Sunday, January 15, 2006
Five Rivers 2004 California (Santa Barbara) Pinot Noir
An excellent Pinot Noir from the West Coast of the US. Of course since the movie Sideways, everywhere I go sommeliers and growers alike tell me Pinot sales are up 30% and Merlot sales are down 30%. As a result (in the UK at least), prices for this once out of fashion grape, have shot up.
This 2004 bottle, purchased from Majestic for under a tenner, is excellent.
It's darker than you might expect from a 04, promising an abundance of fruit, confirmed when you whiff the wonderful fruity aroma with no hint of tannins or acid.
Smooth and creamy when you take glug, this is drinking very well now, and probably won't benefit from keeping. And why would you want to lay this down when it's so good now?
This would stand up well on the dinner table or (if you fancy it) as your regular tipple.
8/10
This 2004 bottle, purchased from Majestic for under a tenner, is excellent.
It's darker than you might expect from a 04, promising an abundance of fruit, confirmed when you whiff the wonderful fruity aroma with no hint of tannins or acid.
Smooth and creamy when you take glug, this is drinking very well now, and probably won't benefit from keeping. And why would you want to lay this down when it's so good now?
This would stand up well on the dinner table or (if you fancy it) as your regular tipple.
8/10
Thursday, January 12, 2006
New Laptop
Just testing new FTP on laptop
Whisky Musings
OK, so not wine related, but still another passion in my life - Whisky.
I don't know enough about it yet to say I am an expert, but I know what I like to drink and am now starting to appreciate the different 'expressions'. What is an expression? It is like the 'vintage' in a wine - a ten year old Laphroig might taste much different to a 20 year old, because of changing techniques in production, diferent levels of peat, all sorts.
Islay whiskys
I am currently working my way through the Islay whiskys. I believe there are 6 distilleries currently producing. Islays tend to be quite smokey, because of the high peat content. They also tend to have a degree of 'seaweediness' since many are produced close to the sea. Bowmore is a favourite of mine, as is Laphroig, considered to be one of the greatest malts, and certainly a malt that takes some getting used to.
On the go at the moment
I have my 'house' blend - Famous Grouse - this is my daily dram and very drinkable
Laphroig - I only try to drink this when I have an excuse. I seem to find excuses to drink it at least twice a week.
Bowmore - smoother than Laphroig, less peaty, but still smokey. Yummy. Not much left
Bruichladdich - another Islay, not so well known, in a lovely bottle. Almost cask strength at 46%. Definitely benefits from a drop or two of water. This bottle was a bargain - picked up in Sainsburys just before Xmas on offer for about a tenner.
I don't know enough about it yet to say I am an expert, but I know what I like to drink and am now starting to appreciate the different 'expressions'. What is an expression? It is like the 'vintage' in a wine - a ten year old Laphroig might taste much different to a 20 year old, because of changing techniques in production, diferent levels of peat, all sorts.
Islay whiskys
I am currently working my way through the Islay whiskys. I believe there are 6 distilleries currently producing. Islays tend to be quite smokey, because of the high peat content. They also tend to have a degree of 'seaweediness' since many are produced close to the sea. Bowmore is a favourite of mine, as is Laphroig, considered to be one of the greatest malts, and certainly a malt that takes some getting used to.
On the go at the moment
I have my 'house' blend - Famous Grouse - this is my daily dram and very drinkable
Laphroig - I only try to drink this when I have an excuse. I seem to find excuses to drink it at least twice a week.
Bowmore - smoother than Laphroig, less peaty, but still smokey. Yummy. Not much left
Bruichladdich - another Islay, not so well known, in a lovely bottle. Almost cask strength at 46%. Definitely benefits from a drop or two of water. This bottle was a bargain - picked up in Sainsburys just before Xmas on offer for about a tenner.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
1988 Tokaj Aszu
I was fortunate enough to be given a bottle of this wonderful Hungarian pudding wine by my wife's Uncle. At 4 Puttonyos and around 12% alcohol, we were not sure what to expect when we opened it up with some friends for New Year's Eve 2005.
It was treacle, viscous with a fair amount of sediment at the bottom.
It tasted non alcoholic, almost like prune juice. Sweet but not cloying. Unique. We finished the bottle between four of us quite happily.
I had the hangover from hell in the morning, and I suspect it was down to the Tokaj, rather than the Spanish red or the fine malts we also sampled throughout the evening.
Rating: 8/10 for uniqueness
It was treacle, viscous with a fair amount of sediment at the bottom.
It tasted non alcoholic, almost like prune juice. Sweet but not cloying. Unique. We finished the bottle between four of us quite happily.
I had the hangover from hell in the morning, and I suspect it was down to the Tokaj, rather than the Spanish red or the fine malts we also sampled throughout the evening.
Rating: 8/10 for uniqueness
Welcome to the H-A Wine Review
I have set up this blog to record (for my sake as well as anyone else interested) wines that I have tasted and enjoyed, recording when, where, what. Why? Because my memory is so bad that I never remember what I've drunk.
At some point in the future this blog might accompany my London Restaurant Review site - http://www.thelondonrestaurantreview.co.uk
At some point in the future this blog might accompany my London Restaurant Review site - http://www.thelondonrestaurantreview.co.uk
