Monthly Archives: February 2012

We regularly have wines open for customer tasting in all three shops, plus taste new wines amongst ourselves all of the time. Below is a round-up of wines we have tasted in so far in February...

Sparkling Price

Balma Cava NV, Penedès @ £13.95
Forget all your preconceptions of Cava occupying the ‘cheap seats’ at the supermarket this is one of world’s classic sparkling wines – made as a ‘zero dosage’ wine (no added sugar) and a 39 month maturation on the lees.  Dried apricot and roasted almond nuances fill the palate lifted by a keen and refreshing lemon edge.

Champagne

Camille-Savès Millésime Grand Cru 2004 @ £33.00
Quite simply an awesome Champagne – rich, gentle mousse, brioche, lemon – at a price that is still less than all those large production famous name Champagnes we all know and still insist on impressing our guests with.  If you want flavour alone to make an impression this is the Champagne – 80% Pinot Noir/20% Chardonnay, 4 years bottle maturation.

White Wine

Felix Cachazo Gran Cardiel Verdejo/Viura 2010, Rueda @ £7.95
At 700 metres above sea level the arid vineyards of Rueda lying northwest of Madrid have proved the perfect position for growing crisp aromatic white gapes such as Verdejo, Viura and Sauvignon Blanc.  This is the perfect example of the region’s wines – crisp, citric, lifted peach fruit.  Need a change from Chardonnay and Sauvignon?  This bright little fellow is the perfect choice.

Jean-François Merieau Tirage Sauvignon Rose 2008. Loire @ £21.00
From ancient vineyards south of Vouvray Jean-Francois nurtures these old and fragile Sauvignon Gris vines (also referred to as ‘Sauvignon Rose’).  With a little bit of extra bottle age we are proud to present a rare, rich, crisp and aromatic wine designed for the Loire aficionado.  Very special, quite unique flavours – and the perfect match for Thai salmon, pork belly roasted in honey and mild but flavoursome dishes.

Red

Jean-Francois Merieau Hexagonales Pinot Noir 2009, Loire @ £10.95
Adored by some customers, while puzzling others.  This light Loire Pinot is best described as a posh picnic wine – or simply the perfect red for a cold meat salad lunch – drink as an alternative to Beaujolais-Villages.  From the little known appellation of Saint-Pourçain in the Eastern Loire, where the chalky vineyards tilt gently south.

Gladstone Pinot Noir 2009, Wairapara, New Zealand @ £18.95
From the oldest Pinot Noir vineyards in the southeast corner of North Island – this is rich, vibrant and intense, full of raspberry, wild cherry and with hints of spice.  The 30% mew French barrique ageing is barely detectable – such is the fine balance of this wine.  Enjoy with lamb cutlets, ratatouille and rosti potatoes.

Pietro Beconcini Maurleo 2008, IGT Toscana @ £12.95
From the land of Chianti comes this ingenious Sangiovese/Malvasia Negra blend aged in 10 months in French oak followed by further bottle age.  Utterly lovely!  This really is the Sunday lunch roast lamb wine number.  Gentle damson and prune fruit, nice bed of soft tannin – dry finish.  Secretly a Bordeaux at this price tag will taste quite plain in comparison.

Almost Sweet

Ludovic Chanson Safran 2009, Montlouis, Loire @ £19.95
Oh the joy of this wine!  Is it sweet? Is it dry?  Neither really – lying somewhere between the two as only brilliant Chenin Blanc can be.  With what shall I drink it?  1) On its own 2) Spicy Asian fish dish 3) Light apricot or pear tart – or 4) creamy blue cheese such as Gorgonzola or the more local Shropshire Blue alongside some quince jelly.  This is a treasure that has to be seized and enjoyed.

When I was invited to join an elite group of the great and the good from the UK wine trade to taste the wines of Château Margaux, I naturally cleared the diary. It was only when I arrived at Trinity House in The City that I fully appreciated what we were being asked to taste. I can only liken it to being asked to come and drive some Ferraris and then turning up and then being told that we would be driving their new electric car, a new shooting break version of the Enzo, a city car and then the same car but with various components left off.

Margaux have teamed up with Yvon Mau to host a number of tastings around the world to showcase the experimentation they have been undertaking at the Château. This is commendable work and Paul Pontalier was quick to point out that in Bordeaux a huge amount of work goes into research, it is just that the other issues surrounding the region seem to overshadow the academic and scientific study. This is, on reflection, probably true, so this was an exciting event and one I relished more than just tasting the finished wines of the estate.

The tasting was in four flights, outlined as follows:

Flight one: 3 wines served blind. Each wine was either Biodynamic, Organic or Conventionally produced from one plot of vineyard and the same variety, Cabernet Sauvignon and vintage, 2010. This plot was used for their third wine.

Result: Each wine showed differing characteristics, but most marked were the differences in tannins and top note aromatics. The organic wine seemed a little dumb but well balanced, the conventional wine polished but veneered too and the Biodynamic wine the prettiest and easiest to drink and garnered the greatest praise.

Flight two: 3 wines served blind based on stem influence during fermentation. The wine was a conventionally produced Cabernet Sauvignon from a plot that might make it into the Grand Vin

The results here were also marked. The wine with 1% added whole stem had supple tannins, a nutty character and a soft finish, the wine with no stems was spicy, but had green notes and a slightly bitter finish, the third wine had some crushed stems added and the wine proved to be perfectly balanced and the best ‘formed of the three’. It is interesting to note that in Bordeaux the rule is no stems at all.

Flight Three: 3 wines with different closures, third wine but from the 2003 vintage

The wines were very different here. The consensus was that the wine under cork was the screw cap wine, which came as a complete surprise as it was so youthful and generous. There were two screw cap wines, one with no oxygen and one with a little permeability. The latter was really not good at all, but the former was actually the wines people thought was under cork as it was evolved and very complex, in fact delicious, it fooled me!

Flight Four: 3 white wines under different closures, All 2004 Sauvignon Blanc

There was again a very marked difference, but the wine with cork was beautiful and complex and all a white Bordeaux should be, where the screw capped wines were in fact a little oxidised, albeit still with freshness and the mark of quality.

Flight Four: Cabernet Sauvignon from three different terroirs, all 2011

Firstly, these wines all taste beautifully and pre the oak are wines that could almost be drunk now. I am not trying to build up the 2011 vintage, Caviste will not be running an en primeur campaign this year, but these are pretty wines never the less. What this showed was that wine produced from Gravel and Pebble soil was pure pretty and elegant, whilst this produced onmore chalk and clay soil are structured and provide the base notes of the wine. Blended together they made a delicious glass.

This was a fascinating insight into the mindset of a prestigious estate who are genuinely ready to take some bold steps if they feel the results are worth it. No doubt that the Bio wines were impressive, and screwcap for red a no brainer, but how long will it really take to make these changes? Well as Paul Pontalier said, probably not under his stewardship.

Matthew Jukes today featured Carrick Unravelled Pinot Noir 2009 in his Daily Mail wine column:

"Unravelled is the stylish, early-drinking pinot noir, from pioneering winery Carrick, situated in the jaw-droppingly beautiful countryside of Central Otago – where they filmed the Lord of the Rings!  With silky smooth black cherry fruit and an ethereal aroma of wild cherries, this is a thoroughly enchanting wine."

You can buy Carrick Pinot Noir online from us and delivery is FREE in mainland UK (excludes Highlands and Islands of Scotland) for 12 bottles or more (12 x 75cl)

Thursday evening saw the 2^nd in our series of regional 'head-to-head' tastings between Caviste Managing Director Ben Llewelyn and Mark Bedford, Director Private Sales. The evening’s duel was between two of the big guns of the wine producing world: Rioja and the Rhône. Having taken the lead at the previous event Ben, representing Rioja, was feeling confident of another win but alas it was not to be. Mark’s choices, a selection of Northern and Southern Rhônes, wowed and were voted to victory by our guests! The variety of wines was spectacular ranging from the rich, unctuous melon, apricot and stewed apple flavours of Château Beaucastel’s 2005 Rousanne VV in Châteauneuf to the beautifully matured, yet vibrant, earthy 1991 Viña Tondonia from Rioja.

Six wines from each region were paired against each other in the following categories:

Best Modern White: Tierra Fidel Blanco Labastida 2009 (£30.00) vs. Bruyères Crozes Hermitage Aux Bêtises 2009 (£19.95)
Best Traditional White: Viña Gravonia Blanco 2000 (£16.25) vs. Château de Beaucastel Roussanne Vielles Vignes 2005 (£63.95)
Best Everyday red: Domaine de la Graveirette Côtes du Rhône 2009 (11.95) vs. Tierra Crianza Labastida 2007 (£14.95)
Best Single varietal: La Cifras Garnacha 2009 (£17.95) vs. Montez St Joseph Cuve Papy 2009(£25.00)
Best Modern red: Cirsion 2000 (£127.50) vs. La Griffe 2010(£25.00)
Best Traditional red: Viña Tondonia 1991(£49.50) vs. Domaine Villeneuve Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2006(£34.50)

The 3rd round will be taking place on Wednesday 23rd May in Overton. Tickets will be £35.00. The regions: New Zealand vs. Washington State & Oregon

The Caviste bi-monthly wine club provides access to a unique selection of carefully hand-picked, enticing wines all for just £200.

It really is the most effortless way to be buy wines and each case complete with detailed tasting notes including recommended food and wine matches.

The next winemaker case is due out the 1st wekk of March. To order your monthly case  please contact your local Caviste in Overton, Odiham or Hungerford.

Winemakers Case Notes January 2012 as an example of what to expect.

Once 'the claw' has got it hooks into you it won't let go...

This Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre blend comes from the northern perimeter of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape plateau in the Courthezon region of the Rhone valley. Totally biodynamic and made from 80 year old vines, the wine is fermented in cement tanks, as is traditional in Chateauneuf, for 10 months. The result is a dark, rich and brooding wine with a fabulous violet lift from the Syrah. Its taut and perfectly formed, drinking beautifully now-2015.

Not only is the wine a real stunner but the bottle is pretty impressive too!

Buy Domaine de Villeneuve La Griffe 2010 online now @ £25.00

We are delighted to announce that Newlyns Farm Shop,  Weyhill is now stocking a select range of Caviste wines.

To inaugurate this we will be hosting a joint, celebratory tasting on Saturday  25^th February from 11am to 2pm at the Newlyns Weyhill Farm Shop. Our elite wines will be accompanied by  a choice and mouthwatering selection of Newlyns own meats and cheeses.  Christien Hay and Mark Bedford will be on hand to offer insights, stories and expertise. This is a free tasting and we look forward to celebrating our growth with you.

• Date: Saturday 25^th February
• Time: 11am-2pm
• Location: Newlyns Farm Shop, Weyhill Road, Andover, Hampshire SP11 0PP
• Telephone: 01264 773059

When it comes to being a wine merchant our FAQs are invariably about matching wine with food so Peter’s food matching evenings at Caviste Overton have proved to be a fantastic hit with our customers.  Whilst Peter suggests the best pairings, he encourages guests to try all of the different combinations to see which ones work best.  This month’s theme was cheese, matching cheeses by themselves as well as in cooked dishes with seven different wines. The hits of the evening were Terres de Velle Bougogne Rouge with Baked Camembert, Gran Cardiel Verdejo/Viura with Feta salad made with cranberries, lambs lettuce and red onion, Buglioni Recioto with Stilton with top marks going to the fantastic new Gavroche Sauvignon Blanc, made by our top Loire wine maker Ludovic Chanson, paired with a soft Ewe’s cheese.  Our thanks to Tina Devereux for providing the wonderful  food that went so well with the wines.  Peter’s next food matching evening will be on the 5^th of April when he will be matching wines with a range of desserts.