Early September saw another superb night hosting a wine tasting for our friends. We are all members of the Scout Association but it does sounds dubious if I say a wine tasting at scouts!
To celebrate the wedding of our daughter at the end of August our evening began with a very special champagne. Andrieux-Lefort is a small champagne house in Champillon just outside Epernay. We have visited Thierry and Sylvie a few times and have been known to make sure our holiday in France includes a visit to buy their superb champagne.
We opened a bottle of Premier Cru Brut Rose, a non-vintage champagne that filled the glass with fine bubbles. An almost equal percentage of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir with a small addition of Chardonnay this Rosé is beautifully balanced with a freshness of fruit and a light dry edge to its finish, delicious as always.
With all the joy and celebration of the wedding only a few days previous I almost forgot to take photos of the wines. As you can see it was late in the evening before I did when the wines had already been enjoyed and I don't think they are in tasting order.
Unfortunately the fridge at the headquarters had been turned up very high so our whites initially had little flavour due to being over chilled ... they did develop as the evening progressed and they warmed slightly with us all enjoying a re-taste!
Our first white was Torre de Lapela Vinho Verde. Although most people think this is a green wine, verde being Portuguese for green, it actually means a young wine as in a green stick being young growth. This is because the wine is produced very quickly, taking not much longer than three months resulting in a light refreshing wine especially suited to hot sunny days.
Staying with the green theme our second wine was Dei Castelli di Jesu Classico Verdicchio. Green because of it's delicious green fruit flavours, this Italian wine in its distinctive bottle certainly had a fuller flavour when not so chilled.
Our third wine was also from Italy, a small DOC on the southern edge of Lake Garda. Lugana is made from Turbiana grapes, previously known as Trebbiano di Lugana. A perfect follow on from the previous whites with its green hues in the glass and full citrusy flavour with mineral highlights.
I was very much looking forward to our fourth white, I am very proud for sharing as I could have kept the bottle for myself. I discover Fish Hoek Sauvignon Blanc over a decade ago and then it disappeared but is now back on the shelves. From the Western Cape of South Africa this wine is full of figs, gooseberries, limes ... more greenness! It has all the weight of a New World Sauvignon Blanc without being overpowering, my fellow tasters agreed it was delicious and one to look out for.
Our final white left all the green behind with its pale straw colour and peachy nose. Little Giant Chardonnay from Australia was certainly different, not only because of its unusual bottle but its tropical flavours blended with vanilla coming from it's time in oak. The most expensive white of the night and a firm favourite with many.
Our next wine was a new experience and maybe not one to be repeated as this was the only wine left unfinished. Recently orange wine has started to be available in stores, and yes it does have an orangey look in the glass which comes from the wine being left in contact with white grapes skins for a short time.
There are quite a few variants of orange wine, this French Vin Orange made from Gros Manseng had quite a blossomy aroma matched in the mouth with hints of orange peel which may have been the off putter.
There are many in our group that are red wine drinkers and politely sip through the whites, whereas the white wine drinkers are happy to linger, so it is a mixed moment when it's time to open the reds.
Our first red was a bit of an unknown, it's label giving nothing away and slightly annoying me with it's plain punctuation. From Bulgaria a good year was the surprising star of the evening. It was absolutely delicious, full of rich dark fruits, so smooth, so balanced and a good lengthy finish. A stunning blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc which gave a distinctive earthy edge; one to buy again if ever seen.
Costieres de Nimes Cuvee Reserve is one of my favourite Cotes du Rhone wines. Although geographically in the Languedoc this wine region falls in the CdR appellation. A delicious blend resulting in flavours of dark cherries and blackberries with hints of violets. Having been oaked there is a lengthy vanilla finish, definitely a sink into a sofa wine for me.
Changing continents our next red was from South Africa; Original Series Stellenbosch. Another superb red for oak lovers with plenty of vanilla flavours along with rich plums and dark fruits. The Stellenbosch region on the Western Cape is renown for its superb quality of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot varieties.
Our penultimate red was again from France, we have previously enjoyed Chateauneuf-du-Pape so this time I included a Saint Emilion, well almost. On the right bank of Bordeaux this Montagne Saint Emilion is a satellite appellation and sits to the north of St. Emilion. A beautifully rich red in the glass with aromas of dark fruits, its flavour was full of plums and raspberries with a smooth slightly tannic finish.
Our final red was the favourite red of the night, a single grape wine from Australia. Jacob's Creek Double Barrel Matured is such named because this Cabernet Sauvignon wine is first matured in wine barrels and then in whisky barrels resulting in deep tobacco and oak flavours. Having enjoyed whiskies finished in wine barrels it was interesting and very enjoyable to try the reverse, a really delicious wine to be savoured although it would hold up well to a Chateaubriand steak with a rich brown butter sauce.
Another superb night discovering more about the world of wine, here's to the next one, I'll have to put my thinking cap on as it will be close to the festive season.
