Nottingham Wine Circle – tenth Jan 2023
Details about Nottingham Wine Circle
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Kooyong, Faultline Chardonnay, 2018 – I’m an enormous fan of recent world, cool local weather Chardonnay and this was proper up my road. Lots of struck match and fashionable oak on the nostril with lemon pith and melon depth on the entrance of the palate and a protracted end. A very lean, tight type and just like the wines of Kumeu from NZ which I’ve loved for some years. You will discover bottles at round £30 from the wine society however some retailers are charging £35-45 for this. Pretty common enjoyment within the room
Pazo Barrantes, Gran Vino, Albarino, 2020 – Not typically a grape related to premium wines however they’re on the market! I’ve lengthy wished to attempt Pazo Senorans Albarino Seleccion de Anada however this was a brand new identify for me. The nostril was actually not typical of albarino with some candy fruit and nearly floral Gewurtz notes. The palate although was signing with typical acidity from this grape and distinctive focus of inexperienced and yellow fruit with a contact of honey. Stability and wine making was spectacular although at round £40 you’d hope it could be….
Santenay, Gravieres, 1967 – A Wine Society bottling that was purchased as a curiosity. I had thought it was an mid-aged Bordeaux from a light-weight classic as I used to be getting quite a lot of blackcurrant and tomato notes, the fruit profile was nonetheless outstanding regardless of its age. I used to be actually fairly impressed with the way it had held collectively though there have been differing opinions on that within the room. On the crux of that it simply didn’t appear very ‘Burgundian’ which apparently may very well be because of the truth on this period they had been mixing Gigondas grapes from the Rhone with purple Burgundy! I can’t discover out any info or background on this follow however older extra realized members of the group appeared positive it was a factor earlier than Gigondas acquired its on appellation in 1971
Liger-Belair, Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes, 2013 – I ought to point out a lot of our tastings are blind and this and the following wine stumped the group. Gamay is commonly maligned however this instance was slightly atypical and folks had been struggling to establish it (other than me however I’m extra of a fan than most). Given its age and from a ‘poor’, cooler classic the focus was shocking. Subsequently the fruits had been slightly darker than anticipated however the steadiness and tertiary meaty/savoury notes had been simply on the degree I take pleasure in. Liger-Belair are an enormous identify with a lot of their Burgundy at £100+ however this felt a relative discount at £30 though I don’t know if it was a consultant bottle.
Idda, Etna Rosso, 2019 – The wine I chosen to convey this night from a area I’ve been discovering over the previous few years. I believe Etna is certainly one to look at. Inevitably there are comparisons with wines from Piedmont and likewise ‘Burgundian’ lightness however I actually do suppose it’s its personal factor. This wine is a partnership together with Gaja whose Piedmontese wines go for £500+ so understandably has had loads of publicity with this new enterprise. Even in relative youth the sunshine purple/rusty color is kind of distinctive. The nostril while intense was slightly candy with some wild strawberry and cinnamon. The palate was slightly extra prefer it with traditional bitter cherry, with a touch of herby balsamic and actually fairly grippy tannin into a protracted end. It was fulfilling however lacked a contact of complexity and extra of the savoury aspect to different Etna Rosso’s I’ve had. At £35+ it gave the impression to be buying and selling off the identify and I’ve had higher wines for much less, take a look at; Tornatorre, Cussomano, Pietradolce and Torre Mora.
Penfolds, Bin 28 Shiraz, 1996 – For me this was typical Aussie Shiraz however for these lovers of it there may not have been sufficient minty eucalyptus that’s the signature of this grape and terroir mixture. Perhaps it was simply in the suitable place and which have softened however the fruit remained with pretty mild blackberry and black cherry notes and a velvet end. Ingesting very nicely, though in keeping with the one who purchased this ‘was once low-cost however now £30 a bottle!’
Chosen different wines/notes from the night:
Samuel Billaud Chablis 2019 – an massive identify and never low-cost, fulfilling however pretty one-dimensional yellow fruit given my expectations. My have suffered after the very expressive Albarino
Muga White Rioja 2022 – Younger and really recent. Nice worth for cash and versatile
Tondonia Reserva, Lopez de Heredia, 2004 – One of many nice makers in Rioja and normally so fulfilling and distinctive. It wasn’t badly flawed however on the very least an odd bottle because it undoubtedly wasn’t singing
