Lovely nose of cherries and burn’t toast. On the palate luscious fruit, with nice backbone, baked fruit pie and long spicey savoury notes. Totally delicious this will no doubt develop over time but it will be hard job not to polish off the whole case long before that!
Some great wines on show at this en primeur tasting. Highlights were:
Lovely Condrieu Vieille Vignes by Ogier,
Floral, full with a fresh salty tang.
Superb wines poured by Rene Rostaing included the perfumed, finely balanced and restrained Cote Blonde contrasting with dark manly La Landonne.
Domaine du Colombier Croze and Hermitage delivered well above their price.
In the south loved meeting Jean-Michel Vache of Le Clos de Cazaux whose refined Vacqueyras I have long been a fan of. He makes the Wine Society’s Exhibition Vacqueras which is tremendous value.
I have to admit that the massively concentrated, extracted & ‘over the top’ nature of most of the Chateauneuf du Papes nearly caused me to lose faith with this region.
That was until I got to the marvellous, classic & refined wines of both Vieux Telegraphe and Cht Beaucastel. Wines made to last but with clean fruit and freshness.
Made in the Thracian Lowlands region around Elenovo village in Bulgaria by Italian winemaker Edoardo Miroglio, this 2007 pinot noir really is a find. Beautiful black cherry nose, smoke, oaky nuances, sweet tannins, a hint of Hungarian Tokay. Comparable with many a fine burgundy. In fact, it reminded me of Chambolle musigny from our recent Burgundy tour, that same complex smokiness.
This bottle slipped down well with truite a la fenouil. Suitably impressed wine aficionado (cousin Steve). Available from the brilliant Swig at less than £10 a bottle.
We spent a delightful weekend at Hotel Terravina in the New Forest. This place is a wine lovers paradise. It is the baby of Gerard Bassett (cofounder of Hotel du Vin). There are some 430 wines on the wine list. Gerard is an MW and hosts tastings. His selection is a revelation. Head sommelier Laurent happily stopped during a busy evening to show me the beautiful red-bricked wine cellar. There are two – one under the hotel and a stunning open plan cellar off the restaurant.
Alpha Domus has a rich aroma of berry fruit with hints of spice and oak, rather elegant with a firm finish. Available at approximately £13 a bottle at everywine.co.uk.
Not a blockbuster but happily recommend it.
WanderCurtis Wine 