Tried and Tasted - this week's Staff Recommendations

This week, the Exel Wines team have been tasting:

Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc 2010

and

Bodegas Ortubia Rioja 2007

Russell Wallace, General Manager

Pascal Jolivet are a pretty serious and well-known Sancerre producer. As with many French wines, there are certain key words that cause a steep rise in price and Sancerre is just one (much like Champagne). The fact is there are many very similar styles and types of wines that do not, for one reason or another, get that prestigious name but show just the same quality, terroir and so on.  Cue Pascal Jolivet Attitude. In essence, a Sancerre is simply a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley. French Sauvignon Blanc differs to New Zealand in being much softer, rounded and with a much more subtle minerality and acidity. The Attitude Sauv Blanc is made from grapes just outside the Sancerre Appellation (area) but with the same diligence, biodynamic principles in a single vineyard estate owned by Pascal Jolivet.

Clive Holroyd, Database Manager

Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc - Pale yellow in colour; aromas of grass, flowers, herbs and musk on the nose. Very full in the mouth with elderflower, citrus and sherbet flavours and a creamy buttery finish. A very smooth, gentle white that would go well with delicately flavoured food. Score: 14/20

Bodegas Ortubia Rioja 2007 - Deep ruby red in colour with aromas of Dill and Butterscotch. Moderate to high tannins with flavours of leather, butter, blackberries and pepper. Lovely long smoky finish. I've always liked Rioja and I've always thought of it as sitting somewhere between the soft fruity easy drinking reds and the more robust complex and demanding wines - a good all rounder. This particular wine however was something of a revelation -  to my mind it sits firmly in the robust and complex camp and I couldn't detect any of the softening vanilla notes I would normally have expected. Absolutely delicious. Score: 18/20

Leanne Brodie, Data Administration Assistant

Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc - Another nice white wine this week (although I still do much prefer last weeks!) A pale straw colour with a citrusy smell of lemon and limes. This has a clean and frank attack with nice flavours of kiwi. I had this wine on its own and it was nice and refreshing, but also I could see this being a nice accompaniment to a seafood dish like lobster or crab. Score: 15/20

Bodegas Ortubia Rioja 2007 - Not being a huge red wine fan for anything other than Pinot Noir, I was surprised by this one. Maybe wouldn’t go as far as to say I loved it, but I did enjoy the glass I had. Quite a deep garnet colour with scents of spices and oranges and quite a strong smoke like taste which does linger slightly afterwards. Score: 9/20

Susan Ross, Logistics Manager

Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc - Really enjoyed this one.  I do love Sauvignon Blanc but not so keen on the grassy, gooseberry New Zealand style, so this Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley I was hoping would be light, fresh and a slightly softer style.  I wasn’t disappointed.  Very fresh, zingy but soft, fairly delicate citrusy flavours and a hint of tropical fruit.  Nice minerality giving it a long smooth finish to the wine. Quite elegant for the price mark – definitely good value for money and one I’ll buy again.  Easy to drink on its own but would be great with seafood, fish or some grilled goat’s cheese. Score: 17/20

Dianne Younger, Company Administrator

Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc - Appearance: Pale Gold. Aroma: Kiwi with hints of grapefruit. I also picked up a slight linen aroma. Taste: Tangy fruits, predominently kiwi, pineapple, lemon and grapefruit. Not really for me, I personally didn't feel that the flavours and minerality balanced particularly well. Food Matching: Moroccan chicken, vanilla cheesecake or perhaps a  pavlova - I feel it would need a sweet and/or slightly creamy dish to help cut through the acidity and dry finish. Score: 11/20

Ortubia Rioja 2007 - Aroma: A huge hit of  vanilla at first, followed by a punchy burst of cassis and bramble mixed with cream, clove, earthy mushroom and a slight musky note. Taste: A heady mix of jam and spice, but with an earthy touch of mushroom on the palate. Food Matching: A rib-eye steak or beef bourgogne. Score: 16/20

Ally Moir, Exel Wines Shop
Pascal Jolivet Attitude Sauvignon Blanc - Was so looking forward to this one as other wines I’ve tasted by this producer have been excellent. This one is well, nice and pleasant, but sadly doesn’t reflect its name and needs a good kick of attitude. A soft gentle wine, it has a little bit of that minerality associated with Sancerre but just lacks a wee something to make it stand out. Score: 13/20

Ortubia Rioja 2007 - As you know Rioja and I generally don't get on too great, so I was really determined to be completely objective and approach it with an open mind. Took my time , got the wine nicely to temperature, mmmm what a really nice bouquet to this wine, so far so good. Get this nose in again, wow this is really building, right lets have the first sip – wow this is a pleasant surprise am I really going to like a Rioja? And then yes it hit me.... that awful acidic tannin flavour just coated my tongue and I knew it wasn’t to be. Honestly I tried so hard to enjoy this wine but it’s not for me – am I the only person in a wine shop that doesn’t get Rioja???? Score: 8/20