Tastings January 2023

Cremant de Loire

The first wine to get us started is a cremant from the Loire Valley chosen from the wine caves around Saumur and comes from Gratien & Meyer.  It is a sparkling wine blend of the wines of the Loire including Chenin, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay. It is made using the same process as champagne but of course can not be called that as it is not from the Champagne region.

Available from Tesco.

TYPE White Sparkling

GRAPE Chenin, Cabernet Franc and Chardonnay

ABV 12.5%

UNITS 9.4

COUNTRY Loire Valley, France

Carcassonne Chardonnay

Staying in France this is a chardonnay from the area around the medieval town of Carcassonne. It benefits from the Mediterranean influences of South France and has a fresh fruity aroma with notes of citrus, honey and peaches. This wine is bottled by Gerard Bertrand Cite De Carcassonne.

Available from Tesco.

TYPE White

GRAPE Chardonnay

ABV 13%

UNITS 9.6

COUNTRY Carcassonne, France

Triplica Greco Di Tufo

Greco Di Tufo is from Southern Italy and is a white grape from Campania.  It is grown in the volcanic vineyards at high altitudes inland from Naples.  It has a perfumed aroma and tastes of pear, mango and fresh herbs.

Available from Majestic Wines.

TYPE White

GRAPE Greco

ABV 13%

UNITS 9.8

COUNTRY Campania, Italy

Ribera Del Duero

Moving over to Spain, Ribera Del Duero is a Temperanillo from Northern Spain in the mountainous Castilla y Leon region. The river Douro runs through the region on its way to Portugal and the vineyards are on the banks of the river giving it its name "Banks of the Duero". This wine is popular in the Canary Islands even though it is a mainland wine. This is from the Bardos vineyard and is aged for six months in oak to give it a spicy note to a dark fruity taste.

Available from Majestic Wines.

TYPE Red

GRAPE Tempranillo

ABV 14.5%

UNITS 10.9

COUNTRY Castilla Y Leon, Spain

Stones and Bones

For the final wine of the evening I have followed the Douro River across into Portugal and a little further south from the region around the capital Lisbon.  This is a blended wine based on the Syrah grape and as the vineyard name suggests it come from a region littered with ancient boulders and prehistoric fossils.  The Touriga National area is the backbone of vintage port and this wine combines that flavour with Syrah, Tinta Roriz and Alicante.  It has a rich juicy smooth feel with rich fruit flavours of dark berries, Brambles, plums and vanilla. 

 Imported by Lathwaites and available from Strikes Garden Centre.

TYPE Red

GRAPE Touriga National-based blend

ABV 14%

UNITS 10.5

COUNTRY Portugal