Weekday Italian

Italy for me is confusing, complex, often underwhelming and incomprehensible (I will give examples why in my next post).  I am trying to understand, but I don't think mere mortals can handle it in the same way that France, the New world and maybe (he takes a deep breath) Spain or Germany are accessible.


As such, I don't know what I like, never know what is good and usually steer clear.  I am NOT saying Italy is bad, I just don't have the road map, and it would take a lifetime to learn by trial and error.  It took me five minutes and some research just to understand what the bottle was telling me,

Name              Suagna
Vintage            2004

Country           Italy

Region            Langhe, Bricco Rosso

Grape             Dolcetto and Nebbiolo
Maker             Manfredi

% Alc             13.5%

Price               £6.50

Source            The Wine Society

Straight into the glass, this had a nice nose, reminiscent of a chianti maybe. Cherries maybe, but pretty much an Italian red, some discernible oak, and nothing amazing. Could we say straight off it was an eye-tie? Yeah, pretty much.

Once in the mouth,light sweet fuit gave way rapidly to the harsh oakiness (still hanging around was pretty surprising after a good 6 years sat in its bottle (maybe 4, after ageing at the winery?)) Other than that, a pretty thin experience, and not much of note. Generally fitting with experieince of Italian reds. Classic nanna's pissy underpants ( I think that reference deserves an explanatory post all of its own.) Meh.

Maybe we need some education in the matter, but no evidence found that there is so much better out there. Maybe it's just not to our taste.

It was a different story, however, once sat next to home-made meatballs in tomato sauce, with good quality Italian pasta. This food took the harsh oaky edge away, brought the acid into play.
Classic case of the wine and the food doing so much for each other - the wine made you want to eat, the food made you want to drink (not that the Yorkshire lass's meatballs are that bad.)

Although piedmont is not really the natural home of this Bologna style meal (being a little further north, and conjouring ideas of preserved meats, sausages and mountain cheeses) they really really complemented each other. No chalk and cheese here; more like Morcombe and Wise in my eyes. Good stuff for a mid-week venture to the peninsula.

Chablis Premier Cru

You see the theme, at some point in the week, we get a treat.  This is probably it for the week.

Tonight we have a Chablis Premier Cru from the wine society's Exhibition Range.  The brief for this range is to "be flagship examples of their regions and styles".  So far I haven't been dissapointed.

Name        Chablis 1er Cru, Mont de Milieu

Vintage      2006

Country     France

Region      Mont de Millieu Vinyard, Chablis, Burgundy

Grape       Chardonnay
Maker       Jean-Marc Brocard 

% Alc        13% Vol

Price         £16.50

Source      Wine Society 

On the nose this wine is quite reserved showing hints of honey, white fruit and herbs.

It is in the mouth that it really comes to life.   On entry, so to speak, a full round mouthfilling richness, dry as a bone, but with a really lively acid length with a good slob of minerality that Chablis is known for,  that keeps you wanting more.  This is't exciting,in wine rock and roll way, but is just lovely.

Being my first "posh" Chablis this has been a bit of an eye opener in comparison to the sometimes watery and steely, cheap supermarket and wine bar chablis, not that these do not have a place.

A bit pricey for an everyday, even weekend wine, but i would buy again at the drop of the hat. 

A top Chilean

Carrying on with the cheering properties of wine, we have a top wine from Chilean maker Miguel Torres.  Miguel Torres produces wines at all entry points, always good value for money and, in my experience, not a lemon in the bunch.

Name         Miguel Torres Cordilera

Vintage       2008

Country      Chile

Region       Curico Valley

Grape        Chardonnay (85%), Viognier (15%)

% Alc        13.5%

Price         £11.99

Source       Hoults 

This wine is one of my favourites it is a good Chardonnay blend (with a small (15%) hit of Viognier) in the the style of a good Burgundy (obviously without the Viognier) at this age it is still probably a little young, can't wait to cellar some; bring on my birthday in 2015.) 

Smooth oak on the nose, roundness, aniseed, lychee and a little honey. Maybe there is even banana. Once it's in your mouth (and the nose makes you want to get it there), you get lime, richness, zing and all the complexity that a cooler climate can deliver above and beyond those flashy over cooked Aussie ones. 

It's the acid and strong herbality (new word) and structure on the 'swallow' that gives it away as a banker for cellaring, but currently excellent with food.  Be assured; that will melt away, and balance out with a ripening of the fruit contained here.  There is a case coming my way, and it will be a long hard wait.

Chile is often the 'go to' for our VFM, which is often connected with a weekday, sub £7 price point. But thinking of VFM in the round, as true 'bang for your buck', and you'll see that this wine is as good as old world examples of at least twice the price.  Have a go, it's excellent value for money. It's very good now at the money, and will likely be awesome. Get all Delia, and plan Xmas (3 years) ahead. 

Saturday night Champers

It's Saturday night and we are both in need of a pick me up, we nipped into Bob's to pick up a new corkscrew because somehow we have no decent ones in the house.  

What better to pick us up than a bottle of Fizz.  We are trying to try new fizz apart from the old favourites of Pol Roger and Louis Roederer.  Tonight on Rob's recommendation we are on Lallier.

Name        Lallier grand reserve grand cru

Vintage      NV

Country      France

Region       Champagne

Grape         Pinot noir from Ay (65%), Chardonnay from Avize and Cremant (35%)

% Alc        12.5%

Price         £25.00

Source      Hoults

Low dosage yet sweetish, this is a super enjoyable champagne. Of note is it's freshness, reminding me of seaside air in a strange way. Not sharply acidic, but with attractive lemon and apple, and the classic brioche finish. Length is a feature of note. Not super-fine Bollinger (or Krug!) bubbles but persistent, a good foam in the glass. V nice at £25, when the grand marques on offer started at around £27. Should be noted that Rob is super competitive on his champagnes, and is often the winner when a need for fizz arises. Think this would be wicked with oysters. 

Kanonkop Kadette

The South Africans are known for their blends (and some really crazy ones too) and their love of the Pinotage grape.  Tonight I have a bit of both, a Pinotage heavy blend from a good maker.

Name        Kanonkop Kadette

Vintage      2008

Country      South Africa

Region       Stellenbosch

Grape         Pinotage (45%), Cabernet Sauvignon (29%), Merlot (17%), Cabernet Franc (9%)

% Alc        14%   

Price         £7.95

Source       The Wine Society

The nose doesn't do much - plummy fruit, and maybe a bit of a mint twang - you'd say it was a claret I think.

Surprisingly, in the mouth, first impressions are of a southern rhone blend. The texture however, is what is really of note - really silky, not at all chewy as you might expect from this grape mix and locations. The wine ripens in the mouth, not really disclosing its provenance as S.African, except for a small tyre note, if you look for it.  Warmth and spiced fruit (heading into xmas cake territory) make it really drinkable. Enjoyed with our virgin attempt at home made lamb mince Koftas, this was a surprising, and rewarding drink. Good length, and compelling.

VFM? Yes, I would say so. A weekend price, and a weekend performance, with texture the star turn here. Burnley's success, stealing victory from the jaws of defeat this afternoon, serves to sweeten the deal.

A good white Burgundy

I am a big fan of white Burgundy, but unfortunately it can be expensive and sometimes, when bought from a retailer, isn't quite ready.

Tonight we have:

Name         Louis Latour Pouilly-Vinzelles "en Paradis"

Vintage      2006

Country      France

Region       Burgundy, Maconnais

Grape         Chardonnay

% Alc        13%   

Price         £10.99 (probably on a buy 2 deal)

Source       Majestic Wine

Burgundy is a difficult place to understand for the beginner and experienced alike, this AC is in the Macon, just next to the famous Pouilly Fuisse ... Never mind; I might write about this at some point when I understand a little more.

This is a white Burgundy in the "rich" style.  Has apricot-y fruit notes and all those hazlenutty and waxy overtones that come with full white burgundy.  it is rich and mouth filling with a good length. Lets be clear though - it's not an unctuous full on mouth filler, as it retains a lemony acid to make it appealing and fresh, in a thoroughly burgers way; not to be mistaken for Sauvignon zing. this was better with food, home made salmon fishcakes, in this case.

Let me not mince, this is good.  If I was to be over critical, it would take a couple more years in the bottle and be very good.

Enjoyed here.  Next time I might buy couple and cellar some.

Friday Fizz

The Yorkshire lass enjoys fizz very much, as do I.  It seems a perfect way to celebrate the coming of the weekend.

As the budget does not stretch to premium champagne, a Friday fallback is required.  

Name         Undurraga Brut 

Vintage      NV

Country     Chile

Region       Maipo Valley

Grape         Chardonnay / Pinot Noir

% Alc        12.5%   

Price          £9.99 (Buy 2 - £6.99 each) 

Source       Majestic Wine

It's pretty much demi, rather than the Brut it claims to be, and ain't that far from being an Asti. Don't take it wrong though, it makes it ideal breakfast / warm up wine, the bubbles are pleasingly persistent, and it's pretty compelling and drinkable. It's pretty childish, fun, tastes of zesty sweets, with a hit of apple acid balancing out the tutti frutti.

Given, it's not got style, class, elegance, but then it is around a fiver, for Friday fizz. A nice change to a steely cheap mouth stripping Cava, and more straightforward than a Cremant. A place for everything, and everything in its place.

The Booze blog

I like my booze!  Mostly wine these days but I am keen on a touch of ale, a cocktail, spirits and other alcoholic beverages.

I am starting this blog, mostly for my own record keeping of the wines that I have drunk, but hopefully someone else will find my musings interesting or useful.  Because of this, the blog will mostly be reviews, but if I find readership increasing I may write a little about the roots of wine and share some of my limited knowledge.

Mat