WanderCurtis Wine

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Category Archives: past events


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Wine Quiz Night for The Village School, Belsize Park, 7th February 2019

WanderCurtis Wine Quiz Night, Belsize Park, 7th February 2019

 

Getting together 100 people on a cold winter’s night was a formidable task. Lindsay and her excellent team were up to it.

We hosted at the Village School Belsize Park, raising money for Friends of Della and Don in support of Ratmalana in Sri Lanka devastated by the 2004 Tsunami.

We carefully selected wines to show of varietal qualities for the blind tasting quiz part of the evening and amended our wine quiz to compliment the evenings themes.

It featured an art auction with a collection of fine work from artists such as Grayson Perry and delicious homemade Italian cuisine by Riccardo of TortelliniCup.

The following wines were served-

 

Aperitif – Prosecco La Gioiosa et Amorosa NV DOC Treviso

 Wine 1 Viñalba Selección Torrontés 2018 Lujan de Cuyo

Wine 2 Grand Ardèche Chardonnay 2016 Louis Latour

 Break for Italian buffet

 

 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2017 Monte Schiavo

Alain Grignon Carignan Vieilles Vignes 2017 PGI Pays de l’Hérault

 

Wine 3 Edna Valley Pinot Noir 2016

Wine 4 Valpolicella Ripasso 2016 Villa Borghetti

 We used the local Majestic Wine in Chalk Farm. The Torrontes exhibited great typicity with floral fragrant notes of lychee and white blossom. This was in stark contrast to the buttery rich Chardonnay from Louis Latour.

The reds were similarly rewarding. To find a Pinot Noir of this quality from California for under a tenner was an achievement. The Edna Valley showed earthy qualities with a good red fruit core. Villa Borghetti’s Valpolicella Ripasso fermented on pomace from Amarone production displayed a richer wine with blueberry and spice aromas.

The winning table  was ‘Chardonnay’  who leapt up in joy and around £11,000  raised for Charity.


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Famille Hugel Wine Dinner with Charlotte Hugel – Thursday November 1st

 

Hugel & Fils were founded in 1639 in picturesque Riquewihr, Alsace, France. The Hugel family are pioneers of winegrowing in Alsace and their distinctive yellow label has commanded world-wide recognition for excellence. They are still run by the same family. This evening was hosted by Charlotte Hugel who is Thirteenth generation! Over a matched three course dinner, we tasted a range of the brilliant Hugel wines, from the best-selling Gentil range, Classic range, Estate range, and Grand Cru “Grossi Laüe”. The wines showed off their purity and precision and demonstrated why Hugel are one of the most respected wine family’s in France

 

 

Aperitif

Hugel Gentil 2016

Starter Prawn and Avocado Cocktail

Hugel Pinot Gris Estate 2015

Main course Pan fried Hake, Smoked garlic mash, French beans & beurre blanc

Hugel Riesling classic 2014
Hugel Riesling Grossi Laüe 2011

Dessert Blue cheese and exotic fruits

Hugel Vendange Tardive Gewürztraminer 2009

 

 

 


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Leah Seresin from Seresin Estate, Marlborough, New Zealand on June 21st at Frederick’s.

 

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New Zealander Michael Seresin is a well-known cinematographer. In 1992 he set up Seresin Estate on the Wairau river terraces of Marlborough, which has New Zealand’s longest sunshine hours. Their wines are some of the first to be farmed organically and biodynamically.

‘This is pinot noir at its best. Incredibly expressive, pretty but also savoury, a smell that leaps out of the glass and wraps itself around you, blooming like a peony.’ Victoria Moore, Wine Correspondent.

Michael’s daughter Leah Seresin presented the following fantastic wines with dinner at Frederick’s on June 21st.

Aperitif- Seresin Estate Sauvignon Blanc 2016

Starter- Seresin Estate Marama 2014

Mains-  Seresin Estate Leah Pinot Noir 2016

 Rachel Pinot Noir 2016

Dessert-Seresin Estate Chiaroscuro 2013

 

 

 


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Louis Jadot Wine Dinner at Patron Restaurant April 24th 2018

Maison Louis Jadot is a family owned business based in Beaune, Burgundy  established in 1859. They also have substantial vineyard holdings throughout the Cote d’Or as well as the Maconnais as well as producing  wine from a number of other appellations throughout Burgundy.

The winemaker, Jacques Lardière, has been with the company for over 30 years and together with Pierre-Henry Gagey and his father André before him, has built the company to be one of the finest in Burgundy.

 

We  hosted at the excellent French  Patron Restaurant in Kentish Town with Maison Louis Jadot’s  Export Director Sigfried Pic.

A three course dinner was matched with some of the finest Burgundies from the Louis Jadot range.

 

Aperitif, we compared Chablis and Saint-Véran.

The Chablis was a favourite with lees ageing adding to texture and complexity with a lovely mineral/oyster shell note typical of Chablis grown on  kimmeridgean soils

First course: Foie Gras with brioche served with Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru La Romanée 2013 – beautiful rich textured lovely vanilla from oak ageing nicely balanced with ripe stone fruit

Main course : Duck confit and Gratin Duaphinoise served with Beaune 1er Cru Theurons 2009

Dessert a selection of artisanal cheese  served with Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cazetiers 2007 and served blind the  Moulin-à-Vent La Roche 2007 in magnum


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Dinner with Champagne Taittinger – December 5th 2017

Following our brilliant evening a few years ago with Kevin McKee, UK Director of Family Taittinger, we had another treat  at Fredericks with a marvellous Champagne selection.

The evening included a tasting, hosted by Kevin, of a range of their finest Champagnes matched with a delicious three course dinner in Frederick’s private club room.

We tried their signature Cuvee of the house through to their prestigious cuvee Comtes de Champage 2006 made in tiny quantities and only in exceptional years, the ultimate expression of Taittinger.

Alongside Comtes we had the unique opportunity to try Domaine Carneros Le Reve 2007, from Taittinger’s joint venture in California. Le Reve (“The Dream”) is Domaine Carneros’ masterpiece. A prestige cuvee made from almost 100% Chardonnay grapes. This is arguably America’s greatest sparkling wine.

 

 

Aperitif – Taittinger Non-Vintage in Magnum

 

Starter – Taittinger Prelude Grands Crus

 

Main – Comtes de Champagne 2006 + Domaine Carneros Le Reve 2007

 

Dessert – Nocturne Sec Rosé NV

 


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Yalumba Wines of the Barossa Region with Chief Winemaker , Louisa Rose – October 5th

Following Adam’s two week wine tasting tour with Wine Australia in November, we chose some of our favourite wines for this dinner.

Barossa in South Australia is one of Australia’s oldest and greatest wine regions .

We were hosted by Yalumba’s Chief Winemaker Louisa Rose who is  one of Australia’s most experienced and talented winemakers. Her name is synonymous with Viognier in Australia.  In 2014 ‘The Age’ named Lou Australia’s Best Winemaker. Yalumba is Australia’s oldest family-owned winery founded in 1849 and unusually has it’s own cooperage and nursery.

Wines Tasted

Jansz Tasmania Vintage Cuvée 2011

Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier

Yalumba The Virgilius Viognier

Yalumba The Scribbler Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz

Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz

Yalumba Patchwork Shiraz

Yalumba The Octavius Shiraz

Yalumba FSW8B Botrytis Viognier

Menu

Salt & pepper squid, chilli sauce
Pan-fried duck breast, baby vegetables , broccoli & wasabi purée
Chocolate mousse

The Viogniers particularly shone through. The Eden Valley Viognier full of fresh ripe apricots with a lovely texture and finish.

The Virgilius was outstanding. Almost Burgundian with depth texture smokiness long finish and beautiful balance.

This will age well for 10 years.Scored 96 points in a recent Decanter review by Matthew Jukes.

 

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Vina Errazuriz with Magui Chadwick May 11th 2017

The Errazuriz Estate was founded in 1870 in the Aconcagua Valley in Chile.

It is widely considered as the premier family wine estate of Chile.

We tasted seven of their premium wines presented by Magui Chadwick

Magui is the daughter of Eduardo and the Sixth generation of the family involved in the wine business.

This was a great opportunity to try many different varietals and discover the excellent quality of wines that Chile produces.

 

 

Aperitif: In the garden

Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2015

Starter: Goats cheese Arancini

Aconcagua Costa Chardonnay 2015

Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2015

Main Course: Steak with Chimichuri sauce

Max Reserva Carmenere 2014

Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015

Don Maximiano 2014

Dessert:Rarte Tatin and Zabaglione ice cream

Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc