French Vintage Guide!

So recently (once we started our French Promotion) we've been talking a lot with our customers about vintage. When it comes to French wines- given the general lack of information on their labels- Vintage is one of the key indicators. Climate is one of the most important factors in wine production- so a good vintage is as good a place to tell how a wine is going to drink as any! But for obvious reasons only people who work in wine are the only ones who have enough time to look up random points about different vintages...
So luckily for you I have decided to do a brief synopsis of recent Vintages throughout the major regions in France! Where else would we start but Bordeaux!

• 2007: A cool, wet summer made for a difficult year- but was saved by sunny weather in September which gave the grapes time to ripen. Given the sheer size of Bordeaux and the different grape varieties the reds are generally variable, but will mostly be drinking young. However, whites are superb!
• 2006: Cabernet Grapes struggled to ripen this year- but Merlot did just fine! Stick to the right bank- you won't go wrong!
• 2005: Across the board there was perfect growing conditions, which makes 2005 one of the best years in Bordeaux... until 2009! A little of topic, but early reports from 2009 vintage in Bordeaux suggest a great great year- for anyone looking to buy en primeur, now would be a good time!

So there you have Bordeaux, but what about Burgundy?

• 2007: Tricky growing conditions during the summer were saved by a good September. Slightly better than Bordeaux this year- but its because of the Pinot Noir Grape. These wines will be good for medium term.
• 2006: no complaints about this year- wines will tend to be fruity and forward! Monthelie reds are great value from this year!
• 2005: Again another great year in France- look out for Cotes De Nuits reds!

The Rhone!

• 2007: Brilliant brilliant- especially in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Northeren Rhone had a slightly more difficult time with it, but there are still some great wines to be had from this region!
• 2006: Produced rich balanced wines with generous fruit. Some age-Worthy reds from the Northern Rhone.
• 2005: Perfect year with conditions enabling rich, balanced wines to be produced in the North!

I know that's only 3 regions, but you get the general idea of how different wines can be form year to year. On a side note 2009 appears (in much the same way as 2005 did) to be a fantastic year across the board. We'll find out if it lives up to the hype in a couple of months- but for anyone looking to Buy en Primeur should expect to pay a pretty price...

Bacon and Cabbage with Wine!

So its St Paddy's Day soon, and nothing says Ireland more than Bacon and Cabbage. But what wine would go best with this? Well the classic flavours are saltiness.... and cabbage... sooo you need something slightly sweet (to counter-act the saltiness), but also dry and crisp (so it can cut through the fatty nature of the meat). Also a third variable is the mash potatoes- lets be fair you can't have bacon and cabbage without mash potatoes! Its not so much the taste of the spuds, but rather its the texture. Mash potatoes have an awful way of drowning out the taste of wine- just because they are so big and heavy with that creamy texture. So creamy textures, Saltiness, and cabbage to do battle with when pairing a wine with this meal. Well lets think about this logically! Slightly sweet, Dry, Crisp, and big enough to cut through Mash Potatoes.... This is almost impossible! Most signs point towards a riesling, but i don't think they have the ability to compete with the spuds, and also they tend to be a little too sweet for what we're looking for. Pinot Grigio- too dry. Sauvignon- not sweet enough. Pinot Gris- not big enough.... Well there is one option left... But ye're not going to like it- Chardonnay... Un-oaked Chardonnay! Or as you may know it Chablis! Yes its perfect- without all those oaky characteristics, Chablis can be a crisp, big wine, with a touch of minerality that will go well with the cabbage!

Now for the difficult one... the red wine! Well the same principals apply- only instead of fighting the saltiness with sweetness, i may opt for spicy or peppery notes to bounce of the saltiness. What you do not want is anything too tannic, and what you want is something with ripe fruits. So pepper notes point us towards Shiraz or a Cotes Du Rhone... and these wines don't tend to be overly tannic. But i think something a little more medium bodied would suit better. So Grenache or Primitivo are our only options left!

As with any dish it depends on personal preferences- and given that this is a particularly difficult one to pair with, then it would be no surprise that i got it completely wrong! So if you've got any suggestions as to what works with your bacon and cabbage then feel free to comment below! Have a good Patrick's day!

The Communions are Coming!

First off- the sun is incredible- spring is truly here and everyone seems to be waking up from that daze that people slip into over January and February! But what does march bring to us- well for those of you with kids, it probably means First communion.... which to its credit is always a great excuse for a party! So you've got to buy your kids their new clothes, send out the invitations, and arrange some sort of a gathering... well we're sorry to tell you we can't help much with the new clothes, or the invitations... but by way of gatherings, well then we can certainly help there. Now there are always one or two things to take into consideration when buying wine for a big party- and this stays true for weddings, birthdays, etc.

Number 1: Buy enough for everyone- you don't want to be the person who ran out of Pinot Grigio after the first hour and then have to go on a wine or beer run.

Number 2: Enough glasses at the ready- Wine out of a beer glass just doesn't seem right. You can rent the glasses from us if you need- just a 20 euro deposit is all we ask!

Number 3: Keep everyone happy, buy cutting down on their options- Good quality wines at affordable prices are not impossible to come by (just ask in store we have a function list of wines that are great and affordable). So if you find a general red and white- like tempranillo or merlot, and sauvignon or pinot grigio- at a good price then stick to one of each! You cut down on the variety in front of them, then they have little to compare it against, and that way you won't end up with everyone drinking all the Tempranillo and leaving you with all the Merlot, or Vice Versa!

Number 4: Stick with what you like- not everyone is an expert people just know what type of wines work for them- sample a few different wines yourself, and trust that what you like will be a crowd pleaser! We can guide you towards areas you might like and whats been popular at functions before- every palate is different, but all that means is people will appreciate a good the wine differently to you! But as Long as its being appreciated then your party is sure to be a success!

At the heart of its the kids day- and wine is important, but what could spell disaster for the day is to have kids hyped up on too much caffeine. Top Tip for the day- try our Belvoir Fruit Presses- they kids will like them, and anyone who isn't drinking alcohol will love the flavour! Ask in store about them! Anyways as I'm sure ye all know we have a load of different wines on offer at the moment from France, with some truly great deals to be had- so if you feel like putting a french spin on a communion, or any other party you'll be having, then feel free to come in and ask- or e mail us at Woodberrywines@eircom.net

Monthelie: Where the Hell is that?

We all know Burgundy produces fabulous wines named after nearby villages, two of the more famous ones are; Volnay, the village that many consider the Côte de Beaune's most reliable source of red wines and Meursault a village that excels in the production of great whites! But 'who ever heard of Monthelie?' was a question i was asked over the weekend when describing a bottle of wine.

To explain where Montheile is, its worth noting that Burgundy like else where in France is terroir obsessed in fact they may be even more obsessed about land here than 'The Bull' was about his field! Anyway in Burgundy a mere few metres can determine whether your wine is grand cru classe or not, which means the wines can either be highly sought after but those from the vines next to them sit by waiting for a home for their day to come.

Why is this relative to Montelie?

Well this tiny village lies midway between its two more famous neighbours, mentioned above and has a fraction of their notoriety, because it's dismissed as being a little too far south for Pinot Noir and a little too far north for Chardonnay.

But it's a name worth getting to know, as its red wines - which make up this lion's share of its production - are widely regarded as offering fine value, relatively affordable if perhaps just a bit less elegant than Volnay, but at half the price!!! Burgundy like everywhere else produces great wines from standard Borgogne Class wines right up to the Grand Cru Class Vineyards and Villages, its worth checking out the different styles to see which ones you like!

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquestion

Just when you thought we'd gone all francophile, with our french promotion up pops some truely great spanish gems, just like Monthy Phythons Spanish inquestion. Two of these great wines are from the Rioja Alta region, where the grapes are grown at high altitude and as a result the wines from this area tend to be more lighter on the palate, and possess greater Finesse than those from the other Regions in Rioja. The other is a fabulous organic crianza made from 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano, one that will brighten up our ever longer evenings this spring.

Vino Los Valles Organic 70+30 Crianza 2005 €13.95

A combination of 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano. The grapes are hand-picked from vineyards with an average age of over 25 years. Cherry red colour with violet hues around the rim. Subtle notes of ripe red fruits, with elegant spicy nuances, reminding of leather. Powerful in the mouth, rounded, a balanced aged bouquet, good acidity, smooth, creamy and meaty. The finish is long, noble, with hints of spice and is well-balanced.

La Rioja Alta Vina Alberdi Reserva 2003 €19.95

Bright cherry red, with a medium robe and light pinkish highlights in the glass. Intense, very fresh aroma, with hints of wild strawberries and sweet raspberries, perfectly assembled with balsamic hints of cinnamon, roasting, coconut and vanilla. Round and well-bodied to the palate, slightly acid and therefore lively. Smooth, silky tannins, thanks to perfectly ripened grapes and ageing in the cask. Good, slightly acid and fresh after-taste.

La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva 2000 €29.95

Medium-high cherry red robe, with orange tinted tones on the edge of the glass, clear and brilliant. Intense and complex to the nose. Wild berry aromas predominate, blended with hints of coconut, cinnamon, tobacco and leather. Full-bodied and well structured to the palate, with silky and enveloping tannins. Long after-taste acquired from its lengthy time in bottle, where its elegant bouquet gains in intensity. This wine continues to evolve without losing its traditional qualities

The Four Personalities of France- Part3: Bordeaux

Bordeaux- probably the most recognizable name in the wine world today! And it has been for so many years! but is this reputation based on anything or is it just all a question of hype? Well lets have a look at the region itself- actually not as easy as it sounds, because it has a lot going on, it actually produces more wine then all of Australia... First thing you should know is the Grape varieties. The permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Malbec- with me so far? Now because the region is kinda divided by a river- the Gironde- The Wine makers in Bordeaux have come to the conclusion that certain grapes do better on one side than the other... So now we have left bank and right bank wines. The left bank focus their wine making prowess on Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot and Cabernet Franc playing second fiddle. The right bank swaps it around a Little with both Merlot and Cabernet Frank being the Principal grapes and Cabernet Sauvignon playing second fiddle this time! Petit Verdot and Malbec are merely considered flavouring on both sides of the river.

But whats the point of all these varieties? Well its kinda for insurance. All those varieties flower and ripen at different times and if a couple of bad days in June prevents the Cabernet Suavignon from ripening fully then its good to have something to give it that extra little bit. That's why most Vineyards will plant most, if not all, of these varieties.

So it should come as no surprise that not all Bordeaux wine is the greatest wine in the world- and if it does then I'm sorry to be the one who broke the news to you... But having said that they do produce some pretty good wine- the problem, however, is how to spot the really good wine. Well the French recognized this problem too. And in response, what they decided to do was have a classification system divided into First Growths, Second Growths, and so on, and so on.... Brilliant, it made perfect sense- just one tiny problem! It was introduced in 1855... and I don't think its too out of line to say one or two things have changed SIGNIFICANTLY in the last decade and a half! They really need to fix this system up- I mean all credit to them for coming up with a classification system in the first place- but are they serious? they can't honestly expect one vineyard to ALWAYS be better than another one, just because it was back in 1855, can they? Now in fairness to the French the First growths they picked are all pretty good- located on the best soils in the best possible regions... But come on! In recent years we have seen the emergence of the microchateau, some of these wines will fetch even more than a First Growth Medoc. Now because Bordeaux is so confusing and annoying, like the rest of France, I'll be doing a region by region blog series on France over the coming weeks (partly because France really is a minefield, but also because our French sale starts today!) But until then we'll have to give ye something to go by- and hence the whole personality thing! Now because Bordeaux has Left Bank Vs Right Bank we'll have to pick to pretty similar personalities... Its obvious really- Its Batman and Superman!

The left bank with its Cabernet Sauvignon generally combines both the fruitiness of cassis with the firmness of tannins- its basically an Iron fist in a Velvet Glove- Clearly the Superman of the two! Sheer brute strength with out any of the gadgets or stealth... but still gets the job done pretty well. The right bank, with all that merlot and Cabernet Franc, then tends to be rounder and less tannic. Focusing more on Cherries and raspberries instead of cassis- So how is the Right Bank like Batman? Well just like Batman has Robin, Merlot has Cabernet Franc. Also he is a much more stealthier, sophisticated superhero than superman- but still able to bust heads when he needs to! Both left and Right bank wines will tend to require food with them when they are younger- but both will reward after a couple of years ageing!

For the Chocolate and Wine Lovers!

Recently we did a blog on Chateau La Gatte's new business venture, chocolates mixed with wine! Well they are incredible- and If you don't believe me, well then come into us and mention this blog and we'll be more than happy to share a taster with you! So whats the point if you already did a blog on them? Well when i strolled into work today i read a review of them online (be getting to taht in a while) but it got me thinking about what would be the best wine to pair with chocolate....

But now to the review of Chateau La Gatte's Chocolates! Well the basics of them is they are made using 72% cocoa Fair Trade and Rainforest Alliance Belgium Chocolate, with a red wine filling made from Chateau La Gatte's Bordeaux Wine- 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon! There the Facts but what caught my eye was the reviews final Paragraph:

"I really can't speak too highly of these chocolates. If you're looking for an adult, but fruity chocolate experience, I've not tasted any better this year. They're also perfect for these dark nights to snuggle up on the sofa and work along them. In Summer I'm sure they'd also be great to munch in the garden watching the sun go down."

Is that not the best review ever? And whats even better is Michael Affatato left a comment saying thank you... Now thats classy, and just shows the spirit these Chocolates, and indeed the wines of Chateau La Gatte, are made in!

But back to what makes wine and chocolate a good pairing. Well ususally you just have one variable when pairing food with wine- and thats the wine. But now we've got 2 variables- because there are several different types of chocolate.... It actually isn't as bad as it sounds- we'll just divide them up into white chocolate, milk chocolate, and dark chcocolate!

White Chocolate:

Well white chocolate is pretty sweet, and very creamy! So something sweet and dry would be a good match- like cherry! But if you wanted to take this another direction, you could go with something big and full bodied- like a zinfandel with its rich red fruits, and tannins- what would actually happen is the Creaminess of the white chocolate would round out the tannins and smooth out the wine! Its actually a really great combination!

Milk Chocolate:

Alright so Milk Chocolate- firmly inbetween the other two extremes, yet in no way to be concidered anything but delicious in comparisson to them. Its got to be something medium bodied, yet with its own exuberance that can match the Milk Chocolate! Well then its Pinot Noir!

Dark Chocolate:

Oh well a big Chocolate needs a big wine- simple! The wine should even have a touch of Chocolate itself- Now the true test of who's been following my Blogs... Well if you have then you'll know all about how good the Eternum Viti is from the Toro region in Spain! And for a dark chocolate you're not going to go too far wrong with Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Shiraz, basically all the big guns!