Barrels & Bottles Wine Blog
To contribute to this blog please send email to sales @ barrelsandbottles.co.uk
I am as guilty (probably like everyone else) of treating Rose wines similar to an embarrassing cousin. Not really a full-bodied red but neither an exciting and vigorous white wine... but occupying some middle no-mans ground that is very easy to shrug past.
Thankfully I was forced to try a bottle of Bellagio Pinot Grigio Rose from Italy last night. A surprise visit by my Aunt and Uncle demanded a bottle of wine but the only thing to hand (that was not sparkling) was the Bellagio Rose. Fearing the worst I flash chilled it for 30 mins, made my apologies before hand and duly served it.
I was expecting insipid strawberry juice but instead we got strong raspberry tones, depth in the middle of the palate and enough alcohol to keep the driver from having a large glass. Everyone enjoyed the wine and I was shocked at the concept of liking it. But I did. This will certainly be on our future list for the cellar.
This got me thinking about wine drinking in general. Most of us tend to stick with the same wine or at least the same grape variety or countries. This is understandable with the sheer range of wines on offer and the cost of buying something that may not be to our liking. This is usually bolstered with the expression "I know what I like"... this should really be "I like what I know". Preconceptions and limitations (knowledge and financial) keep us within a comfort zone. I am a guilty as the next person for misplaced preconceptions... last nights Bellagio Rose brought this home.
For the rest of the year I am ditching my default wine list and setting out on an unchartered voyage to try wines that I have not previously tried. I am no doubt I will discover some howlers along the way but hopefully (and this is the expectation) I will find something truly superb which I can add to my personal drinking list and heartedly recommend to others.
Thankfully I was forced to try a bottle of Bellagio Pinot Grigio Rose from Italy last night. A surprise visit by my Aunt and Uncle demanded a bottle of wine but the only thing to hand (that was not sparkling) was the Bellagio Rose. Fearing the worst I flash chilled it for 30 mins, made my apologies before hand and duly served it.
I was expecting insipid strawberry juice but instead we got strong raspberry tones, depth in the middle of the palate and enough alcohol to keep the driver from having a large glass. Everyone enjoyed the wine and I was shocked at the concept of liking it. But I did. This will certainly be on our future list for the cellar.
This got me thinking about wine drinking in general. Most of us tend to stick with the same wine or at least the same grape variety or countries. This is understandable with the sheer range of wines on offer and the cost of buying something that may not be to our liking. This is usually bolstered with the expression "I know what I like"... this should really be "I like what I know". Preconceptions and limitations (knowledge and financial) keep us within a comfort zone. I am a guilty as the next person for misplaced preconceptions... last nights Bellagio Rose brought this home.
For the rest of the year I am ditching my default wine list and setting out on an unchartered voyage to try wines that I have not previously tried. I am no doubt I will discover some howlers along the way but hopefully (and this is the expectation) I will find something truly superb which I can add to my personal drinking list and heartedly recommend to others.
Forget the cheesey football, sausages on sticks, perms and big lapels... home-based wine events are definitely on the increase. Gone are the days of 1970's parties with fondue and Blue Nunn. Todays events are low-key, fun and run with almost military precision.
Why the increase? The economic climate has seen people staying in and cutting down on visits to restaurants. A handful of bottles can be bought for less than £10.00. Considering the diversity of choice now available it is almost impossible to resort to having to taste the same wine twice.
Recent years have seen a steady increase in the UK population drinking and starting to understand wine. We have traditionally been a society of beer drinkers but wine is now readily drunk when dining out and eating at home. It is a natural progression to want to learn more and discover new wines. Inviting friends to share your enthusiasm has seen a resurgence in local wine groups around the country.
How do we know? The humble ISO Wine Tasting Glass is being sold in ever increasing quantities. Sales to residential addresses has doubled in the past 18 months! The ISO glass in its 21.5cl capacity is perfect for home wine tasting events as it can be used for every style of wine and more importantly is affordable (inevitable breakages after a busy night on the Clarets are not as heart breaking than if using a Riedel).
Wine tasting groups are now using the internet to make the events easier to organise and log their tastings. Buying wines online has never been easier, Google Calendar informs people of events and social networking groups are the perfect place for groups to share information, post tasting notes and let members know what is happening.
Ditch the Cortina and flares and grab a laptop and glass - tasting wine has never been so easy and fun.
Why the increase? The economic climate has seen people staying in and cutting down on visits to restaurants. A handful of bottles can be bought for less than £10.00. Considering the diversity of choice now available it is almost impossible to resort to having to taste the same wine twice.
Recent years have seen a steady increase in the UK population drinking and starting to understand wine. We have traditionally been a society of beer drinkers but wine is now readily drunk when dining out and eating at home. It is a natural progression to want to learn more and discover new wines. Inviting friends to share your enthusiasm has seen a resurgence in local wine groups around the country.
How do we know? The humble ISO Wine Tasting Glass is being sold in ever increasing quantities. Sales to residential addresses has doubled in the past 18 months! The ISO glass in its 21.5cl capacity is perfect for home wine tasting events as it can be used for every style of wine and more importantly is affordable (inevitable breakages after a busy night on the Clarets are not as heart breaking than if using a Riedel).
Wine tasting groups are now using the internet to make the events easier to organise and log their tastings. Buying wines online has never been easier, Google Calendar informs people of events and social networking groups are the perfect place for groups to share information, post tasting notes and let members know what is happening.
Ditch the Cortina and flares and grab a laptop and glass - tasting wine has never been so easy and fun.
Do you know your Merlot from your Shiraz? Can you spot a Chardonnay at 20 paces? The fantastic new i-wine brings a whole new dimension to blind wine tasting games.
Use the 2 "scratch and sniff" panels on the front label to release aromas typical of the grape variety in the bottle. Use the tasting notes on the back label to help figure out the grape variety.
A fun mini-quiz tests your wine knowledge before you peel back the label to reveal all the answers to the quiz and the grape variety.
i-wine challenges your senses, increases your wine knowledge and you still have a bottle of wine to enjoy!
Use the 2 "scratch and sniff" panels on the front label to release aromas typical of the grape variety in the bottle. Use the tasting notes on the back label to help figure out the grape variety.
A fun mini-quiz tests your wine knowledge before you peel back the label to reveal all the answers to the quiz and the grape variety.
i-wine challenges your senses, increases your wine knowledge and you still have a bottle of wine to enjoy!
An Article by Andrew Coghlan:
As the summer tails away and we start to think about the Autumn, our tastes vary and change.
The desire for light and fruity roses, dry and crisp Sauvignon Blancs and light summertime reds such as Fleurie or Regnie from Beaujolais, pales to richer darker flavours that suit the cooler nights.
The desire for richer flavours takes us to darker red grape varieties, such as Syrah or Shiraz. Typically peppery with big red and black fruits, a hint of spice and a hint of tannin, that natural chemical which gives the texture to good red wines.
My favourites lie in the Rhone valley of France and my first port of call is the ultra spicy yet smooth Crozes Hermitage. The red fruits on the front of the palate give way to black fruits at the back, a spicy hint on the tongue lifted by ripe mature tannins on the back of the teeth and the roof of the mouth. This is a wine for drinking as the autumn nights come in, the chilly late evenings that invite you to sip rich red wine with a nibble of mature cheese or some crusty bread and pate.
This example from the grower Ferraton is grown bio-dynamically as well as organically. It is clean and ripe and at under £10 a bottle is not too much to pay for a really good glass of wine.
something lighter with a blend of 80% syrah and 20% Grenache Noir is the cotes du Rhone from the single site of Samorens. The tannins are not so prominent, the taste altogether lighter yet with plenty of flavour. Here the vines have not had the organic treatment which at the lower level often means that the grapes have a little help to get really ripe. This is not a bad thing as it offers a chance for the wine to open out in flavour and reach its full potential. Under £7 a bottle and you really cant complain with a great glass of wine.
Finally as we head towards October and the Autumn is upon us, reach for the really class act. A `glass of Chateauneuf du Pape, made from up to 13 grape varieties, based around Syrah, will give you power depth yet softness. a great wine to accompany spiced food, rich roasted meats and casseroles. Expect to pay around £15 for a good example. Domaine st Benoit Cuvee Elise is wonderful and aromatic, spiced with vanilla and cardamom and rounded and long on the finish.
The ultimate is a single site Ermitage such as the site of les Dionnieres. The 1999 vintage is just coming into its own and is power in a glass. Massive weight and distinctive aromas arise from very selective yields from the vineyard site. Only around 12 hectare-litres per hectare are produced so very little juice from the grapes and only the best will do. Ok it is going to cost you over £20 per bottle, but its worth every penny. Decant the wine about 2 hours before drinking to get the best from it. This will soften the tannin and open the fruit aroma channel.
Whatever you choose, keep enjoying a glass!
As the summer tails away and we start to think about the Autumn, our tastes vary and change.
The desire for light and fruity roses, dry and crisp Sauvignon Blancs and light summertime reds such as Fleurie or Regnie from Beaujolais, pales to richer darker flavours that suit the cooler nights.
The desire for richer flavours takes us to darker red grape varieties, such as Syrah or Shiraz. Typically peppery with big red and black fruits, a hint of spice and a hint of tannin, that natural chemical which gives the texture to good red wines.
My favourites lie in the Rhone valley of France and my first port of call is the ultra spicy yet smooth Crozes Hermitage. The red fruits on the front of the palate give way to black fruits at the back, a spicy hint on the tongue lifted by ripe mature tannins on the back of the teeth and the roof of the mouth. This is a wine for drinking as the autumn nights come in, the chilly late evenings that invite you to sip rich red wine with a nibble of mature cheese or some crusty bread and pate.
This example from the grower Ferraton is grown bio-dynamically as well as organically. It is clean and ripe and at under £10 a bottle is not too much to pay for a really good glass of wine.
something lighter with a blend of 80% syrah and 20% Grenache Noir is the cotes du Rhone from the single site of Samorens. The tannins are not so prominent, the taste altogether lighter yet with plenty of flavour. Here the vines have not had the organic treatment which at the lower level often means that the grapes have a little help to get really ripe. This is not a bad thing as it offers a chance for the wine to open out in flavour and reach its full potential. Under £7 a bottle and you really cant complain with a great glass of wine.
Finally as we head towards October and the Autumn is upon us, reach for the really class act. A `glass of Chateauneuf du Pape, made from up to 13 grape varieties, based around Syrah, will give you power depth yet softness. a great wine to accompany spiced food, rich roasted meats and casseroles. Expect to pay around £15 for a good example. Domaine st Benoit Cuvee Elise is wonderful and aromatic, spiced with vanilla and cardamom and rounded and long on the finish.
The ultimate is a single site Ermitage such as the site of les Dionnieres. The 1999 vintage is just coming into its own and is power in a glass. Massive weight and distinctive aromas arise from very selective yields from the vineyard site. Only around 12 hectare-litres per hectare are produced so very little juice from the grapes and only the best will do. Ok it is going to cost you over £20 per bottle, but its worth every penny. Decant the wine about 2 hours before drinking to get the best from it. This will soften the tannin and open the fruit aroma channel.
Whatever you choose, keep enjoying a glass!
John Higgins
Barrels and Bottles
Unit 5b Broom Business Park, Bridge Way, Sheepbridge
Chesterfield
,
Derbyshire
,
S41 9QG
England
01246 453399
Home Page
