The Edinburgh Wine Club |
||||||
Tasting, Thursday 20 November 2008. FESTIVE FIZZ |
||||||
Wine
|
Grape |
Country
|
Supplier
|
Price
|
Comments
|
Ranking
|
| Clos Monistrol Vintage Cava 2005 Extra Brut |
Chardonnay, Macabeo, |
Spain |
Waitrose, Tesco |
£9.99
|
Very fresh and well-balanced. Big, tropical fruit
bouquet, with lemony depth on the palate and a faintly earthy tang.
Serve with assorted appetizers, a variety of dishes with fresh meats,
and especially all types of fish and seafood dishes. |
|
| Simonsig Kaapse Vonkel Brut 2006
|
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier | South Africa | David Henderson | £11.50 | Lively mousse with very fine and delicate bubbles. Lovely floral aroma with the mouthwatering berry flavours of red grapes and a touch of Chardonnay citrus freshness. The delicious yeasty bouquet follows through to the unmistakable flavours of freshly baked bread and buttered toast. The refined creaminess of the mousse refreshes the palate and lifts the roasted almond nuttiness to higher levels. As an aperitif the Kaapse Vonkel will add sparkle to any celebration. Delicious with fresh oysters or paté. Excellent with lighter soup courses and ideal to accompany dessert as it is perfect for cleaning the palate. | |
| Hunter's Miru Miru NV
|
56% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Noir, 16% Pinot Meunier | New Zealand | David Henderson | £14.50 | Made by employing the traditional Méthode Champenoise techniques. Each variety displays its own individual aroma and flavours which when blended make a sparkling wine with full flavour and great length. The nose has complex autolytic yeast characters backed by lifted ripe stone fruit aromas. Good fresh fine acidity on the palate balanced by dry stone fruit and dry biscuit/cashew characters from the yeast autolysis. Good length with a fine mousse leaving a full refreshing flavoursome palate. Drink as an aperitif, or with smoked salmon or seafood such as scallops, oysters, crayfish, or chicken dishes. | 2 BV votes |
| Roederer Estate Quartet Anderson Valley Brut NV
|
70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir | USA(California) | David Henderson | £17.50 | Crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor. All the grapes for the wines are grown on the Estate. Oak-aged wines from the Estate's reserve cellars are added to the blend, creating a multi-vintage cuvée in the traditional Roederer style. Only the cuvée (first pressing of 120 gallons/ton) is used; no premiere or deuxieme taille. The fermentation takes place in high-grade stainless steel tanks at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. None to minimal malolactic fermentation is used in order to ensure that the wines age well and retain the fresh, somewhat austere style that is one of the characteristics of Roederer wines. | 1 BV vote |
| Nyetimber Blanc de Blanc Brut 2000
|
100% Chardonnay | UK (Sussex) | Harvey Nichols | £31.50 | The colour is deep gold; the nose is rich and developed with aromas of nuts and orange marmalade. The generous mouth feel of the palate is balanced by acidity and has a long and complex finish. This Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs is exhibiting a maturity characterised by the warm vintage, and is an ideal accompaniment to black truffle-scented foods; try with salty cheese, Moroccan influenced spiced fruit dishes and also with lightly smoked foods. | |
| Taittinger Réserve
Brut NV |
40% Chardonnay, 60% Pinot Noir and Meunier | France | Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose | £31.99 (£23.99 on offer) | The colour is brilliant, golden straw yellow. The bubbles are fine. The mousse is both discreet and persistent. The nose, very expressive and open, is both fruity and bready. It exudes aromas of peach, white flowers and vanilla pod. On the palate, this lively fresh wine is at once in harmony. This is a delicate wine with flavours of fresh fruit and honey. A perfect accompaniment to white meat, (lamb with chanterelles), crayfish and mushroom quiche. Poultry or sushi. | 16
pts (2nd)
1 BV vote |
| Peller Estates Ice Cuvée
NV |
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (plus Vidal Icewine) | Canada | David Henderson | £17.50 | A traditional méthode champenoise sparkling wine made
with hand-picked Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.
When the lees are degorged, a dosage of Vidal Icewine is added (115ml).
|
1 BV vote |
| Langmeil Sparkling Shiraz 2005
|
Shiraz (plus Vintage Shiraz 'Port') | Australia (Barossa Valley) | David Henderson | £19.50 | Select barrels of Shiraz from many vintages are blended to create this sparkling Shiraz base for the Cuvée. Fermented in the bottle utilizing the traditional methode champenoise and then matured for 18 months on yeast lees before liquoring with vintage Shiraz port from 1977 and 2000, culminating in this delicious, creamy fizz. | |