jamie goode's wine blog: Back to tasting

Thursday, September 06, 2007

Back to tasting

The usually busy London wine tasting season took a break during August, but things are beginning to pick up again now that we're into September.

This week events have included the Decanter World Wine Awards dinner (which I skipped...but then, come to think of it, I didn't get an invite in the first place), the Roederer wine writer awards ceremony (congratulations on winning the wine writer prize, Mr Jefford), and then today a tasting held by new online merchant http://www.winedirect.co.uk/.

Held at the White Horse in Parsons Green, a small but select band of tasters were present (Neal Martin, Olly Smith and Stephen Brook, who is pictured above). The wines were really interesting: this is a range that focuses on wines in the £8-15 range, and there's plenty of good stuff to be had for this money.

I really liked lots of the wines, but the following stood out:

Boekenhoutskloof Porcupine Collection Viognier 2004 Franschoek
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay and Art Series Chardonnay, Margaret River
Folie a Deux Menage a Trois Rose 2005 Napa
Craggy Range Syrah Block 14 2005 Hawkes Bay
Webersburg Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Stellenbosch
Vina von Siebenthal Carmenere 2006 Aconcagu
Kalleske Clarrys Red 2006 Barossa
Bodega Weinert Merlot 2002 Mendoza
Hans Spirit of Marlborough 2001
Spinifex Indigene 2005 Barossa
Krone Borealis Cap Classique 2001 Tulbagh

2 Comments:

At 11:58 AM, Anonymous Keith Prothero said...

Webersburg----------one of the great secrets of Cape winemaking-until now!!
I play golf with Fred Webber at Erinvale,and he has long produced excellent wines. His winery,used to provide grapes for Ernie Els,and his winery is very near to Ernie,s ,Rust en Vrede and Guardian Peak.
Great value in the Cape for about a fiver equivalent,and my "house" red.

 
At 4:36 PM, Blogger Jamie said...

Yes, there were a couple of Webersburg wines in the tasting, and I liked them: these aren't made in the super-ripe style; nor are they green. They're quite Bordeaux-like in flavour profile. They are a little more that a fiver over here, though!

Liked the Krone sparkler, which I believe is one you've mentioned a bit in the past.

 

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