Take me Rhone

Last Friday was the perfect sunny autumn day to open these two delicious reds, the Boutinot Séguret and the Dignité Syrah. The Dignité proved to the most popular, most customers who tried it ended up taking a bottle (or two in some cases) home with them. A very successful tasting if you ask me.

Boutinot Séguret – The Boutinot winery is based in the southern Rhone, and began producing in this area in the early 1980’s. Although not officially recognised, Boutinot use organic farming methods, and lets nature dictate when the grapes are to be picked.

                “A pale ruby colour on inspection, with layers of exotic spice, black pepper and hints of vanilla on the nose. A smooth entry on the palate but with the depth of the nose carrying through into the taste, you will be left with a delightful texture from the tannins”

“Meaty dishes, such as a lamb shank or a nice hearty casserole will partner beautifully with this wine. Perfect going into the winter months”

 

Dignité Syrah – produced just south of the Rhone, in the coastal region of Languedoc, also by Boutinot. This wine is made from 50 year old vines and is aged for 22 months in French Oak barrels

                “Deep ruby, touching on the boundary of purple colouring. Intense black cherry, cinnamon and vanilla pod on the nose, and powerful black fruit on the palate. Also a hint of nuts and mocha with a peppery finish to silky balanced tannins”

                “Again pair this wine with meaty dishes, maybe a Beef Bourguignon”

Going back to my point last week about there being exceptions to rule about the contrast between Old and New world. These two wines prove that point spectacularly. Especially the Séguret which has a nice mid-gulp kick to it. So maybe I was looking at the whole situation from an amateur point of view, maybe there is no model for each to stick too. Only time (and more wine drinking) will tell I suppose. But frankly this isn’t important in the grand scheme of things; well maybe the part about drinking more wine is quite important. When a winery produces a wine, at the end of the day, one would assume that they look for a good nose, a diverse palate and an all-round good drinking experience, not whether it fits into the stereotype of their given region.

This week we come to the climax of my world wine tour. Where we take a trip to my favourite place in the whole world, Australia. Where I will finally get the chance to try 2 shop favourites. The Chocolate Box Shiraz and the Willunga 100 Grenache. I am very excited for these wines as many of our customers have raved about them, especially the Chocolate Box! Anyway, I won’t get carried away; I will save this for next week. Get yourselves down from 5pm on Friday to give them a try.

Also I would just like to remind you all about the Winter Tasting on Friday 23^rd November. We have already sold 95 out of 120 tickets and they are going quickly. So act now!! Or be disappointed later.

 

Chilean Counterparts

So last week we opened 2 fantastic Chilean wines, both from the Vina Casablanca range. Firstly the Cefiro Cabernet (cab-err-nay) Sauvignon and then the Nimbus Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. As examples of what the same producer can produce under different circumstances. Vina Casablanca began their vineyard operations fairly recently in 1992 and ever since have been producing top quality wines that show off the essence of the union of the three essential factors in producing wine. Also more recently they have been committed to sustainably producing wine.

Vina Casablanca Cefiro Cabernet Sauvignon – this particular wine is grown in the largest of this producers wine growing regions, the Maipo Valley (see map), which stretches from the Pacific coast right into the foot of the Andes. The grapes are harvested by hand and only the best are selected in the vineyard to be transported to the winery, and once the wine is made it is aged for 8-10 in French Oak barrels.

“An intense, deep ruby-red colour with ripe fruit aromas such as blackcurrant, cherries, and blackberries. This is a clean, fruity, young, easy-drinking wine. The palate is silky with friendly, ripe tannins and a pleasant consistency. It has just the right complexity to be enjoyed as a young, but consistent wine. It ends with a pleasant, persistent finish”

“Try teaming this wine with something quite spicy, maybe a curry or, more specifically, spicy lamb burgers”

Vina Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc – this wine comes from the far west of the Casablanca Valley (map again)

“Beginning with aromas of tropical fruit and citrus. Tasting the wine shows good acidity and excellent flavours such as peach and lots of lemon and lime with a bit of zest to it. There are also some good mineral notes all the way through. It ends with a dry, tangy, medium-long finish. Really just a great balance of everything”

“This is the perfect partner for seafood, especially Oysters!”

These are both big wines, perfect examples of the contrast of these varieties next to their old world cousins. If the last few weeks have taught me anything, it is that the Old World has a sense of class and elegance about what they do with their wine. Whereas the New World is energetic and in your face about what they do, granted there are a few exceptions to the rule but to me that seems pointless, surely if you wanted refined and subtle, you would buy an Old World. Or maybe I’m just looking at the whole situation as a wine newbie?

Next week we will be heading back to France, and more specifically the Rhone region to try 2 great reds, the Boutinot Séguret and the Dignite Syrah . Make sure to get yourself down from 5pm to give them a try.

Also a reminder that tickets for our Winter Tasting are now on sale, they are £15 each and the event will take place on Friday 23^rd November. I promise you that the tickets will sell fast so make sure to get yours early to avoid disappointment.

Back to the Old Skool

So last Friday we headed to Bordeaux (alone, not with a 15-year-old school girl) and opened a couple of lovely bottles. Along with something else (but more of that later), we opened the Château Grand Bertin Médoc and a Château Haut Grelot Blanc Sauvignon Semillon (so-vin-yon semi-on) which are both from the very complicated Bordeaux region. Wines from this part of the world are subject to very strict regulations (as most regions in France do, fussy buggers!!) so I will try my best to keep the ins-and-outs of it all quite simple. A “Dummies guide to Bordeaux” if you will.

Château Gran Bertin De Saint Clair Médoc – 2007 – produced on the very most northern tip of the Left Bank (see map) its close proximity to the Atlantic gives the area a comparatively mild climate with high rainfall. It is generally believed that the nature of this region’s wine derives from the increased amount of gravel in the soil, that allows the heat to be retained, therefore encouraging ripening. Most Médoc wines are made using a Cabernet based blend, this particular wine is blended from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot.
“A rather rich and lively nose, refined with good solid hints of cassis, cedar and cocoa. Fruity and rich on the palate with a mocha-ish finish, resolved tannins, though not fully”
“This wine drinks incredibly well alone or try pairing with a roast beef or lamb, or if the sun ever allows, would work perfectly at a BBQ”

Château Haut Grelot Blanc Sauvignon Semillon – 2009 – This wine comes from the Right Bank area of Blaye (map again) which is directly across the River Gironde from Medoc. This region is blessed with a hillier geography, up to heights of 70m above sea level, than that of Medoc which allows it better exposure to the sunlight. Again another blend, 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillion and 5% Muscadelle.
“Pale straw yellow in colour. Grapefruit, gooseberry and herbs blend elegantly on the nose. On the palate, crisp and intense citrus fruits, a generous weight and perfect balance of acidity.”
“this a beautiful standalone wine, or if you want to team it with food try seafood, chicken or (as I did) cheese and crackers”

We had a good response to these two wines at the in store tasting last week, and some very positive feedback to my blog, for which I was very pleased/flattered. These wines are both fantastic wines, as I mentioned they both work as standalone wines, but then can also be teamed up with dinner to enjoy on a whole other level. Most people’s reactions to this week’s wines were shock at the price. Being from Bordeaux, notorious for being associated with high quality and price, however the Château Gran Bertin Médoc is just £13.99 and the Château Gran Bertin Médoc is just £9.50, absolute bargains!!

As I mentioned earlier, not only did we open these two fantastic wines this week, we also got the opportunity to sample a brand new product. As some of you may know, and for those who don’t, we have the pleasure to stock an absolutely fantastic local product, Leventhorpe Wine. Grown just outside of Temple Newsam, here in Leeds. Ex-chemistry teacher George has a wonderful little operation, which I had the pleasure of visiting last week. Now some of you maybe a little shocked (I know I was) to learn that grapes can be grown in Yorkshire but, as George informed me, vineyards have pretty much been grown wherever the Roman Empire settled, and as I have seen, and in fact tasted, it is possible to produce wine this far north. Anyway, last week we took delivery of the Leventhorpe West Riding Red, which is a blend of Triomphe, Regent and Pinot Noir. As it has just been bottled (and only 1000 bottles) it has been recommended that if you snap a bottle of this up (for just £10.99) it could definitely benefit from sitting, or as wine experts call it “left to cellar”, for about 6 months. But at the moment it has almost a purple hue to it, with a blueberry jam nose, and rich berry fruits carry through onto the palate which balanced tannins and acidity to the finish. Our friends up at The Hummingbird in Chapel Allerton will be stocking this wine so head up there if you fancy giving it a try before you buy!
This Friday we will be heading to South America, more precisely Chile, where we will be trying 2 wines from the Vina Casablanca range, the Vina Casablanca Cefiro Cabernet Sauvignon and the Vina Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc. So make sure you get down from 5pm this Friday.

New World Wonders

Now I know when we set out the plan, the wines were decided on. However, Chris over-ruled his own selection and changed last week’s wines. So instead of the Californian De Loach Pinot Noir and the South African Glen Carlou Chardonnay (Shar-don-aye), we got the chance to try the Luigi Bosca Pinot Noir from Argentina and the J.Lohr Chardonnay from California.

J.Lohr Chardonnay – 2010 – This wine comes from the Arroyo Seco vineyard in the Monterey region of California, approximately 100 kilometres south of San Francisco. Opened in 1974, this winery was set up by Jerry Lohr, who grew up on a farm in South Dakota.

“This has a lovely straw like colour and delightful hints of tropical fruits, mainly mango and pineapple, and milky undertones on the nose. On the palate, there is an almost pina colada-esque flavour to it, the milky texture is nicely balanced with the acidity that follows”

 

Luigi Bosca Pinot Noir – 2010 – This family run vineyard has been making wine in Mendoza, located in the eastern foothills of the Andes, for nearly 100 years. Argentina is famous for having some of the world’s highest vineyards, with the average height being between 600-1100 metres.

“A shining ruby red colour, with red berries, strawberries and chocolate aromas on the nose. On the palate, fresh and fruity with a great velvety body. These carry through onto the palate, to create a really vigorous, attractive yet elegant wine”

                “This wine is perfect with mushroom dishes, especially the Portobello variety, or maybe a lovely juicy lamb burger”

Both of these wines are absolutely fantastic. As I mentioned last week, my experience of wine is limited at best, however I can see myself developing my taste and knowledge of wine very quickly, obviously the copious amounts of tastings I attend help greatly but I have also taken it upon myself to be adventurous (don’t get any funny ideas) with wine on my own time. So I urge anyone who files themselves in the same category as I did a few weeks ago, take a risk with your choice, whether it be to enjoy while out for a meal with friends or a nice bottle to enjoy on the sofa on a Thursday night (speaking from experience).

As you may remember a week last Friday, along with the new world wonder  wines, we also had our Yealands Meet the Maker event at Create, which judging from the sales of Yealands wine this week was a great success. My personal favourites were the Reserve Pinot Noir (£16.99) and the Gruner Veltliner (£12.99). A big thank you to Tamra for coming to see us!!

Some very empty Yealands bottles!

For those interested in attending our next event we will be having our Christmas Tastings at Antony’s Piazza on Friday 23^rd November. We have 120 spaces available, tickets cost £15 and will be available to buy from the shop from Monday 8^th October.

Burgundy for Beginners

So last Friday we cracked open the first of our selection of wines, a Chablis (Shh-ab-lee) and a Pinot Noir (Pee-no Nu-war) both from Burgundy. Both wines are classic examples of what this region does best.

La Colombe Chablis – 2011 – produced using the chardonnay grape variety in the far northern reaches of the Bourgogne. The Chablis region is actually closer to the Champagne region, with which it shares the benefits of lying on top of a geological formation called the Kimmeridge Clay Formation which runs up from the Sancerre region to the South coast of England. This soil is extremely rich in all sorts of minerals (such as Jurassic period fossils!) important to grape growing. This particular wine also won a Gold Medal at the 2008 Sommelier Awards.

“This Chablis has an amazing golden colour, and teamed with an amazing mineral nose with hints of fruit following. On the palate a buttery fruity flavour dominates, and finishes with a juicy yet sharp bite”

“This is the perfect wine for those who aren’t particularly fans of the Sauvignon Blanc variety as it doesn’t have the distinct oak flavourings that most Sauvignon’s have.  Partner this wine with seafood, especially sea-bass”

 

Boisset Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir – 2010 – produced using the native Pinot Noir grape variety in the Côte D’Or (English: Golden Hillside) region, just south of Dijon, which is famed for producing some of the greatest wines, especially Pinot Noirs, in the world. This region also owes its success to the soil quality, along with its temperate climate; however the 2010 harvest was affected by a period of bad weather, but what was lost in quantity was definitely not lost in quality. The Jean-Claude Boisset winery is housed in an old convent, with the main tasting room being housed underneath the former Mother Superior’s house.

“A lovely deep ruby red colour, leaning toward purple almost. A nice subtle nose, with the slightest hint of spice and ripe fruitiness, especially cherries, blend this with subtle tannins and the following of long finishing red fruit flavours”

“This is a very easy drinking Pinot Noir, perfect for those wanting to take their first dip into red wines (like me!) as its tannins do not over-complicate and overwhelm you. Drink this with nice bit of chicken”

 

If, like me, you have the obligatory glass/bottle of wine whilst out for dinner with friends and usually go for the house (cheapest) option or just follow suit with what your friends choose and wish you had the confidence to make an informed choice then these 2 wines are a perfect start point. Both are French examples of classic grape varieties and definitely worth the price, the Chablis £11.99 and the Pinot Noir £13.99. So don’t be afraid to spend a little bit more for the quality, as it will definitely be worth it to enjoy your next meal, or even just to drink as a standalone.

Next week we will be comparing the new world equivalents of this week’s grape varieties, with the South African Glen Carlou Chardonnay and the De Loach Pinot Noir from California. What will these new kids on the block (relatively speaking) bring to the table with their creations? Get down to the shop from 5pm to give these little corkers a try.

Also this Friday, in conjunction with our friends over at Create we will be hosting another “Meet the Maker” where Tamara Washington will be guiding us through the Yealands Estate collection. She will taking us on a journey through the Aware Valley in the famous Marlborough region of New Zealand and allowing us a sample of these new and exciting wines.

Lesley’s 6 Week World Wine Tour

Welcome to my wine education, which I will joyfully be sharing with you along the way. Every Friday here at Latitude we will be opening a selection of wines for all and sundry to try, and then every Wednesday I will be sharing my thoughts with the wonderful followers of Latitude through our website blog, Facebook and Twitter.

So to begin with let me give you a little bit of history about “Friday Night Tastings”. Way back when, when Will was just a young ‘un, Chris decided to educate his new apprentice by plying him with booze every Friday evening. It soon became apparent that many of the customers (and local bartenders) were interested in partaking too. Thus the tradition was born, and to feed Will’s newborn alcoholic tendencies the selection was expanded to include not just wine, but hard liquor too. So every Friday night, we will have something open for all you lovely (or freeloading) people to come and try.

So for the next 6 weeks we will be focusing our efforts on wine. Working our way through Old and New world, looking at tradition versus innovation. And this is how the next 6 weeks will be looking…..

September 14^th – Burgundy for Beginners

La Colombe Chablis & Boisset Bourgogne Rouge Pinot Noir

September 21^st – New World Wonders

Glen Carlou Chardonnay (SA) & De Loach Pinot Noir (California)

September 28^th – Back to the Old Skool (Bordeaux)

Chateau Grand Bertin Médoc & Chateau Haut Grelot Blanc Sauvignon Semillion

October 5^th – Chilean Counterparts

Vina Casablance Cefiro Cabernet Sauvignon & Vina Casablanca Nimbus Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc

October 12^th – Take me Rhone

Boutinot Séguret & Dignite Syrah

October 19^th – Upside Down Wine (Australia)

Willunga 100 Grenache & Chocolate Box Shiraz

So make sure you get yourself down to Latitude every Friday night to have a little sip of what we have to offer!!

A brief introduction….

By Lesley Mayers

Well hello there, allow me to introduce myself; I’m Lesley (obviously), the newest member of the Latitude team. Having gained a sound knowledge from my previous employment at Azúcar (rum and tequila) and Revolution (vodka) I am now taking on the daunting task of learning even more about the wonderful world of booze and all it has to offer, and with Chris and Will as teachers I am sure to become an expert in no time!!

So join me, if you will, on my journey where each week I will be sharing with you all the technical titbits and fun facts that I will be learning about wine and spirits.