Hartenberg, Nederburg & Co. – mature South African Cabernet Sauvignon

March 23, 2011

Lately with these wines and after we tasted also some mature blends it’s clear to us, that despite a lot of reports to the contrary South African reds can have an excellent aging potential, too. Of course not all of them, but here there’s no difference to other famous regions. Furthermore a lot of younger red wines (blends and single-variety) which we tried during our recent stay in this amazing country encouraged me to reinforced my statement, that some of them are having a lot of in common with traditional Clarets (expression, elegance,structure) without denying their origin. Of course .....

Read the full article →

Langoustines soup

March 22, 2011

Ingredients :
- 20 (precooked) Langoustines
- 750 ml dry white wine
- 200 ml homemade fish stock
- 100 ml Vermouth (Noily Prat, Martini etc.)
- 1 celery
- 1 fennel
- 2 carrots
- 1 Spanish onion
- lemon grass
- citrus thyme
- sage
- 1 lime
- 150 g Crème fraîche
- clarified butter
- salt
- fresh milled white pepper
- a pinch of chili pepper
Preparation :
Cut the lemon grass, the celery, the fennel, the carrots and the onion in very small pieces. The lemon grass becomes more intense if you grind it with a pestle in a mortar. Keep some of the cutted carrots and some of the green parts of .....

Read the full article →

1994 Vina Pomal Reserva vs. 1994 Gran Reserva Carlos Serres – an one-eyed next to a blind …

March 21, 2011

Year: Wine: Producer: Country: Region: Variety(-ies):  Size: Closure: Alcohol: Taste: Colour: Group:
1994 Vina Pomal Reserva Bodega Bilbainas Spain Rioja Tempranillo (85%), Graciano + Mazuelo (15%) 0,75 l natural cork 12 vol.% dry red III

This winery I visited the first time during my study times when we visited several Bodegas in the Rioja region. But this one has been special. In the beginning the majority of our group was quite shocked and disturbed by their old cellars (or better said .....

Read the full article →

Mosel Riesling – pure elegance for the warmer time of the year !

March 21, 2011

Spring approaches, at least according to the calendar. So let’s put the heavy, warming wines a little bit aside and let’s start to pull out and to search the crispy, lighter ones again. Mosel-Riesling is a perfect match if you would like to enjoy lighter (alcohol), pure, fresh and elegant but yet very expressive wines. Here you can find ideal compagnions in different styles for almost every occasion. From uncomplicated young, fruity and very fresh wines up to very demanding and rich TBA’s (Trockenbeerenauslese ). Most of them are having especially one thing in common : concerning their .....

Read the full article →

Robertson – part I

March 20, 2011

We are moving on
After such a marathon in Stellenbosh, it has been about time for us to change the location and  to drive to our next destination: Robertson
Signs on the roads like “Don’t feed the baboons” seemed nonsense to us, but in not even 200 m, the first baboons already stared at us, yet minding their own business.
While driving dusty gravel roads, Oliver has been forced (by me ) to stopp every time I saw a bird, an ostrich, an antelope, or other living creature.  What a beautiful, fascinating landscape !
Our accommodation for 2 nights has been the .....

Read the full article →

2002 Meursault “Les Grands Charrons” Michel Bouzereau vs. 1985 1er cru “Clos des Bouches Chères” Labouré-Roi : the beauty of age …

March 18, 2011

Year: Wine:   Producer: Country: Region: Variety(-ies): Size: Closure: Alcohol: Taste: Colour: Group:
2002 Meursault “Les Grands Charrons”Michel BouzereauFrance Burgundy Chardonnay 0,75 l natural cork 13.0 vol.% dry white IV

We discovered this winery a couple of years ago by “accident” and I am happy that we did because back then they vinified a real classic burgundy, mineral Chardonnay for a reasonable price. I said “back then” because today, just a few years later, they are very popular and they are still offering .....

Read the full article →

1981 Chateau Phélan Ségur vs. 1981 Chasse-Spleen : packaging matters !

March 17, 2011

Year: Wine: Producer: Country: Region: Variety(-ies):    Size: Closure: Alcohol: Taste: Colour: Group:
1981 cru bourgeois exceptionnel Chateau Phélan Ségur France Saint-Estèphe Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Merlot (46%), Cabernet Franc (4%) 0,75 l natural cork 12.5 vol.% dry red IV

After a very nice experience with an outstanding Giscours ‘81 I wanted to know, if there are more of such affordable, classic treasures out of this year. This actual wine has been very promising in the beginning with a filling level almost .....

Read the full article →

CellarTales International Wineroundtable Edition No. 5

March 16, 2011

After a longer period of time we managed finally to meet again with some other wine lovers and to enjoy a couple of wines at the CellarTales International WineRoundTable Edition No. 5. The scoop of this evening was to try and to compare 3 different styles of Champagne, 3 Austrian Riesling wines from famous producers and to see, how BDX wines developed over 3 decades in taste and style. Last but not least we have had in the end a Sauternes wine from a smaller vintage but out of a bigger bottle ! So let’s see, what ran .....

Read the full article →

Stellenbosch – part III

March 15, 2011

Two cats, two dogs and eucalypt trees
You’re probably wondering what’s with my story from today… or what do those four pets having in common with the eucalyptus trees. It’s simple: those are the main characters in the cellar stories – the last ones from Stellenbosch.
The 4th day (an unfortunately the last one) at Stellenbosch was again a busy day. Still a lot of wineries to visit, a lot of vine plants to see and a lot of wine to taste, but most important a lot of people to meet.
Kanonkop
(means “Cannon Hill“)

A grumpy cat, in perfect undercover, is counting the huge .....

Read the full article →

Winestories – part II

February 20, 2011

A tale with ducks ….
It’s always nice if colleagues are behaving like colleagues … The recommendation of our hosts at the Grangehurst estate to visit also Vergenoegd and their “ducks” has been music to our ears. But we didn’t really have a clue about what those guys have been talking – Ducks ???

So, no time to loose: ) We arrived at Vergenoegd round about 4 pm and thanks to a nice sunny day, the lake in front of the winery reflected the blue sky.
I prepared my camera to immortalize the moment. But my lens helped me to .....

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →