Tried and Tested - This Week's Staff Recommendations

           

Richmond Plains Nelson Blanc de Noir (White Pinot Noir)

Richmond Plains winery is owned by Lars Jensen and his wife Samantha. Lars has been committed to enjoying and making great wines ever since he 'stole' a sip from his parent's glass as a child. His enthusiasm remains unabated 'every bottle, every vintage and every variety is a new discovery… making me eager for more'. The couple believe that Nelson offers the perfect location for producing fantastic wines, being 'blessed with the longest number of sunshine hours in New Zealand…combined with free-draining soils of ancient river beds…perfect for producing vibrant fruit driven white wines and well-structured elegant red wines.'

Torrede Ona Reserva 2008, La Rioja Alta

Following a visit to Spain, Leandro Vázquez decided to flee the American frenzy of big business and delve into the ancient tradition of vine-growing and so with good taste and great care, the Torre de Oña SA winery was born. After pouring a great deal of emotion and enthusiasm in to creating the winery Leandro Vázquez decided to leave the business. This situation coincided with the desire of La Rioja Alta to complement its traditional style with a new wine, totally independent and different from the Haro sanctuary. Some changes were made after the purchase was completed in January 1995, to focus more on improving and enhancing what was already there rather than on changing the château philosophy or the modern and powerful wine initially produced by Barón de Oña.

Vina Arana Reserva, La Rioja Alta

La Rioja Alta is widely recognised to be one of the finest wineries in the Rioja region. The estate has a history dating back over 100 years with the accumulated experience and knowledge being passed down through the generations and translated into the wines of the estate. The heartlands of La Rioja Alta are in the finest sites of the Rioja Alta region, with a further four wineries located in Spain's most renown DOs. The Haro Estate of La Rioja Alta produces three Reservas and two Gran Reservas, as well as the unique Marques de Haro wine that is the passion of the winemaker, Julio Sáenz.

Russell Wallace, General Manager

Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir – This was a seriously intensely flavoured white full of red fruit flavours and strawberry fizz.  My first thought was that this would work well slightly warmer than normal but served Ice cold was just irresistible so I am afraid I never got to try this out.  Flavours in general felt a little off dry but the reality was that the mouthfeel was bone dry.  I loved the every so slight hint of pink within the colour it makes it really appealing in the glass.  An excellent wine that delivered well above expectations and hugely recommended as about as good as a white wine gets!! Score: 19/20

Torre de Ona Reserva – A lighter Rioja than expected with really smooth rounded and balanced flavours.  All too often in a Reserva or Gran Reserva the American oak can dominate resulting in too much oak flavour and an earthy Mushroom flavour that I do not care for.  Here though the oak was mellow and the fruit flavours genuinely bright and refreshing, whilst it worked great with my Lentil Daal this is a refreshing enough red to enjoy on it’s own. Score: 16/20

Vina Arana Reserva, La Rioja Alta – This Vina Arana still showed an incredible smoothness and balance of flavour just like the Ona Reserva.  You can see the extra bottle age in the browning rim and more translucent colour which I just love in a wine.  The tannins were a little more pronounced and the flavour just seemed never to end.  Flavours were darker and a little more plumy but with a really fresh almost mineral quality that meant there was not harsh aftertaste. Still incredible smoothness and balance of flavours light but long lasting tannin the flavour keeps going too. Flavours are dark and plummy with a real fresh minerality. Love the colours of all three! Score: 17/20

Keron Magee, Shop Manager

Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - Wow!  Never had a blanc pinot noir before and so had no idea what to expect. Hesitated with the musty dull fruit aromas but in the flavour was revealed a stunning, slightly acidic basket of fresh soft flesh fruits. Very refreshing and quick finish. I loved this wine on its own and yet it was versatile to complement peppered mackerel and indeed the delicate flesh of scallops. Score: 18/20

Torre de Ona Reserva 2008  - For riojas these lacked a bit of oomph for me.  That could be down to ageing but the expectation of pepperiness that you would expect from Temperanillos did not seem to come to the front.  Don't get me wrong, it was pleasant enough leaving a pleasant oaky flavour that did justice to my Chicken tikka pizza and my friend's black pudding and goats cheese salad.  Score: 12/20

Dianne Younger, Company Administrator

Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - I very much enjoy Pinot Noir, however it was a new experience for me to try a white Pinot Noir - and boy, did I enjoy it! It was completely different to what I'd imagined. On the nose, I was hit with a very intense blackcurrant aroma. I wasn't disappointed by the taste either as I found more blackcurrant flavours. It was just lovely, and very moreish - and I'll certainly be buying more of it! Score: 18/20

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

Richmond Plains Blanc De Noir - The wine is a pale gold in colour with a hint of peach. It's aroma is quite sharp and tangy with underlying notes of pear, pineapple and tropical fruit. There's an initial hit of tannins when you taste the wine but this quickly subsides to sharp citrus fruits with maybe a little apricot in the background. The wines has a nice clean finish with no after-taste. Pleasant enough, but didn't really excite me. Score: 10/20

Torre de Ona Reserva 2008 - Deep tawny red in colour with an aroma of soft red fruits (mulberry/redcurrant) and a hint of caramel. When tasted, the tannins were a little too prominent; the wines feels big in the mouth but with a slight bitterness. I could just about taste the fruit flavours but they were very much to the background. A little disappointing. Score: 12/20

Vina Arana Reserva, La Rioja Alta - Very deep red in colour with a tawny rim, this wine has a savoury biscuity aroma with soft hints of perfume. This wine is very full in the mouth with an initial savouriness and sharp red fruits, which soften as the wine opens out. There is a pleasant savoury aftertaste. Very nice indeed. Score: 16/20

Chateau Arnauton Grand Sol France 2004 - Deep red in colour with a tawny rim. On the nose, powerful deep and juicy red and black fruits. In the mouth, a big fruity burst with a lovely smokey aftertaste. Nice and full in the mouth with beautifully integrated tannins. Very very very very nice. Score: 20/20

Susan Ross, Logistics Manager

Chateau Arnauton Grand Sol France 2004 - Steak for dinner on Sunday so cracked this one open.  I’m not a huge follower of Bordeaux, never really have been despite being surrounded by it in our warehouse(!), its just not something I would choose to drink, however, I was keen to give this one a go as its from a great vintage and in the whole context of Bordeaux, inexpensive.  I wasn’t disappointed.  Great nose of deep berry fruits and a hint of spice, just crying out to be tasted (and drunk!).  Pretty big on the palate, deep dark fruit and great tannins.  A fab food wine for rich red meat and a real steal at the price. Perfect for a Sunday roast and impressing friends!

Tried and Tested - This Week's Staff Recommendations

The wines Exel Staff have been tasting this week are:

Seresin Sauvignon Blanc New Zealand 2013

Seresin Rachel Pinot Noir New Zealand 2010

Lager De Cervera Albarino Spain 2012

Seresin – Michael Seresin first found his desire to foray into the wine industry, away from his roots as an international film maker, following a trip to his second home in Tuscany. In the early 1990’s he seriously considered setting up in Italy but a visit to the Marlborough Sounds in the South Island of his native New Zealand soon put a stop to that! His first vineyard was in the Wairau valley at what is now the “home Vineyard” of Seresin, but the estate spans three different regions within Marlborough allowing a good degree of unique complexity to enter Michaels wines. Add to that the commitment to a natural approach to farming with minimal intervention, biodynamic and organic practices as well as the use of wild yeasts all make these more than just another Kiwi plonk!

Lager de Cervera Albarino – The Rias Baixas Vineyards of popular Rioja maker, La Rioja Alta are the largest of all in this Albarino heartland but don’t take this to mean they are a gargantuan factory. In fact the winery is quite small and intimate. The size of the vineyard is down to the family secret for making the best Albarino, simply great quality grapes and little else more complicated than that!  Vineyards in this part of the world are beautiful nestled in and protected by old oak and eucalyptus trees. Rias Baixas geographically is in the Northernmost part of Spain just above Portugal where the river Mino flows into the sea.  Facing the sun directly and protected from the morning mists the harvests in this district come in rather early. This wine feels alive, full of minerality while citrus and tropical notes intertwine excellently making this a wine that would suit a multitude of people. The fuller flavour will make this quite versatile with food whilst the crisp minerality makes it wonderful enjoyed alongside a serving of good company!! 

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

Seresin Sauvignon Blanc - Pale straw coloured and not very leggy. Pineapple on the nose, apple and pineapple in the mouth. Very nice. Score: 15/20

Seresin Rachael Pinot Noir - I've never been a fan of Pinot Noir as those I have tried in the past (long before I joined Exel Wines!) have been a little one-dimensional and a bit too sharp for my tastes. This was very different, a wine with some depth and complexity but still a hint of those sharp red fruits. One of my tasting partners commented that it smelt like a Christmas cake, nice full taste in the mouth but no bitterness from the tannins. Very nice indeed. Score: 18/20

Lager De Cevera Albarino - Pale coloured and not particularly leggy in the glass, Elderflower and quite sharp citrus aromas on the nose. Creamy in the mouth with just a hint of citrus and a nice clean finish. Not bad at all. Score: 15/20

Dianne Younger, Company Administrator

Seresin Sauvignon Blanc - Colour: Golden. Aroma: What struck me immediately was the sherbet nose I got from this wine, full of blackcurrant and lemon aromas which I found very appealing. Flavour: Citrus with the blackcurrant sweetness carrying through in the taste. To be honest, as the colder winter nights draw ever closer, I'm moving back in to warming red wines again but I do have to say this wine was a big hit with me, very nice. Score: 18/20

Lager de Cervera Albarino - Unfortunately, this wine did not leave the same impression on me as the Seresin Sauvignon Blanc had - I think it was just too dry for my palate. Colour: Pale Yellow with a green tinge. Aroma: Citrus, I got mainly grapefruit aromas from this wine, and little else I'm afraid. Flavour: As I said, I found this one just too dry for me and I'd even goes as far as say a little astringent. However, if you like your whites dry then this is definitely the one for you. Score: 10/20

Seresin Rachael Pinot Noir - Colour: Tawny red with a very pale pinky brown rim. Aroma: An fruity mix of damson, plum and cherry aromas. Flavour: Soft, but with a robust backbone. Flavours of bitter cherries hit the mouth straight away, with what I can only describe as a slight herbal note on the finish. I think I would prefer to drink this wine with food and could see it being an excellent accompaniment to game, especially pheasant and duck. Score: 16/20

Keron Magee, Shop Manager

Seresin Sauvignon Blanc - what a cracker. On first nose you realise immediately that the flavour is going to be big.  So it is but in a gentlemanly manner. Bags of "oranges and lemons" with a lovely soft buttery mouthfeel presumably as a result of resting on lees. Returning back to it later, it lost nothing of its impact. Definitely in my top ten. Score: 16/20

Lager De Cervera Albarino - My first taste of Albarino. Needed a bit more concentration, as at first nose, there is not a lot going on. This is reflected in the dry short taste of "crisp apple". It was the perfect accompaniment to my "pick and mix" platter of olives, chicken pate, fruit chutney and oatcakes. Score: 14/20 

Seresin Rachael Pinot Noir - A mouthful of plums, damsons and dark berries overlaid with oaky notes.  A surprisingly short and soft finish that went down well with my slow-cooker beef casserole. Score: 14/20

Tried and Tested - This Week's Staff Recommendations

Established in 1860 the Tahbilk vineyard is not only a family owned winery, but one of Australia’s most breathtaking and historic. Situated in the Nagambie Lakes region of central Victoria, one of the nation's premium viticultural areas, the property comprises some 1,214 hectares of rich river flats. Purchased by the Purbrick family is 1925, Tahbilk is now home to 5 generations of Purbricks.

Some 200 hectares of the property is under vine with varietals including the rare French Rhone Valley whites of Marsanne, Viognier and Roussanne; and the Rhone reds - Shiraz, Grenache & Mourvedre. Also planted are the traditional varieties Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Riesling, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc & Verdelho and new age rising stars Tempranillo and Savignin. Some of the Shiraz vines even date back to the vineyards pre-pheloxera roots. Of the vineyards 100,000 bottle production only about 1 tenth of this escapes Australia, usually a sign of a truly great vineyard (the locals try to keep it to themselves)!

The wines Exel staff have been tasting are: 

• Tahbilk 2011 Marsanne
• Tahbilk 2007 Vintage Release Marsanne (I love being able to try two similar, but fundamentally different wines side-by-side.)
• Tahbilk 2010 Shiraz

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

Tahbilk Marsanne 2011 - One of my favourite French wine regions has long been Cotes du Rhone, so what a joy it was to discover an Australian winery that produces wine that is so similar to that from the Southern Rhone region. I've always claimed (only slightly tongue in cheek) to be a red wine drinker who only drinks white when there is no alternative, so joy upon joy to discover a new white grape and one I liked so much that I'd actually part with my hard earned cash for a bottle. 

This wine has a very fresh and crisp floral bouquet with hints of celery and honey. It is as light and crisp to drink as the aroma promised, with sherbet and citrus favours. Its very clean in the mouth with no after-taste.

A lovely light white that would go well with lightly spiced Oriental food. Score: 14/20

Tahbilk Marsanne Museum 2007- Ooooh. This is lovely. Honey, nectar and pear drops on the nose; sharp, crisp and dry in the mouth with just a hint of sweetness on the finish. 

A white with enough presence and complexity to stand up to all but the strongest flavours. I suspect this would go brilliantly with Roast Chicken and Yorkshire Pudding, and would also make a nice accompaniment to the Christmas turkey. Score: 18/20

Tahbilk Shiraz 2010 - If I hadn't seen the label I would have expected this to advertise itself as a Syrah rather than a Shiraz because it's right up there with my favourite French reds. There's Brandy, Christmas Spices and dried fruit on the nose, almost a Christmas cake in a glass. Pomegranate and blackberry mingle with the spices in the mouth and the tannins are beautifully balanced giving a delicious full body, but no unpleasant after-taste. I was a bit too eager to try the wine after opening so it felt a little tight, but I made myself leave some to breath and it opened out beautifully. Another addition to my list of favourites. Score: 18/20

Keron Magee, Shop Manager

Marsanne 2011 - Delightfully quaffable wine that entices you in with its plum and apricot aromas. On savouring, I was quite surprised by its dry and short finish. Very nice to drink with nibbles on a lovely summer day. Score: 14/20

Marsanne Museum 2007 - What a difference, although it's not strictly 100% Marsanne and with the extra time resting, this one exhibits a different aroma experience of cherry sweetness coupled with a nutty (brazils/hazelnuts) complexity. Would recommend this with a meal rather than on its own perhaps spicy meats ie. chorizo, duck or even a firm blue cheese. Score: 15/20

Shiraz 2010 - I let this one breathe for 15 mins as I was not keen on the initial taste when I opened it - like you say not a thumping Shiraz. On the nose I was able to recognise chocolate and blackcurrants.  A really long finish down the throat that lasted for some time afterwards. Tasting it the influence of oaky notes was obvious and deep currant/plum flavours too. I would recommend with strong meat ie. venison and maybe Roquefort cheese.  I love a good shiraz but found this to be a little lacking. Score: 13/20

Dianne Younger, Company Administrator

Marsanne 2011 - On opening this wine the sweet aromas of passionfruit certainly hit me. This followed through on the palate where the passionfruit flavours continued. I felt the wine itself was pretty dry - not at all what I'd expected. Nevertheless, a nice white to enjoy during a hot summer. Score: 14/20

Marsanne Museum 2007 - Again, I picked up on the sweet aromas of this wine straight away, but there is a softness of peach on the palate which I think may be down to the slight acidity of this wine, adding to it's complexity. Again a dry white, but one which I think would be at its best enjoyed with food. Score: 15/20

Shiraz 2010 - Colour: Garnet red with a clear rim. Aromas of forest and hedgerow fruits with a slight hint of tobacco. I found this Shiraz heavy going with its dry, spicy rioja style (perhaps because I've been drinking lighter reds over the last couple of months). Maybe as we move in to the winter months I will find my appetite for these heavier styles that stick to your tongue again, but I'm not ready just yet to face the winter months. Score: 14/20 

Tried and Tested - This Week's Staff Recommendations

Tenuta Musella

Musella - The splendid seventeenth century villa of Tenuta Musella is set within the beautiful, green hills of San Martino Buon Albergo close to Verona in one of the most picturesque vineyard regions in the Veneto. The vineyards cover three different hillside locations on south and west facing slopes which offer a remarkable differentiation of soil types; the Monte del Drago, Perlar and Palazzina hills.

The vineyards are planted with a mixture of indigenous and international varieties including, Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella, Barbera, Croatina, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Garganega. The estate produces an excellent white and rosé as well as a range of classic reds including a magnificent Ripasso and Amarone della Valpolicella. 

Wines were first made at Tenuta Musella by Cesare Trezza di Musella in the nineteenth century and the family continues to produce wines using traditional methods with a focus on expressing pure, natural fruit combined with the complexity from great terroir. In line with this philosophy, the estate is currently converting to biodynamic viticulture. The wines are very elegant and full of character, a very considerable step up from most Valpolicella, delivering incredible value for such exceptional quality.

Russell Wallace, General Manager

Valpolicella Superiore – Personally I love a Ripasso but for many the lighter flavours just work best in this basic model.  At £12.32 there is not a massive price difference to trade up to the Ripasso either.

Valpolicella Ripasso – The high cost and low yield of the Amarone essentially gives way to the Valpolicella Ripasso. Ripasso is not really a directly translatable term, but largely means revised or refreshed.  This points towards the use of the grape “must” or skins left over from the Amarone production in this wine.  They are mixed in during the wine-making process to impart a lot of the flavour of an Amarone into this wine.  As there is no drying process there is no loss of juice from which to make wine so the cost is significantly cheaper at £15.96.  It is common to expect the price to be about half and it is a wine I often call the smart man's Amarone.  The flavours if made well can be remarkably similar.  To put it another way, if you are paying the bill pick the Ripasso, if your boss or your friend is, pick the Amarone.

Amarone – This is the big boy, high ABV at 16%.  Amarone is made in a very unique way. Once harvested the grapes are first dried in the sun for several months this dehydrates the grapes and concentrates the flavours, sugars and general goodness!  It also means that there is less juice to extract and make the wine from hence the relatively high price tag of £30.11, which to be honest is quite good value for a quality example!

Dianne Younger, Company Administrator

Tenuta Musella Valpolicella Superiore 2011 - As soon as I opened the bottle loads of berry aromas filled the air. This wine is garnet in colour with a brown rim. Heavier on the palate than I imagined it would be, however after a few sips it becomes less heavy. I picked up lots of spice flavours in this wine along with the berries and oak, though with light tannins it doesn't last as long on the palate as I had thought it would. I would accompany this with a medium rare rump steak - no need for anything fancy with this wine. Score 15/20

Tenuta Musella Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso 2010 - Ruby red in colour this time with brownish-pink rim. Again, lots of berry aromas in this wine. On the palate the berry flavours are more intense and it is not as spicy as the last one - I would say that this one had better structure and a nicer berry flavours - the spice notes did not overpower the fruit as I felt they did in the Valpolicella. Score 17/20

Tenuta Musella Amarone 2008 - What can I say? Yumm! This was full of rich ripe berry aromas. Purple-red in colour with a brown-garnet rim. This wine went down a treat, smooth and rich on the palate - just beautiful. Definitely my favourite of the three I tasted. Again, no need for complicated food with this gorgeous wine - just a simply cooked medium rare steak and I'd be a very happy lady! Score 20/20

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

Musella Valpolicella Superiore 2011 - This wine was hits the nose first with bright clean red fruit aromas. There is a slightly sweet taste to the wine, reminded me a little of ribena and a very clean finish with no after-taste. I found this a very drinkable uncomplicated red - what I think of as a good quaffing wine. Score 15/20

Musella Valpolicella Ripasso 2010 - Clean and bright red fruit aromas with a slight hit of alcohol suggesting a fuller bodied wine. The taste still has the red fruits but with a little less sweetness and more of a savoury smokiness. This wine has a very pleasant savoury after-taste. A very enjoyable medium bodied red that I would have happily carried on drinking if Russell wasn't so stingy with the tasting samples. Score 17/20

Musella Amarone 2009 - This is a completely different beast to the other two wines; it's a very deep red with tawny hints and prominent aromas of sherry. Very dry and astringent in the mouth with prune and raisin flavours. Reminded me of Madeira. Although not to my personal taste, if you like dry Sherry or Madeira this will appeal to you. Score 16/20

Tried and Tasted - this week's Staff Recommendations

Tiefenbrunner

This week, staff have been tasting three wines from the Tiefenbrunner Range.

Russell Wallace, General Manager

Mouthful wines from a mouthful of a vineyard! So at first glance at the name you would be forgiven for presuming this would be German or Austria wine we are discussing and out of fear or whatever else given them a wide berth. Well we implore you not to, instead ignore the vineyard/family name and think of these as just divine wines from the northernmost parts of Italy and we can continue. It is at this point that I need to tell you a little more about the Alto Adige homeland of these wines, bordering Austria & Switzerland and the Germanic influence of this Autonomous region. If we are honest though Wikipedia is likely to say it much more accurately and professionally than I so over to them! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trentino-Alto_Adige

In the family since the 1675 and named after the Castle Turmhof, it was only in the 1960’s that the current generation set the direction for the vineyard by bottling the estates wines for consumption off the premises. The dedication here is to maintaining and indeed showing off the relationship between varietal and the land resulting in fresh and voluptuous wines just full of character. I started off with the Pinot Grigio. It is a variety I enjoy, but I have to be honest in saying that I have had my opinion tainted by the bulk produced House wine and supermarket trash that has sullied this varieties reputation. In this example we see a delightfully simple refined wine, that would be a great pairing with simple fair, seafood salads perhaps. Quite a floral little number and not a hint of the over acidic qualities I associate with the lesser examples of this variety. Score 16/20

Then we move on to the Pinot Bianco. It is not a varietal I would pick off the shelves with great regularity, and again there is no real reason why I should not, other than fear of the unknown. Which is stupid as discoveries of the great unknown are, to me, some of the greatest blessings. I enjoyed trying the two white Pinot side by side (and indeed next up is a Pinot Nero), there was a similar fresh and voluptuous characteristic just with a more pronounced flavour in the Pinot Bianco. This is where we definitely step more firmly into food friendly wine territory, my thoughts being a rich lobster dish or maybe even a bouillabaisse type dish! The floral notes gave way in this case to a more crisp apple with just a gentle touch of the tropics about it. Score 17/20

Then it was on to the Pinot Nero with nero being the same in Italian as noir is in French so to simplify things, and that is my basic desire in wine, in essence we are talking Pinot Noir and if you didn’t already guess that the divine light characteristic colour should hint at it straight away. The actual wine was a real mouthful. This is not a delicate sip it by itself sort of wine, it really needs a nice game dish to enjoy it with. So try a bottle with friends, but I do not see this as a wine to enjoy a few bottles of on the sofa on its own. A new discovery for me and yet another wine that really can rival some of the worlds best Pinot Noir! Score 18/20

Leanne Brodie, Data Administration Assistant

Pinot Bianco - Really, really enjoyed this wine. Fresh tasting, nice and light and very refreshing! Tastes really fruity, would say the flavours are very tropical like. Ideal for summer drinking at a BBQ or with a nice crisp salad. I will definitely be having a bottle or two of this one. Score 20/20

Pinot Nero - Again a lovely wine which I also enjoyed. This one again has a summer feel with lovely smells of summer berries. Lovely and smooth with flavours of strawberries. Easy drinking! I had this one with a chicken pasta dish and it seemed to work well. Score 20/20

Pinot Grigio - Didn’t enjoy this one quite as much as the Pinot Bianco, but was still delicious. Slightly heavier maybe. Strong aromas of citrus fruit. Nice and smooth to drink. I found this to have quite a zesty taste to it. Score 17/20

Ally Moir, Exel Wines Shop

Pinot Bianco - Lots of fruit on the nose and mouth, lovely taste of ripe pears, not much on follow through though. Best served well chilled. Great for a sunny afternoon though perhaps a little bit on the expensive side. Score 15.5/20

Pinot Grigio - Not quite so fruity as the Bianco – in fact a little bit creamy with hints of vanilla. Again a bit light on finish and equally as good on a sunny day, also slightly on the expensive side. Score 15/20

Pinot Nero -  I’m a big fan of Pinot Noir and was therefore looking forward to this - it didn’t disappoint. Initially there’s a taste of strawberries and what to me was like white pepper – I loved it (my wife didn’t). From here things got even better as I matched it with a creamy blue cheese – the effect was excellent all of the flavours enhanced and morphed in to an overall depth of fruit cream and just enough light tannin to make you want more. Score 18/20

Russell's Wine Recommendations to accompany the Perfect Pizza!

I have just had the incredible privilege to have tried out a new gadget at home last night, which created something of a life changing moment. I recently was bestowed of a house warming gift of an incredible new barbecue (proper charcoal, no gas nonsense here) with a pizza oven attachment! Now, I have wanted to build or buy a pizza oven for years, I love al fresco dining and I love the infinite variations of meals that can be created from dough, tomato and cheese!  So to learn that an even more sensible option was available for your favourite kettle barbecue was genuinely wonderful.  

Last night, with the parents visiting, we decided it was the right time to take this incredible machine on its intrepid first outing. So a basic bread recipe was whirled up in the bread machine (dough only and replace bread flour with type 00 pasta flour) for the best base you can imagine. Once that is fully risen get the coals going and after 20 minutes get the pizza attachment on to preheat. While that is going get the dough rolled out with the tomato sauce toppings and cheeses of choice (we also did a giant bruschetta, garlicy, cheesy bread), dust some flour on the now hot stone so it doesn’t stick and cook away. The result is almost as incredible as the wine we had.  

Our aperitif was a beautiful little Chardonnay (it is now officially my top white grape), unoaked from Dowie Doole in their Spitting Spider 2013, a fabulous crisp summery and quite intensely flavoured little number. There was an element of minerality here that left me surprised and feeling a little guilty that we had just popped this open for an aperitif as it would have been great with the pizza too. Coming in at pennies just over £8 this is really quite wonderful value, the label fools you into thinking that it might be yet another Aussie gimmick wine designed to sell itself on appearance not content, do not be fooled this is a serious wine lovers bottle.  

With dinner we first opted for the second life changing moment, Paddy Borthwick’s Wairarapa Pinot Noir to quote someone from an Essex based TV show OMG! I honestly do not have enough superlatives for this wine. Rich in flavour and body with an effortless oak balanced beauty that would knock the socks of any Burgundy ever conceived. At a smidge over £15 per bottle this is peanuts for the quality or when you compare it to a competitor in the aforementioned region in Burgundy.  Well done Mr Borthwick and I cannot wait to see what you can do with a Sauvignon Blanc!  

Last up and paired simply with chat and perhaps a little gluttony was the Dowie Doole Chardonnay’s red brother in the form of the Spitting Spider Shiraz.  At first after the Pinot Noir the change in style took a while to get used to but once the pallet had adapted it was rewarded.  By contrast this is a smooth and surprisingly delicate Shiraz, to be honest I was surprised to learn that the Aussies were aware of the more delicate side of a Shiraz, but I am glad they have come to recognise it at last. It is the delicate tannins that are a pleasure, no teeth clinging, lip staining here just fresh fruit, and a liveliness that really grips you. Priced at the same as the Chardonnay, I can see these becoming firm Exel House favourites.

Babich

The Babich legacy was born in New Zealand around the time of the First World War. The family originating in Croatia, began emigrating to seek new opportunities to improve their outlook in life away from their peasant farming origins. One-by-one the family's children on reaching the age of 16 completed the 6-month journey by sea to the pioneering frontier land of New Zealand. After several years collecting money from various farming jobs in New Zealand's swamplands, they acquired their own land in Auckland and completed their first vintage in 1916.

The wines of today are, thankfully, a far cry from the poor vines used at the time and the resulting mostly sherry and port style wines. We were guided through the wines of this multi-site winery by Dinah Kinnear, UK Sales Manager, in the tranquil surroundings of the bookkeepers office at the Exel Wines warehouse, quite probably this office's best use to date!

First up was a real punchy little number in the form of the Pinot Gris from Marlborough, or to be more precise from several regions within Marlborough. It is an important aspect in most of the Babich wines, that they have such a variety of parcels of land to call upon which lend uniqueness to the particular wine. In this case it is the cooler Awatere region that lends a richer, almost buttery side, to the wine with hints of pears, whilst the cooler Wairau side gives the crisp more classic NZ minerality. The end result is an incredible balance.

Then it was off to a Hawkes Bay Chardonnay, unoaked and from the gimblett gravels. Again, terroir and regionality is key in this wine, lending the soft supple freshness to the wine. I really enjoyed this Chardonnay. I am still trying to figure out in my head when and where I would enjoy it best, but I guess that is the strength of a wine like this, flexibility.

Then it was in to the Sauvignon Blanc. With seven different Sauvignon Blanc, Babich is one of the few companies that could offer an entire tasting around the varietal and showcase unique characteristics in each one. First was the Black Label Sauvignon Blanc, created in essence for food and to add a layer of diversity in how and when you can enjoy a NZ Sauvignon. The first thing you notice is the incredible light pale colour of this wine, so it was a surprise to learn that there is just the tiniest hint of oak in here too. Now, do not let oak-phobes be put off (it is just around 7% of the wine that is very lightly oaked), all it does is add body to the wine, you will not detect it on the flavour. Elderflowers, tropical & citrus fruits are abound here.

The second Sauvignon we would get to try was the Wakefield Down Sauvignon. While the Black Label was tinkered with to get the desired result, the Wakefield is a simple single vineyard expression from Awatere. I found a very light nose on this which followed through in to a very subtle light palate full in fresh crisp flavours and complexity with a finish that just evolves forever if given the chance.

Last up was a couple of Pinot Noir. Now I am an avid Pinot fan, but all too often I feel a little let down by the typical New Zealand version. Just too light and not enough depth on the palate I find in some cases, sound familiar?  However, Babich do not fall into this trap. In appearance you get the usual light colour, almost rose! The East Coast is predominantly Marlborough fruit, but with a little from their original plots in Auckland. It is these Auckland grapes that add a really unique twist giving an earthy woodland texture to the wine. The end result could genuinely pass, in my eyes as being Burgundy, genuinely wonderful. Last up was the Marlborough Pinot Noir, which had a tough act to follow. What really shone through here was the red fruits, the strawberries and raspberries. This is often used as a descriptive though not usually that accurate, but here it was bang on. Given this fruity nature, pair this up with your favourite game and you will be laughing.

Tried and Tasted - this week's Staff Recommendations

This week, the Exel Wines team have been tasting:
Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2012
and
Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2011 

Russell Wallace, General Manager

Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2012 -  I often find Chenin Blanc can be one of those hit or miss wines with a big gap between the good and the downright awful and mostly nothing in between. So I was pleasantly surprised by the elegance of Mulderbosch’s efforts. An elegant and refined wine is not usually the terms that would spring to mind for a Chenin, but they do here. The citrus fruits and acidity were all pleasingly delicate, that is not to say that there is a lack of flavour going on here just that it all is balanced and allows the minerality, more commonly found in a kiwi Sauvignon Blanc, to come through. Score: 16.5/20

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2011 - Red Blends just are not really my bag baby! Once again though the wonderful Mulderbosch, turns that on it’s head with this Bordeaux Blend on steroids. I was expecting a huge hit given the actually grapes and the diversity of grapes in play here.  Then with a closer look at the percentages part of this wines delicate nature was explained. Cabernet Franc is, unusually, the dominant grape lending the cedar notes and the graphite type minerality that let this sip down smoothly. The Merlot backs up this more gentile nature meanwhile the Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and Petit Verdot all, for want of a better description, remind you who is boss! Just enough of these varietals punch full on characteristics come through to please the lover of big and bold wines, not too much to put off the lovers of fresh and fruity wines. Score: 18/20

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2012 - This wine is a pale straw gold in colour; when I initially swirled the glass I thought it had no legs, but on closer inspection realised it had coated the glass almost perfectly, suggesting an alcohol content not to be sniffed at. Sniff it I did however and a lovely aroma of light and crunchy citrus fruits (mainly gooseberry and pineapple) assailed my nose; with just a hint of sherbet. Anticipation was high for the first mouthful and I was not disappointed, there is an initial sharp and tangy hit from the citrus that quickly opens out to rich floral and fruity flavours with just a hint of creaminess. I'm not a big white wine drinker, but this is a lovely clean and fresh and full bodied wine that I really enjoyed. Score: 16/20

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2011 -This is a wine that I knew I was going to enjoy from the moment I poured it. It's a rich tawny red in colour and quite leggy in the glass suggesting a full body. The aroma produces the classic South African herbal notes; I got dill and a creamy buttery parsnip with underlying deep red/black fruits. The wine is very full when tasted, initially its the savoury butter flavours that hit you but then the deep fruits come through. You can taste the tannins but they quickly subside and leave no unpleasant after-taste.  A great wine. Score: 17/20

Mark Powrie, Orders Administrator

Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2012 - I found this a very interesting white. The aromas coming from this wine were very subtle to start with. Once the wine had the opportunity to sit in the glass, I could then smell the fruit quite strongly. First sip, the wood came straight through and then the fruits and the flavours followed. I found this wine to have a long length and it would be a suitable white to enjoy on its own or with a starter. Score: 13/20

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2011 - This was a surprise. Having chicken for my dinner, I thought that this wine would drown the flavours. Opening the bottle, I could smell dark fruits and spice. After a wee while in the glass, first sip was a surprise. The wine had a dark colour and I was expecting a big punchy flavour, but the flavours were subtle. No too overpowering, just enough to enjoy the wine. There was a little kick as the wine was going down, but this could have been the spicy flavours. I have to say, it went very well with the chicken and I would be inclined to have this wine with a lighter meat rather than gamey meats. Score 16/20

Dianne Younger, Company Administrator

Mulderbosch Chenin Blanc 2012 - Golden in colour, I found this wine quite sweet initially with a slight fizz. It had a nice oaky roundness to it though. I cannot say that I picked up a great deal on the nose (maybe I had over-chilled it), but the palate was soft with floral notes which then led to flavours of catalope melon. I did not have this wine with food, but I could imagine it would go quite well with a coconut-based thai dish or roast chicken. Score: 16/20

Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2011 - The colour reminded me a little of Ribena! This wine had aromas of plump black fruit with hints of cassis and vanilla. The palate was big (almost pinotage-like) with lots of blackcherry flavours along with underlying spice notes, but with a cabernet smoothness to it. I would imagine this wine would be a good accompaniment to a hearty stew or ox liver and onions. Score: 14/20

Tried and Tasted - this week's Staff Recommendations

This week, the Exel Wines team have been tasting:
Chateau Ruat Petit Poujeaux Cru Bourgeois 2005

Russell Wallace, General Manager

A classic Bordeaux blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot and Cab Franc from the Moulis-en-medoc appellation in Bordeaux.  2005 was one of Bordeaux’s best vintages in recent times so if you want a wine from this year you have to search smart and look amongst the lesser know “petit Chateaux” rather than the classified growths.  Despite it’s name this is not historically the second wine of Chateaux Poujeaux (I think!),  originally I understand it used to be a completely separate entity which may, or indeed may not, have been bought over by the Poujeaux clan I cannot tell for 100%.  I am sticking with the presumption that it is separate, although they are both the same area of Bordeaux and ultimately similar in DNA!

2005 is still technically young in Bordeaux terms, but the 2005 vintage (good largely down to a heat wave creating less crop but more intensity in those that did produce) is a vintage that has been drinking well pretty much since put in the bottle.

This is definitely a decant or Vinturi sort of wine, straight out of the bottle it will be a little harsh but still surprisingly pleasant.  Expect a huge flavour, power and tannin, most Bordeaux of this sort of age would have mellowed out by now and become more like a full-bodied Burgundy but I was surprised at the intensity this wine still holds and will, I think, continue to hold.  The lack of brown notes on the rim suggest this wine will keep for some time yet.  Intense dark fruits, pronounced acidity, with still younger oak flavours and for me a kind of zing to start with as the flavour explodes.

Mark Powrie, Orders Administrator

Opening the bottle, I was hit with a strong scent. There was a mix of fragrances coming from the bottle, including dark cherry, smoke and even dark chocolate. Once I had left the wine to breathe and come to room temperature, there was a different mix of scents coming through.

First sip of this wine and BAM…the smells came through like a ragin' bull and the flavours were out of this world. Strong dark fruits, woody/peat flavours, a nice strong mix.

That nights tea was Chicken stuffed with Haggis and although this wine would cope with a more intense flavour, it went very well with the peppery haggis.

This wine was very enjoyable, better with a meal rather than on its own. 12/20

Ally Moir, Exel Wines Shop

·        Had this with a well aged steak and thought it was superb – a nice bouquet, a lovely claret ring around the top of the glass and completely complemented the food (no rich sauce just sautéed mushrooms and onions). I’m sure there lots of ageing in it yet, but a real winner. Score 18.5/20

Henschke - A Family Day Out

I have been mulling over a title for this piece whilst writing, but hopefully the title will become obvious as you read through.

A couple of weeks back I stumbled upon the wonderful opportunity to represent Exel Wines and be one of the select few to attend a masterclass and lunch at the beautiful location of Prestonfield House.  This was an opportunity too good for me to miss - a tasting through a selection of the ever delightful offerings from Stephen and Prue Henschke.  Starting the morning off with a trundle on the train to Edinburgh followed by a brisk 35 minute walk out of town to the tranquil and sublime settings of Prestonfield House.  If ever in Edinburgh I would recommend a visit, if nothing else just to soak in this stunning location!

Prestonfield's Sublime Setting

This was one of those tastings where you could feel a real excitement and sense of privilege in the room.  The Henschke name has become so iconic these days that getting such an intimate audience is a genuinely special thing (especially North of the Border).

I could describe this small scale family vineyard turned wine-making legend at great length, introducing the six generations of family that have cared for the 100 hectares of land, the vines and wines they produce and the painstaking dedication that goes into every facet of what they do from vine selection to the biodynamic and organic principles that has become a cornerstone of the vineyard.  But instead, I thought a brief poem summed it up perfectly.



And thus onto the wines, eight in total made for a perfect treat.  An opportunity to taste a real variety of what the Henschke legacy, or perhaps rather their land can produce.

The Master Class Line Up

1. First up was probably my favourite.  I love a real surprise in my wine and the Julius Riesling 2013 did just that.  When I hear the word Riesling I usual cross the street as I am genuinely not a big fan at all of the grape variety, or at least not of the ones I have personally tried.  However, there were no hints of petroleum here just crisp, citrus fruits, a vibrancy that seemed alive and a wonderful minerality.  This also accompanied a duck pate later for lunch, and whilst the pairing worked well I could not help but feel that the food was almost distracting me from enjoying the flavours of this wine.  Oh, and this is from the wine that is from vines that are "only" 40'ish years old! £20.80 per bottle
2. Next up was (cover your ears if you are a member of the A.B.C. crowd) a Chardonnay.  It is no secret that Australia makes a mean Chardonnay, so much so that the effect has almost come full circle going through it's heyday when nobody drank anything else, to a period where no one dared go near it, to today when one is usually willing to give it a whirl so long as it is certified 100% as unoaked.  Well, Henschke might have an oaked Chardonnay that will tempt you back in to that world in the form of the Lenswood Croft Vineyard Chardonnay 2012.  There is a strong Germanic influence in this wine owing to the regions cooler climate, the oak is definitely but I have to say, I have never tasted anything so balanced.  The minerality and fruits just shone through, enough so to let your mind forget about the oak and allow it to just enjoy itself. £29.30
3. At wine 3 we moved over to the reds, starting off with the "entry" wine of Henry's Seven 2012.  Younger clones from the Hill of Grace Vines, this features just under 70% Shiraz balanced and turbo-charged with (Spanish origin) Grenache (Spanish-Garnacha), Mourvedre (Spanish-Garnacha) and Viognier (Spanish-Mataro).  This is a wonderful example of complexity in a glass, and a wine that seems desperate to prove itself amongst its Henschke peers.  The Viognier lends a real lusciousness and structure.  Most of the grapes are fermented separately and blended at the end, but the Shiraz and Viognier at Henschke are co-fermented together. £21.76
4. Keyneton Euphonium 2010 was the next up. A blend of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot from 50 year old vines.  The surprise in this wine was the more delicate mouthfeel and increased overall finesse.  Given the blend, I would have expected a fuller richer style, but I was please to see the restraint in the overall body. This wine was paired up with a lovely beef rump with béarnaise and wild mushrooms at lunch. £26.90

At this point there was a brief interlude for some very appropriate wine enthusiast 'geek type' chat. Covering mostly corks, stelvins, glass vino-lock and relative oxygen transfer rates, I think it says a lot about me to say that I rather enjoyed this part!

Enjoying some Henschke "Geek Chat!"

     5.  Of the reds, perhaps the big surprise came from the Cyril Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 (technically there is a small percentage of Cab Franc and Merlot too, but who's counting).  With 18 months in largely new French oak I had expected a fair punch from this wine, but again I was left in awe of the elegance and finesse.  Now, I am not saying that there is a lack of flavour at all.  The depth is there, and so too is the richness, really the main difference is a softer more pleasant tannin.  I really love this wine. £81.95
     6.  Moving on to the first 100% Shiraz, and doing so with style in the form of the Mount Edelstone 2010.  100 Year old vines (well in 2010 they were only 98 years to be exact!), and the first wine where Stephen and Prue's dedication to Organic and Biodynamic farming comes into its own.  It is a real pleasure to listen to the obvious joy and passion they both have from getting the most out of nature that they can in such a natural way.  The dedication is obvious.  This is a wine where we start to get in to a preference for 24+ hour decanting to really let the wine develop.  This has a lovely pepper, mixed with a lemon balm kind of nose that gives way to a wildly distinctive taste that softens down wonderfully even after the 20 minutes. I had to continually swirl my glass in an effort to get close to the recommended aeration time! £73.24
     7.  (And number 8.) The icon that is the Hill of Grace, apparently it is actually a valley - honestly aussies!  Well, today's big treat was the opportunity not to just try one vintage of this wine, but two vintages side-by-side.  I always recommend trying related wines side-by-side whenever possible, it just adds a new dimension and accentuates characteristics, traits and subtleties that may otherwise go undetected.  First up was the 2007, where there was more than just a hint of the softness of the earlier Cabernet about this vintage and something that really appealed to me.  I guess the best description I could come up with would be a Bordeaux-Burgundy or a really powerful Burgundy.  The 2008 was, by contrast, more intense due to a warmer growing season.  The nose was spicier and more peppery (apparently the pepper hints come from a compound called "rotundone" which is actually found in pepper, amongst other things, so it is not just the Jilly Goolden in me coming out!) At around £295 a bottle this is not your everyday kitchen wine rack sort of bottle so the opportunity to try one of the world's finest wines was really very much appreciated.

What a Choice!

Sorry not quite finished yet. As lunch was finished off with a nice cheese selection and an exceptional Pinot Noir, in the Giles Pinot Noir 2008.  At the end of such an array of big wines, big flavours it was a delight to see a personal favourite variety (so long as it is done well) able to hold its own and shown off some incredible depth of fruits and integrated oak. £29.62

Finishing the day off with a divine lunch.