Aromatic Reds

Theatre of Wine
Thursday 22 Nov

1. Foillard Morgon 2010, France
Very pale. Cherry aroma, some wood. Light body, very high and prominent acid. Low tannin. Long. Almost like a good PN. Not really my thing though. £16.50

2. Thymiopoulos Jeunes Vignes 2011
This is their entry-level Xinomavro. They also have a more complex one which I must look out for. This is a deeper red colour than the previous wine (quite black). Raspberry jam very prominent on the nose, also violets. Very ripe fruit. Palate feels young and refreshing. Medium body. High acid. An almost porty character on the nose, but nothing like that on the palate. Surprisingly high tannin. This is good, easy to drink and a crowd pleaser. A good price point too at £11.70.

3. Dalzocchio Pinor Nero 2008
Amazing bouquet. Cooked fruit, floral, rich. This is seriously impressive stuff. Complex, long and well balanced. High acid, mild tannin. Some vegetal/barnyard complexity but still very easy and enjoyable. This was great. Everyone in the room loved this. £26

4. Guillaume Collection Reservee Pinot Noir 2006
Complex, forest floor aromas. Lots of red fruit underneath. More powerful nose than the previous wine, but a much more austere palate. Basically not enough fruit left on the palate to balance out the secondary characters. Acidity is particularly noticeable on the finish (which is a little sour). OK, but at £26 a bottle I'd much rather have the previous wine.

5. Castro Ventosa el Castro del Valtuille Barrica Bierzo 2009
Silky mouthfeel. A little closed on the nose. Some black fruit, quite dark and brooding character. This is nice but nonedescript. I like it but it's not particularly aromatic - didn't really fit in the tasting.

6. Fay Valtellina 'Il Glicine' Superiore Sassella 2009
This wine is from Lombardy. Ripe red fruit. Prunes and dried fruits. High acid, relatively light body. Good length, refreshing, silky and delicate. This is good, interesting and a crowd pleaser, but a little too expensive given the competition so far at this price point £23.50

7. Allessandro Veglio Langhe Nebbiolo 2009
Deep colour. Rich and ripe nose with smoky overtones. Silky mouthfeel. Refreshing acid. Very pleasant but pales in comparison to the much more serious wine which followed (same grape, same producer). £15.50

8. Allessandro Veglio Barolo Gattera 2008
Complex, smoky and spicy. This has lots of black fruit and something like beeswax. Licquorice on the palate. This is a superb. £35.80

9. Jim Barry McCrae Wood Shiraz 2006
Deep and opaque. Floral, lifted, black fruit, oak and black pepper. Juicy black fruit on the palate. Very high tannin. Intense, full bodied. Powerful, with serious fruit intensity. Great stuff £26.80

10. Domaine de la Janasse Chateauneuf du Pape Vielles Vignes 1997
Aged, vegetal nature. Basically smells like an old red wine. Nice, ripe, mouthfilling and complex. Good, but overpriced at £53 per bottle.

11. Au Bon Climat Isabelle 2009
Very pale colour. Ripe red fruit and nutty aromas on nose. Maybe hazelnut. This is very pleasant and will develop nicely.