Category: Wine Red


Coates Wines

Filed under: Red Wine, Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 6 Comments
August 24, 2011

Coates (http://www.coates-wines.com/) - has got to be up there in terms of small, almost secret, boutique wineries making amazing wine. It really is a pleasure when you aren’t previously familiar with a certain wine/winery, try it without any expectations and then BOOM! It hits you! But not quite so volatile… Like an ‘elegant’ explosion it fills your mouth with intensity, silky smoothness and seamless body, texture and weight. Coates produce great quality wines from $20/bottle upwards to age worthy additions to fine cellars. There was also a very interesting Touriga in the range which many may not think of buying before trying, but once you try it and ‘get it’ (kind of like getting bitten by the Pinot (Noir) bug, as they say),  it’s an amazing wine to drink and show to people as a unique wine made in Australia.

After trying these wines I got to meet Duane Coates in a second tasting session, who appears somewhat reserved but feels very strongly about his winemaking methods. He adopts a no-compromise approach to his wine craft – definitely evident in his wines – you can taste and feel it! Coates uses organic and biodynamic principles from sustainable vineyards, with all-natural yeast fermentation (no cultured yeast/tannin/enzymes added), minimum acid-additions, new oak kept on a low, no fining agents/naturally settled, and all reds are unfiltered. In other words, these wines naturally reflect their full potential and place of origin – simple approach but hard! Organic/biodynamic winemaking is something which more Australian wineries are moving towards, especially with the world’s influence of top French Chateaux and winemaking…

Below are my tasting notes from some wines in the Coates range:

Coates Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2009: Chardonnay with a massive Burgundian influence – stunning, elegant palate that’s also clean and well structured with a good finish. Non filtered therefore a fine lees deposit in the bottle, but it presents purity that’s lovely to drink. Rrp about $32/btl. A bare 100 cases made.

Coates Barrel Fermented Robe Pinot Noir Rose 2010: Deep colour for a Rose, made from Pinot Noir. Aromatic and off-dry, not sweet. Well balanced, serious Rose with texture. Great with Asian cuisine. Made from Robe, an emerging wine region from Limestone Coast, South Australia. About $14/btl. – great value!

Coates Tenison Vineyard Pinot Noir 2009: Nose lifted and fresh (fresh fruit aromas) with earthy complexity. Not too big, rich or oaky. Savoury, textural style. Great length and silky texture with plush fruit. Coates ‘entry level’ Pinot made for food, perfect with duck and surprising value! About $26/btl. One of my favourites. Only 240 cases made.

Coates Consonance Syrah Cabernet 2007: Exceptional grapes in a great Australian Cabernet Shiraz (Syrah) blend. The Coates Consonance range are blends of regions/varieties marked for an entry level (made to the way Coates likes to treat his wines) price point – although this doesn’t taste like entry level wine! Concentrated deep crimson colour, with intense aromas – nicely perfumed although a little reserved (let it age a little more), vibrant blackberries and forest fruits, with subtle mint and spices/cardamom. Palate juicy, plush and softly textured with blueberry and cassis intermingled with dark earth and mocha flavours… Solid and long finish. Drink now to 2018. Rrp around $22/btl! Superb Value!! 450 cases made.

Coates Touriga Nacional 2009: My favourite! A dry red with aromas of lovely floral notes with whiffs of dried muscadell grapes. Palate has warm dried fruit characters but with plenty of savoury complexity – think dark chocolate, delicate spices, Earl Grey tea (a striking character), good tannins and firm structure but very silky and plush. Great example of Australian-grown Touriga. Delicious palate and finish that lasts and lasts… 14% alc. Rrp about $32/btl.

Coates Cabernet Merlot Malbec 2008: (Cabernet from Langhorne Creek, Merlot from Adelaide, Malbec from Robe.) Reserved, elegant nose with fresh/crushed white pepper and herbs. Palate juicy with more bright red and black fruit (compared to its aroma) – good fruit structure/palate weight. Long and seamless taste with fine tannins and intense, savoury finish. A classic wine with great balance. Perfect Lamb accompaniment (and other red meats). Only 220 Cases made. Drink now or cellar. Around $32/btl.

Coates McLaren Vale Syrah 2006: Traditional European Rhone style Shiraz – less fruit and more of everything else, although still a very ripe wine, with spices, plush tannins, savoury characters and warm, long finish. Very good quality. Drinking now or will cellar well. Around $36/btl.

There is also Coates Cuvee Consonance Sparkling Shiraz 2009 - I’m usually skeptical about sparkling shirazes but this is a really great, elegant example and perfect at a celebration or with turkey, about $26/btl.

Coates is a bit of a quiet achiever in the Australian wine scene, but along with holding MSc. in Oenology and MBA from Adelaide university, and currently enrolled in the Master of Wine (already succeeding in both theory and practical, now working on the dissertation), his wines certainly speak loudly for him. While you won’t see Coates Wines splashed across many reviews or offers, these wines are/will be available through some great venues (such as Bootleg, Vaucluse Cellars and Wine Odyssey in Sydney). Enjoy!

Cheers!

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Akarua Pinot Noir, New Zealand

Filed under: Red Wine, Wine, Wine Info, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 1 Comment
February 6, 2011

New Zealand is fast developing world wide reputation for award winning Pinot Noir. Some even say NZ make the best Pinots other than Burgundy. The fussy-to-grow grape often produces unwanted ‘jamminess’ in many areas with warmer temperatures, with none of the finer characters that Burgundy Pinot is famous for. It’s transparent nature will also show any problems/faults that occurred throughout the terroir, growing, picking or winemaking processes, no matter what the winemaker tries to do. Many are averse to Pinot due to it’s “lightness” and softness, therefore thinking there’s not much going on, but once you realise what Pinot Noir offers in terms of complexity and depth, talented winemaking and darker characters such as liqorice, leather and earthiness (generally evident in the more expensive Pinots), you never turn your back on it again.

Now to the wines. Another fantastic Wine Ark tasting this year presented Akarua Pinot Noirs from Central Otago, New Zealand, with wine importer Tim Stock. Pinot is the largest grown red grape variety in NZ and Central Otago is the most accredited area for NZ Pinot. Akarua Wines (http://www.akarua.com/) aim to stay away from the NZ Pinots that taste like a big fruit bomb (overly sweet and tarty). Instead, they show pronounced elegance, complexity and length.

RUA PINOT NOIR 2009 - Red, ripe berries with lifted floral notes on the nose. On tasting, red and purple berry fruits, spices, velvety feel from the oak and overall a bright palate and finish. To be drunk young and fresh. Rrp around $30. 13.5% alc.

AKARUA PINOT NOIR 2009 - Red and darker black fruits on the nose with lifted floral notes. Ripe berries, oak more prominent than in the Rua, well integrated tannins, good texture and length. Can drink over the next 5 years. Rrp around $45. 14% alc.

AKARUA RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2009 - Stunning complexity with red cherries and earthiness on the nose. Palate is warm with spices and noticeable alcohol, in a soft oaky texture, subtle spice. Sits well, length long and refined. Rrp around $78. 14.7% alc.

Pinot Noir naturally don’t make cheap wines, but they can offer pretty good value for money. If these price points are a little high, I believe Eden Road “The Long Road” Pinot Noir is one of the best Pinots under $25 (http://sarahwinehouse.com/2010/11/15/eden-road-wines/). Cheers!

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Burgundy Masterclass with Benjamin Leroux, at Steel Bar and Grill, Sydney.

Filed under: White Wine, Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 1 Comment
August 13, 2010

Steel Bar and Grill in Sydney CBD (http://www.steelbarandgrill.com/) held the Burgundy/Cote d’Or Masterclass hosted by Benjamin Leroux – an expert in winemaking and French wines, and a negociant (French term for a wine merchant who buys produce of smaller growers/winemakers and sells the resulting wines under their own name), and also converts many of his growers to organic practices when possible, as well as biodynamic (which whether you believe it or not, can definitely make a difference even in blind tastings). The result is spectacular, typically French, long-lived expressive wines…

From a very young age Benjamin’s been into wine. He believes in the absolute minimum intervention with the grapes growing and wine making, so that the wine can express itself and it’s terroir. I was surprised to taste two wines from the same region growing the same grape taste totally different to each other, and they were grown only about 50m away from each other! Now that’s excellent winemaking.

Now to the wines in the masterclass!

First were of course the whites, followed by the reds. Burgundy’s white wines are Chardonnay, and Burgundy’s reds, Pinot Noirs. We tasted 7 Chardonnays, and 9 Pinot Noirs. All stunning. Below are my personal notes about the wines:

CHARDONNAY:

2008 Benjamin Leroux Borgogne Blanc – Bright and pronounced citrus and gooseberry nose, with bold mouthfeel and creamy intensity. Great length. RRP $50.

2008 Benjamin Leroux St Aubin Les Murgers Des Dents De Chien 1er Cru – (1er Cru is Premier Cru, meaning a good wine) Yeasty Bready nose, but fresh, like an ocean breeze (personal description), with mineral characteristics. On tasting, also mineral with a linear, clean structure and finish. Wine grown in Limestone soils, which add that minerality. RRP $95.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Meursalt Les Vireuils – Citrus, with slight sweetness on the nose. Creamy rich flavour but with acidity which adds fresh flavours. Wine grown in Limestone soils, which add elegance to this wine. RRP $120.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Meursalt Narvaux – Reserved nose that wasn’t overly pronounced, with grassy characteristics. Creamy on palate, which was more rounder than the Les Vireuils wine above. RRP $120.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Pugliny Montrachet – Lots of acidity and freshness. Rich soil gives a ‘fat’ wine (fuller mouthfeel). Powerful and clean edged finish. RRP $120.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Baudines – Sweeter on the nose than above Puglinby Montrachet wine, with toast and goosberry and a touch of honey. Stone fruits and sweet characters on the palate with a long and elegant finish. RRP $165.

The wines above and below (Baudines and Embrazes respectively) are only 50m apart, but have turned out almost completely different wines that both represent their terroir.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embrazes – Nice perfumed bouquet on the nose with some fresh fruits, but then more savoury, stony and mineral characteristics, and elegant structure on the palate. RRP $165.

PINOT NOIR:

2008 Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Rouge – Bright cherries on nose with underlying earthiness. Structure, acid and berry flavours give freshness to it. RRP $45.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Savigny – This wine is the classic benchmark of wine from Savigny, of what a Savigny should taste like. Soft body with generous fruit, complexity and good length. RRP $78.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Savigny 1er Cru Hauts Jarron – Really enjoyed this one – Wet leather and earthiness on the nose, juicy berries (the sort of flavour that makes your mouth water) and oak, with a smooth and long length. RRP $95.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Volnay – Slightly candied cherry on the nose with earthiness. Ripe plummy, blackberry flavours with good levels of tannin. 20% limestone in the soils adds a more mineral style. Long length. RRP $95.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Volnay 1er Cru Clos Cave des Ducs - Biodynamic site. Wood and slightly dusted aromas, with fruity and floral touches, and even some vegetal characteristics – also on palate. Long, solid, savoury length. RRP $149.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Gevrey Chambertin – Very earthy, but with fresh fruity berries on the nose, softer well rounded palate with plummy and blackberry/black cherry concentrated flavour. RRP $114.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Mazoyeres Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru - Organic site. Highly perfumed, lifted nose with wood and bright berries. Bursting with black fruits on palate with savoury and oaky tones underlying. RRP $289.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru – An absolute favourite! Earthy, Musky, Savoury and Plummy, with Floral tones on the nose. Flavours of plums, black cherries, and not so tannic. Savoury and very pleasant finish. RRP $319.

2008 Benjamin Leroux Bonnes Mares Grand Cru - Organic site. Perfumed, with complex sweet and savoury characters on the nose, including cured meat and bread. On tasting, vibrant red berries and plums, with tannins and a mineral earthiness which brings elegance to the wine. RRP $339.

A wine seller/info site http://www.internationalfinewines.com.au/ says that “One of the most anticipated releases from Burgundy last year was the first set of wines under the Benjamin Leroux label. We can’t recall another set of Burgundies that sold as quickly (literally in a matter of days) and rarely have we had so much positive feedback from our customers on one set of wines. The good news is that we are now excited to announce the second release of these outstanding Burgundies.” And I couldn’t agree more…

Cheers.

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Yarra Yering – Underhill Shiraz 2001

Filed under: Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 6 Comments
August 1, 2010

Yarra Yering, as the name implies, is from Yarra Valley in Victoria. If you’re not already familiar with Yarra Yering they make wines of distinction, with very low yields, very deep flavour and richness in both red and white wines that reflect Victoria’s elegant wine producing terroir.

This Underhill Shiraz has a lot of ripe juicy fruit flavour and chewy tannins, but with a more savoury dark chocolate and oak laying as its base. Length on the palate is long, and 9 years later this is perfect drinking time now. Back vintages are available from 2001 to 2007.

Yarra Yering have a good range of eclectic fine wines, including what I like to compare together of the Dry Red No. 1, 2 and 3.

Wine / Winery: Underhill Shiraz 2001 / Yarra Yering, Briarty Road Gruyere, Victoria 3770
Price: $89.00
Value: Reasonable, for a unique wine
Website: http://www.yarrayering.com/

Cheers.

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Elderton, Leasingham and McWilliams Wines

Filed under: Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 3 Comments
July 24, 2010

Had three excellent wines at a home cooked family dinner recently (roast beef etc), Elderton Barossa Shiraz 2005, Leasingham (“Rent-a-pig”) Bin 56 Cabernet Malbec blend 2006 and the McWilliams 1877 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2004. All will show more open complexity with more years of cellaring, say around 10 years from vintage year, but even now they can be hard to resist with their dense juicy deep colour of big bodied Australian wines.

Elderton, Barossa Shiraz, 2005 - Dense dark colour. Smells like toasty oak, vanilla and cocoa. Tasted juicy, typical Shiraz with dark chocolate, plush plums, and black fruit flavours, with a solid but rounded structure and good lingering, slightly spicy, length. Matured in French and American oak.
Price: $20-30.
Value: Good, but Great with age. At least 5 years.
Website: http://www.eldertonwines.com.au/

Leasingham, Bin 56 Cabernet Malbec blend, 2006 - Liquorice, blackberry and spice on the nose which are quite elegant characters of a wine, with a hints of earth, dark chocolate and vanilla. The palate has good plummy and blackberry characters, of a tight but juicy nature, along with the earthy tones of leather and oak, and a prominent structure with tannins that are robust yet a little silky (and no where near ‘floppy’). Good length after. Overall a more elegant styled wine.
Price: $20-28.
Value: Good, but Great with age, such as 2 more years, would be perfect.
Website: http://www.leasingham-wines.com.au/

McWilliams, 1877 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz blend, 2004 – The best of both worlds (Cabernet and Shiraz), this wine offers good amounts of blackberry, plum, spice, and cigar box on the nose and palate. The oak is becoming well integrated and the palate is silky with great depth, length and ultimate balance. Would love to cellar this for longer.
Price: $42-45.
Value: Good considering the quality, but Fantastic with age. Would open it up again in 2012-2014.
Website: http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/

Cheers.

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Glandore Estate, Hunter Valley

Filed under: Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — Leave a comment
July 21, 2010

Glandore Estate is in the Hunter Valley (NSW), established in 2004. Duane Roy, the General manager and Winemaker of Glandore Estate, was really friendly and sent a case for review. On trying their TPR Tempranillo, I was intrigued at how well it was made and tasted (even quite authentic) - On the nose it was earthy and leathery. On tasting, it was Bursting with juicyness! The type of juicyness that makes your mouth water. With a good but not overpowering structure through smooth oak and tannin, and overall being very Savoury (which I personally loved) but delicious generous presence of fruit and spice. Spice and oak also lingered on after tasting. Maturation in French oak also added elegant structure and flavour to the wine.

First wine I tried from Glandore Estate was their $25 Tempranillo (click here to see) which was impressive for the price and quality. The TPR Tempranillo is slightly higher priced at $35, but it shows a true Tempranillo style even though it is grown in Australia.

I had the TPR Tempranillo as a starter wine to dinner last night, which worked a treat but also goes with many foods from tapas and entrees to mains.This wine is good with a range of foods that have a deep but delicate structure and/or taste. Also great of course with Spanish style dishes/tapas. Tempranillo from Spain is labelled Rioja (the region it is from).

GLANDORE ESTATE: TPR Tempranillo 2008
Retail: $35, Member’s price $28
Where: 1595 Broke Rd, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley NSW
Ph: 02 4998 7140
Website: http://glandorewines.com/
Opinion: Very good, and good value! Easy juicy drinking, and good starter wine.

As I said previously on trying their other Tempranillo, if their $25 Tempranillo is good I’m sure the TPR at $35 has a lot to offer – And I believe I was spot on! Other wines from Glandore Estate will be tasted soon to be reviewed. Cheers.

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Wine-Ark Tasting, Australian Museum

Filed under: White Wine, Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 4 Comments
July 15, 2010

Recently attended a members Wine Ark tasting, at the top of the Australian Museum (fantastic view! Overlooking St Mary’s Cathedral and Hyde Park). Wine Ark is Australia’s forefront for wine collectors and perfect cellaring of wines, for example with private access wine vaults any time until midnight. For wine collectors, their extensive range of vintage wine functions like an exchange market, allowing buyers to purchase directly from thousands of clients who store wine in Wine Ark’s climate controlled cellars, and giving members access to some of the world’s most sought after/difficult to obtain wines. Also by buying direct, retail mark ups are avoided. Wine cabinets (Vintec and Transtherm) and other premium wines are also available. http://www.wine-ark.com.au/

Anyway, Tasting was splendid! First, was the Clare Valley, with Jane and Andrew Mitchell presenting wines covering the best part of a decade. Then was Keith and Clare Mugford presenting Moss Wood current releases, including the iconic Cabernet Sauvignon. Then we had our first chance to meet Paul Bridgeman, who stepped into the shoes of Bailey Carrodus at Yarra Yering in 2008. Wine line up:

Mitchell (Clare Valley) – Presented by Andrew and Jane Mitchell
2009 Watervale Riesling
2006 McNicol Riesling
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Peppertree Vineyard Shiraz
2002 McNicol Shiraz
http://www.mitchellwines.com/

Moss Wood (Margaret River) – Presented by Keith and Clare Mugford
2009 Semillon
2008 Chardonnay
2008 Amy’s Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Ribbon Vale Merlot
2007 Cabernet Sauvignon
http://www.mosswood.com.au/

Yarra Yering (Yarra Valley) – Presented by winemaker Paul Bridgeman
2008 Pinot Noir
2008 Dry Red No 1 (Classic claret-style, Principally cabernet sauvignon with merlot, malbec and a little petit verdot added. Jancis Robinson included this blend in her 1989 book of the world’s top 40 wines)
2008 Dry Red No 2 (A shiraz based blend, Rhone Valley French style – shiraz co-fermented with tiny volumes of viognier and marsann, some vintages see the inclusion of mourvèdre)
2008 Dry Red No 3 (From classic Portuguese varieties, creating a spicy/savoury, fine, long and intense palate, medium-bodied, sour cherry/spice)
Plus a rare back vintage – 2001 Underhill Shiraz
http://www.yarrayering.com/

The whites were mostly elegant, refined character. The reds mostly deep powerful flavour. All reflected their terroir very well. Everyone there from the wine enthusiasts to wine makers were very friendly and enjoyed the wines. All wines tasted were great quality, showing good ageing potential. Also the well provided cheeses and snacks were really tasty.

If you’re passionate about wine, Wine-Ark is a great place to be involved in for priority access to rare/collectable wines, cellaring/insuring wine, invitations to world class tastings and dinners, wine news/reviews/suggestions/material/annual analysis, and a broad range of discounts and savings with no minimum monthly commitment or pressure to buy. Also a lot of fun!

Cheers.

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Glandore Estate, Hunter Valley

Filed under: Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 2 Comments
July 11, 2010

Glandore Estate is in the Hunter Valley, established in 2004. Duane Roy is the General manager and Winemaker of Glandore Estate, lovely enough to send a case to review here – and on trying their first wine, I was impressed! Gladore Estate’s aim is to produce wines of great character, regionality and style from the traditional varieties know in the Hunter Valley, and show how well they can grow Tempranillo, which is growing popularity in Australia, along with Sangiovese (Italian grape).

Their Tempranillo 2008 is the first one I’ve had, on the weekend at lunch at a pizza joint in Surry Hills. It was very juicy, fruity and quite well rounded. Riper than I expected, and had a fresh purple colour. It had a soft acidity and low tannins, therefore very easy drinking, and well liked by others who tried this wine at lunch. Went well with delicate and tender beef carpaccio, with olives beforehand. I also enjoyed it with a pesto chicken risotto I had as a main. This wine is good with a range of foods that have a deep but delicate structure and/or taste. Also great of course with Spanish style dishes/tapas. Tempranillo from Spain is labelled Rioja (the region it is from).

GLANDORE ESTATE: Tempranillo 2008
Retail: $25, Member’s price $20
Where: 1595 Broke Rd, Pokolbin, Hunter Valley NSW
Ph: 02 4998 7140
Website: http://glandorewines.com/
Opinion: Recommended and good value! Easy juicy drinking, and good starter wine.

They also have their 2008 TPR Tempranillo, a little more expensive at $35 retail, but if their $25 Tempranillo is good I’m sure this has a lot to offer. This will be reviewed soon, including other wines to be reviewed from Glandore Wines such as 2009 Elliott Semillon, 2009 DPJ Chardonnay, 2007 Estate Shiraz and 2007 Hamish Shiraz.

Cheers!

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Chapel Hill, il Vescovo Sangiovese Cabernet 2004

Filed under: Wine, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 2 Comments
June 30, 2010

Chapel Hill’s Sangiovese Cabernet 2004 – Brought this to a dinner recently at Love Supreme Pizza in Paddington – good pizza place.

I’ve always been a fan of Chapel Hill, being McLaren Vale based wines. McLaren Vale (South Australia) is well known for many Red wines, such as Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon, with the ability to create big bold reds with plenty of juicy, well rounded flavour and plush tannins. I usually avoid the ones younger than 3 years, to get one that’s developed and softened at least a little. Unfortunately many restaurants’ wine lists have some great South Australian (and other Australian) red wines at good value, but they are just too young and acidic/undeveloped, and would do great with at least another 1-2 years.

Anyway, the Sangiovese (Italian grape) component of this wine made it more lighter and suited to pizza. The Cabernet went well with any dark meat dishes I had, and I prefer heavier wines such as Cabernet, so I liked the extra weight to the Sangiovese. The wine had good levels of acid, also good with oily/fatty pizza.

Smells savoury, with herbaceous characters such as mint (from the Cabernet Sauvignon), soft spices and oak. But on tasting it has more fruit flavour – berries, plums, etc, and good oaky character. Sangiovese gives it a bit more more “brightness” to it, such as red fruits (eg. cherry). Being 6 years old and perfect drinking now, the tannin had smoothed out more so, leaving a more silky feel in the mouth after the wine has gone.

Retail Price: about $20 – which I found great value, being 2004 and since I kept it/forgot about it for 3 years and let the flavours develop further. 2009 vintage is now what will be in store, which I would decanter at least an hour before consuming, but it still has a lot to offer. Good Value.

http://www.chapelhillwine.com.au/

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BORDEAUX WINE DINNER

Filed under: Wine, Wine Info, Wine Red, Wine Reviews — 3 Comments
June 24, 2010
Michael, Winemaker from Faisan Estate in Orange, hosted a fantastic Bordeaux wine dinner for a small group of us, at Union Bank Wine Bar/Wine Store (worth a visit if in Orange http://www.unionbank.com.au/). To be honest, I wrote tasting notes on the night but have lost them, but the dinner was fantastic with roast lamb etc, and the wines tasted were sensational – I realised exactly what Bordeaux has to offer in terms of beautiful wines. If you’re not familiar with Bordeaux, it definitely has a lot to offer.

The Bordeaux region is the most important wine producing region in France (South West) and in the world, and has at least about 8,000 chateaux (Vineyards). Excellent for producing full bodied to medium bodied red wines, with a delicate structure yet strong mouthfeel. They also do a few good white wines, and excellent sweet white or dessert wines. Bordeaux does large volumes of everyday table wine, up to the finest wines in the world.

I love their Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc (more delicate than Cabernet Sauvignon), Petit Verdot (delicate grape variety), and Malbec (fruity and aromatic) wines. These are often blended in really lovely proportions – the Cabernet Sauvignon gives strength, tannin and structure, while the others soften the wine and add delicate, well rounded flavours, that also smooth the tannin. Blended examples are Cabernet Merlot (fantastic in Margaret River, Western Australia as well), Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and so on… Red Bordeaux wines are called “Claret” in Britain.

Fatty red meats, such as Lamb, pair well with Cabernet Sauvignon due to the ability of proteins and fats to soften some of the tannic qualities of the wine.

Wines go by the European Union laws and Appelations (certifications) of winemaking which can be very strict. “Vin/Vino” just means wine. “Cru” is the growth of wine from a certain area/vineyard. “Sec/Secco/Seco” etc is a Dry wine, “Demi-sec/Semi-secco” etc is Medium wine, and Sweet wines have “Dolce/Dulce/Doce” etc on them. “Cuvee” and many other words can often be meaningless when used on labels. Anyway, it’s worth trying some Bordeaux wines even without knowing what the label says. I’ve always thought the French were a bit pretentious about their wines but they really do produce many excellent ones. Worth a try!

Cheers.

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