SUPER SUPERTUSCANS..

They say the best things in life are free. Or you could take the view that the best things in life are unavailable.

The ultimate accolade for a fine wine is to be sold out. Luckily, more vintages follow.

SuperTuscans are probably one of the world's three most desirable wines, along with top Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast is an essential pilgrimage for lovers of 'Bordeaux blends' and home to the famous SuperTuscans, such as Sassicaia, made from Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc by Tenuta San Guido.

To buy Sassicaia in the UK, see armit who also sell equally famous Ornellaia.

There are many more affordable Italian fine wines in armit's range too. One recommendation is Agricola Punica from Sardinia. In their Barrua, the local variety Carignano is blended with 'internationals' Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot to make very pretty, juicy wines with the magical, dusty tannic structure Italian wines are loved for.

Tuscany makes a fabulous and easy wine trip, with accessible wine tourism and beautiful hotels. In Bolgheri town, Enoteca Tognoni Francesco serves all the famous SuperTuscan wines by the glass along with sublime, simple meats, cheeses and pasta.  For details, see here. 

Some recommendations in Tuscany region are: hotels Ghiberti in Florence, Villa La Principessa in Lucca (see booking.com) and restaurant L'Osteria in Via dei Rossi in Siena.

For organised wine tours in Tuscany, see Fufluns.
(photo - sezwills2012)

VIVA VINHO VERDE..

Vivacious, lively, fresh and with naturally moderate alcohol levels, Vinho Verde is set to be as hip as floaty florals this summer. 


The regions in north Portugal making Vinho Verde wine since Roman times, have an amazing 'polyculture'. 


Vines traditionally grew up trees to a great height and grapes were hand picked by brave workers on precarious, wobbly ladders. 


Modern methods are in place now too, with enlightened producers recognising a need for 'international' style white wines with more body and roundness. 


The light, fresh, spritzy style is still popular however and great for lunchtimes and parties. 

There are good ranges springing up in many wine shops and supermarkets. Try one of the most widely available - Quinta de Avezedo Vinho Verde 2010, £7.29 from Waitrose. Light bodied and invigorating, this well made white blend has a minerally, stony flavour and a really zippy finish.  It makes a good value aperitif or an excellent match for a lunch of bread and goats' cheese salad. 


For a beautiful book on Portuguese food and wine, by top UK wine expert and Portuguese specialist Charles Metcalfe and Kathryn McWhirter, see Amazon. 


For more info on Vinho Verde wines, see here and for info on Portuguese wines, see ViniPortugal, here.  
(photo - Vox Efx)

NAPA WINES ROCK..

Napa Valley in California is known for elegant 'Meritage' red wines using the 'Bordeaux' varieties of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec. 

Napa first came onto the radar in the now legendary 'Judgement of Paris' blind tasting, organised by Steven Spurrier in 1976. 


Napa's wines trounced those of Bordeaux and often continue to do so. Thirty years on, Napa still uses the Bordeaux comparison as does the media. 

'Napa Rocks' is a campaign to raise awareness of terroir and wine-making skill and to highlight the Premiere Napa Valley Wines, made each year and sold at auction to raise money for the region and local good causes. 


There is a waiting list of wine producers wanting to participate and it is an opportunity for them to be innovative and creative. For example, 100% Petit Verdot from Grgich Hills and 100% Cabernet Franc from Lang & Reed.

Napa is now firmly a brand name with EU recognised GI status (geographic indication) along with Champagne, Chianti Classico, Tokaji, Port and Jerez. 


To buy wines from Napa in the UK, see London merchant Roberson.  The Wine Society also has a good range - see here. 
(photo - unconscious-and-irrational.blogspot.com)

SEXY SYRAH..

Every grape has its personality. Pinot Noir is hedonistic and tricky. Cabernet Sauvignon is smooth and seductive especially when wrapped around its supple, generous partner Merlot. 


Syrah is the reliable, friendly red grape.  Not too challenging, it can be intelligent and mature or just simple and fruity. Often used in blends to add body, colour and chunkiness, it is widely produced as a single varietal.  


The northern Rhone Valley in France is known for top quality Syrah.  Australia has long been associated with its synonym Shiraz, especially the Barossa, with a distinctive, eucalyptus flavoured, big, juicy style.


One of London's best known wine bloggers Robert Giorgione aka the Roving Sommelier organised a tasting of 60 Syrah & Shiraz from around the world to compare styles and quality levels.  All tasted blind (in bags, with the labels hidden), you have no pre-conceptions and genuinely pick the ones you like, not what you think you like, or should like. 


My top three from the tasting are: 


Tinpot Hut 2008, Hawkes Bay New Zealand, £13.65 from Slurp. Elegant, savoury style with relaxing, calm finish. Reminds of sitting looking at a gentle ocean on a cool day. Fair value in a sea of bigger names at the same £10-£15 price point. Bread, ham and a fishing rod, the perfect match.


Bonsai Berton 2009, High Eden Australia, £18.99 from Adnams. Evolved, spicy character on defined, concentrated black fruit flavours. An experienced hand has made a stylish wine to rival its Rhone counterparts. Worth the price on a Saturday night with roast lamb, music and chat. 


Jim Barry McCrae Wood 2006, Clare Valley Australia, £24.50 from Ocado. A top producer in a top region making accomplished wines garlanded with awards and praise. Fabulous, well managed oak ageing gives soft, tobacco spice on beautifully vibrant fruit. Mega classy and one for any special dinner. Get your guests to bring wine of the same price from Hermitage and have a good old dinner party ding dong on the ever popular topic of 'Old v New World'. 
(photo - starpulse.com)

HALF OF PINK MOSCATO, MATE..

When the butch, hairy blokes currently drinking their rosé behind closed doors 'come out', the first keg of Innocent Bystander's Pink Moscato may well be available on draught in UK bars.

The Australian pink sparkling wine made from the Muscat grape is already sold on tap in Australia, US, Canada and Hong Kong and is 'going down a storm'.

The current UK trend for pink wine has an off-dry bias with the top 10 brands sold all being so. 

There is also a UK demand for lower alcohol wines and at 5.5% ABV this fits the bill. 

Currently available in 37.5cl bottles from (amongst others) Slurp here, the kegs of Pink Moscato are expected in the UK soon.

The producer, Innocent Bystander Giant Steps Winery, headed up by winemaker Phil Sexton, is in Australia's Yarra Valley.  They have a simple philosophy - great wine needs great food. 

Not content with just wine tours, their gastro-friendly cellar door includes a bistro with wood-fired pizzeria, artisan bakery, cheese room and 'provedore' (shop). 

They roast their own coffee beans, have a range of beers and a guest wine list from the Yarra Valley and abroad.

In their own words 'Sounds kind of like a grown-up playground, right?'
(photo - myopera.com)

MALBEC MARRIAGE..

The highest compliment for a bottle is to appear as wine of the week on Jancis Robinson MW's website. 


The honour was bestowed upon Malbrontes, last year, from leading Argentine specialists in the UK, AWOL. 


The red wine is mainly Malbec with a small pecentage of Torrontes, the aromatic white grape of Argentina. 


The inspiration is the Cote Rotie in the Rhone, France where a small amount of the also aromatic, white Viognier is often fermented with red Syrah.  Wines made with this blend (Shiraz/Viognier) in the New World are called Rhone Rangers. 


This coupling of grapes in Argentina could pave the way for more innovations.  Argentina is already well respected for its 'Bordeaux' or 'Meritage' blends using Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot and Malbec. 


Malbrontes is now widely available, including Berry Bros in London and online. 


World Malbec Day is happening on April 17th, see here for details. 


To buy Argentine wines in London, see Harrods wine shop in Knightsbridge and Argentine specialist Cavas de Gaucho (website) in W1.
(photo - bookminded.blogspot.com)