to the nose which is backed up with a little leather and spice.  Second delivery, a solid cover drive is comfortably played with those flavours coming to fore with a faint touch of oak, a little more spice and a lengthy balance dry finish.  Straight away we know this wine has the guts (full bodied), modest tannin and acidity to hang a round a while............. and also reminds me that I must place an order for more.  

I really think this wine is made well enough to evolve after a decade and it's not going to break the bank to do this.  

If you fancy joining me on a case give me a whistle at D Vine Wine where we sell this reliable bottle for £13.50

p.s. Mr Bruce Gregory.....  many thanks for a fabulous afternoon (previous post) and the opportunity to sample your craft on the 14 December 2010.  May our paths cross again.

and well done Mr Clarke... you are undeniably Australian......... just like the Musician.

 

Every Audi dealer should have a fridge full...

Van Volxem Scharzhofberger Riesling 2007

Grape:     Riesling

Where:    Saar, Germany

Booze:     12%

Food:       Oriental seafood, or in my case a home made seafood ramen.

Story:      No fertilisers, low yield..... sustainable.

It is 2012 already, and like many others, I drank too much of the same thing,  the same old wine and same old styles.  Well, I thought I would go for different selection in a German Riesling. My better half has been scarred by her parent's fascination with Black Tower many years ago, so I usually leave the Germanic styles on the shelf..... much to our detriment.

The Van Volxem Scharzhofberger has good fresh acidity and minerality are on queue with precise but balanced melon, honey and lime flavours all evolving further.   The wine is wholesome, rounded and very complimentary with the salmon ramen I'm having tonight. Definitely a good start to 2012.


"Vorsprung durch Technik" should possibly be Vorsprung durch Wein

Available from D Vine Wine for £18.

Oh Milly !

Macon-Milly Lamartine, Les Héritiers des Comtes Lafon 2009


Grape: Chardonnay

Where: Macon, Burgundy, France

Booze: 13%

Food: Alone but roast chicken or mushroom risotto is also good

Story: Biodynamic

It is the last Friday night of an exhausting year but very fulfilling year and I saw no point mucking about and decided I needed to celebrate the hard work but also grab a bit of inspiration for the year ahead.  A good burgundy was just the one.
 
The aromas yield a bit of citrus, vanilla, fresh yeast and a bit of sandstone minerality that just pulls you in.   Tastewise, a tinge of blood orange zing with a very balanced yeastiness just has you drooling for more.  It's good, but could only benefit from a couple more years in the bottle.
 
"It's never a bad day when you have a wine like this".....  a perfect way to finish the year.
 
Available from D Vine Wine for £20

First date with Herve'

Syrah. Herve’ Souhaut

Grape:     Syrah

Where:    St Joseph, Rhone, France

Booze:     12.2%

Foods:      Pate, Roast Chicken

Story:       Biodynamic

When I get asked to taste I feel a bit like being asked out on a date. So when Herve’ Souhaut asked me on a date, I invited my wife and sister in law. We absolutely adored the first impression …… a Simple stylish but inviting label that leaves you wanted to get to know them better. It is beautiful, glistening ruby with indigo highlights which radiates though on closer inspection. It is not a glass of Ribena with a somewhat grained complexion.

And if the looks didn’t pull you in, the perfume will. The blueberry and blackcurrant fruit with leaf just draws you closer. With the these aromas working the imagination into a frenzy, the initial indications tell you this date wants to go to dinner. The higher acidity levels are crying out for some food… any food.

At this point I am suspecting there will be no 2nd date. The flavours are sublte and seem a little flat. They are there, but just flat and for £16 I am looking for a little more substance. Perhaps it got bored waiting for dinner ?

As we are still at the bar having the crisps with white pepper, the flavours are eventually coaxed out and start lingering in parallel with those aromas. The light berry fruit, pepper and on point acidity.

At about £16 ish this is not a cheap date but a serious player who is so classy that you have spend some to enjoy and realise it’s qualities as opposed to eye candy and perfume.

Allow your palate time to adjust and resistance will only get harder.....

Available from D Vine Wine for £16.

So out of fashion........ but so damn good

Gewurztraminer Gesetz, Domaine Lucas & André Rieffel 2009

Grape: Gewurztraminer

Where: Alsace, France

Booze: 12.5%

Foods: pork pate or terrine, creamy cheese

Story: Organic (pesticide free)


It's Friday night and I think I have reached a point in my life where if I want to do something, I will do it, as I really can't be bothered conforming with fashion. Gewurztraminer could not be more unfashionable and probably, almost as unfashionable as port is at the moment.

On opening, I dive in to the mineral, floral fragrance which is followed up with an irresistible melon, honeyed quince flavour. The acidity is so spot on it leaves a sensational zing which cries out for a soft cheese or a pork pate. It really is so good, so pure it couldn't be fashionable. In fact I would love to leave this for 5 years and see where it goes.... I just reckon it might be every bit of good as it was tonight, if not better.

Available from D Vine Wine for about £17.