wine Sauvignon Blancs, all at an affordable price. The pub was renamed the Cumberland Bar and became the residents watering hole in McCall Smith’s novel “44 Scotland Street”. New experiences Only last week, I ordered five different vintages of a wine I had only just heard of and I had never tasted. It’s not something I normally do, especially with an Australian wine. An impending visit to Barossa Valley and Clare Valley, in a few weeks’ time, has made me re-look Australian wines.
Clare Valley, is recognised as a world class wine, perhaps still out of the radar of nonwine geeks. This wine is difficult to find but with a bit of Internet detective work, I located five different vintages at an average price of £24. I must What confess, I haven’t yet tried this really piqued wine though by the time you read my curiosity this, I will have opened a couple though is a of vintages. It will be interesting producer who to find out how this producer is seems to have perceived in Adelaide when we get there. I do know that Polish taken the Riesling world Hill Riesling will cost a lot more than £24 in Australia! by storm.
It’s not just my visit that’s made me curious but high ratings by well-known critics for wines like Penfolds McGill Estate and Moss Wood Cabernet that’s made me want to investigate. What really piqued my curiosity though is a producer who seems to have taken the Riesling world by storm. He has been designated Riesling wine maker of the year in Germany even though he and his wines are Australian. His wines are said to last for decades and will improve the older they are. Jancis Robinson gave an early vintage of his 19/20, an almost perfect score usually reserved for wines of the highest standard and price! This, however, was no flush in the pan and his recent vintages have been equally acclaimed. Jeff Grosset’s Polish Hill Riesling, made in small quantities from a seven hectare plot in
Bodegas Franco Española
This wine is difficult to find but with a bit of Internet detective work, I located five different vintages...
Last week, we attended a wine tasting organised by Saccone and Speed at which BFE presented a range of Rioja and Ribera wines. The tasting was held at the Manchester United Supporters Club at Wellington Front. If you think this is a somewhat unusual venue for a wine tasting, think again. It appears that Alex Ferguson is a keen wine collector. He started when he was 30 drinking sweet Sherry and taking a few years before he was keen enough to spend £15 on a bottle of red wine. However, in Ferguson style, he then went right to the top and started buying classed-
growth Bordeaux, Petrus, and D’Yquem. He is said to have had an allocation from Romaine de la Romanee Conti (DRC) since 1996 which should now be worth more than Wayne Rooney. Ferguson also likes Ribera del Duero from Spain and Tignanello from Italy. He admits that most of the wine he bought was for investment and he recently auctioned off some of his wine in Hong Kong for £2.3m. tax free of course. Ferguson is said to collect Batard Montrachet, one of the world’s great whites, which he rarely drinks finding whites “too acidic” regretfully putting the world’s greatest football coach firmly in fourth division when it comes to wine geekiness. Sorry Alex.
Wines to try at least once in your life Grosset Polish Hill Riesling (Australia) 2015 Perhaps I shouldn’t suggest a wine I have never tried. I will report back and let you know what I think next month. It should be pretty good by all accounts. If anyone has already tried this wine, I would be delighted to hear from you. Wines tasted at the Franco Española tasting Diamante 2015 Sweet white, simple, sweet - 13/20 Talla de Diamente 2015 £7.50 White, pleasant, some lemon notes - 15/20 Rioja Bordon Crianza 2012 £7 Good value. Not top notch but neither is the price - 15/20 Rioja Bordon Reserva 2011 £10 Pleasant, spicy, warm on the palate -15.5/20 Rioja Bordon Gran Reserva 2007 £12.50 Limited in expression for a GR. Classic Rioja good value - 15.5/20 Marqués del Valparaíso Ribera del Duero 2015 £9 Dark crimson, mouth filling - 14.5/20 GIBRALTAR MAGAZINE MARCH 2017
I know that winery visits only last a few weeks as the wine is usually sold out very quickly. I will, however, go and knock on their door in a couple of weeks and see what kind of reception I get.
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