Wine tasting at the Great Framingham Sausage Festival

Each year Framingham in Suffolk host a sausage festival. In a good year about 10,000 people are expected to be there. This year the co-op hosted a VIP wine tasting with host Alison from www.wineathome.co.uk and Jane and Peter from Toppesfield Vineyard. There were 6 wines, a Cava, a prosecco, an English white a rose, an Australia Cab Sav and a Chilian Carmenere.

All the wines were good examples. The Cava was light with subtle tropical fruit flavours and breast notes. The prosecco was, well prosecco. I preferred to drink the Cava as it had more depth and flavours. The Toppesfield English Bacchus was truly excellent, it gets more flavours and refined each month I try it. The Shawsgate rose was pretty good, decent red fruit aromas and not as over powering on the taste buds as the colour might suggest. I’m a big Provence rose fan and the darker roses are usually my glass of wine. The 2 reds were a surprise. Carmenere was fruity, a bit of spice and vanilla thrown in, very happy I was. The Cab Sav was a JC moment, possibly the best was served last and one of the best reds I’ve tasted in a long time. Great black and red fruit aromas and flavours, firm but not over powering tannins, long finish and at £9 a bottle very reasonable.

Alison from www.wineathome.co.uk talking about sparkling wine

Alison from www.wineathome.co.uk talking about sparkling wine

Co-op wines tried at the Framingham Sausage Festival

Co-op wines tried at the Framingham Sausage Festival

Juve & Camps Blanc de Noirs 2012 Cava from Spain

This is a seriously grown up Cava. Made with Pinot Noir grapes and aged on its lees for over 2 years you get elegant small bubbles with aromas of citrus and honeysuckle and hints of yeasty notes. The flavours are subtle and fruit driven with citrus and a creaminess that makes this a refreshing alternative to other Cava’s out there.

The only issue I have is the price, at £25 a bottle its worth it but I can see people just look at the “Cava” part and pass it by, shame for them but good news for those that are willing to try it.

Juve y Camps Blanc de Noirs 2012 Cava from Spain

Juve & Camps Blanc de Noirs 2012 Cava from Spain

Pere Ventura 2012 Cava

Made with the Xarel·lo and Chardonnay grapes this is a top end Cava. There are aromas of fennel and floral notes and flavours of almonds and butterscotch. There is a lovely creamy texture to the wine that makes it very easy to knock back on its own. Pair it with sea food or as we did with salad and citrus based salad dressing.

My only gripe about the wine is in the price. At £25 plus a bottle it’s in the champagne and top English sparkling wine price bracket. The bottle is gorgeous which helps to market it but with Cava on the bottle I think people will bypass it. It’s a shame because blind tasted I think people will pick it.

Pere Ventura 2012 Cava

Pere Ventura 2012 Cava