Always time for Gruner!

What’s the best way to learn all about a grape? Why not invite your friends over and tell them each to bring one wine of that varietal. I have been hearing about Gruner’s popularity these days and felt it was high time that I tried them for myself. The premise was simple: 4 friends, 4 Gruners, dissect.

The first wine that came out of the woodworks was the 2010 Laurenz V Friendly Gruner Veltliner. This is the perfect starting point for a Gruner rookie! Light gold in colour with a rich fruit nose reminiscent of a ripe Riesling. The wine opened up in the glass and mandarin became the dominant flavour on the nose. The wine had strong acidity, a round mouth feel, ripe lemon and lime flavours, with a stony, mineral, light spice finish. The wine tasted like an alcohol soaked mandarin. While it was originally not served cold enough, the wine did open up to show the most fruit forward expression of Gruner on the night.

The second wine was the only entry of the night not from Austria, this being the 2010 Forrest Doctors Gruner Veltliner. This offering from New Zealand was a pale lemon colour with a lime sorbet nose with a quick whiff of petrol that quickly dissipated. On the pallet this wine was far more mineral, had the highest acidity of the bunch with sharp citrus flavours and a white pepper finish. The memory of this wine lasted a bit longer than the first and the sharp citrus flavours were balanced with a noticeable sweetness; this wine had the highest residual sugar of the group (8.7g/l). Cool to see this grape from another region that is just started to explore with Gruner.

The third wine was the 2010 Domaene Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner. Rich gold in the glass with a noticeable peach and ripe apple nose, this wine was the most textured, think oily mouth, of the group with orange and peach flavours topped off with the familiar white pepper. There was a light floral component to this wine. This was the only wine of the bunch that I had tasted before and I felt that while it had the simplest fruit profile, there was a richness to it that makes it a beautiful wine.

Lastly, we dove into the 2007 Loimer Gruner Veltliner. This wine was the most expensive of the group and definitely delivered on it’s expectations. It was light gold in colour with an intense caramelized green apple nose underlain with rubber. There was some residual sugar, but it was beautifully balanced with high acidity and a peach, mango sorbet pallet. The finish had pepper that was white-borderline-black pepper – grey pepper as I have dubbed it! The depth of flavour was the defining factor for this wine. The best comment was that this wine knows exactly what it is and gives us exactly that.

After our mouths were tingling from all the whites, we do what every Austrian apparently does, turn straight to the only Austrian red we can easily find in this market, Zweigelt. The 2009 Domaene Gobelsburg Zweigelt was a medium ruby colour and showing a meaty, coffee, wet lanolin nose with a hit of black pepper. The pallet showed marginal tannins on a medium body, light red fruit, and a sharp finish. I felt like I was drinking bitter coffee out of a tin cup. We decided we would enjoy this wine with a cigar and let the sun set behind the swirls of our smoke.

Our goal of finding a way to define Gruner Veltliner as a grape was enjoyable. Gruner did prove itself worthy to be drunk at my table! The richness, ripe flavours, a shake of white pepper, and high but balanced acidity defines this grape for me. I can see why so many people feel like this is the perfect wine to pair with spicy Asian cuisine or sushi. It would be an excellent compliment to a white fish or light pork dish as well. Next time you are in the mood for a Riesling or Sauvignon Blanc with a twist, I urge you to turn towards Gruner!

Explore a New Wine Region: Martinborough

Introduction

The Martinborough wine region is situated around the town of Martinborough and is only an hour north of Wellington making it a popular weekend destination in the summer months. I had heard varied review on this region before I went and I am pleased to say that I like it here! This is pinot noir country and unlike the delicate pinots of Central Otago, Martinborough is making big, intense, acidic, earthy pinots, just the way I like them. The oldest vines in the region are almost 30 years old and a small town center has sprung up full of small cafes and restaurants. Because of how close the wineries are to the town center, a popular tourist activity is to hire bikes and ride from winery to winery because of their close proximity. This tends to be a little annoying for drivers who always have to be on the lookout for a swerving bike, but the bikers seemed to be having a blast!

History

John Martin founded the town of Martinborough in 1879. As maybe a tribute to his Great British roots, the town was laid out in the shape of a Union Jack and even today an ariel view will show this unique road pattern. The region suffered through the temperance movement in 1908 when it was one of the first regions to tear out vines in order to stop the consumption of alcohol. It wasn’t until a study in 1979 that showed direct climactic similarities to Burgundy that people started to look at Martinborough for wine again. In 1980, four wineries re-ignited the industry: Ata Rangi, Dry River, Chifney, and Martinborough Vineyards. This small region blossomed from there and family ties to the land are very evident.

Nowadays, Martinborough only accounts for 2.6% of total New Zealand plantings and only 1.6% of the volume; however, despite it’s small size, this is a region that is winning international awards left and right and making a big name for itself. It was also the first region in New Zealand to protect its identity through the creation of an appellation system (Geographical Indication).

Geography/Terroir

40 degrees south | North Island | 1 hr North of Wellington

Martinborough is located in the Wairarapa growing region that includes the neighbouring Masterton and Gladstone. Martinborough is by large the most premium of these three growing regions and that claim is in the unique balance of climate and soil of the Martinborough.

The soil structure here varies, but the best growing location for vines is on the 25 meter deep free draining alluvial river gravels that were exposed by the Ruamahanga River. Surrounding this soil, the area stretches out into more of a clay loam base. The Martinborough region receives very little rainfall due to the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges that flank the area and at night the temperatures drop to allow the slow maturation of that characteristic New Zealand acidity. In fact some wines, especially the whites, border on too much acidity, but when the right balance is met the results are spectacular!

Major Grape Varietals Planted

Red: Pinot Noir

White: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Aromatics

Major Producer/Iconic Wines

Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
Martinborough Vineyards pinot Noir
Dry River Riesling Craighall Botrytis
Craggy Range Te Muna Road Pinot Noir
Palliser Sauvignon Blanc

Conclusion

When you think of Martinborough, think small region, boutique producers, Burgundian conditions, and an up and coming reputation in the wine world. These wines are expressive of their unique terroir and packed with heaps of flavour. The quote below sums up my experiences with Martinborough wines:

“If our Pinot Noir is ever going to make a genuine impact on the world wine stage, it is likely to be wines from Martinborough that will make the genuine breakthrough.”  John Hawkesby – World Magazine, December 2009

References

http://www.winesfrommartinborough.com/

http://www.martinborough-vineyard.co.nz/#

http://www.martinboroughnz.com/

Back to New Zealand Wine

Australian Regional Tasting

Men of Terroir was on hand once again for the Taste of Australia tasting on May 11, 2012 at the Harrison Art Galleries in Yaletown. The art gallery was set up to showcase the different regional diversity of the wineries. This led to a little bit of confusion for certain wineries that are spread out between different areas, but overall it was a well-organized event and we thought it was the perfect way to start the weekend!

Our tasting experience started off with a bang as we began in the McLaren Vale with Wirra Wirra Wines. The Dead Ringer 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon was a huge, powerful wine, black olives and dark fruit underlain with classic McLaren Vale minty notes. We had to have a nondescript Pinot Grigio just to cleanse our palate for the next wines!

The next standout was in the Barossa Valley region when we tried the Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz. A perennial favourite, the 2009 did not cease to impress. This is classic Barossa Valley fruit with an earthy edge. One of the only other wines that could live up to this is the Barossa Valley Estates 2005 Black Pepper Shiraz. We felt sorry for the next couple of wines as the Black Pepper seemed to be selfishly hogging all our taste buds.

When we could finally taste again, the Coonawarra stepped up to the plate. Both Bill Hardy and Ian Hollick were standing at a table together arguing about Aussie Rules Football as only two Aussies can. Good thing we managed to dance around the issue about our favourite teams by discussing Canadian border issues with Ian. The 2008 Hollick Ravenswood Cabernet Sauvignon may have taken a while to get into the country, but it sure didn’t last that long in our glass! The Majella 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon was another Coonawarra standout, a bit richer on the palate than the Ravenswood and drinking perfectly now.

One Pinot Noir stood heads and shoulders above all the rest. That was the 2006 offering from Yabby Lake Vineyards in the Mornington Peninsula. Talk about an intense Pinot! It had enough grip to it that one of us double-checked to make sure that we were not being had and that it truly was a Pinot Noir we were drinking. Loved it!

It wasn’t all teeth staining reds however. The Tahbilk 2010 Marsanne from the Ngambie Lakes region of Victoria impressed. The rich, textured mouth feel and the healthy acidity was screaming for food. This is the perfect wine for Vancouver’s West Coast Asian inspired cuisines. Over in Margaret River it was the region’s original winery, Vasse Felix, that left us smiling with their 2009 Heytesbury Chardonnay. This wine showcased the perfect balance between oak and acidity that Margaret River does so well.

The Lifford Grand Tasting

Seems to be wine tasting season! Yesterday MOT attended the Lifford Grand Tasting hosted by the Lifford Wine Agency held at the beautiful Stanley Park Pavilion. 6 countries, over 20 wineries, and a collection of liqueurs and spirits were available for tasting.

Right off the bad, MOT was put into the wine tasting spirit with the perfectly weighted Ca’Del Bosco Cuvee Prestige Brut Franciacorta. This sparkling has just the right balance of body and citrus flavours to liven the palate and get us ready for the whites. The selection of whites was on the minimal side, but the favourite today was a stellar value wine, the 2010 Arboleda Chardonnay from Chile.

Moving onto the reds, the country that showed the best overall was Italy. The Rocca Delle Macie and Tenuta Il Poggione wines were excellent throughout their entire lineups, but it was the unheralded DOCG of Gattinara that captured our attention today. Travaglini is a small winery that makes 100% Nebbiolo wines that are slightly more delicate than wines from the neighbouring Barolo, but these wines still pack a punch. The 2001 Gattinara Riserva was so light in the glass that it was almost inconceivable 5 minutes later that we still tasted the finish. The other wine that never stopped was the 2008 Serpico from Mitolo. A Cabernet Sauvignon from McLaren Vale that is produced in a style reminiscent to Amarone, using dried grapes to create a concentrated wine with layers of depth.

After we exhausted our wine palates, we grazed and stared down the whiskeys. Always a fan of the peaty Islay offerings, we were shocked when Bowmore said we had to have their 12 yr old with an oyster. We obliged and were amazed at how well the saltiness of the oyster danced alongside the smoky peaty offering from the whiskey. Nothing could prepare us for the joy of the Bowmore 15 yr old Darkest though. Caramelized peat is the best way to express the flavour profile. As it slowly dissipated on an extremely smooth finish we walked out the door with a smile on our face.

Sonoma Spotlight Blind Pinot Noir Tasting

Before the California Wine Fair in Vancouver on April 18, I was invited to take part in a Sonoma Spotlight blind tasting of 8 different Pinot Noirs. I have never done a blind tasting of this many wines in a similar category before and was blown away by how unique each of the wines ended up being. Every Pinot Noir, except for one, was from the 2009 vintage that was known being an outstanding vintage and having an intensity of colour in the grapes.

All wines were tasted blind before the big reveal and discussion afterwards. We were also given an in depth description of the Sonoma region beforehand, fuelling my already burning desire to visit this wonderful part of the wine world!

I have included all my notes of the wines below, in the order the tasting occurred. I attempted to highlight the distinct differences between each of these high quality wines. Hope you get as much out of it as I did!

1. Flowers Vineyard and Winery 2009 Sea View Ridge Pinot Noir

Appearance: Med – intensity, ruby red
Nose: Med intensity, cranberries, cherries, bit of smoke, cinnamon, tea, cedar
Palate: Tangy acidity, sweet fruit, licorice but underlain with earth, light body, low tannin
Notes: subtleness, elegance and finesse, ethereal, food friendly

2. Joseph Swan Vineyards 2009 Pinot Noir, Saralee’s Vineyard

Appearance: Med – intensity, ruby red
Nose: Med intensity, strawberries and cherries, jammy, floral, orange peel
Palate: Med smooth acidity, med + alcohol, med – tannin, full of strawberries, savoury spice, and vanilla
Notes: Drinking right now

3. Freeman Winery 2009 Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch Vineyard

Appearance: Med to Med + intensity, ruby red
Nose: Med + intensity, strawberries, tangerine, ginger, clove, sarsaparilla
Palate: Med acidity, tart, linear taste, low tannin, orange, red fruit
Notes: Nose opened up to smell just like Coca Cola! Palate doesn’t live up to the nose

4. Patz & Hall 2009 Pinot Noir, Chenoweth Ranch Vineyard

Appearance: Deep purple
Nose: Med + intensity, dark rich cherry, coffee, molasses, faint dark chocolate, vanilla
Palate: Med + sharp acidity, med tannin, med body, chocolate, rich, very balanced with tart red fruit, cherry, strong finish
Notes: Dark and different, almost not Pinot Noir, good and interesting

5. Sequana 2009 Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir

Appearance: Med + intensity, ruby red
Nose: Pronounced, dark, soy, barnyard, burnt toast, strong chocolate/coffee
Palate: Med + acidity, med – tannin, med body, smooth cherry, black pepper, earthy, chocolate, mocha, some mint, higher alcohol
Notes: Different style from others, in-between Burgundy and California, mid palate freshness, wine in awkward teenage stage!

6. Kosta Browne 2009 Gap’s Crown Pinot Noir

Appearance: Deep ruby red to purple rim
Nose: Med + intensity, cranberry, orange peel, cranberry/raspberry jam, Christmas spices
Palate: High acid, med + body, med – tannin, similar to nose but more vanilla
Notes: Smooth and richer than others, good

7. Hartford Court 2009 Land’s Edge Pinot Noir

Appearance: Med + intensity, ruby red, pronounced legs
Nose: Med intensity, more floral than others, earth, all spice, reserved nose
Palate: High acid, med body, med – tannin, truffle, mushrooms, rich tart cherry, slightly confectionary
Notes: Didn’t stand out for me, nice but nothing grabbing me

8. Siduri Wines 2010 Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch Vineyard

Appearance: Deep ruby red, pronounced legs
Nose: Med intensity, red fruit with mix of spice and earth, prune, soy, floral
Palate: Med + acid, med + body, med tannin, sweet rich red fruit, fullest body, light spice, barnyard
Notes: Smells most like Pinot out of lineup for me, wine to drink by itself, very good

After we finished I leisurely wandered in a daze around the California Wine Fair, tasting wines here and there, but not fully able to shake my thoughts of the amazing Pinot Noir tasting that occurred only minutes before. While my palate and wallet are having a domestic dispute about purchasing some of these great Sonoma Pinot Noirs, my mind is smartly planning my trip down to explore the distinct sub regions in more depth.

2006 BenMarco Expresivo

Terroir: Mendoza, Argentina

60% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 10% Syrah, 10% Tannat

The Technical: Last night’s wine was the 2006 BenMarco Expresivo that has been sitting in my cellar for a couple of years. This wine, with an inky ruby red colour, began with a little barnyard funk on the nose that blew away quickly to reveal a rich nose full or plum, black pepper, oregano, mushrooms, and oak. The big body had silky tannins softened by age that begins with Malbec flavours and leads to a Cabernet Sauvignon finish. Juicy blackberries, plums, and tobacco box complement the lively palate. As an ’06 it surprised me how fresh this wine still is. Definitely still has 2-3 years more life on it.

Why You Should Drink This Wine: Drink this wine if you are tired of drinking straight Malbecs. The Cab Sauv, Syrah, Petit Verdot, and Tannat in the Expressivo pairs well with the Malbec adding structure, depth, and different flavor components.

Rated 92 points Wine Spectator

The Day I Met Sparky Marquis

Yesterday I met Sparky Marquis. For those still wondering whom I am talking about, he is the owner of Molly Dooker wines. And what a character he is! I was excited to be a part of a sit down tasting where he took us through 8 of the 10 wines that the iconic McLaren Vale winery produces. Sparky’s true Aussie flair came out almost immediately when hetold us he wasn’t going to talk us through the wines since we probably knew more than he did about wine anyways. He said there are only 2 drops that he drinks; Molly Dooker wines and Jack Daniels and since they don’t serve Molly Dooker wines on the Air New Zealand flight back to Australia he was on in a couple of hours, he wanted to enjoy the wines with us!

Turns out that Molly Dooker is an Australian term for left-handers. Sparky and his wife, Sarah, and coincidentally, over 50% of the staff at his winery are left-handed; he claims it is not a questions on the interview sheets! Started in 1995, his wines have been featured in Wine Spectator’s Top 10 list twice, have received more 94 points and above from Robert Parker than any other producer, and Sparky and Sarah were voted Australian winemaker of the year in 1999. Of the 8 wines we tried today the lowest rating was an 88 and the highest a modest 97+.

Other than the obvious high quality of his wines, two things struck me after listening toSparky Marquis talk for an hour. One is that he is true pioneer that is not afraid to

push the barriers to keep creating a better quality product. After he was repeatedly told that the most concentrated grapes could only come from dry grown, low yielding, old vine vineyards, he turned it into a personal mission to discover what it is that gives a concentrated taste and how to emulate that in new vines. This led to a creation of the (now trademarked) Marquis Vineyard Watering Program that allows the vines to get the intensity and sugars they need to create these big, bold wines that he loves. It also led to a term he calls fruit weight which he explains as how far back on the tongue the velvet glove of flavor reaches before the tingling structure sets in. Sounds complex but when you taste his wines you understand exactly what he is talking about and how it gives that WOW factor he is after.

The other point that struck me is how ingenious their marketing is. After his wife shut down the original commissioned label design, Sarah took the task to herself to create the labels now on the bottles. From caricatures of Sparky and Sarah dancing to a boxer with two left hands, the labels are fun, creative, and tell a story of their life and wine-growing career. The attention to detail even goes as far as forcing a consumer to pick up the bottle to read the sideways wine details since it was shown in studies that a consumer is more likely to buy a bottle if they have 2 hands on it. And then what better marketing than to send the fast-talking, excitable Sparky Marquis on the road to pour their wines!

Now to the wines themselves. Sparky doesn’t waste time with small wines. All of the wines had at least 15% alcohol, but unlike most high alcohol producers, Molly Dooker wines have the concentrated fruit and healthy acidity to back it up. The line

up was: The Maitre D’, Two Left Feet, The Boxer, Blue Eyed Boy, Gigglepot, Enchanted Path, Carnival of Love, and the Velvet Glove (all 2009 except the 2010 Boxer). The Velvet Glove has the ominous distinction of being “the wine” that was crushed by a forklift accident last year on an Australian dock. With one quick mechanical failure, 1/3 of the production of the best wine that Molly Dooker offers, a $250 wine, was destroyed instantly. In true Aussie fashion, Sparky rolled with the punches and said that the worst part about the incident is that his personal allocation of those wines dropped right off! This wine is beautiful, a perfect balance between a delicate palate and strong flavours.

As we our red stained lips had taken our last sips, Sparky was asked how long his wines age. He replied by saying “As long as it takes me to find a corkscrew!” I like a winemaker that truly believes in the quality of his wines, as long as he leaves some for us to be able to enjoy!

Castello Di Bossi 2007 Chianti Classico

Terroir: Chianti Classico from the Tuscany region of Italy

The Technical: This wine’s appearance shows a ruby red core turning to garnet towards the rim. The intense nose is full of red liquorice, leather, cigar box, dark cherry, and light floral notes. On the dry palate, there is a healthy dose of acidity to back up the medium tannins. The body has dried fruits, sweet spices like vanilla, cocoa, and leather. There is the traditional bitterness of Chianti but it is not as strong as in some. This is a very good quality Chianti Classico.

Why Should You Drink This Wine: This wine is the perfect compliment to a tomato based pasta dish or a veal marsala dish. If you are used to drinking regular Chianti and want to explore more, try this wine from the Chianti Classico region that truly is a step up. 2007 is the best year that Chianti has had in the 00′s so grab whatever you can see before it is too late!

Greywacke 2009 Wild Sauvignon

The Technical: From former Cloudy Bay winemaker Kevin Judd comes out with one of the most unique Sauvignon Blancs I have ever tasted. Don’t let the light, lemon colour fool you, this wine has quite the flavour profile. The young nose shows great fresh mango and asparagus underlaid with a flinty mineral note, a creaminess from malolactic fermentation, and a toastiness from the lees contact. The dry palate keeps changing as time passes, starting with fig and kumquat and turning into tropical pineapple and classic citrus and herbaceous Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc notes. The extremely long finish shows great peach and a little spice and oak.

This wine is a beautiful wine lover’s wine! The flavours seem to be very conflicting (both tropical fruit and fresh citrus fruit) but the wine plays it just right and the contrasting flavours is balanced perfectly with a refreshing acidity and light oak and lees contact.

Why Should I Drink This Wine? Drink this wine when you are in the mood for trying a unique twist on the refreshing New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc’s you have become accustomed to. Will pair well with a mango, chicken salad or lightly charred fish dishes.

Not one to rest on his laurels, Kevin Judd always had aspirations of starting his own winery after the success of Cloudy Bay and in 2009 started Greywacke. After trying this wine this week I am going to be seeking out all of his wines when going to the New Zealand section of a wine shop! For more information on the winery visit the website here.

Que Syrah, Shiraz

Working in a wine shop, I am often asked the about the difference between Syrah and Shiraz. The truth is that they are the same grape! So why the different name?

To answer that question you have to dive a little deeper into the grape’s history. While there are many rumours that this grape has origins in Shiraz, Ancient Persia, it found a perfect home in the Cote Du Rhone in France. Here, the French called it Syrah, and it thrived, becoming a main component in some of the countries best wines including the famed Hermitage. In 1831, James Busby is known for bringing the Syrah grape from France to its other favourite location, Australia. Originally these wines were labeled Hermitage in honour of the great French Syrah’s, however due to changes in wine laws in France that protected the names of regions, Hermitage in Australia had to change. The name Shiraz was chosen to distinguish itself from French wines.

Stylistic comparisons of this grape plainly show two different styles according to the region and winemaking. The French Syrah is traditionally made in an elegant, earthier style full of black pepper whereas Australian Shiraz is juicy and rich focusing on intense ripe fruit flavours.

Nowadays, no matter the name, this grape has become one of the 10 most grown grapes in the world. In emerging wine regions like Canada, the choice to use either Syrah or Shiraz comes down to whether their wine emulates the classic Rhone or the modern Australian style.

Book Review: The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo

The Widow Clicquot by Tilar J. Mazzeo is a fascinating look at the life of one of the most famous of all champagne houses and the woman who led this company from basic obscurity to a worldwide brand, all this occurring during a time when woman were discouraged from being in business ventures. Writing a story about a woman set during the French Revolutions of the 1800’s is a daunting task that leads to a lot of speculation on behalf of the author as to what actually happened, but what can you expect when writing a story over a century old?

What this book does show is the private side of one of the world’s most powerful women at the time. Barbe-Nicole Ponsardins rise from her bourgeois roots, her determination in the face of constant adversity, and her passion for the champagne region. What really caught my attention in this informative read was the descriptions of the French economy at the time; Everything from the 4 revolutions that changed that face of Champagne to Napoleon favouring Jean-Remy Moet’s champagne. As I read this book I couldn’t help feeling that my efforts in business are a little lackadaisical and I found myself strangely inspired by Barbe-Nicole’s risks and persistence.

This book is well worth the price of admission so pop the top off a ‘Bottle of the Widow’ and enjoy this tale!

Italian Wine Night – January 2012

Each month Men of Terroir hosts a wine night for local oenophiles. The theme changes each time, but January 2012 was Italy. The majority of participants are beginners, people interested in learning about the differences between grapes. We tried to select either specific grapes (ex. Primitivo) or classic styles (ex. Chianti). With this idea in mind, wines such as Super Tuscans were avoided. This month we bought 9 wines, 3 whites and 6 reds. Being Italy we had bruschetta, bocconcini/ tomato/basil, and pizza for grazing! Below are the reviews of the wines tasted. All prices Canadian.

Araldica 2010 Piemonte Cortese ($17) - lemon in colour, quiet citrus nose, healthy acidity with low alcohol (11.5%), no flavours jumping out but well balanced. Goes perfectly with tomato, basil, bocconcini appetizer!

Sacchetto 2010 Pinot Grigio ($18) - intense gold colour with a lively aromatic nose, elegant body with medium + sharp acidity, lemon, vegetal, citrus fruit characteristics. Typical classic Italian Pinot Grigio style.

Marotti Campi Luzano 2009 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi ($20) – very light in colour, mouth filling, light creaminess on a medium body filled with ripe stone fruit and a nutty, woody finish. Unique taste for a white, but one that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Terrale 2009 Nero D’Avolo ($11) - pale ruby red in colour, cherry on nose, sharp on palate with more cherry and little spice on palate, simple. We threw this cheap wine in to try to confuse people, but no one thought much of this wine!

The Wine News 2008 Langhe Dolcetto ($17) - ruby red with a hint of garnet on the rim, deep warm nose full of rich red fruit and black olives, juicy fruit on the palate with a bit of spice and med + acidity, light tannins. This was a big winner on the night for an everyday pizza wine.

A-Mano 2008 Primitivo ($21) - ruby red, gamey on the nose with spice and orange peel, dark rich fruit on a medium + body with healthy acidity, light spice and a salty undertone. This wine was chosen to represent the Italian version of a Zinfandel and I found it quite pleasant.

Tommasi 2009 Ripasso ($30) - medium intensity on the nose, juicier on the palate with rich cherry, but under ripe green tannins and flavours show through, not the richer ripasso style I am used to. Not sure if it was high expectations, but his wine under performed at this tasting and didn’t show typical Ripasso characteristics.

Fontodi 2007 Chianti Classico ($34) - deep, rich red in colour, beautiful rich cherry nose with a raisin note, softer powdery tannins with medium + acidity, great rich red cherry fruit with light spice. This wine was the show stopper! A great representation of Chianti from a great year this wine is the perfect spaghetti bolognese wine.

Rocche Costamagna 2005 Barolo ($68) - the colour shows signs of age with a tawny, garnet rim, this wine opened up beautifully on the nose with 2 hours of decanting to a show intense rich, dark fruit notes with spice and orange rinds, huge flavour on the mouth with medium + chewy tannins. This was more elegant than other barolos I have tasted, but very pleasing.

Another successful wine night has led us to wondering what country to explore next month! Any suggestions?