Croughton Wine Appreciation Group Members Choice May 2012
Blind Tasting 3 Whites & 5 Reds
Scoring
The First Four...
The Answers
Answers Wine 1 Grape: Chardonnay Region: Ardeche, South Country: France Price: 8-9.99 Alcohol: 13.5% Year: 2009 Wine 2 Grape: Fiano Region: Sicily Country: Italy Price: Under 6 Alcohol: 12.5% Year: 2011
Answers Wine 3 Grapes: Clairette, Obeidi, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Region: Bekaa Valley, East Country: Lebanon Price: Over 10 Alcohol: 13.5% Year: 2010 Wine 4 Grape: Pinot Noir Region: Rhineland, Pfalz, West Country: Germany Price: 8-9.99 Alcohol: 13.5% Year: 2010
Wine 1: The Challenge Louis Latour, Vin de Pays des Côteaux de l'ardèche 2009 my favourite wine because: It is easy to drink, light, summery and unoaked.
Vinification Louis Latour, Vin de Pays des Côteaux de l'ardèche 2009 Gravity-fed presses, stainless steel vats and temperature-controlled fermentation - 100% malolactic Description Maison Louis Latour is one of the most innovative producers in Burgundy whilst maintaining its traditional image. With a view to expanding the business in 1979, the valley of the Ardèche river with its limestone-based soils was chosen as the ideal location to produce top-quality vin de pays Chardonnay. The wine is deliciously apple-fresh with crisp acidity and a smooth finish.
Latour Family The Latour family founded the 'Maison de négoce', an important shipping company, in 1797 and is still based at 18 Rue des Tonneliers in Beaune. The company is unique in Burgundy in that it is still to this day family owned and family run, having passed down from father to son for over ten generations.
Latour Location
Wine 2: The Challenge Waitrose Fiano 2011 Sicily Because it is an opportunity to try a cheap Italian white wine something for everyday drinking. (Featured in the Waitrose magazine)
Waitrose Fiano 2011 Sicily
Sicily Sicily has more vineyards than any of the other Italian regions Once primarily known as a source for bulk wines for the rest of Italy, Sicily has emerged as a key player for its table wines Cooperatives make 75 percent of Sicilian wine Inycon is the Ancient Greek name for the village of Menfi where this wine is produced, on the rugged coast of south-west Sicily
Wine 3: The Challenge Lebanon, anything let s try it!
History The Ghosn brothers, Sami and Ramzi, were determined to realize their dream by bringing in priceless know-how to one of the world s oldest wine producing regions. On 27 May, 1998, a partnership was formed with an ambition to produce a world class Lebanese wine in the Bekaa Valley. It brought together The Ghosn brothers - Sami and Ramzi - and Dominique Hébrard, owner of Chateau Trianon and the Brunier brothers, Daniel and Frédéric, coproprietor at Le Vieux Télégraphe.
The Wine The new wine was to have a limited annual production and it was to be called Massaya, named the time of day when twilight sets on the vineyard and the sky turns purple as the sun sets behind Mount-Lebanon. The vineyards of the Tanaïl Estate are located at an altitude of 1000 meters above sea level in the Bekaa Valley, where the slopes are protected by the mountains. Free of frost and disease, the Bekaa Valley enjoys a unique climate with long gentle summers, wet winters and an average temperature of 25C that is perfect for viticulture.
Massaya Classic White (White Label) 2010
Wine 4: The Challenge Red from Worms (Germany) Tried some years ago
Palataia Pinot Noir 2010, Pfalz
Rheinhessen/Pfalz Rheinhessen/Pfalz is the largest of 13 German wine regions (Anbaugebiete) for quality wines (QbA and Prädikatswein) with 26,444 hectares (65,340 acres) under cultivation in 2008. It lies on the left bank of the River Rhine between Worms and Bingen in the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Rheinhessen / Pfalz produces mostly white wine from a variety of grapes, particularly Müller-Thurgau (4.320 ha), Riesling (3.769 ha) and Silvaner (2.467 ha), and is best known as the home of Liebfraumilch.
Wine Making The Pfalz region long known for its simple inexpensive wines produced in large quantities, has recently begun a trend back towards low yielding, high quality vines. A new generation of young, highly-educated wine growers has noticed the world's desire to experience intensely flavorful, robust wines, and therefore has reversed the trends of this region.
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Second half
The Answers
Answers Wine 5 Grape: Negroamaro Region: Puglia, South Country: Italy Price: 8-9.99 Alcohol: 13.5% Year: 2006 Wine 6 Grape: Touriga Nacional Touriga Franca Tinta Roriz Region: Douro Valley North Country: Portugal Price: Over 10 Alcohol: 14.5% Year: 2009
Answers Wine 7 Grape: Syrah / Shiraz Region: Alentejo, South Country: Portugal Price: Over 10 Alcohol: 14% Year: 2010 Wine 8 Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Region: Cape, South Country: South Africa Price: 8-9.99 Alcohol: 14% Year: 2009
Wine 5: The Challenge Salice Salentino Candido 2006 because the 2005 was nice like to know if 2006 is worth buying
Salice Salentino Riserva 2006, Puglia, Italy Salice Salentino is a small town in the southern part of Apulia, Italy in the Salento area
Wines 6 & 7: The Challenge Country Portugal Never had a good Portuguese wine Grapes: don t mind, white or red
Douro Valley Reserva Quinta de la Rosa 2009 Alentejo, Cortes de Cima Syrah 2010
Douro & Alentego The Douro is establishing itself as Portugal s premium wine region Long dedicated almost entirely to port production, it is now also a significant producer of robust, characterful red table wines The warm, dry Alentejo region in the south east is probably the country's most promising source of fullbodied, deep-coloured, accessible table wine Some white wines are made in the Alentejo, but it s the reds that are forging the region s reputation.
Wines 8: The Challenge Boschendal from South Africa Have enjoyed similar wines from Australia. South African wines are similarly consistent, full bodied and well priced.
Boschendal Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
BOSCHENDAL One the oldest wine estates in South Africa dating from the late 17th century. Following the Phylloxera epidemic of the 1890's which destroyed the vines, new american vines where introduced. It was from this time that the wines that we see today where first developed. The estate, over time has been through a number of different ownerships.in 2003 it was sold to a group of international investors who have developed the estate both as a wine maker but also as residential that is both five star and historic thereby preserving an icon of South African heritage.
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