Wine

We followed the 2003, 2004 and 2005 releases keenly but this is the first release of Dalwhinnie Southwest Rocks Shiraz we seem to have seen since. I suspect it hasn’t been made/released every year. This wine includes 3 percent viognier.

It’s fermented wild and spends 36 months in oak, 36% of which is new. Paradigm Hill has become an elite performer over the past decade in spite of some difficult seasons.

Vouvray's Espace du Vin The tasting roomJean-Michel Pieaux, president of the Vouvray producers In early April Marie Thomas of the Syndicat des Producteurs de Vouvray kindly arranged a tasting of the 2011 Vouvrays at the appellation's Espace du Vin. The building that houses the Espace previously belonged to M. Musset, who was formerly president of the Vouvray Syndicat des Producteurs. Before we started the tasting we talked briefly about the 2012 vintage, especially the frost of April 16th/17th when Rochecorbon was more affected than further east in the appellation around Vernou and the valley of the Brenne. Catherine Dhoye-Deruet.2011 in Vouvray was a rather easier vintage than 2010 when rained arrive at the wrong time in late September/early October provoking rot and forcing the vignerons to pick very quickly. In the tasting there were 22 Vouvray secs, eight demi-sec and seven moelleux. The wines were tasted blind. Coup de Fougue, Florent Cosme in Noizay2011 secFavouritesCoup de Fougue, Florent Cosme Florent is the brother of Matthieu (Domaine de Beaumont) and has only recently set up his domaine in Noizay. Vibrantly citric, fresh style with good length. Cuvée de Silex, Domaine des Aubuisières, Bernard FouquetAttractive weight, texture and complexity with a touch of sweetness and then a typical hint of bitterness in the finish that is so characteristic of Chenin Blanc. Francis MabilleLean, austere style with very clean flavours - just a touch of sweetness mid-palate. Will be interesting to see how it ages. Also showed well:Domaine de Beaumont, Matthieu CosmeJean Michel Gautier Clos de NouysLe Peu Morier, Domaine Vincent CarêmeDenis BreussinVignoble BrisebarreDomaine de la Fontainerie, Catherine Droye-DeruetLe Clos de la Meslerie, Peter Hahn Les Jours Heureux, Alain Robert**Demi-secFavouritesLes Jours Heureux, Alain RobertClean, citric aromas, quite complex although will benefit from further time in bottle for all the elements to come together harmoniously. Cuvée Marcus, Clos de l'Epinay, Luc Dumange Cuvée Marcus, Clos de l'Epinay, Luc DumangeGood concentration and texture, quite a taut, austere style for a demi-sec but with good length and should age well. Also showed wellDomaine de la Rouletiere, Jean-Marc Gilet**Moelleux Cuvée Lubin Grand Liquoreux, La Croix des Vainqueurs, Laurent BonneauDiscreet aromas but rich, concentrated fruit on palate, complex flavours – honey and rich dried apricot, barley sugar and baked apple.Also showed wellLes Perruches, Domaine de la PoultiereCuvee Beauclair, Christian BlotSouvenirs d'Automme, Caves Cathelineau, Jean-Charles and Frédéric Cathelineau 0 0 1 372 2122 Jim's Loire 17 4 2490 14.0 544x376 Normal 0 false false false EN-GB JA X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";}

Wine WeddingWe are gathered here today to witness and celebrate the Perfect Union of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Merlot in a bottle of Napa Valley Red Wine.In the years these varietals have been together, their bond has grown and ripened, and now they live at each other's side, in one bottle, in unity. May these flavors find happiness in your glass. May they delight your taste buds, and may you enjoy every single drop. May they accompany your dinners, your parties, and your relaxing nights in. May they be the perfect accompaniment to your meal. It is our pleasure to pronounce this drink, a bottle of wine. You may drink the wine.

Brazil was the unexpected hit of the Tops at Spar Gugulethu Wine Festival which partied down last night on the roof of the Gugulethu Square Mall in the rainbow colours of Carioca fruit coolers which bring the exotic flavours of the Amazon across the Atlantic. The colours: electric; the taste: exotic; the vibe: exciting. From a [...]

See tasting notes on more than 200 wines under £10 a bottle. Only once have I been criticised for the subject matter of my regular columns for the Financial Times . Some years ago a member of the traditional British wine trade ticked me off for stooping to mention some of the bargains then.

An email from friends in Australia presented me with an immediate, professional challenge. They were due to arrive in London in two days' time; they would be free on only one busy weekday evening; and they wanted to have dinner around 8 pm somewhere close to Green Park station. I knew that,.

Here’s the video from the rare grape varieties tasting conducted by Dr Jose Vouillamoz at the London Wine Trade Fair this week, organized by the Circle of Wine Writers. I’d agreed to film it for them (I am on the committee), even though I was a little concerned that filming a tasting would actually be a bit boring. But this was such a good tasting, packed with really interesting commentary by Dr J, that it’s actually a compelling watch, especially the introductory section. He’s a real star in the making: an ultra-cool scientist.

My good friend Will Eddy shared...

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