tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15093990211232494132024-03-13T15:14:40.994+00:00Bacchus VintageBacchus Vintage is a London-based wine society. It was started by a group of former members of Oxford University Wine Society who are continuing to organise fun and informative wine tastings in London.BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-34919748965097013872016-03-06T13:09:00.000+00:002016-03-06T13:09:04.533+00:00Decanter Spain and Portugal Tasting27 Feb 2016, Landmark Hotel
These Decanter tastings are always great fun, but it's generally hard to make any proper notes. With around 80 tasting stands it's well over a hundred tasting samples in a few hours so the notes are generally brief and, towards the end of the day, utterly incoherent! As a result, what follows is some brief notes on things which really stood out.
Highlight of the dayBVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-51147255248242314562014-12-24T17:18:00.000+00:002014-12-24T17:18:14.037+00:00Bordeaux vs South AfricaSouth Africa vs Bordeaux
Monday 22 Sept 2014
VB London Bridge
This tasting was arranged as 4 pairs of contenders: SA vs Bordeaux. The aim was in no way to pair off the best against the best - rather it was to pit similarly priced (usually around 15-20 GBP a bottle retail) wines against each other. As might be expected. in such a competition the SA wines won. You might argue that VB are not the BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-89004963830452676852014-10-23T06:33:00.001+01:002014-10-23T06:33:38.352+01:00DecantingReally interesting article about decanting from Wine Searcher.
http://www.wine-searcher.com/m/2013/08/decanting-what-makes-it-work
It goes into detail about the chemistry of what happens to a wine when it is aerated in this way. Also, they conclude that the oxygen is not reacting with the tannins so it's just an issue of perception that tannins are softened by aerating.BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-22974045238424689082014-10-18T19:01:00.001+01:002014-10-18T19:01:49.828+01:00Spain (WSET)More notes from ages ago... Spain tasting at the WSET Centre.
1. Tinajas de la Mata, Bodegas Bernabe Navarro
Didn't note the vintage
Medium gold colour. Semi-cloudy appearance (unfiltered). Medium strength oxidative aroma. Floral. Very complex. Almost cider-like nose.
Dry, high acid. Quite light body, but complex aftertaste. More apple fruit on the palate than on the nose.
Very good. This BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-70742532690566232122014-10-18T18:05:00.000+01:002014-10-18T18:05:46.894+01:00Monday 10 Sept 2012
1. Professor Black Sauvignon Blanc 2011
Very pale, almost colourless. Restrained nose for a Sauvignon Blanc - some gooseberry, some citrus notes. Quite grassy. However, the wine has an intense palate - probably as a result of being left on the lees. Heavier mouthfeel. Plenty of fruit on the palate. Good length. Perhaps a little hot on the finish but otherwise very good. BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-23833908197957384452014-10-18T17:58:00.000+01:002014-10-18T17:59:36.519+01:00Gavalas Winery, SantoriniVisited in Summer 2012.
The contrast beween this winery and Boutari was very interesting. Boutari is a large, modern winery with plenty of new winemaking technology. This is a small old-fashioned family producer. For example, the Vin Santo is still made by foot-treading in a concrete lagare (or whatever the correct Greek word for this is!) with the filtration being done by having the wine drip BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-46282804804600706972014-10-18T17:55:00.000+01:002014-10-18T17:59:02.015+01:00Boutari Winery, SantoriniVisited in Summer 2012.
1. Santorini 2011
Pale green. Floral, appley nose. Hints of the sea. Very crisp and acidic. Strong lemon flavour on palate. Lots of minerality. Good fruit intensity. Surprisingly long given that this is just the entry level wine. Well balanced. Very good.
Cost: 8 EUR
2. Kallisti Reserve 2007
Deeper yellow colour than the previous wine, coming from the oak and the extra BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-47074538178760596832014-03-18T21:22:00.002+00:002014-03-18T21:22:53.789+00:00Decanter Spain and Portugal TastingSpain and Portugal
Landmark Hotel
22 Feb 2014
This was one of the most enjoyable Decanter tastings I've been to for quite a while. Often these tastings are far too crowded from lunchtime onwards. Difficult to get to the wines, impossible to get to the spitoon. However, this felt much more appropriately busy. Perhaps the general wine drinking public in the UK is less excited by Spain and PortugalBVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-28306307304013377912013-06-09T16:31:00.000+01:002013-06-09T16:31:16.323+01:00Champagne Gaston CollardThis was a tiny producer (1.75 ha) which was located on the same street as our gite. We popped in whilst walking past to see whether we could get a tasting. At the time we went in they were busy bottling some wines so the producer asked if we could come back later that afternoon. Later, whilst we were walking back to our gite the producer saw us and ran down the road after us to offer us a BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-87616758542537121612013-06-09T16:05:00.002+01:002013-06-09T16:05:53.312+01:00Champagne Camille SavesThis was the only producer with whom we had booked a tasting for a specific time... unusually go-with-the-flow for my wine tasting holidays! You really don't need to book at most places in Bouzy - at least for this time of year. Having said that, the tasting here was excellent and very generous. Also, the wines were excellent. So glad we went here.
1. Carte Blanche 1er Cru
75% Pinot Noir, 25% BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-56408525871529770122013-06-09T15:48:00.001+01:002013-06-09T15:48:25.600+01:00Champagne BarnautA very brief tasting in the Barnaut shop whilst en route to Camille Saves. A little underwhelming - nothing wrong, but felt that many other wines we tasted were better at the same or lower prices.
1. Grande Reserve Brut
2/3 Pinot Noir, 1/3 Chardonnay. 6g of sugar/litre
Have seen some people online complaining about tired samples from bottles which had clearly been open too long. No such BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-47415555114466289832013-06-04T19:57:00.002+01:002013-06-04T19:57:30.526+01:00Champagne Jean-Baptiste MartinThis was a huge find... the type of place where you half feel like not telling anyone about it. Whilst carrying some wine back to the gite from the Jean Vesselle tasting we took a random detour and just popped into the first Champagne house which caught our eye. So glad we did!
This place did not feel set up for tourists at all. We ended up buying 18 bottles... but they only had 6 bottles in BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-36351752149814621592013-06-04T19:38:00.000+01:002013-06-04T19:38:24.560+01:00Champagne Jean VesselleAn odd one this. The estate was much more set up for tasting than most we visited and seemed much busier too. However, the wines were pretty underwhelming. Not sure why this one appears more popular with tourists. It just goes to show the poor relationship between popularity/price and quality with grower Champagnes.
1. Cuvee Prestige
70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay. 9g of sugar/litre
Good but BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-88789955526361400392013-06-03T20:16:00.000+01:002013-06-03T20:16:05.828+01:00Champagne Maurice VesselleThis was the first place where we just rocked up and asked for a tasting. So glad we did - the choice of this place was quite arbitrary, yet it turned out to be a great success. Generous tasting and great wines. The person giving our tasting spoke a little English, but was happy to conduct a tasting aided by plenty of gesticulation.
1. Cuvee Reserve Brut
80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
A blend BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-72944936242729187012013-06-03T19:56:00.002+01:002013-06-03T19:57:30.935+01:00Champagne Herbert BeaufortThis was attached to the Gite where we stayed. First tasting of the day at 9:30am!
1. Cuvee du Melomane, Blanc de Blanc
Delicate, bready, lemon, grapefruit. Very acidic. Good length.
2. Carte d'Or Grand Cru
90% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay
Very noticeable acid. More intense and fuller bodied than previous. Lemon, some strawberry notes on finish. Good length.
3. 2008 Vintage
50% Pinot Noir, 50% BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-4530752886593509152012-12-19T11:09:00.000+00:002012-12-19T11:09:40.918+00:003 post-WSET winesThese three wines were tasted (amongst many others!) with Ed and Jordi at a recent post-WSET session.
2000 Grande Cuvee, Domaine de l'Hortus
Domaine de l'Hortus is one of the foremost producers in the Pic St Loup region. This used to be part of the Languedoc region but is now its own appellation.
This was quite pale colour, but full of ripe and rich flavours. Very noticeable herbal nature, BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-74347962358096058182012-12-19T10:22:00.000+00:002012-12-19T10:22:18.187+00:00Boekenhoutskloof TastingVivat Bacchus
26 November 2012
1. Semillon 2009
This is old-vine semillon (some vines dating back to the 40s). Smoky and
waxy nose. High acid, round and mouthfilling. This has a slight banana
aftertaste, but not in the typical rubber/banana SA cliche way, but in a
ripe fruit kind of way. This is delicious, long and will age well.
2. Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
This has a noticeable oxidative BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-74270016133417470702012-12-19T10:04:00.000+00:002012-12-19T10:04:34.526+00:00Greatest Champagnes in the WorldMilk & Honey Soho
28 November 2012
An interesting tasting, but ultimately not as impressive as I'd hoped. This was billed as comparing the finest Grandes Marques champagnes against top grower champagnes so I was expecting great things. Sadly, many of the champagnes were not very enjoyable. The recent sparkling wine tasting at the Theatre of Wine was half the price and had a much better average BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-59385407783978425582012-12-19T09:46:00.000+00:002012-12-19T09:48:53.284+00:00Blind Tasting with Ed and JordiThis was the final week's WSET class for Ed and Jordi so they wanted to have a big tasting as "practice" for the exam. However, by the end there was quite a lot of drinking going on so the tasting notes deteriorate towards the end! All the wines were tasted blind... which explains the unusual order in which the wines were tasted. However, you knew which number your wine was so wines 2 and 3 were BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-75682571534906684752012-12-02T14:47:00.001+00:002012-12-02T14:47:36.845+00:00Aromatic 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 BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-38337731240218709252012-12-02T14:35:00.002+00:002012-12-02T14:35:17.980+00:00Fine Champagne and Other Sparkling WinesTheatre of Wine
8 Nov 2012
1. Domaine Huet Vouvray 2007 Petillant, Loire
Petillant implies lower pressure than Champagne.
This has a cooked apple character somewhat redolant of apple pie. Good,
crisp acidity. Soft and prickly bubbles, low pressure. Long. Cooked apple
flavour lasts until the end. This is very good and can apparently age well.
£22.70
2. Gaston Chiquet Selection Brut, NV, Dizy
BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-24644459935443870672012-10-20T10:39:00.002+01:002012-10-20T10:39:49.863+01:00Palermo to Puglia: Sicily and the Italian SouthTheatre of Wine
18 October 2012
1. Di Majo Norante Rami Falanghina 2011, Molise
90% Falanghina, 10% Fiano
Some floral notes and mineral aromas (slate?). High, crisp acidity.
Mineralic nature continues on the palate. This has had some skin maceration
- gives it quite a lot of intense flavour. This is well balanced. Very
good. £11.30
2. Gioia Al Negro Ombrosa Romantica Fiano 2010, Basilicata
BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-42583026533800863292012-09-04T20:58:00.000+01:002012-09-04T20:58:08.578+01:00Spanish Mediterranean Tasting Thursday 26 July 2012
This was the first of the Theatre of Wine tastings I've been to, but I'll definitely be going back. Excellent tasting - very interesting wines and extremely knowledgeable speaker. So pleased to have such a good wine shop in the local area!
1. Castillo Perelada, Cava Brut Reserva NV
Very appley. Fine and restrained mousse. Fresh, fruity, reasonably intense flavour. Not bad.BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-24519942339531868062012-09-04T20:46:00.000+01:002012-09-04T20:46:13.981+01:00World Tour of Pinot NoirFriday 22 July 2012
After what seems like years of waiting, we finally found a weekend which Ed could do this tasting and it was well worth waiting for. However, we definitely had to wait - Ed got stuck late at work and arrived an hour late, by which time we'd already polished off plenty of Champagne (well that's got Pinot Noir in it too...) So, perhaps not the best way to taste the expensive BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1509399021123249413.post-33937796172325224572012-07-29T19:40:00.000+01:002012-07-29T19:42:59.862+01:00A Taste of GreeceVivat Bacchus, 23 July 2012
1. Domaine Gerovassiliou, Malagousia 2011 (Epanomi)
Nice - crisp and clean. Mostly stainless steel, although 10% new oak (which I wouldn't have noticed without being told - subtly done). Stone fruit and crisp, refreshing acid.
2. Gaia, "Wild Ferment", Assyrtiko, 2011 (Santorini)
I love Assyrtiko from Santorini and this is an excellent example so I very much enjoyed BVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11991813537287247241noreply@blogger.com0