Wine of the Month Archives - Page 2 of 2

Wine of the Month – In anticipation of English Wine Week, an outstanding wine from Cambridge (with grapes grown in Oxfordshire)

Gutter & Stars ‘The Good Mixer’, Blonde on Blonde Blend 2021

In anticipation of the start of English Wine Week on 18^th June, this very impressive wine from Gutter & Stars in Cambridge, made from grapes grown in Oxfordshire, is a perfect demonstration of just how remarkable English wine can be.

Following Gutter & Stars’ highly acclaimed first releases of their Bacchus, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines last year, I was eagerly awaiting the release of ‘The Good Mixer’, Blonde on Blonde Blend 2021, which is just out.

And it is simply outstanding.

Made from a blend of Ortega and Bacchus grapes grown at Yew Tree Vineyard, this is a smooth, well-balanced wine with a creamy mouthfeel, an inviting acidity and a lovely finish. Pale lemon in colour, with aromas of jasmine, apple and peach, and flavours of strawberry and cream, honey, lemon sherbet and nectarine, it is an absolute delight. Pure genius, a top-quality wine.

If you are looking for a wine to drink during English Wine Week, this has to be it!

Enjoy ‘The Good Mixer’ as an aperitif, or with a seafood or chicken dish. Cheers!

Available from Gutter & Stars (£25)

Wine of the Month – in anticipation of Welsh Wine Week, an award-winning Welsh wine …

Wythnos Gwin Cymru 4-12 Mehefin 2022

Welsh Wine Week 4-12 June 2022

White Castle Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 2019

In anticipation of the start of Welsh Wine Week on 4^th June, this very impressive wine from White Castle Vineyard, in Monmouthshire is the perfect introduction to Welsh wines.

Recently awarded Silver in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2022, the Pinot Noir Reserve 2019 is a fine example of the top-quality wines produced by White Castle.

A combination of the Black Mountains, the three local rivers, the relatively low levels of rainfall, the clay and loamy soil, and the gently sloping, south-facing aspect of the vineyard all converge to create a unique micro-climate. This, together with the hard work and commitment to quality of the owners, has resulted in this truly delightful wine.

Made from Pinot Noir Précoce grapes, the Reserve 2019 is a light, well-balanced wine. With aromas of red berries and vanilla, with a hint of oak and smokiness on the nose, and ripe red fruit flavours of raspberry and strawberry on the palate, it’s the perfect match for Welsh lamb or a cheese platter.

Iechyd da! Cheers!

Available from Grape Britannia (£32)

Wine of the Month – Koshu wine: the perfect accompaniment for Japanese food

When I first visited Japan thirty years ago, Japanese wine was nothing to write home about and most of the wine people drank back then was French. How different the Japanese wine landscape is nowadays – there are over 300 wineries across the country, the majority in Yamanashi, Hokkaido, Nagano and Yamagata prefectures.

And in recent years, the quality of Japanese wine has improved enormously – at the 2021 Decanter World Wine Awards, Japanese wines were awarded a total of 71 medals, an increase of 61% over 2020, and including two Platinum and four Gold medals.

The most common grape variety used for white wine in Japan is Koshu. Indigenous to Japan, the grape is a hybrid of the European Vitis vinifera and the Asian Vitis davidii, and its thick skin makes it well-suited to the country’s hot, humid summers. Most of the Koshu wines are produced in Yamanashi, just to the west of Tokyo and the home of Mt Fuji. The wines are subtle and delicate, with citrus aromas and fresh, fruity flavours.

This Château Mercian, Koshu, Iwasaki 2019 wine is produced by Japan’s longest established winery, which can trace its roots back to 1870. It is a smooth, medium-bodied wine with refreshing acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and a lengthy finish. With floral notes and aromas of lemon, yuzu and vanilla on the nose, and flavours of citrus fruit, peach and almonds on the palate, it is an elegant wine that expresses the unique characteristics of the Koshu grape very well.

It’s a perfect match for sushi and sashimi, and other light Japanese dishes.

Available from Frazier’s Wine Merchants (£21.99)

Wine of the Month

This month’s Wine of the Month is a Georgian qvevri wine.

Tbilvino Qvevris Rkatsiteli 2020 (Georgia)

Although wine cultivation is believed to have started in the Caucasus region as early as 6000 BC, Georgian wine is perhaps not as well-known as it ought to be. The traditional method of vinification using ‘qvevri’ – clay pots – whereby the juice, skin and seeds of the crushed grapes are placed in handmade clay pots, then sealed and buried underground for fermentation to take place, is still used today.

The qvevri maintain a constant temperature and allow the wines to breathe and evolve in relatively stable conditions. For white wines fermented this way, the prolonged skin contact gives them their distinctive amber colour and subtle tannic grip.

This Georgian wine from Tbilvino Winery is produced from Rkatsiteli grapes, the most widely planted white grape variety in Georgia. The grape is also popular in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, and in recent years it has found a home in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where the climate is similar to that of Georgia’s main winegrowing regions.

With peach, pear, apricot and blossom on the nose, and honey, peach and orange peel on the palate, this is a robust wine with a creamy mouthfeel. A dry wine, it is well-balanced with a lively acidity, and has a slight nuttiness in the finish. A very good match for a lamb dish, roast chicken, or salmon in a creamy sauce.

This is not a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay or a Pinot Grigio but it is an appealing wine with a character very much of its own. It’s a fine example of a qvevri wine and well worth trying.

Available from Majestic (£13.99, £11.99 Mix Six)

Wine of the Month

White Castle Vineyard Regent 2019

Originating in Germany, the Regent grape copes well with cooler climates, producing wines that are full-bodied and richly-coloured, with soft tannins and ripe red and black fruit flavours. A number of vineyards in the UK have Regent plantings, including White Castle Vineyard located near the market towns of Abergavenny and Monmouth in Wales.

A combination of factors including the protection of the Black Mountains, the three local rivers (Usk, Monnow and Wye), the relatively low levels of rainfall, the sandstone rock shelf, the clay and loamy soil, and the gently sloping, south-facing aspect of the White Castle vineyard all converge to create a unique micro-climate.

This, together with the hard work and dedication of owners Robb Merchant and his wife Nicola, has enabled them to produce a range of top-quality, award-winning Welsh wines. The White Castle Regent 2019 is a little gem, a delightful wine that shows just what the Regent grape is capable of.

With aromas of cherry, blackberry and a touch of smokiness on the nose, and ripe fruit flavours of raspberry and plum on the palate, this is a well-balanced wine with medium tannins and a long finish. It’s a perfect match for Welsh lamb or other meat dish and if you are partial to a light Beaujolais, you should try this excellent Regent 2019.

Iechyd da! Cheers!

Available from Grape Britannia (£24.99)

Wine of the Month

Gutter & Stars, Daylight Upon Magic, Chardonnay 2020

Cambridge is known for many things but who would have thought it was also the home of an urban winery! Journalist and winemaker Chris Wilson established Gutter & Stars in 2020, and last year released his first small batch vintages, each bottle numbered individually.

Having been really impressed by a very appealing, well-balanced Bacchus and a fresh, juicy and well-rounded Pinot Noir, I was really looking forward to the release of the winery’s first Chardonnay last autumn … and I wasn’t disappointed!

This is an outstanding wine, another roaring success for Gutter & Stars. Made from grapes grown in Crouch Valley, Essex, this is a crisp, vibrant and refreshing wine with vanilla, citrus and stone fruit aromas on the nose, and apple, pear, peach and apricot on the palate. With a hint of toastiness from the oak, and a creamy mouthfeel, it is an elegant and well-balanced wine. The wine is a cracking example of just how good an English Chardonnay can be.

I have no hesitation in recommending this excellent Chardonnay as my Wine of the Month.

Available from Grape Britannia (£26.99)