Guigal Ex Voto, Hermitage.
Guigal is one of the iconic names of the Rhône valley in France. Hermitage is a tiny appellation of just 136 hectares on the slopes of the hill of Hermitage. Thirty producers work this land, and Guigal own two hectares of them. Guigal makes Ex Voto only in the very best years.
Luis Felipe Edwards, Signature Series Syrah Reserva, 2012
For £6 and just over, on promo, this was my best value for flavour wine of the Majestic press tasting.
Cobaw Ridge
Alan and Nelly Cooper set up Cobaw Ridge in 1985, having bought the land in 1981 as a place from where they could commute (quite lengthily) to Melbourne. Their original plan had been to sell the grapes, but they were smitten and decided to make wine before the first crop was off the vine, which was in 1989.
New Zealand syrah takes the stage
Despite the UK’s love affair with Marlborough sauvignon blanc, New Zealand is no one-trick pony. Now its syrah looks fair to set the wine world alight.
Domaine Clape – putting the cor back into Cornas
Domaine Clape is Cornas’ pioneer and flag bearer. Third generation Olivier explained the tradition and precision.
Guigal’s Côte-Rôties
E. Guigal make five Côte-Rôtie wines. Here’s the breakdown.
Syrah/shiraz from around the world – a blind tasting
Every few months I organise a themed tasting seminar for a group of local business people. We taste blind and discuss the wines.
South African shiraz
Shiraz plantings have increased from 2% of the vineyard area just over a decade ago, to 10% today. It is now the fourth most planted variety in South Africa.
Syrah in France
Syrah is France’s third most planted black grape variety (after merlot and grenache). And there’s more in the Languedoc and Roussillon than there is in the Rhône valley, though it’s the latter region that claims the variety as its own, and more specifically the northern Rhône, where syrah reaches one its apogees.
Co-fermentation
Bits of winemaking stuff explained.
