The wines Exel Staff have been tasting this week are:
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
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
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
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