Trendy Tipple's - What's cool in Wine?
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Wine expert Chris Hill is here to tell us what's cool in the world of wines at the moment. From Riesling to Pinot Noir we'll have you drinking the coolest wine in town.
1.
NAME Bodegas Agnusdei, Albarino Rías Baixas
PRODUCER Bodegas Agnusdei SA
VINTAGE 2006
COUNTRY REGION Spain - Galicia
GRAPE VARIETY 100% Albariño
TASTING NOTES: Bright yellow with hints of green. Rich and complex bouquet
With fruity and floral nuances. A full-bodied wine with balanced acidity.
FOOD MATCH: This wine should be served at the temperature of 10 / 12º. It goes
well with salads, rice, fish or seafood.
INTERESTING STORIES: Situated in the northwest of the Peninsula, Rías Baixas is considered the cradle of the Albariño grape. The climate is typically Atlantic, very wet with little variation of temperatures between the summer and the winter. The ground is very acidic, arenaceous, and shallow with a granite base. The Agnusdei winery, founded in 2002, is one of the most modern wineries in Galicia.
PRICE: €18.49
BUY IT: I Independent off licenses nationwide
WHY ISTHIS WINE TRENDY: This is a newer grape and has become popular due to demand because it is less recognized than your average cabernet sauvignon
2.
NAME Tesco Finest Alsace Riesling
PRODUCER Vins D'Alsace Kuehn
VINTAGE 2007
COUNTRY / REGION Alsace / France
GRAPE VARIETY Riesling
TASTING NOTES: A slightly more full-bodied Riesling, floral, with crisp peach and lime flavours balanced by a ripe, lingering aftertaste.
INTERESTING STORIES: Jean Kuehn, wine grower & broker, founded Vins d'Alsace Kuehn in 1675; some of the original cellars from this time are still in use today. Partially destroyed during WWII, the winery was rebuilt by Rene Kuehn, then mayor of Ammeschwihr, and this buildingstill houses the winery today. Kuehn own 12 hectares of vineyards, half of which are classified as Alsace Grands Crus. Bronze Medal Winner 2007
PRICE: €9.99
BUY IT: Tesco
WHY IS THIS WINE TRENDY: Riesling wines are dry and crisp, excellent for the summer months.
3.
NAME Hunter's Estate Pinot Noir
PRODUCER Hunter's Estate
VINTAGE 2006
COUNTRY REGION New Zealand, Marlborough
GRAPE VARIETY Pinot Noir
TASTING NOTES: A medium bodied Pinot Noir with black cherry and plum fruit aromas. The palate is soft and full combining plum fruit flavours, spice and subtle oak. This has all the hallmarks of a classic Pinot Noir.
FOOD MATCH: Rack of lamb with roasted vegetables, or roast duck breast.
INTERESTING STORIES: As is the case for other New Zealand wine, New Zealand Pinot Noir is fruit driven, forward and early maturing in the bottle, It tends to be quite full bodied(for the variety) very approachable and oak maturation tends of to be restrained. Hunter's have been producing Pinot Noir since the mid 1980s. Since then it has been consistently honored nationally and internationally, winning 22 medals and trophies.
PRICE: €19.99
BUY IT: SUPERQUINN, LONDIS, CENTRA and selected off licenses nationwide
WHY IS THIS WINE TRENDY: Pinot Noir is often described as being a "difficult" grape, to grow, to deal with in the winery, and to find truly great examples of, but fans are passionate about this variety, and had an increase in sales due to the 2004 movie "Sideways".
4.
NAME AROMA SYRAH ROSE
PRODUCER AROMA
VINTAGE 2007
COUNTRY REGION CHILE
GRAPE VARIETY SYRAH
TASTING NOTES: Fresh Strawberry fruit aromas pervade the glass with a fresh summer hint. On the palate the wine retains the intense strawberry flavours an enjoyable summer wine.
PRICE: €11
BUY IT: Independent off licences nationwide
WHY IS THIS WINE TRENDY: This is a particularly good Rose. Rose (along with white wines) becomes increasingly popular in the summer months because it is a great garden party / bbq wine).