Memories of Sussey Street from the Eighties when Vouvray was last fashionable. Flabby with a hint of liquorice, quite sweet.
Another so so from the wineonline.ie pot luck sale.
I guess we should be drinking this fresher rather than 5 years later.
2011
Negotino, 2011, puklavec & friends, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Grapes from Negotino in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) and bottled in Slovenia.
High alcohol (14%), this was a nice find in the wineonline.ie potluck sale.
One to watch, though they need a label designer – there is a competency in creating a nice wine here.
http://puklavecandfriends.com/en/our-wines/cabernet-sauvignon-merlot
The Stump Jump, d’Avenberg, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, McLaren Vale
Would I have bought this off the shelf? Probably not but I’m glad it came in the wineonline Pot Luck sale.
Earthy Cab Sav, lots of fruit, dry finish.
Nice philosophy, if you can read the label after a glass then you can have another glass. Named after a plough.
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Cono Sur, Reserva Especial, 2011, Cabernet Sauvignon
I liked this, big refined Cab Sav from Chile.
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Winery Fact sheet:
Cune Crianza Rioja 2011
Raw berries, typical Oaked Tempranillo from Rioja.
cune.com
Benziger Family Glen Ellen Winery Tour & Tasting, Sonoma Valley
A very pleasant tour through their “Demeter certified Biodynamic” vineyard and extensive new eco-Cellars. We also witnessed the start of the crush and their new super duper optical grape sorting camera-laser machine.
There is an interesting desplay at the entrance to the vineyard with explains their BioDynamic philosopny which takes an originally organic ethos to a new level through all aspects of the business (http://www.benziger.com/winegrowing-practices).
The wines we tasted were:
new 2012 Signaterra “West Rows” Chardonnay
We tasted this sheltering from the sun under a tree in the vineyard – more like a Sauvignon Blanc than a traditional Oaked Chardonnay, this was a crisp drop with a hint of Melon nose. $32.
2012 Signaterra “La Reyna”Pinot Noir
Light, cherry fruit with a hint of spice. €49
2011 Oonapais Sonoma Mountain Red
Names after one of their plots this had tints of Leather and Coffee. $49
2013 Frank Johnson Sauvignon Blanc
A typical ‘agrume’ Sauvignon Blanc: Lemon, Lime and Apple orchard. $26
2011 Winemaker’s Bend
A blend of 6 varietals from the various plots, more leather and coffee with a plum nose. Lesley’s favourite. $42
2011 Signaterra “Three Blocks” Cabernet Sauvignon
The star for me: black fruits with a dry finish and great mouthfeel. $49.
Clos Roche Blanche, Sauvignon No 5, 2011, Touraine
We stayed in Chateau d’Artigny near Montbazon, once home to and fitted out by Francois Coty.
That night we dined in the plush l’Origan restaurant and had the mini tasting menu.
The friendly Maitre d’ recommended the No 5 Sauvignon over the No 2 and it was delicious.
A complex wine with lots of minerality, flinty, metallic well balanced with citrus and gooseberry notes, great blast of grass.
A rare find. Didier Barouillet is the winemaker at Clos Roche Blanche. Worth more investigation.
The bar service at Chateau d’Artigny is brutal but we met some nice Americans from Fargo and had a pleasant nightcap with them as a result.
Pic Saint Loup, Gerard Bertrand, Grand Terroir, 2011
John brought this to dinner, a very mellow, fresh tasting blackberry fruity wine named after a mountain near Montpelier in Languedoc.
Gerard Bertrand, wine notes here, owns 6 wineries in the Languedoc (including Chateau l’Hospitalet / Maison Bertrand) and was once Captain of Stade Francais.
http://www.nj.com/homegarden/entertaining/index.ssf/2012/08/bertrand.html
http://blog.majestic.co.uk/gerard-bertrand-the-man-the-wines/
Chateau Bel Air de l’Orme, Bordeaux, 2011, Chateau Rouquette
An inoffensive, light claret.
Not sure how we came across though I do remember seeing it on Peploes wine list and Tesco also stock it
– but I can’t find out much more about it, nor Chateau Rouquette.
McConkey Wine 