We had a full house again for our New World v Old World tasting on Friday 5th May in the N&P cellars.
El Campo Sauvignon Blanc
Starting with 2015 El Campo Sauvignon Blanc Chile A nice take on the New World style, being fresh yet restrained. Notes of tropical fruit on the nose (mango and pineapple) with added citrus flavours on the palate. This works well as an aperitif or with seafood, great value at £7.95 per bottle.
Lamothe-Vincent Intense Sauvignon Blanc
Next we moved on to Sauvignon Blanc’s home territory – Entre-Deux-Mers in Bordeaux:
2014 Lamothe Vincent Intense Sauvignon Bordeaux White Loaded with complex peach, gooseberry and citrus aromas and flavours, coated in mineral nuances. A well-balanced and elegant wine with a long finish. This a 100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Entre-Deux-Mers area in Bordeaux, and is ready to drink immediately. Winners of a Gold medal at 2016 Los Angeles Wines & Spirits Competition and Silver at 2016 French International Wine Challenge. £10.75 per bottle.
Shoreline Lyme Bay Vineyard
The Romans introduced winemaking to England and it has continued – on and off – ever since. Ggeographically and historically, English wine may be considered to be ‘Old World’. However, due to the lack of tradition in the industry, along with the winemaking style and vineyard practices generally implemented, there is more evidence to describe it as ‘New World’.
So as the UK appears to be at the crossroads between the New & Old Worlds, we thought it would be interesting to try the white wine from Shoreline Lyme Bay Vineyard.
Assembled from a blend of four different grape varieties, (Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Reichensteiner and Seyval Blanc), then aged four months on the lees, the result is a well-balanced wine with subtle notes of rose petal, pineapple and lime and a pleasingly long finish. A fine match for seafood and popular with our guests on the night.
Awarded Silver medal (International Wine & Spirits Competition 2016) and Bronze in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2016, an attractive proposition at £12.00
Conviviale Primitivo
2015 Conviviale Primitivo
One of Southern Italy’s leading red grapes whose origins date back to the 18th century and to the Dalmatian Coast, from where it was brought to Puglia. This example from Conviviale is produced from the local Primitivo variety cultivated in the Salento peninsula of the Puglia region.
Grapes were sourced from selected vineyards between 20 and 60 years old and hand-harvested in early September.
A warm, robust red with aromas of plums, dried fruits and sweet spices. On the palate it is generous with impressive concentration of ripe plum and black cherry fruit and hints of dried figs -all balanced by a smooth mouthfeel and fresh acidity.
Partner with grilled meats, pasta dishes with meat or spicy sauces and hearty stews.
Awards 2013 Vintage: IWC 2015 – Bronze
Sommelier Wine Awards 2015 – Bronze Brilliant value at £7.50 per bottle
Calico Mane Zinfandel
2012 Calico Mane Zinfandel
Known for its strong fruity flavours, the Zinfandel grape is widely used in California. Recent DNA analysis has established that Primitivo and Zinfandel are genetically clones from the same Croatian grape known as Crljenak.
The 2012 Calico Mane is a powerful red packed with flavour, notes of jammy blackberries, plum and damsons, topped off with a touch of chocolate and peppery liquorice on the lengthy finish.
Bring on the hearty stews and barbeques! Packing a flavour-loaded punch from Lodi in the Golden State at £11.50 per bottle.
DBR Légende R Bordeaux Rouge
“Légende, a little elegance every day” is how Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) describe their more affordable range. The aim is to produce wines that reveal the freshness and elegance of Bordeaux, rather than wines that are too highly concentrated, or heavily oaked. but still reflect the DBR (Lafite) house style. Bordeaux Rouge is a well-balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. As the main variety, the Cabernet Sauvignon gives the wine the classic elegance of the Lafite style, while the ageing (9 months in vats, 40% with oak) gives it a well-rounded character. On the nose, intense aromas of sweet spice, violets and ripe black fruit. The palate is round and full-bodied, with noticeable but well-integrated tannins. The finish is clean, fruity and harmonious. A touch of class at £12.80
2014 Los Haroldos Roble Blend £12.50
Los Haroldos Roble Blend
From one of the best wine producing regions in the Uco Valley in the heart of Argentina, cultivated from old vines situated at a lofty 1,200 metres above sea level, this is a “wine with altitude.” Combining Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, it is packed with plum and spice, with a velvety feel on the finish. This 2014 vintage recently won a Gold medal at the 2016 Decanter World Wine Awards with a score of 96 points. “The addition of Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot to this blend works brilliantly, bringing complexity and class. The nose is elegant, loaded with cassis, plum, violet, spicy and peppery notes and leads on to a full-bodied palate with a pure fruit expression and fine tannins. Finishes long” – 96pts, Decanter Magazine. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
So another enjoyable evening’s tasting was concluded; in the “New World v. Old World” battle, there were no losers, only winners.
Next events:
A taste of the South of France – Friday 9th June
Capreolus Distillery Tasting with Barney Wilczak – June 23rd
All White on the Night – Friday 7th July
Just Gin Show 2017 – Saturday 29 July