NWC – June 2024

(A late put up and I missed most of July’s tastings attributable to travels and England’s Euro video games! )

Our June themes began with Northern Italy and, as I have a tendency to search out, a number of pleasurable if pretty easy white wines. By far probably the most fascinating was Foscarino, Saoave Classico, 2021. Golden with somewhat smoke giving approach to recent & cooked orchard fruits. Palate is wealthy with a heaviness and a leesy character from battonage. Spectacular stuff, £25 from Waitrose.

The principle occasion of the reds began with Bruno Rocca, Barbara d’Alba, 2000. Fairly brooding with a touch of menthol however principally darkly fruited; elderberry, plum & blackcurrant. Appeared very younger once we found its age!

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Du Toitskloof, Nebbiolo, 2020 was the primary of a number of of probably the most well-known and revered grape of the area. I used to be instantly pondering South African, admittedly attributable to an unappealing rubbery observe on the nostril. The underlying materials was a bit extra palatable although a contact candy and confected vs the right Piedmont stuff.

As if to reveal this we had a very pleasurable run. Alter, Nebbiolo, Langhe, Pio Cesare, 2016. The lightest of those wines though with crunchy tannin nonetheless. Extra raspberry and cranberry right here. Some finesse however not the facility of fragrance of these to come back. £25.

Roncaglie, Barbaresco, Poderi Colla, 2016. Softly perfumed on nostril, principally baking spices. Candy and bitter cherry on the palate. Very approachable with beautiful stability. £35

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Barolo, Burlotto, 2015. A now legendary producer, this wine now had a market worth of £75+ although is feasible if you happen to’re in the fitting circles to purchase on launch at round £45. Regardless of the enjoyment of the others this has basic tar and rose fragrances that one so wishes in Nebbiolo. Some savoury and umami hits too, advanced. The palate is highly effective and lengthy with way more to come back.

La Morra Barolo, Renato Corino, 2015. Identical yr however a modest producer. Not fairly as exact a nostril however some herbs and fragrance alongside the first notes. Much less spectacular than the Burlotto however giving a lot of enjoyment notably with a juicy entrance palate of pink fruits with a success of black cherry. £35

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Mid June noticed a no-theme free for all which threw up loads of fascinating bottles. Not least Tattinger 2015. A strong instance of classic champagne purchased at a really cheap £45. Higher than numerous Home NV at the same value although it was somewhat wealthy and an excessive amount of residual sugar for my tastes.

As if to particularly to reveal the unbelievable growing older talents of Riesling we had Trierer St Maximin Kreuzberg, Sanctus Jacobus Kabinett, 1990. Having tried to search out out extra I feel this was a really modest wine from Majestic. In 2000 they seem to have offered a higher winery at £4.99!

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Moulin des Dames, Château Tour des Gendres, Bergerac, 2020. Being a lot additional South than the standard Loire heartland this was not your typical Sauvignon Blanc. I had it pegged as a low finish Chablis, most notably creamy however with good ripe pear and apricot notes. Pleasing however somewhat dear for what it was at £20.

Meursault Les Clousots, Patrick Javailler, 2014. Totally built-in and fading a contact however beautiful nutty notes alongside waxy lemons. Basic Meursault, not too wealthy.

Gewurtztraminer, Hugel, 2001. A contact oxidised however basic honey and lychee was there. Weighty candy fruit, a bit an excessive amount of for me as not an enormous fan of this grape however you possibly can see the standard, some good acidity beneath.

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Aloxe Corton 1er Cru Les Petites Lolieres, Pierre Andrew, 2012. I used to be miles away blind right here. The nostril was all wild herbs and sundried tomato which had positioned me in Italy someplace. The palate was somewhat extra as anticipated, contact grippy with a tart cranberry observe. A contact of beefy inventory pot rising, maybe a contact prematurely for this stage. Pleasing however you is likely to be dissatisfied primarily based on expectations.

Cuvee Joseph, Morgon, Domaine De La Chaponne, 2009 continued our theme of maturity and wines that have been troublesome to position. Dusty elderberries with a contact of menthol and medicinal notes. Surprisingly darkly fruited with little allure however some energy. Not my expertise or thought of excellent Gamay!

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South Africa week began with a DaschBosch Methode Ancestrale. This Pet Nat comprised of Verdelho was very pleasurable. Not advanced however recent sherbert lemon and refreshers with a contact of candy pear and possibly a lick of salinity. £20

Cuvee Royal, Blanc De Blancs, Simonsig, 2017 was on the different finish of the spectrum. The brioche nostril was there however beneath a cool oxidised scent. Missing somewhat acidity, principally cooked apple and lemon curd with somewhat mushroom. Survived fairly effectively for modest SA fizz from 2017 however I most popular the Pet Nat. £17.

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You may’t have a SA tasting with out Chenin and 21 Gables, Spier, 2018 was the primary of two good ones. Surprisingly clear however with a weighty, glycerol palate it was stone fruited with a contact of candy and bitter on the palate. Beautiful stability and acidity, as ever with Chenin a lot of life forward even at 6 years previous. £25

Previous Vines Chenin Blanc, Naude, 2018 was extra of a fancy oaky character on the nostril, restrained with citrus notes alongside some struck match. Palate was elegant and creamy, maybe only a contact of an oxidative observe creeping in. £35+

Pinot Noir, Hamilton Russell, 2020. This was my choose and initially was fairly smoky on the nostril, harking back to German pinot. Beneath there was some candy spice alongside ripe cherry and a lick of tart cranberry. It was beginning to present indicators of evolution with a contact of sous bois. Fairly punchy at £40 however I can see the attraction and managed to get a few bottles at half that value.

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Villa Esposto, 2021 is a Cab/Merlot mix from a winemaker that has change into a favorite of the group via a service provider who has been and delivered tastings from time to time. At £10 to us that is very drinkable. Fairly simple blackcurrant/candy cassis, properly juicy with a touch of capsicum from the cab and a contact of black pepper on the end.

The Bandolier, The Liberator, 2009 in contrast had developed somewhat extra curiosity and complexity given its age. 50/50 Syrah/Mourvedre was paying hommage to the wines of Bandol and its darkish silky palate was harking back to its French inspiration. Fairly a observe of vanilla right here from liberal use of oak and brambly black fruits have been nonetheless impressively recent 15 years down the road. Can’t discover it now however possibly £12 on launch 10 years in the past

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The ultimate theme of the month was Antipodean, NZ & Australia.

MiruMiru, Hunters, NV glowing kicked us off effectively and was pretty universally standard. Made within the conventional technique with the Champagne grapes it did have a nice leesy observe on the nostril alongside some crisp inexperienced apple. Properly dry and lean there was a contact of pink fruit truly with somewhat blackcurrant leaf, presumably from the pinot, which added curiosity. A contact quick maybe however £17 wasn’t dangerous in any respect.

Dry Riesling, Prophets Rock, 2019 was immediately recognisable because the grape, regardless of a contact of discount. Good weight of fruit and good depth, some orchard fruits have been lifted by a contact of sherbet lemon. Compares pretty effectively to the German homeland, not fairly so excessive acid. £20

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Wild Irishman, Tuturi, 2022 was a product of a member’s seek for good Central Otago pinot. The nostril was frivolously perfumed however principally fairly savoury and severe. Good pink bitter fruited palate, cherry & somewhat raspberry. At £33 fairly cheap for one of these factor and I’d most likely purchase this over my £40 Hamilton Russell from final week.

As a totally signed up Kumeu River fanboy their 2020, Searching Hill, Pinot Noir was not within the league of their wonderful Chardonnay. All somewhat disjointed, some smoky discount on the nostril with not a lot allure and a palate that managed to have each a candy and bitter observe. Beneath screw cap and will enhance with time. £25

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There have been a couple of spicy/mentholy Australian issues, the very best of which was Bin 389, Penfolds, 2016. A Cab/Shiraz mix. These items age without end and are intensely blackcurranted at this age. Even when it was my cup of tea the £60 they now are is fairly punchy.

Father, Penfolds, 10 yr Grand Tawny was my revelation as a tawny port enjoyer. At £27 it gave me all of what I like concerning the Sandeman’s I often purchase, nutty, dried fruits, honey. Beautiful stuff

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