*Most recent notes at the top*
18th - 21st January 2010 - Team trip to London for tastings with H & H Bancroft, Liberty Wines, Thorman Hunt, Bibendum and Alliance Wines.
Four members of the team, Neil, Jane, Liz and Kasia travelled to London in search of new wines for both the shop and our trade customers. We tasted hundreds, far too many to list here but the trip was very successful and there will certainly be a number of new wines (and olive oils) heading our way shortly. We will let you know when they do.
5-9 October 2009 - Neil's trip to Puglia & Sicily, Italy with Liberty Wines
(adding as we receive)
Visit to Vesevo
Tasted:
Vesevo Sannio Falanghina 08 - Citrus on the nose with hints of almonds and nuts coming through on the palate. Zingy, clean and very drinkable. (Appx £10) 8/10
Greco di Tufo 08 - Only bottled one week ago so slightly spritzy (carbonic). Lovely, zesty, zingy clean fruit. Much more commercial than the Fiano, for the same money.
Fiano di Avellino 08 - Zesty lemony and slightly waxy. A cloying sweetness and slight nuttiness on the palate. Ok 6.5/10
Beneventano Aglianico 07 - Sweet fruit, soft tannins. Very nice. Appx £10. VG 8
Taurasi (Aglianico) DOCG 03 - Big, sassy, rich 'n' creamy. Yum. But who is going to buy a £25 bottle of Aglianico??
Gran Sasso Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 08 - Clean sweet white fruit aromas and flavours. Aromatic and quite creamy but a little light on the finish. OK 7.5/10
Pecorino IGT Terre di Chieti 08 - Quite a mouthful of ripe, spicy white fruits on the nose and palate. Good acidity and clean. OK (appx £11). Hard sell. 7.5/10
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Cerasuolo Rose 08 - 100% MdA Rose with a cherry-cola colour. 5g of res-sugar. Clean, off-dry, fruity and citric. Light finish. Ok 7/10
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 08 - Lovely purple colour. Clean black and red soft fruit on the palate. Very nice. Appx £7 VG 8.5/10 25% in barrel.
Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Colline Teramane 05 - A bigger more intense version of the straight. Smooth, soft, creamy, rich, warm black fruits, soft tannins. Lovely. 9/10
Sangiovese/Merlot 08 - 85/15 sweet reductive nose. Quite unpleasant. 5/10
Visit to Donnafugata
Tasted:
Polena 08 - 50 Catarratto 50 Viognier - Citrussy and exotic and quite floral. Very clean, crisp and gluggable. 8/10
Vigna di Gabri 04 & 08 - Ansonica (inzolia) grapes - Amazingly fresh for an 04. Good acidity and spicy, citrussy fruits. Mineral and lingering. VG 8/10 08 a much more mineral version of the 04 (obviously). Good nutty fruit and clean acidity. A little light on the finish. 6.5/10
Sheherezade Shiraz and Nero d’Avola 08 - Slightly spicy lovely coffee chocolate, blackforest gateau aromas and flavours. Warm and unctuous. Very good. 8/10
Tancredi 02 & 06 - 70 Nero d’Avola and 30 Cab Sauv - Dark blackcurrant colour. Slightly stalky initially then mouth-coating blackcurrant and black berry fruit flavours. Good tannins. Ok 7/10
06 - Same blend - Closed on the nose but with u/l b/c fruit on palate. Good acaidity and soft tannin with good length. Ok 7/10
Mille Notte 03 & 06 - Mainly Nero d’avola - Rich and full on the nose and palate. Still hints of youthful stalkiness that make the wine ointeresting. Good tannin, good acidity, good fruit. Nice wine!
06 - What a gob-full of warm fruity tannin. Fruits there but a little green and stalky. Far too young but has all the attibutes to go a long long way.
Visit to Casa Vinicola Curatolo
Tasted:
Borgo Selene White 08 - Inzolia/Catarrato - Fresh young. Citrussy lemons. Clean. Light. Really nice (and inexpensive). 8/10
Villa Tonino Inzolia 08 - Citrussy, fruity limey. Clean, creamy. V nice. 8/10
Villa Tonino Grillo 08 - A little more weight than Inzolia. Great with oily fish and spicy food. A little sharp and slightly acidic. Ok 6.5/10
Borgo Selene Red 08 - Nerello Mascalese/Nero d’avola - Clean, black cherries and black-forest gateau aromas and flavours. Good wine for the money. 7.5/10
Villa Tonino Red 07 - 100% Nero d’Avola - A lovely ripe black fruited, coffee nose. Chocolate and hints of leather on the palate. Warm and quite seductive. Soft oak. Good. 7.5/10
Baglio Curatolo Nero d’Avola 06 6-9 months in new oak. A little stalky but with a good black fruit concentration. I like but prefer the VTNdA. 7/10
Baglio Curatolo Syrah 06 (13%) - 6 months in F and A barriques. A mouthful of clean black fruit and spice that dies very quickly. For the money a bit overpriced and dull. 6/10
Tonino Catarrato/ Moscato 8% - Clean. Fun. Light. Sweet with a dryish finish. Ok. 6/10
Dry Marsala Fine - Lovely burnt raisin and fig aromas and flavours finishing quite dry. VC 50% of production is Marsala. Buy some of the Fine for cooking. SC ‘I don’t like young girls’ NP ‘why?’ SC ‘they like to spend money! I don’t like to spend money.’
End
Home Tasting 16.09.09 - Domaine de la Cristia Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2005 - Neil brought a bottle of this home to have with dinner and wow was it impressive. A lot more impressive than my food, it was dark, rich, juicy, fruit forward and succulent. Beautiful spicy notes too. At £18.95 per bottle, I have to say that it represents amazing value and will also cellar for many years. No wonder this domaine is regarded as one of the up-and coming new superstar producers in Chateauneuf du Pape! We have only 22 bottles of this left so you have to be quick. (Jane)
Tasting at Dunell's Premier Wines - Saturday 12th September 2009
We currently have 5 wines on tasting in the shop today and Kasia, one of our very experienced Sales Advisors has just sent me some quick notes:
"I must say that both Mad Fish wines (Unwooded Chardonnay and Cabernet Merlot) are showing really well! The Unoaked Chardonnay shows yummy mandarin and melon flavours with a pleasant softness on the finish. Very good quality and the Mad Cabernet Merlot 2004 is opening up (but will still improve during next few years) and is elegant with good depth, but not too heavy. Ripe berry flavours and soft tannins. There is something for every palate here today. ;) It’s not too early for a tasting!"
Neil and Liz's Trip to Burgundy and Northern Rhone 07.09.09 - 11.09.09
Here are Neil's notes for the wines he and Liz have been tasting during their trip - Jane is uploading them as she receives them from Neil:
11.09.09 - Visit to Christian Moreau - Chabis
Just tasted some amazing Chablis, 1er and Grand Cru's with the incredible Christian Moreau. What a character, what wines! Buy the 08, wow!
07 good
08 fantastic
09 should be very good but perhaps 08 better
Vendange starts on Monday.
Grand Cru 40-50% barrel fermentation
Has just bottled the 08
80% of vineyard is bio, as of next vintage it will be 100%. CM believes that the wine will be as good initially when 100% bio but will be better than it is now in 10-15 years time. Uses less that 2% new oak each year.
Tasted
08 Chablis AOC (40 year old vines, natural fermentation with natural yeast) - intense green, asparagussy fruit on the nose and palate. Clean, slightly grassy with excellent acidity and length. VG 8/10
08 Chablis 1er Cru ‘Vaillon’ (bottled last week, has almost 5ha of Vaillon) - slightly closed on the nose with underlying soft toasty oak. Beautiful fruit and superbly balanced oak and acidity. Lovely minerality and richness! One to buy lots of. EX 9/10
07 Chablis 1er Cru ‘Vaillon’ - creamy, rich, less acidic, soft minerality. Lovely. VG 8/10
07 Chablis Grand Cru ‘Vaudesir’ - lovely, clean, crunchy apples and limes on the nose and palate. Hints of unripened pineapples and very well-integrated soft toasty oak. EX 8.5/10
07 Chablis Grand Cru ‘Valmur’ - a bigger animal, much richer and more full-bodied. Pear-drops and lime with good acidity and a lovely, lusciously-long finish. EX 9/10
07 Chablis Grand Cru ‘Les Clos’ - still quite closed but opening up on the palate into a rich, warm slightly spicy, toasty oak. VVG 9/10
07 Chablis Grand Cru ‘Les Clos’ Clos des Hospice (Monopole) - quite closed on the nose and opening up with nice pineapply, pear-droppy fruit on the palate. Warm, rich, clean and wonderfully well-balanced. VVG 8.5/10
CM ‘style is purity and finesse with well-integrated and not overpowering oak’
04 Chablis 1er Cru ‘Vaillon’ (from magnum) - green asparagus gazpacho and green peas on the nose. These follow on to the palate which turns rich and very honeyed. Rich with warm spicy notes and excellent length. We need to buy some magnums and sit on them. Even after 5 minutes the flavours are still in the mouth. A triumph! EX 9/10
10.09.09 - Visit to Rene Bouvier, Gevrey Chambertin
Has 17ha. Moved into new, large, modern premises 3 years ago.
07 Bourgogne Aligote Vieilles-Vignes - tropical, pear-droppy fruit on nose and palate. Good fruit and acidity balance. Very fresh and approachable. (3000-4000 bots) VG 8/10
07 Marsannay Blanc ‘Le Clos’ 3ha Monopole - some good soft toasty oak on the nose. Soft peachy, citrussy fruit on the palate. Really well-balanced. Showing extremely well. VVG 8.5/10 (20000 bots apx)
08 Marsannay Rose ‘Anthocyane’ - red wine-gummy fruit on nose and palate. Clean, crisp and very easy drinking with a warm finish. VG 7.5/10
07 Bourgogne Pinot Noir ‘Le Chapitre’ - lovely cherrry/red berry notes on the nose. Clean with hints of spice and warmth. Very nice. 7-5-8/10
07 Cote de Nuits Village - good colour, mix of red/black fruits and soft toasty oak on nose and palate. A lovely creamy richness and warm spice on the finish. Lovely. VG 8/10
07 Marsannay Rouge ‘En Ouzeloy’ (soil more stoney therefore wine more mineral, 1ha)- slightly more closed but alcoholic, greenness on the nose. Chocolatey black fruits and a smidgen of spice on the palate. OK 7/10
07 Marsannay ‘Clos du Roy’ (soil more clayey therefore more rich, 2ha) - lovely rich, warm blackfruit on the nose. Clean, creamy, rich and warm on the palate, the fruit wrapping itself around the soft tannins and oak. Very nice indeed. VVG 8.5-9/10
07 Fixin ‘Crais de Chene’ - tasting note lost by bloody blackberry.
07 Gevrey-Chambertin ‘La Justice’ (very stoney, light soil)- tasting note lost by bloody blackberry but from memory it was a lovely, warm, chocolatey, black-forresty flavours and excellent length. VVG 8.5/10
07 Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Les Jeunes Rois’ (very different, is on slope with clayey soil of 70cm, norht of region)- a bit more closed and with similar charcters but with added richness and elegance. Lovely. VVG 8.5/10
07 Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Racines du Temps’ (80 year old vines) - warm, ripe, chocolatey aromas and flavours. Beautifully rich, creamy, black fruits and spiciness rounded off with soft tannins, gentle acidity and soft oak. EX 9/10
07 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru ‘Petite Chapelle’ (further south in village, 50% new barells for 18 months) - a sweeter, more reductive (slightly burnt nose), more perfume and femininity on the palate with more apparent tannins and acidity. Lovely use of oak but a wine that needs more time. Great lenght. VVG 8.5/10
07 Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru ( - a real mix of ripe red and black fruit flavours on the nose, quite heady with sweet notes. Quite closed on the palate but with stunning purity of fruit showing through along with acidity and soft tannin). Hard one to gauge but I reckon once it opens it will be a knock-out. BB ‘needs 2-3 years and will then drink for 8-10’.
I think Bernard has produced a stunning range of wines in 07 and he feels 09 will be even better. 08 for him was also good with good acidity. His move to a new winery has really helped take the ‘rusticity’ from his wines, which is a good thing as they are now much cleaner and fresher.
10.09.09 - Visit to Michel Gros - Vosne Romanee
Met by Michel Gros who is the spit of Bruce Forsyth in the throws of the 09 Harvest. All of the growers we have met appear incredibly calm, probably helped by the fact that 09 is looking to be an EXCELLENT vintage and the harvest conditions are perfect.
Tasted
07 Hautes Cote de Nuits - a juicy, full style on the initial pate. Lovely citrussy fruit but a little lacking in depth and finish. OK 6/10
07 Hautes Cote de Nuit Rouge - juicy red berries and cherries on the nose and palate. Clean, crunchy, lively attack of fruit held togther with generous acidity and tannin. A little sharp on the finish but otherwise a nice wine. OK 6.5/10
MG ‘all destalked and gentle pressed as does not like any of the tannins that come from the pips etc’
07 Vosne Romanee - warm red and black fruit with soft toasty oak on the nose. Clean, rich and quite full on the palate with a good attack and balanced tannins and acidity. VG 7.5/10
07 Nuits-St-Georges - soft red and blackcurrant aromas and mild toastiness. Lovely, creamy, blackcurrant fruit on the palate with soft tannin and acidity. The finish is warm and mildly toasty. Very nice! VG 8.5/10
07 Vosne Romanee ‘Clos des Reas’ (Monopole) - more intense aromas and flavours, beautifully creamy black fruits, soft tannin and good acidity. Not sure its worth twice the price but what do I know? VG 8/10 (value for money 7/10)
07 Clos de Vougeot - spicy black fruit and soft toasty oak on the nose and palate. Warm, rich and creamy with lovely warm, long, soft finish. No stock available but nice to taste. EX 9/10
01 Vosne Romanee ‘Clos des Reas’ - a real treat! - quite closed on the nose but with underlying aged black and red fruits. Tannins are fading along with the acidity but there is still enough to give this wine many more years to age. Soft, juicy and warm with good length. EX 9/10
10.09.09 - Visit to Latour-Giraud, Meursault
Tasted - (All Meursaults)
07 Cuvee Charles Maxime - great way to start the day with this clean, rich, ripe grapefruit and tropical notes with just a hint of well-integrated oak. Very elegant. VG 8/10
07 Les Narvaux - a little more closed on the nose but with lovely underlying citrussy notes. Clean, creamy, citrussy, grapefruity (perhaps slightly nutty) and definitely richer than Charles Mazime. VVG 8.5/10
07 Meursault-Charmes 1er Cru (has ½ ha making 2200 bots appx) - more apparent oak and citussy aromas. Clean, with excellent acidity and freshness. Good length and elegance. BL ‘Charmes needs acidity otherwise it gets too rich/heavy. 07 was perfect.’ VG 8/10
07 Meursault-Genevrieres 1er Cru (12000 bots) - more ‘new’ oak on the nose but otherwise more closed. lean, creamy mouthfeel with citrussy, grapefruit flavours balancing well with the oak and acidity. Very clean and elegant with a beautiful long, racy finish. VVG 8.5-9/10
07 Meursault-Genevrieres ‘Cuvee des Pierre’ 1er Cru (55 yo vines, 30-50 new oak for 11 months the 6 months in 5 yo barrels) max of 900 bottles and it needs plenty of time - beautiful clean mildly toasty oaky and citussy nose. The new oak comes through a bit more on the palate which is wonderfully rich and elegant with creamy, honeyed, citrussy flavours. Huge length. Stunning. EX 9/10
Because the CdP takes a long time to come around Bernard is showing us an 06 also.
06 Meursault-Genevrieres ‘Cuvee des Pierre’ 1er Cru - the honeyed, creamy, slightly vanilly aromas are slightly more apparent on the nose. BL ‘06 - has not seen a vintage that shows this type of fruit so early on and the wine has always tasted 6 months older than it actually is’.
Soft, creamy, rich, full flavours of honey and less citrus. Perfect now with excellent length and freshness. EX 9/10
BL ‘keep the CdP for 10-12 years’
BL ‘business is tough in many markets at present especially the US and Germany but others, Northern Europe, Canada are fairing well.’
09.09.09 - Visit to Francois Raquillet
Tasted
08 Rully 1er Cru ‘Gresigny’ - lovely rich tropical, white stone fruits and lovely crisp, clean acidity. Long with good minerality. VG 7-7.5/10
08 Mercurey Blanc ‘La Brigadiere’ ( ha) - zesty, rich, ripe fruits. Quite complex with lovely citrussy notes. A little leaner but a lovely gluggable wine. VVG 7.5-8/10
07 Mercurey Rouge 1er Cru ‘Les Vasees’ - quite closed on the nose and then a slightly green fruited palate. A little unbalanced in my opinion but perhaps it just needs more time to evolve and open. ???
07 Mercurey Rouge 1er Cru ‘Les Naugues’ (the best and longest lasting, more attack, more luscious) - ripe black fruits do attack on the palate. Rich, sweet fruit and soft tannin and acidity. More character and life. Best in 2-3 years. VG 8/10
09.09.09 - Visit to Domaine de la Grand Cour, Fleurie
Uses no sulphur during winemaking (which is very rare) only a minute amount at bottling (which pretty much everyone does). So he is certified bio-logic. Just finished harvest.
Tasted
08 Clos de la Grand Cour (just bottled) - lovely ripe red berry fruit on the nose and palate. Clean ripe and juicy with moderate acidity and good length with a hint of pepperyness to finish. Will be excellent in 12 months. VVG 8.5/10 (Minimal filtration) 50% futs (4-5 yo), 50% foudre.
08 Cuvee Vieilles-Vignes - similar chacteristics to the Clos but with more umph and body. Lovely clean blacker berried fruit with coffee, vanilla and chocolate silkiness on the finish. EX 8.5-9/10
07 Clos - a little more closed on the nose but really opening up on the palate. Lovely clean, ripe creamy red/strawberry fruit with hints of blackcherries etc. Still with good acidity and tannin this is a wine that is excellent now but will just age and age. VVG 8.5/10
07 CVV - more open black foresty aromas that follow through to the palate. Rich, creamy and very elegant with well-balanced acidity, fruit and tannin. Lovely stuff. We are getting definitely more Burgundian here. VG 8.5/10
08 Climat ‘Champagne’ Vieilles-Vignes - rich, creamy, chocolatey vanilla (25 new oak 75 1-2yo). Blimey its rich! They only make 3000 bottles. What a wine. It is an 08 but bloody hell its good. Would be approximately £25 a bottle but compared to Burgundy that’s not too bad. EX 9/10
09.09.09 - Visit to Domaine de la Chaponne, Morgon
Laurent ‘a superb vintage with potential alcohol of 14% Like 05 more than 03. Very well balanced.
Tasted
08 Morgon Cote du Py - lovely light red fruits on the nose. Crunchy red apply fruit on the palate. Really well balanced. Clean fresh with a decent amount of weight. An excellent wine from a hard vintage. VG 8/10
07 - slightly warmer fruit on the nose. Warm red and black fruits on the palate. Beautifully clean and exceedingly drinkable. EX 9 Wow. This is the vintage in the shop at present. Buy it quick before it runs out.
Does not say Cote du Py on the label but is from this famous area. DdlC has 8 of 10 ha in the Cote du Py.
08 Morgon ‘Cuvee Joseph’ Eleve en Fut de Chene - a bit more of everything. Raspberry and cherry fruit. Very good. About £2 more. VG 8.5/10
06 Cote du Py - a lovely Burgundian-style nose. Deep, warm and slightly brooding. Stunning, what a revelation! EX 9/10 LG ‘The fruit of Beaujolais but the charm of Burgundy’
05 Cote de Py - lovely rich, round fruit. Slightly corked sample but even so very good.
06 ‘Cuvee Joseph’ - round, expressive ‘blueberry’ fruit. Stunning! 9/10
08 ‘Cuvee Joseph’ - slightly more Burgundian on the nose. Excellent ripe red and black fruits
03 Cote de Py - at its peak now.
96 Cote de Py - wow how does it age that long. An almost Bordelais blackcurrant nose. On the palate it is definitely Pinot-like.
What an amazing visit! From this small husband and wife team (with Dad helping when needed) they make some incredible wines. We listed this on Simons recommendation without tasting it, what a recommendation! 09 Juice or ‘le paradise’ as Laurent calls it. Wow its going to be stonking.
09.09.09 - Visit to Domaine de la Madone, Fleurie
9ha of La Madone, 6ha at Domaine de Nigara which Arnaud inherited in 04.
Tasted
08 Tradition - lovely red fruits on the nose. Crunchy red fruit on the initial palate that opens up immediately to show pure, elegant fruit. Very drinkable even now. VG 8/10
08 La Madone ‘Cuvee Speciale Vieilles-Vignes’ - much deeper in colour and richer and creamier on the palate. A wine to drink in another year when the tannins will be softer and be in perfect balance. VG 8/10
08 Domaine de Niagara (from tank) - very rich and black fruited. Showing good potential.
08 ‘Grille Midi’ - more spritz than the DdN and a lot more aggresive. Has just finished the secondary ferment.
07 ‘Grille Midi’ VV (65 yo vines from one parcel, south facing and very hot) - the heat shows through on this wonderfully rich wine. Lovely clean blacker, riper fruit and well-balanced acidity and tannins. VG 8.5/10
07 Domaine de Niagara - all of these wines are wonderfully rich and blackfruited especially the 07s. The Domaine is higher in altitude giving it perhaps a bit more balance of acidity and fruit. A really good mouthful of fruit. Lovely stuff. EX 8.5/10
06 Domaine de Niagara - very closed on the nose but ipening up to reveal rich, creamier black fruit on the palate. More rounded and drinking very well. Shows the potential is excellent for these wines. VG 7.5-8.5??? Will review.
06 Cuvee Prestige ‘La Madone’ (50 yo vines)n selected from some of the best cuvees) Fut de Chene (12 months in 4-5yo futs) - again fairly closed on the nose (must be a vintage thing). Very burgundian on the palate with lovely cherry and black berry flavours with lovely soft vanilla/oak notes on the finish. Lovely. EX 8.5/10
Blind Tasted ?? La Madone - definite browning at the edges showing age. Old Burgundian fruit on the nose and palate. Revealed as 1990! Wow! You will only get these old Beaujolais to last this long if made by the best people in the best areas from the best vines. Wow!
If someone wants a lighter style of Burgundy but does not want to pay much more than a tenner they should look at slightly older wines from top producers like La Madonne or La Chaponne. Excellent start to the day!
08.09.09 - Visit to Domaine Vincent Paris (Cornas)
Tasted
08 Saint-Joseph - from a difficult vintage Vincent has made a really good wine. Crunchy, clean black and ripe red fruit flavours with chocolatey hints. VG 7.5/10
07 Saint-Joseph - a very deep, dark purple colour and deep black forest aromas. A slight spritz on the initial taste opening up to a riper, crunchier palate with excellent ‘black forest’ flavours. Good balance and a nice long finish. VG 8/10
07 Cornas ‘Granit 30’ - quite closed on the nose but really opening up on the palate. Rich, ripe ribena black fruit, excellent fruit, acidity and soft tannins. We have some spare stock in the shop, grab it quick!
EX 8.5/10 - (PS prefer the French label)
07 Cornas ‘Granit 60’ (3 parcels on very steep slope - hard work) - quite closed on the nose just with a bit of alcohol poking through. Big black fruit on the palate with firm dusty tannins and great acidity. VP ‘needs at least another 3 years to come around and will last a long time’. EX 8.5/10
07 Cornas ‘La Geynale’ - 100 yo vines on a 1ha vineyard - a pure and wonderfully Rhoney Cornas that ticks all the boxes. A bigger animal that will need careful nurturing and taking for long walks for the next 5 years while you wait for it to mature. Great stuff from this young winemaker. EX 8.5/10
08.09.09 - Visit to Domaine Fayolle
1870 first grapes planted - 6th generation
Celine Nodin and Laurent Fayolle, winemaker (bro & sis)
Tasted
08 Crozes Hermitages Blanc ‘Sens’ - honeyed, almondy, richness with okay acidity. A little flabby for me. (60 Roussanne/40 Marsanne) Hideous presentation. OK 6/10
08 Crozes Hermitages Blanc ‘Les Pontaix’
(100% 60yo Marsanne vines) - cleaner, crisper white fruits and beautifully balanced acidity. Rich, lightly creamy. Lovely for an 08. VG 8/10 LF ‘needs 1-2 years and then for 5-6 years.’
07 Hermitage ‘Les Dionnieres’
100% Marsanne, 12 months sur lie, 100% oak ageing - honey and burnt almonds on the nose. Clean, creamy and warming white fruits and honey on the palate. Really well-balanced oak and acidity with a nice spiciness on the finish. VG 8/10
LF ‘needs to be 4-5 years old before drinking’
08 Crozes Hermitages Rouge ‘Sens’ - chocolate and mocha over crunchy red fruits. Quite stalky and harsh but with good spiciness (needs time). OK 6.5/10
LF ‘looking for thin tannin, less extraction”
07 ‘Les Pontaix’ (40 yo vines in Crozes-Hermitage) - beautifully warm red and black fruit on the nose. Slightly dusty tannins on the palate but backed up with warm spicy black fruit and richness. A very elegant wine that will be stonking in 2 years time. VG 7.5/10
07 ‘Clos les Cornirets’ VV (1ha, 60yo syrah) - gorgeous warm chocolatey black fruited nose that follows through to the palate, beautifully soft, well-balanced with soft tannins and wonderful fruit. Star of the day so far! EX 9/10
Appx £16. Suggest you all get your orders in.
08 ‘Clos les Cornirets’ VV from barrique - wow, going to be stonking also. Excellent black fruits, dusty tannins, slightly higher acidity. Yum.
LF ‘Only make 4500 bottles of ClC, less in 08.’
08.09.09 - Visit to Philippe Faury
Lionel Faury - Started the harvest today. 17ha. 65-70000 bottle pa.
Tasted
07 Saint-Joseph Blanc (60 Marsanne / 40 Roussanne. 11 months in not new oak barrels)
Rich, white fruits, apricot and peach. Clean, well-balanced. Luscious. Good finish. VG 8/10
07 Condrieu (100% Viognier) - clean, creamy and luscious. Rich, ripe white fruits. VG 8/10
07 Condrieu ‘La Berne’ (single vineyard / VV 40 yrs old) - lovely creamy, luscious fruit. Light peaches and apricots. Very well-balanced. Lacks a little on the finish. VG 8.5/10
07 Saint-Joseph
VG 8/10
07 Saint-Joseph ‘La Berne’
VG 7.5/10
07 Cote-Rotie
EX 8.5/10
07.09.09 - Visit to Yves Cuilleron
Tasted
2008 - difficult vintage, lots of rain. Lots of acidity and leafy-notes.
2009 - like 06
08 Roussane VDP - ripe tropical fruits. Rich, clean but a bit boring. 6/10
08 Saint-Joseph ‘Saint-Pierre’ (100% Roussanne) - heady, peachy, melony sweetness on the nose. Warm, creamy, crisp, rich white fruit on palate. 8/10
08 Marsanne VDP - slightly musty, peachy, apricot nose. Ripe white fruits and marzipanny hints. 6/10
08 Saint-Peray ‘Les Cerfs’ (100% Marsanne) 50 year vines - lovely clean, peachy nose. A more subtle, clean white. 9 m in barr. 20% New Oak.
Lots of acidity but then very bland and watery on finish. Sharp. 5/10
08 Viognier VDP - white stone fruit on the nose, a little heady. Richer and creamier on palate and slightly spicier. Warm. Good 7/10
08 Condrieu ‘Les Chaillets’ VV - typical Condrieu nose, white fruit and slighlty almondy. All following through to the palate which is well-balanced. VG. 8/10
08 Syrah Rose ‘Sybel’ 08 - slight bubblegummy red wine gummy fruit on nose and palate. Okay but a hard sell. 6.5/10
08 Syrah VDP - cool clean nose. Crunchy, red and black fruit on the palate. Very, very crunchy - a winky wine! 5/10
08 Syrah ‘Les ‘Candives’ (best area for their Syrah) VDP - similar, slightly ‘bretty’ dirty nose. Green, sharp, unpleasant. Hints of pepper. 5/10
Boy are they going to have a hard time selling their 08 VDPs. They will need time to soften out, not cheap either.
07 Ripa Sinistra (Old vine syrah from opposite Vienne/Cote Rotie ie the wrong side of the river!) Great vintage!
Yum yum - the nose is rich, ripe black fruits and pepper. Mouthfilling black peppery fruit on the palate. Finishes with good balance of fruit, acidity and tannin. But at £25-30??! 8/10
07 Saint-Joseph ‘l’Amarybelle’ (100% Syrah) - well balanced oak, fruit and pepper on the nose that follows through to the palate. Rich, clean, slightly green/dusty tannins. VG. 8/10 Appx £18
This tasting really is showing how bad the 08 Rhones are. The 07s that have just come in should be snapped up!!
You cannot put Viognier in SJ but you are allowed up to 15% Marsanne or Viognier. They do not.
07 Saint-Joseph ‘Les Serines’ - a little more closed on the nose but u/l chocolatey/black fruit. Beautifully rich, ripe, clean, well-balanced. VVG 9 /10 Appx £23
You are allowed up to 20% Viognier in Cote Rotie. They use 10%.
07 Cote Rotie ‘Madiniere’ (100% Syrah) - clean, slightly green crunchy black fruit. A mouthful and with good balance, coffee and the chocolates that are dusted in coffee sweets that you get served with coffee flavours. At £30+ I would rather have the SJ. Needs 6-8 years. 7/10
07 Cornas ‘Les Vires’ (100% Syrah from vineyards planted in 1911) schiste and granite soils - slightly reduced, porty nose that follows through to the black fruit and coffee nose. A little sickly and would be a one-glasser with a bit of beef. 6.5/10 Appx £35+
End
2009 - Staff Training Tastings
Late last year, Neil decided that our staff members would benefit from more formal, organised wine tastings in the shop (whilst the shop is closed) whereby one of our suppliers comes to Jersey to educate us further on the wines we already sell as well as to sample some of their new wines that they would like us to start selling.
Staff training and education is so important as we get asked a very wide selection of questions about our wines and the more our staff members know, the better the service we can provide. Prices shown are prices at that particular date.
THIS BLOG HAS BEEN CREATED NOT ONLY FOR THOSE WHO WOULD LIKE TO READ WHAT WE ARE TASTING, OUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS BUT ALSO FOR OUR STAFF MEMBERS AS A REFERENCE TOOL.
Please click on the individual links below:
22nd April 2009 - Champagne Tasting with J.J. Le Sueur and Derek Langford of Moet and Chandon
25th March 2009 - Tasting with Raymond Reynolds of Raymond Reynolds Ltd
11th March 2009 - Tasting with Bruce Kendrick of Liberty Wines, London
4th March 2009 - Tasting with John Fozard of Cachet Wines, UK
3rd March 2009 - Tasting with Philip Jeffries of Enotria
25th February 2009 - Tasting with Laurie Webster from Las Bodegas
24th February 2009 - Tasting with Pippa Woods from Seckford Agencies, Essex
20th February 2009 - Petaluma Dinner at Tassili, The Grand Hotel with Peter Rawling, UK Sales Manager of Lion Nathan Wines
18th February 2009 - Tasting with Neil McAndrew from H & H Bancroft Wines, London
11th February 2009 - Tasting with Chris James of Bordeaux Vin Selection, Bordeaux
28th January 2009 - Tasting with Derek Onslow of Ellis of Richmond, Middlesex
21st January 2009 - Tasting with Teresa and Nicholas Burridge of Burridges of Arlington St, Sussex.
15th January 2009 - Tasting with Adrian Burns of Fields, Morris and Verdin, London
7th January 2009 - Tasting with Bruce Kendrick from Liberty Wines, London