Ahead of our Cordoniu Raventos tasting in January Kiran and Adam taste Prior Scala Dei 2013. Made from old vine Garnacha with some Cariñena, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Deliciously concentrated!
Category Archives: wine of the month
Bouchard Finlayson Hannibal 2013, Walker Bay South Africa
Kiran & Adam taste this month’s wine: Hannibal.
Felton Road, Block 2 Chardonnay 2013, Cental Otago, New Zealand
We were lucky enough to be served this last night by Nigel Greening himself at our
Wine dinner at Season Kitchen.
Matched brilliantly by Ben the chef from Hebden Bridge with a duo
of fresh Cornish Sardine and salted cod Brandade with sourdough.
A simply stunning wine , beautifully balanced long , crisp mineral with citrus and tangerine
Wish there was more of it !
If you’re lucky try Berry Bros
Legaris Reserva 2011 Ribera Del Duero
From the Codorniu stable this fantasic Ribera Del Duero is packed
with black fruits, rich concentrated ripe blackberries , black cherries and cassis.
It has a lovely tone of herbs, tobacco and liquorice and importantly beautiful soft integrated velvety tannins .
Brilliant with searingly hot sealed organic ribeye.
Less oak than a Rioja and more fruit forward it is delicious.
Another top quality wine from the excellent Codorniu group and well worthy of the WanderCurtis July wine of the month .
Saint Clair Pioneer Block Pinot Noir 2012 Marlborough , New Zealand
This delightful Pinot is a no brainer for our wine of the month and a fitting celebration for May day.
Made from small parcels of outstanding fruit from the fittingly named Doctor’s Creek Vineyard , Block 14.
Medium Ruby, pronounced aromas of red summer fruits with much more complex notes of game, wet fur,earth, toast and a wonderfully perfumed floral note with warm spices including nutmeg textured by a buttery nose and texture.
Develops more complexity after an hour or so with a savoury meatiness which would complement new season lamb but this is such a fine wine it would go with almost anything .
I’ll be popping down today to get a case .
Available £22 or £17 for 2 at http://www.majestic.co.uk
Greywacke Wild Sauvignon 2012
I was lucky enough to try the whole Greywacke range last week at the New Zealand Trade tasting.
Somewhat unusually for me, being a dedicated Kiwiphile I found a lot of what was on offer
underwhelming. I consulted my recently downloaded ‘When Wine’ a biodynamic calendar for when wine drinks best
and found it to be a root day.
Now it may well be a load of nonsense but something was suppressed last week …
Until I was lucky enough to sample Greywacke . Kevin Judd is something of a genius . The expression and immaculate balance in his wines are secondary to none .
This Wild Sauvignon is special
Fermented entirely with naturally occurring yeast –
A delicate combination peach skin aromatics , citrus-blossom notes – a dash of lime cordial hints of fennel.
The finish is long and crisp the balance perfection.The Chardonnay and other wines equally brilliant.
Available at Majestic Wine
La Rioja Alta , Vina Ardanza , 2005
Old leather books, slightly musty .
Black treacle , evolving , perfumed , lillies .
Mysterious, lots to give, reveals by degrees .
Stewed fruit length ++ and intensity increases with time.
Roast herb, complexity, vanilla overtones.
Another La Rioja Alta masterpiece !
Available at Armit wines.
Comelli Soffumbergo Bianco 2012 -Colli Orientali del Friuli
It was a delight to meet the charming Filippo Comelli at a recent trade tasting in London.
A multilingual polymath with a recent MBA and an interest in his families winery in the Friuli region of North East Italy.
This elegant Soffumbergo Bianco has fruit and flower aromas in a balanced blend of Friulano, Chardonnay and Malvasia, with a drop of Picolit.
I have tried the whole range of Comelli , the quality , vibrancy and freshness is clear throughout.
This wine was a delicious accompaniment to Vietnamese Spring rolls and coconut fish curry.
I was also fortunate enough to try the EOOS Picolit a native variety,Vino Santo with low production yields,with exotic aromas including apricot and orange blossom.
The Suffumbergo Rosso is equally impressive. Recommended buy.
Villa Vitas , Traminer Aromatico
This delicate aromatic Traminer Aromatico is hands down winner of wine of the month .
From the Friuli region of North East Italy, the origin of the grape best known as Gewurtztraminer .
This example is subtle with a persistent bouquet of sweet spices and the most beautifully balanced palate.
Highly recommended along with Villa Vitas Sauvignon Blanc and others from their range .
Available from Vinothentic in Islington.
Yatir Forest 2010 , Judean Hills , Israel
Yatir Forest
I must look after the neighbour’s cat again .
In exchange for the menial task of popping over twice to refill the food tray I was rewarded with this blockbuster from the Judean Hills , Israel.
We shared it together . It went all too quickly and left us craving for more .
Rich , complex , full bodied. Layer upon layer of fruits and perfume , cassis , liquorice and herbs. Lovely mouth feel , opulent with velvety tannins and a long long finish .
An absolute joy to drink now but with many fine years ahead.
The Yatir Forest vineyards are 900m above sea level in the Negev .
They have been awarded 93 points by Parker and received great accolade from Tom Stevenson.
Available in the UK via Enotria
WanderCurtis Wine 