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Tag: Fumee Blanc

December 15, 2019

Unexpected relationships enhanced by a producers ethos… Results in a fabulous time. A lesson for all of us !

Continue reading "Unexpected relationships enhanced by a producers ethos… Results in a fabulous time. A lesson for all of us !"

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Not only did I just have lunch with this fabulous Pinot noir from @flintvineyard but also tried Camembert from @lidlgb biscuits from @baileyandsage and #agedgauda from @lidlgb. Goes to show you don’t have to showcase the food to the wine. There is a saying that the value of the meat equates to the value of the wine. But maybe that is a little outdated. A sunny day a fabulous wine and a nice relaxed lunch with maybe a music 🎧 pairing from @nightmaresonwax This Pinot Noir Précoce is a close relative of Pinot Noir that ripens very early and is particularly suited to England’s climate. The grapes were hand-picked at perfect ripeness encouraging small, concentrated berries. Although the wine maker @flintvineyard has given a nod to Burgundian PN it is unmistakably 🇬🇧. Notes of violet cherry 🍒 blossom , raspberry and sour cherry 🍒 together with star anise and white pepper make this a delightful red. Even if this is the wrong time of year this is still a wine to learn from , to experience and to enjoy. On the new grapewizard scoring system this wine got an impressive 19/20. (Not many do) This guy certainly deserves it. Goes well with. Most Cheeses 🧀 and cured meats Drink till. 2023. Order early to avoid disappointment. As this has sold out in recent years. #flintvineyard #ukwine #ukpinotnoir #redfruit #redcherry #essexwine #summerwinesinautumn #picnicwines @berrybrosrudd approx £20. Enjoy Sunday lazy days 👓 ☀️

Here’s a cheeky little Carignan that just might improve the fortunes 🔮 of this little less popular grape 🍇 @domainedestourelles is situated in the Bekka valley in #lebenon. Although the grape CARIGNAN has existed in the region for 200 years or more it is ideally suited to this region. In 2018 the winery decided to add CARIGNAN to its stable of old vines. After harvest the wine is fermented in concrete vats mainly to keep intervention from grubby human hands to a minimum. The estate has 50 ha which equates to 50 rugby sized pitches and allocates a certain amount to Carignan On the nose there is hints of figs cranberry raspberries and liquorice with even a touch of@black cherry and plum. On the palate there is evidence of red fruits. And the fog and dates still come through. Imagine tasting liquid fig rolls. This is maybe slightly bigger than you might expect but by no means big bold and brassy. Don’t think 🤔 @dollyparton think @sandra.bullock.official. Pair with spiced meats grilled veg and 🍖 as well as 🐮 and 🐑 Drink until 2025 GWScore 19/20 (no sexy label ) priced around £18 from 🇬🇧 @boroughwines @irenebyrneandco @corkofthenorthsale @henningswine @greatgrog @woodwinters 🇺🇸@royalwinemerchants @seagrapewines #carignan #redwine #lebenon #winewithspicedmeats #winewithaview #plums #dates #prunes #blackfruit #redfruit #raspberries #blackberries #bekkavalley #arakbrun

What better way to enjoy a fabulous bottle of sparkling wine. Not just any old sparkling wine but an English 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 sparkling rosé. The Oastbrook Sparkling Rosé 2014 is made from Pinot Noir and Auxerrois grape. Full of red fruit aromas with a nicely acidity. No racy waterfalls here! Evidence of cherries and blackberries. Aromas also highlight strawberry and a touch of brioche 🍞. Perfect to enjoy this bank holiday. Relax at home 🏠 and in the garden. Pair with shellfish 🦞 🍤 🦀 smoked salmon 🎣 parmesan 🧀 and friends ( post lockdown ) £38 on @oastbrook website also try their Pinot Gris Uk 🇬🇧 only #pinotnoir #auxerrois #englishsparklingwine #bubbleswithfriends #greatimesforenglishwineproducers #greattimesforwelshwineproducers #redfruit #blackfruit #winelovers #ukwine #winegb @winegb @am.erica100 #howgoodarethesebubbles #supportbritishwine GWScore 19/20

Sancerre 2018 Comte d ‘Ardieres aop All too often Sancerre is over priced and under delivers ( unless you go for the big boys) but in the usual shop in @lidlgb (Wimbledon) I can across this great Sancerre priced at £11.99. This dry white has characteristics of green apple 🍏 citrus 🍋 and the classic minerality ( try licking a knife 🍴and you get the idea 💡 ) also a touch of honey 🍯 characteristic and well as a newly lit camp fire 🔥 also witness good acidity ( try biting into a Granny Smith and feel the rush of saliva on the bottom jaw 🤢(“same thing”) ) Imagine all this elegance and just under £12 Well done to @bampwine for choosing this wine. Us mere mortals can sample a compass 🧭 point wine on the route to good bad and ugly Sancerre. All wine is subjective after all! Pair with white fish 🐟 🦪 🍤 🦀 🦞 ( 🐐 + 🧀) vegetarian 🌱. If was never going to win any points for a sexy label so I rate this 17/20 #sancerre #masterofwine #loirewhite #gooseberries #nopassionfruithere #greenapples #oysters #doversole #goodwhitewine #winewithfriends #wineasabenchmark #notallgoodwineisexpensive

🇳🇿 2018 St Claire Estate Selection Sauvignon Blanc. I know what your thinking. Either I hate the stuff or I love it 😻 personally I find most of them too pungent. There are some fabulous nz Sauvignon blancs on the market though . This one in particular is full of tangy fruits. 🍋 grapefruit and apple blossom. Also shows signs of gooseberry and passion fruit. It does have some minerality but also has a huge amount of acidity. So it makes the wine very refreshing. Very crisp and altogether great wine for a warm summers day. Perfect with 🍤 🥗 and ( 🐐 +🧀) So all together this one is a big tangy pungent citrus monster If you like that. Go for it. It suits most white wine dishes Remember wine is subjective. ! This is a great example of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 17/20 Good till - the sun 🌞 goes in ! @stclairwines #newzealandwine #sauvignonblanc #gooseberry #passionfruit #limes #grassynotes #funwithfriends #wineonasummersday #winetoenjoy try them at @sainsburys or @amazon around £12

Rully is a fabulous little village in burgundy , having a chateau belonging to the same family@for 600 years. It is a very picturesque village. Rully was granted AOC in 1939 and produces red wine (pinot noir) and white wine (Chardonnay.) It is also the centre for the@making of Cremant de Bourgogne. A lot of history , very picturesque and tucked away from all the attention of the bigger more we’ll known neighbours. This village offers good value good quality wines. A great alternative to the sometimes overpriced over promoted villages in the same region. Why not try this fabulous white burgundy from @maisonchanzy. A delicate white tantalising the nostrils with exotic fruits , citrus 🍋 and white blossom flowers. Very refreshing. Perfect with friends Perfect on your own or suits most clean white fish. Pairs with 🍤 fried river 🐟 sea fish 🐠 hard cheeses and 🐓 in a creamy sauce. Contact @gerrardseelwines £16.95 GW Score 18/20 #whitewine #chardonnay #burgundy #winewithfriends #winedinelife #elegantchardonnay #enjoychardonnay #rully #cremantdebourgogne #greatvaluechardonnay

Good everyday drinking wine and remember not all good wines are expensive ! Enjoy a fab Chardonnay from the south of France 🇫🇷. Not too much oak and feels like this wine has had time to grow in the south and be left alone. Still has all that green apples and citrus but in a more grown up adult way. It’s not a bruiser of an oak barrel so don’t worry. But is available in the UK £11-13 try @fareham_wine_cellar @boncoeurfinewines and @thedrinkshopuk USA 🇺🇸 try @saratogawine @solanocellars @km_liquorstore @louislatour1797 @louislatouruk #chardonnay #whitewine #fabulouswineonasunnyday #greenapplesandlemons #wineforapicnic #winewithfriends #winelover #bestvalue GW score 18/20 ( not a sexy label )

Had the good fortune to visit a bucket list producer this year @10xtractor 🚜 Australia’s premier wine estate. Just outside #Melbourne for anyone that wants a bit of elegance. A bit of restraint and a while lot of grown up fruit character on their wines then this estate is for you. Pinot noir show their style here and whites are not “wood bruisers “ Much has happened at this estate. A recent fire 🔥 wiped out most of the main building only to be rebuilt housing a magnificent restaurant. Now run by the Speddings the wines from this estate are a must have in your wine rack. Please go to my website to read an article on these guys. Facts Vineyards McCutcheon 5.42ha Judd 5.68 Coolart road 13.68 ha Wallis 4.84 ha Spending 4.63 ha 1x Tasmania vineyard Winebar vineyard .83ha (1ha =1 twickenham rugby 🏉 pitch ) Grapes:pinot noir and Chardonnay (others in production) Pairings Reds game 🦌 quail pheasant and 🐓 🦃 ( would also hold up to red 🥩) White oysters 🦪 🦞 🦀 🍤 Wines currently in the £30-£80 price range #pinotnoir #chardonnay #whitewine #redwine #morningtonpeninsula #vineyardsofquality #vines #blackfruit #littleoakfabwines #wineswithfood All wines I would rate on GW score 19/20 +

I’m not one for Sauvignon Blancs but one thing that always interests me is the price on this wine. Always under£10 and bright and crisp Some stone fruit with some grapefruit and a nice mineral finish. Pair this with shellfish 🦞 🦀 🍤 and white meat 🦃 🐓 good till 2021 If you ever see the reserve Sauvignon blanc I always think it has a nutty characteristic similar to 🍿 the winery is headed up by @natjchristensen who’s a@fabulous winemaker. And a great ambassador available in USA 🇺🇸 @lukesliquorsrockland or use @winesearcher and type in Yealands Sauvignon blanc. 🇬🇧 @wineracksouthfields (and all stores) @sainsburys -priced in 🇺🇸 and UK under £10/$13. GW score this one 17/20 Yealands reserve 18/20 #savignonblanc #newzealand #winewithfish #winewithfriends #winelover #whitewine #wineonabudget #cleancrispandfresh #citrus #yumyum #summerwhites #paidpromotion

To celebrate #sauvignonblancday here is a little gem of a Sauvignon blanc. Not normally a fan of the pungent characterful NZ SB but this “little beauty” has a lot going for it. History. Set up by Fleur and mark in 2002. Planted vines in 2003. 2006 supplies grapes to cloudy bay. 2009 @cloudybay winemaker joins @littlebeautywines. Wins loads of award over the next 6 years and now in 2019/2020 activates a bio diversity programme. Characteristics Aromas of honeydew melon, lemon grass and capsicum with a smoky, mineral character. Refreshing and medium bodied on the palate with citrus 🍋 notes beautifully balanced by flavours of pink grapefruit and basil. A wonderful match with seafood, shellfish 🦞 🍤 🦀 or dishes featuring olive oil, tomato 🍅 and basil. TOP TIP: Tomato is known to be notoriously difficult to pair wines with because of the acidity in tomato 🍅 Not the case with Sauvignon Blanc....give it a go! It pairs very well. Available 🇬🇧 @davyswinemerchants @swig_wine @southernwines (not available in USA 🇺🇸🤨) #whitewines #sauvignonblanc #newzealandwines #zingywines #wineswithfish #wineswithfriends #winestosavour #grapefruit #lovelywhitewine (GW score 19/20 ) approx £15/16

Return to retro. A look back at all the places I’ve been and will continues to support, not only while the virus 🦠 is still firmly here but long afterwards. To encourage growth the most obvious thing to do is prune last years growth. In the photo you can see just that. An important job if you want to encourage bud break flowering and fruit 🍇 production. (Photo taken feb 2020) We have 509 UK producers and are currently in a precarious position. As a little fish in a big pond I’ll do all I can to promote wine and wine producers ! (Applies to all countries and all wine professionals - wether CEO 👨‍💼 or harvest intern ) Have a look at @gusbourne_wine for more info and learn something while your doing nothing ! #fabproducer #ukwine @winegb #englishwines #welshwines #whitewine #redwine

Not all good wine had to be expensive. This weekend I visited @lidlgb in Wimbledon SW London. Most of the ‘usual suspects ‘ had gone but when the consumer sometimes doesn’t know grape varietals a bargain can be found 🧐😁 The Germans 🇩🇪 call this grape #grauburgunder but we know it around the world 🌍 as Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio. 2018 Junge Winzer Grauburgunder. Being a pinot gris. It has a slight pinkiness to the appearance. Notes of white fruit are here. Expect to taste pear 🍐 apple 🍏 and melon. Also a touch of floral bouquets. Also witness a touch of spice ! Because of the grape it is intended to be drunk young. So expect this to last till the end of 2020. As it’s maturity will have passed going into 2021. This is a balanced and bright Pinot Gris and its producer sits on the river Rhine. 24 km from colmar. Home of Alsace. So expect the region to rub off on this wine. Pairs very well with roast chicken 🐓 and salmon 🎣 quiche. And seafood 🦞 🦀 🍤 Not bad for £7.99 $12 Thank you @bampwine and @lidlgb for this great white. Gw Score 18/20 In the UK with Lidl but unsure globally. Contact @lidlgb if in doubt

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