” A new journey to be started.
A new promise to be fulfilled.
A new page to be written.
Go forth unto this waiting world with glass in hand, all you wine lovers,
the open bottle awaits.
Be creative.
Be adventurous.
Be original.
And above all else, be brave.
For knowing wine is your greatest ally, your greatest tool.
Use it wisely.”
- Wonder Woman (Kind of...)
Showing posts with label Quirky Grape Varieties. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quirky Grape Varieties. Show all posts
My white grape of choice is always Chardonnay, preferably big and buttery and from Burgundy, this works well when out with Ruthie or Dad but with any of the girls it's anything but. I never have been the biggest advocate of Sauvignon Blanc however after a pretty gorgeous summer which was stuffed full of weddings, bbqs and hens I feel myself and this grape need some time apart. It goes without saying that I love red wine but when it comes to one glass of vino after work or socially, white is generally my preference and sometimes big and buttery is just too much - translating into a very unshareable wine!
Terre A Verre might have a little too much shareability and as I have got used to having a full bottle to myself when out with the girls this might take some getting used to!
In the glass it is straw colour with hints of green not unlike a sauvignon blanc in appearance. The nose is subtly floral with aromas of fresh pear. In the mouth it is dry yet surprisingly full-bodied and obvious that the wine spent time on it's lees but still has a gorgeous minerality to it with a good balance of fruit present.
Picpoul de Pinet is the biggest white growing region in Languedoc with Picpoul itself being one of the oldest french varieties. It is a fragile grape that was nearly completely destroyed by phylloxera but is becoming quite popular again. It is one of the varieties permitted in chateauneuf and is often used as a blending wine in the Rhone in both it's red and white forms(Picpoul Noir & Picpoul Blanc) but on it's own it makes for a perfect seafood accompaniment and with it's minerality possibly a good Loire substitute and at €12.99 definitely one we can work with.
When the call came through on our direct
WOW Line extending an invitation to a dinner hosted by the famous Austrian wine maker, Laurenz Moser V, only three quarters of us were able to accept due to previous arrangements. It had been a while since we had been to a structured wine dinner together and even though Jules was missing it, the idea of having dinner with a member of the legendary Moser family had us all excited. Laurenz is the grandson of Professor Dr. Lorenz Moser III, the man who introduced the high trellessing system, named after him which changed vine-growing across Europe and greatly improving the quality of GrÜner Veltliner. In a nutshell, his granfather is some what of a legend in the wine business....
GrÜner is an indigenous grape of Austria and the most widely planted variety in Austria with most of it's success occurring in the north-east of the country. Laurenz concentrates solely on this grape and is committed to creating a dry white in many different styles of which we saw clearly the other night.
Upon arriving we tried the Laurenz V "Sunny" 2009 so named after one of his twin daughters(both pictured below), Anna. He explained to us that the style reflected her personality hence the name. It was fresh and as he put it himself "fun" and not too serious a wine although the typical varietal flavours were present such as peppers and tropical fruits; perfect as our aperitif.
With the starter of salmon, crab and fennel salad we enjoyed the Singing 2009 which is called after his other daughter, Sophie who is involved in the business. Both the Singing and Sunny are treated identically with the grapes just coming from different areas. I found the Singing to be slightly less zippy than the Sunny with more floral notes to it and a little rounder. We also tried the Friendly 2008 so called after his wife, we presume!Thjis had quite a burgundy nose to it, tropical notes which were soft and elegant on the palate with a certain creaminess and a spiciness to the finish.
I chose the Roast Loin of Pork with apricot and sage stuffing which worked amazingly well with the Silver Bullet 2008 . This was somewhat of a privilege to try as not only is it relatively new to the range but also unfortunately not available to purchase in Ireland.
It comes in a 50cl bottle which as Lenz explained to us is the ideal size for ladies lunching! Average age of vines for this particular wine is 35 years old and 40% of the wine is left in contact with the skins during fermentation as with red wine, something he learnt from his time working with Mondavi. This produces a deeper coloured white which has a certain nutty character to it and a fuller palate which worked well with the pork. There were also 2 vintages of the Charming served with this course, the 2007 & 2008. This wine is selected only from the best vineyards and is left on the lees for 6 months. I prefered the 2007 of the two as I found it to have more body yet still holding on to it's freshness. A buttery nose, could be confused as oak even though stainless steel was used. Minerality and spice on the palate with more citrusy flavours possibly grapefruit.
We had a gorgeous selection of Irish cheeses to finish the meal off and even older vintages of the Charming which blew the theory of GrÜner being a youthful wine right out of the water! The 2005 was still very zippy and had plenty of youthful acidity. Round tropical fruits on the palate but with some lemon in the background somewhere. The 2004 was the star of the night as far as I am concerned. Golden in colour with a fresh nose of pineapples and subtle vanilla. On the palate there is honeyed fruit with that typical gruner spiciness and possibly a good alternative for the Burgundy-drinker. The 2005 came across way more youthful than the '04 which might have something to do with the fact that the latter was under cork whereas the former is stelvin so it is ageing at a slower rate. It was a really interesting and enjoyable night with great food, fantastic wines and superb company.
I had heard it being said that GrÜner is set for world domination, knocking Pinot Grigio off it's perch on the way to the top, Lenz is obviously firmly behind this and after seeing the diversity of this grape and the quality of these wines, Cellars will be too. GrÜner is like an "all in 1" grape; in it's youthful form it sits nicely as an altenative to Sauvignon blanc, with a bit of lees ageing will really do IT for the Burgundy drinker and all along has the drinkability to suit the Pinot Grigio gluggers.
Delicate yet aromatic with ethereal fragrances of violet and wild strawberry and a hint of smoke.
On the palate it is soft and elegant with lovely balanced ripe fruit coming through and a soft round finish.
A real wine with true personality for just €11.95 and far more interesting than many a straight Pinot coming our of some other countries.
This wine is a Vinho Regional from Lisbon in Portugal. It is a blend of Pinot Noir and Alforcheiro.
Alfrocheiro is quite obscure and being very productive yield wise as well as a relatively early ripener it requires careful vineyard management.
It is an intriguing grape of misty origins. At one time thought to be a relative of Pinot Noir, today the birthplace of Alfrocheiro is assumed to be Portugal, but the jury is still out.
Wines from this grape are noted for their velvety texture, intense spiciness and approachability when young. They also display inky depths of colour and flavors of mint, flowers, black currants and fresh strawberry.
This particular wine is aged in French of Allier oak barrels of 225 Lt from Seguin Moreau for 5 months followed by ageing in bottle for a minimum 5 months after bottling before release.
Produced from the Quinta de Porto Franco Single Estate it is a favourite blend of the winemaker Jose Neiva Correia. Those who know and work with this talented man make regular mention of his creativity and the enthusiasm that goes into each of his many and sharply differing wines with their blend of improbable grape varieties and surprising results.
Saude!
Evelyn THE VINTRY,RATHGAR
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Believe you me this is a Sensational food and wine match.
Chocolate and Sherry, (We sold out of it when we put it on tasting in the shop!)
The name originates from the 16th century when the casks of sherry were used as ballast on the ships sailing to the Indies.
It was there they discovered how the wines benefited considerably in quality from the long sea journey and also the impact of the heat on the wine as they travelled across the equator. It is a blend of 2 quality mature wines, Oloroso and Pedro Xiemenaz.
Best drunk as a digestive with sweet pudding , creme brulee or chocolate dessert.
Colour. Amber, caramel,
Nose. Melted toffee, walnuts
Palate. Nuts, lovely weight on the palate not cloying, lovely balance with a fantastic finish that seems to linger on
The 375ml bottle retails €14.99 and one to have in the fridge as a little treat, it is 20% alc. So will last up to a month once opened. Delicious!
Cheers,
Julie JUS DE VINE PORTMARNOCK
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I managed to get out and back from Spain despite the Volcanic cloud and an edge-of-seat, close to expired passport. I flew to Malaga on a work ''associated'' trip last Friday and consumed a large quantity of shellfish teamed with Spanish Vermentino and Viura- Verdejo blends. Unfortunately- for the blog and radio the Vermentino consumed on my long weekend is not available in Ireland, fortunately enough for personal reasons the Spanish Vermentino is not available in Ireland - If this makes any sense. My palate/ stomach is not settled enough to relive or taste last Friday/Saturday/Sunday but I do sell a great little Sardinian Vermentino which is just as appealing minus the wine memories of a tough few days.
Cantina Santa Maria La Palma, Vermentino di Sardegna, Aragosta, 2008. A mouth full but it's generally remembered more commonly as the 'lobster wine' due to the orange crustacean on the label. I was always convinced that this shelled fish was a lobster up until last nights debate. It's either a very small lobster or a large prawn. I'll know what you mean if you come in search of it.
A pale lemon - almost clear wine in the glass. The nose, although subtle, has quite complex aromas. I get pear, cloudy apple juice and hints of lavender. Evelyn picks up candle wax and a smokiness, though I can't detect this at all. The palate is completely different, dry, flinty, crisp and clean with citrus fruit but little acidity - hence the easy drinking that comes with opening a bottle.
For those that enjoy a Gavi or Chablis and are looking to try a similar style but something new, this is it. It also warrants a far more financially pleasing price tag than most of the other two on the Irish market.
Try it with sole fish, mussels, sardines or prawns and if you're having difficulty making it to the fishmongers, a summer salad is just as good.
O&O
Ruth.
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Lacrima di Morro d'Alba is a tiny wine appellation in the Marche region which is on the east coast of Italy on the Adriatic sea.This appellation is situated within the Ancona province near the town d'Alba.
Lacrima translates a tear drop and when this Morro grape is ripe it sheds a tear of juice and when this happens they know in the vineyard that the grapes are ready to be picked.
This particular wine is made by the Velenosi family in the historic town of Ascoli Piceno.
Retails @ €14.60
Colour: It is a deep deep morello cherry colour ...like the cherries u see on a black forest gateau.
Nose: This is a wine with a distinctive though not strange aroma.It has a fragrant almost perfumed nose. Initially it reminded me of a talcum powder my granny used to wear which was called Tweed which came in a brown tin cannister with a tweed pattern on it. ..a combination of fresh violet and pink rosebuds with some fry's Turkish delight going on as well.
Palate: On the palate it shows lovely structure.....with the fragrance coming through as well as a lovely citrus cut which comes in very useful with richer foods.
I visited this winery last September and we were served this wine with, a fresh bruschetta with with wild mushrooms and truffles,Olive all'Ascolana made from a particular local, giant olive stuffed with mixture of meats which are breaded and fried and some homemade breadsticks with a whole array of different types of salami and hams.
Despite Ascoli Piceno's location a mere 30 kilometers from the Adriatic, seafood is not especially common inland. La cucina delle colline (hill country cuisine) is more prevalent. As well as the foods listed above the region is also known for hearty fare with a heavy dependence on pork and lamb; sheep's milk cheeses and homemade egg pastas .
On the breadstick issue... I like everyone else in Ireland used to think that the packets of breadsticks on the centre of the table in Italian restaurants were for munching on while waiting for your food.They are in fact supposed to provide a textural foil for the lovely Italian hams served with the Antipasti course.You are supposed to wrap the ham around them!
So travel does broaden the mind, because I would never have know this until I observed it in Italy. Commercial Breadsticks Fresh Breadsticks
If anyone is ever on the Adriatic for their hols I would recommend a visit to Ascoli Piceno's Piazza Poppolo.There you will find the famous old world Cafe Maletti. Service is by white jacketed waiters.Coffee is served with a little plate of biscuits ;alcoholic drinks come with a few savoury snacks. This is the place for an aperitivo before dinner or a digestivo afterwards, and caffe – with or without a amaretto - at any hour of the day.
Sitting outside on a Sunday morning guarantees you a good seat to watch the Italians take their Sunday constitutional around the piazza.It is actually more like a parade....they saunter in a clockwise direction around the square looking gorgeous... dressed and groomed to perfection ...male and female ..one more handsome than the other.
Grooming, especially for men,is a daily part of Italian life as opposed to the more sporadic efforts we see here in Ireland!
Q,How do you know a Paddy is going abroad?
A,Because he gets a haircut and polishes his shoes!
Arrevaderchi !
Evelyn THE VINTRY ,RATHGAR
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Luciano Sandrone is one of the leading barolo producers and is a bit of a legend in Piedmont. His wines regularily get 90+ from Robert Parker although his Barolos are expensive and generally sold out before they even reach the bottling stage. His non-barolo wines such as this Dolcetto are great value and we get a sense of what Luciano stands for. He is very much a traditionalist and has been making wines sine the late 1970s however all his wines combine a modern style also.
Dolcetto meaning "little sweet one". There is still some speculation over whether this relates to the sweetness of the grapes picked from the vines or to the hills where they come from. It definitely has no connection with the wine itself as Dolcetto grapes make a dry red wine with good levels of acidity. The grapes for this wine come from four different vineyards; two in the Barolo region and other two from vineyards in Novello and Monforte D'Alba. The 2007 vintage had an unusually mild winter and an ordinary summer which meant the grapes were ripe about 15-20 days earlier than most years. Sandrone uses no wood and wine is left in tanks for about 10 months.
From the same region as Italy's famous reds such as Barolo and Barbareso but in a lighter style making it more favourable to some although not as well known or as hyped. This wine is the Piemontese's favourite everyday drinking wine and can even be enjoyed chilled in their hot summers. Dolcetto's are generally a beautiful dark colour due to the high levels of pigments in the grape's skin and the juice requires little time in contact with them to obtain this.
On the nose there is black cherries with some liquorice, the palate delivers a medium -bodied red with good acidity and a dry finish.Due to the weight of this wine I think pairing it with simpler foods would be an idea. Lighter Italian sauces and pizzas is the recommended. Delicious served chilled as an aperitif , with some finger food or even a favourite of mine; fresh pasta with parmesan, salt and pepper and butter(the real stuff)! Sick of the same old thing give this a shot and if ou are going all out on the adventurous side ... try it chilled!
Scored 87+ from the Wine Enthusiast and a price of €17.99, good value.
Till next time Clare
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So legend has it that the people of Cividale made an agreement with the devil that if he built them a bridge, the first soul who walked over it would be his. This went horribly wrong for the devil when the locals sent a dog over it but this apparently explains why this bridge is known locally as Ponte Del Diavolo(The Devil's Bridge). This pretty spectacular medieval bridge is close to where this wine is made in the DOC of Friuli in the northeastern most region of Italy, hence where this wine gets it's name.
The grape used in this wine is indigenous to Italy and apparently a favourite of Augustus's wife Livia. This grape has made a revival since the 1980s and we are starting to see more and more of it sometimes blended with the likes of Caberent Sauvignon and Merlot. This particular wine is 100% Refosco and a great example of this robust grape which produces dark wines full of damson plums and firm tannins.
Friuli is very influenced by the fact that it borders on Slovenia and Austria and is evident in it's food with local dishes having a very germanic influence with goulash, dumplings and apple strudel common as well as traditional Italian Prosciutto and seafood.
Brought this up to the girls on Friday night for our monthly catch-up and considering most of them are white wine drinkers it went down remarkably well. Shell had put on a bit of a spread for us all; crackers cheese, cold meats etc. which matched nicely with this red.
A dullish purple in appearance. A beautiful perfumed nose of violets, dark fruits and a savoury meatiness. There is a sherry-like flavour to this which isn't unpleasant. Plums and raspberries. Medium-bodied with good length.
Good value at €13.99 and definitely worth a try if for nothing else but something different.
Till Next time Clare
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They say all great things come in small packages, this 375ml bottle of fizz with its bottle cap (crown closure) to me is one for sure.
It's a happy, fun, fruity little number that is only 5.5% alcohol, and very easy to drink. It's something that can be sipped on while enjoying the sun, out in the garden, or a great way to kick start your Sunday brunch.
The company was founded in 2004 by Philip Sexton who made his money in the beer business before venturing into the wine business. (you can get the pink moscato on draft at their cellar door) Moscato is a grape originating from Northern Italy's Piedmont and something the Australians have started to make a good job of copying.
The nose is Watermelons, Rose petals, Peaches, also a touch of turkish delight. If there is such a thing as summer time in a glass, to me this is it! It just tastes like more. The palate is very refreshing with a lovely spritz of sherbet like fizz .I would recommend this with any fruit based desserts, or as the Aussies like to drink it with a straw!
One to seek out over the Summer months. Retails @ €5.99.
Cheers,
Julie
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This winery has been voted argentinian wine producer of the year twice, they together with their sister company Bodegas Trapiche are the world's fifth largest and Latin America's largest producer of wine. The winery is situated in San Juan in Argentina and has a semi-desert climate with over 300 days of sunshine a year allowing minimum pesticides to be used in cultivating the grapes.
Viognier is believed to have been brought to France by the Romans where it is the single grape variety permitted in Condrieu, the famous rhone white. It is a difficult grape to grow and some even believe the name of the grape is called after the Roman word translating to "road to hell" . Viognier is prone to powdery mildew and thrives in the heat so San Juan is an ideal climate as it prefers warm climates. Typically viognier is meant to be drunk young as it does lose it's perfume as it ages.
Las Moras means Mulberry tree and is so called as the property is covered in them. It is a great little crowd pleaser so a perfect party wine. Very aromatic nose which is typical of this variety. Accai flowers and ripe apricots on the nose. In the mouth it is full bodied with some spice and slight honey tones so it works really well with spicy foods; Thai cusine or even a chicken curry. This really offers great value for money and let's be honest that's what it is all about at the moment. The Viognier is just one from their single varietal range but they also have a chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, malbec, shiraz and the latest addition a pinot grigio. I got to try the range when Pablo Ghiorzi (export manager) was in town last Thursday and at the new special offer price of €6.99 you would be hard pressed to get more for your money
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