Colchester Cellar Club October 2022 spainish wine tasting
The Colchester Cellar Club is known for laying on a great tasting and this one was no exception. Below are my tasting notes on the main tasting wines listed on the sheet above.
1-2018-fresh, light but firm acidity, mineral under tone, lemon flavour but little aroma. Drink on its own
2-2017-oak notes on the nose even though its in steel, left on the lees malolatic nose, a little creaminess higher acidity, grapefruit and lemon flavours , long length, drink with a zesty salad
3-2017-light nose, freshness little aroma. Higher acidity with tart lemon flavours, hint of grapefruit, too much tart but decent length, barrel fermented
4-2015-light aromas of redcurrant, oak notes, dry with smoothness and mid tannins. Lots of red fruit. Good with pasta and red meat. May want to leave it for another few years.
5-2012-red and black fruit aromas, smooth and soft tannins, dry, excellent integration, with or without food is not important, drink in front of a fire with a bit of cheese.
6-2009-3 years in oak with red fruit aromas, soft on the nose, dry, smooth on the palette, easy, well integrated tannins that stick around. I would have this with food, red meat, a stew. For 13 years old it’s excellent and could be left for few more years.
7-2006-little red fruit aroma but clean on the nose. Dry with soft tannins going towards a mid range pinot noir. A down to earth red with soul and gentleness. Very hard not to love this wine.
8-2001-A hint of red fruit on the nose with dry and softness on the palette. Good length but best with food. A steak or even turkey but hold back on heavy source or gravy as that will hit the wine too hard.
9-2010-A lack of aromas is not unwelcome, a hint of eucalyptus and redcurrant is all I got. It’s dry with soft tannins and good length. Maybe try in 5 years and see if it integrates better in all its elements like wine 7.
10-1994-hints of red fruit, oak with little tannins left to cause any issues. Yes it’s very soft and smooth but it’s a wine to drink without food as it will knacker it. 28 years old is pushing it.
Ooohhh was the general comment when this was brought out to drink followed shortly afterwards by aaahhh. A Grand Cru is not to be rushed and one by Albert Mann should have extra care. Aromas and flavours of ripe citrus, pineapple, a solid body and a creamy undernote makes this a wine to sip and take pleasure in. Prices for earlier vintages start at £35 and are recommended, getting 2011 vintage is harder, buy later ones and age yourself is my recommendation.
At £28 a bottle it’s not cheap but this white wine made from the Xarel lo grape by Pares Balta I’d pretty good. Clean and clear it has aromas and flavours of almonds and citrus and grapefruit with soft creamy undertone. To be sipped and savoured.
This red eine from Argamont is a typical red that’s meant to be drunk and not thought too much about. It’s got decent aromas and flavours of cherry, plum, blackcurrant. It’s dry with good length and isn’t overwhelmed with tannins or it being to big and bold.
I’m not sure it it will any awards but it’s a very good wine and 6 years old it has plenty to offer.
At £10 a bottle this Appassimento from Cantina di Negrar has got to be the bargain of the year.
This dry, smooth red wine has soft tannins and decent lengh. Plenty of cherry, plum, chocolate and spice aromas and flavours. It’s not overly complex but has enough for you to sip and enjoy over the evening on its own or with food.
Majestic wines have a real corker here, worth few bottles when you want to treat yourself.
As you would expect from a Valpolicella classic this is very good red wine from Scriani. Its on the dry side, bold but smooth with plenty of red and black fruit flavours. It’s got excellent length of the flavours and even went well with salad but better suited with pasta dish or a lump of red meat.
At £18 a bottle it’s not cheap by red wine standards but decent for the quality of a Valpolicella.
Vinalba, Reserve Malbec Touriga Nacional, 2020, Argentina
Vinalba make a lot of wine and it’s generally decent. This is no different it’s a fairly simple dry red wine with decent length and flavours of cherry, redcurrant, a little blackcurrant and hints of chocolate. The IWC gave this 95 points which seems very high to me. It did go very well with a big plate of cheese and biscuits but at £12 a bottle it’s a bit overpriced, its wine to just drink not to think about.
Loire Rosé is pretty good and this one from Majestic is a bit sweeter than the dry Rosé you normally come across. There’s enough red fruit flavours and aromas to stop it from being lack luster but there is something just not there, maybe the sweetness throws you, the price of £7.99 on a mix six price is OK but not one I’ll try again.
A few years ago Winbirri won a Decanter world wine award trophy which is some achievement. That was for their Bacchus but their Solaris is very good, it’s dry and crisp but with a softness that is very palatable. Lemon, blossom and stone fruit flavours with a slight tartness on the end makes this perfect for fish, salad or as an aperitif.
At 13 a bottle it’s what English wine usually costs, it’s a shame as it puts people off trying English wine.
A pretty colour, nice bottle and interesting label doesn’t always make the wine inside great but this Rosé from Lake Garda is rather good. Everything is subtle from the red fruit aromas and flavours to the crisp, dry feel in the mouth. Its a bit expensive at £13 a bottle but if you ignore the price it’s very enjoyable in the garden on a summers evening listening to birds sing.