Wednesday 28 September 2011

Chateau Monlot Capet St. Emilion Grand Cru 1964

Tasted at My Dining Room from the collection of David Beguier-Barnett on 23/09/11. This 47 year old wine was in excellent condition and was pleasantly 'youthful'. '64 in Bordeaux was overshadowed by other vintages and standard advice would be to drink up all but the very top growths.
However, this wine drank well indeed and was in perfect condition - all David's wines were Chateau bottled and have been stored there until he moved them to the UK recently.
The cork was in good condition and the wine threw some small amounts of sediment and benefited from decanting. The wine was brick red in colour. The nose had a hint of plums with aromas of ham and game. The tannins were now soft and on the palate, just a little of the berry fruit remained but it has a pleasant finish with lingering vanilla notes. We tried some samples in diners in the restaurant and some thought the wine was just 2 or 3 years old! 18 / 20. From 2015.
17th November 2011 - there will a tasting of St.Emilions from David's collection at My Dining Room, SW6 - contact David for more details and to book a place and see www.cfwinesociety.org
This is a chance to try some old (and not so old) fine St.Emilions at a bargain price.

Chateau de Ferrand (Marquis de Mons) St.Emilion Grand Cru 1976

Tasted at My Dining Room from the collection of David Beguier-Barnett on 23/09/11. This 35 year old wine was in good condition and pleasantly rewarding. '76 was better on the right bank than left in Bordeaux but all these wines should be drunk up by now. However, though you would not want to keep this any longer, this wine drank well and was in fine order. The cork was in good condition and the wine threw some small amounts of fine sediment. The wine was light brick red in colour. The nose had a hint of plums with aromas of ham and game. The tannins were now soft and on the palate, just a little of the berry fruit remained but it has a pleasant finish with lingering vanilla notes. 16.5 / 20. Drink now!
17th November 2011 - there will a tasting of St.Emilions from David's collection at My Dining Room, SW6 - contact David for more details and to book a place and see www.cfwinesociety.org
This is a chance to try some old (and not so old) fine St.Emilions at a bargain price.

Monday 19 September 2011

Barbera d'Alba Bricco Maiolica 2008 (Piedmont)

Tasted 17/09/2011. 13% ABV, £12.95 Lea and Sandeman. A great value wine, really lovely and still improving after a day's breathing! Bright cherry red, black fruits and cinnamon on the nose, with sweetish cherry fruit on the palate. Not as forward or as fruity as the '07 but this is an elegant wine. Some tasters have awarded this 90/100 which seems about right. From 2012, 16.5 /20.

Sunday 18 September 2011

Douro DOC 2009 (Barbosa)

Tasted 15/09/2011. 13.5% ABV. About £7.99 UK retail (Tesco Finest). Unremarkable. A Douro blend (probably Touriga Nacional and Trincadeira) from a co-operative by well known winemaker Antonina Barbosa.The label says 'full bodied' but I'd describe it as medium bodied - quite light for a Douro blend actually. '09 was a less successful year. It is well is made and approachable but not that distinctive - a bit generic. Medium purple colour, spicy nose, hints of black fruits and white pepper. Quite fruity on the palate but a little thin. Tannic still but I'd be tempted to drink now - this is not a wine for keeping. From 2011, 13.5/20

Sunday 11 September 2011

Vina Valdivieso Single Vineyard Merlot 2007 (Sagrada Familia, Curico Valley)

Tasted 8/9/11. 14% ABV. About £12 UK retail. Presented by winemaker Brett Jackson to the Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society at My Dining Room, SW6.
This wine is 85% Merlot and 15% Carmenere. Bright red colour, dark fruits, plums and raisins on the nose. Smooth, with good tannins, full bodied but accessible now. Needs another year. Much better than the regular reserva Merlot and worth the extra couple of pounds. From 2012, 17/20

Vina Valdivieso Eclat Botrytis Semillon 2007 (Curico)

Tasted 8/9/11. 12% ABV. About £8 UK retail (37.5cl). Presented by winemaker Brett Jackson to the Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society at My Dining Room, SW6.
This wine is not made every year and Brett explained that after '07, there wont be another made until '12.
The wine is a golden yellow colour, with the classic marmalade nose with peaches and apricots in the glass. It's a bit too sweet for my liking at this stage and needs longer in bottle. From 2013, 16/20

Vina Valdivieso Cabernet Franc Single Vineyard 2008

Tasted 8/9/11. 14.5% ABV. About £12.00 UK retail. Presented by winemaker Brett Jackson to the Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society at My Dining Room, SW6.
This is a wine that is harder to find but well worth seeking out. We think if Cabernet Franc as being the blending grape of claret but in Bordeaux, it used to be the main varietal before Jonny-Come-Lately Cabernet Sauvignon in the late 19th Century! South America is now producing some lovely single varietal / single vineyard Cabernet Franc.
This wine comes from old vines - about 50 years old. The colour is violet, with a nose of dark berries and cherries. The palate has pepppery, capsicum notes and there's good structure for keeping. Best red of the night in my opinion. From 2011, 17.5/20.

Saturday 10 September 2011

Vina Valdivieso Reserva Viognier 2009 (Sagrada Familia)

Tasted 8/9/11. 14.5% ABV. About £9.99 UK retail. Presented by winemaker Brett Jackson to the Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society at My Dining Room, SW6.
A really pleasing wine, voted best white of the night in a straw poll. Medium yellow colour. Floral nose with dried apricots, almonds and a hint of tropical fruits. The palate reminded me of dried apricots and almonds. Lovely balance of fruit and fresh acidity. This is one of the best south American viogniers I have had this year. From 2011, 16/20

Vina Valdivieso Reserva Pinot Noir 2009 (Casablanca Valley)

Tasted 8/9/11. 14.5% ABV. About £9.99 UK retail. Presented by winemaker Brett Jackson to the Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society at My Dining Room, SW6.
I tasted this before in March but I found this bottle lighter. It was a light pink colour, with a full and strawberry fruit nose but rather lacking in body. Brett said these vines were only 5 years old, so I think this wine is very much for early drinking and it's a 'work in progress'. This bottle was less distinctive than the same wine I had just 6 months ago. From 2011, drink now. 14/20

Vina Valdiveiso Eclat 2007 (Maule Valley)

Tasted 8/9/11. 14% ABV. About £15 UK retail. Presented by winemaker Brett Jackson to the Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society at My Dining Room, SW6.
Eclat is their premium southern Rhone blend of Carignan, Mouvedre and Syrah. It is a distinctive wine, made with some old vines from selected plots and newer plantings.
Deep purple colour, beautiful spicy 'Rhone nose' of black fruits. Firm tannins still, so this wine will benefit from keeping but it is very good to drink now. The palate is elegant and has a long finish - great value for money. From 2012, 17/20.

Vina Valdivieso Caballo Loco no.12 NV (Central Valley)

Tasted 8/9/11. 14% ABV. About £22 UK retail. Presented by winemaker Brett Jackson to the Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society at My Dining Room, SW6.
Brett explained the craft behind his winemakers blend. A solera system is used whereby a new vintage is aged with an older, matured vintage. Hence the production numbering and 'non-vintage' appellation.
This is fine wine, a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Carmenere and Syrah.
Deep crimson colour, with intense aromas of crushed red fruit. On the palate it is full, rich and elegant, firm tannins and a long finish of redcurrants and allspice. From 2011, 17.5/20

Barolo DOCG Araldica

Tasted 09/09/11. 14% ABV. An interesting new style Barolo from a minor producer (£15 from Asda). A multiple award winner for the 2006, this 2005 was a nice wine nonetheless. Light brick red, lighter style than a traditional Barolo but accessible now at only 6 years old, classic tar and dark fruits on the nose, and quite concentrated Nebbiolo character on the palate. A little tannic still but good dark fruit, tar and chocolate and a white pepper. Long finish. The three years in oak shows through. From 2013, 16.5/20

Monday 5 September 2011

Château Mondain ‘Chevalier D’Albran’ (Bordeaux AoC) 2008

Tasted 03/09/11 with Beata, Sara and Jean Marc. 13.5%. £7.96 from Bordeaux Undiscovered. Blend M 70, CS and CF 15% each. Deeper purple colour. Great aromas of cassis, toasty oak and pencil box, the most classically claret-like of the four wines tasted. Dark fruits and hint of bell peppers and some vanilla in the mouth. Good grip, firm tannins, fruit slightly masked for now but long finish. Reminds me of a young Right Bank wine. Superb value. From 2013, 16.5 / 20.

Château Millet Lartigue (Bordeaux AoC) 2008

Tasted 03/09/11 with Beata, Sara and Jean Marc. 12% ABV. CS/M and CF. £7.99 from Bordeaux Undiscovered. Clear, mid-purple colour. Quite plummy nose but a little disappointing on the palate. Probably needs another year or so. From 2012, 13.5/20

Château Roc de Levraut (Bordeaux Superior AoC) 2009

Tasted 03/09/11 with Beata, Sara and Jean-Marc. 13.5%. 60/40 CS/M blend. £8.35 from Bordeaux Undiscovered. Clear, mid-purple colour, cassis on the nose, firmer tannins, well balanced and a good finish. Plenty of berry fruits on the palate. A well made wine, from 2012. 15.5/20

Château Loyasson (Bordeaux AoC) 2009

First of four wines I enjoyed from Nick Stephen's excellent Bordeaux Undiscovered
petit chateauz range. 13.5% ABV. Merlot /CabSauv 50/50 blend. £7.99 from Bordeaux Undiscovered. Clear, light ruby colour. Full, fruity nose, black fruits. Plummy on the palate, a rather short finish, with soft tannins. Seems to be from quite young vines made to be drunk young, perhaps. From 2010, drink now. 14/20


Friday 2 September 2011

Rocca Colmontano IGT 2007 (Marches)

Tasted 01/09/11 with Sara. 13.5% ABV. A good one from Laithwaites, at about £6. This is the second bottle I had, and I realised that I have had this one over 2 years and it is just right now, and represents excellent VFM. This wine is from the innovative Marches region of Italy - a neighbour of Tuscany and Umbria - but a tad cheaper! It's a blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano grapes. Nice light ruby colour, cherries and damsons on the nose with pleasant red fruits on the palate. A very nice food wine. From 2010, 15.5/20

Puerta de Hierro DO 2008

Tasted 31/08/11 with Sara. 13.5%. £5.99 Laithwaites. Disappointing wine from the Madrid region. Thin, unexciting, a little harsh. It shows you get what you pay for - even Laithwaites value for money couldn't score here...12/20