Filed under: AVIN

The EWBC in action ... in my glass

One of my favourite memories of the EWBC this year was when we put our collective palates on the line to learn about Austrian wines, taste a range of different bottles, then select a favourite (albeit slightly unscientifically).

The best bit was that this selection had an IMMEDIATE, practical effect, because the winning wine not only got our vote and our thanks, but also gained a retail listing in the UK with Naked Wines.

This was the knowledge and influence of bloggers IN ACTION. It delivered an actual bottle of wine to my table - the most tangible way of giving value to consumers, retailers and producers that there is.

So, who won, and how was it?

The winning wine was the Gemischter Satz Nussberg Classic 2009 by Gerhard Lobner from Weingut Mayer am Pfarrplatz as chosen by the 200 wine bloggers assembled in the Schonbrunn Castle in Vienna.

When I got back home I immediately bought my 'Advance Purchase' pack of this wine to be delivered before Christmas, which, I am happy to say, they achieved with 4 days to spare.

My thoughts, as shared on the site, were:

Gemischter Satz Nussberg Classic 2009
produced by Gerhard Lobner in Vienna, Austria
Note: Glad we chose this wine at the EWBC in Vienna in October. It is something a little different from the usual.

It has a very pleasant, easy drinking tropical fruit style that still doesn't stray too far from the kind of elegant, complex, slightly spicy style of white wine that one associates with the single varietal wines of Austria such as Gruner Veltliner.

The ripe fruit finishes brightly with a lovely mineral freshness. A field blend (Gemischter Satz) offers something distinctive in this variety-obsessed wine market, and to achieve this sort of quality for this price, from a vineyard within the city-limits of a European capital, is something truly unique and definitely worth exploring.
Rating: 4 (in 5)
(Tasted on December 21, 2010)

Tasting: Barbazul 2008

I bought this wine as part of a mixed case from Flagship Wines. I asked them to send me "something different" and this was one of their interesting choices - right on the money.

It cost just over £10, so a fair amount for proper experimentation, and its main grape is Tintilla de Rota which I gather is a local variant of Rioja's Graciano grape, so again a little unusual but relevant to me in particular.

Do check this wine out!

Barbazul 2008
produced by Huerta de Albalá in Cadiz, Spain
Note: Dark fruit (is it cassis?) but also a hint of something vegetal & animal on the nose, and a noticeable spirity quality - it shows its alcohol! The wine is bright and medium bodied, combining that blackcurrant with some sharper red currant and later opened up to show some rose petal/flowery notes, but again the alcohol seems to show up like a noisy guest in an otherwise very civilized party.

It's a party that finishes with a pleasant, warm glow but also slightly haunting memories of those vegetal notes and even a hint of menthol.

A good wine, something different to explore, but probably needs to age a bit and be drunk in the right circumstances, slightly cooler than I had it.
(Tasted on September 6, 2010)

 

 

Tasting: The Joshua, 2008 - from @TeusnerWine

The Joshua 2008
produced by Teusner Wines in Barossa Valley, Australia,
Note: Amazingly rich, jammy, raspberry and strawberry nose with a tickling of black pepper, which then blossoms in the mouth, like supping on a deliciously smooth, slightly tart, raspberry coulis seasoned with crushed black pepper. Delicious, moreish and full bodied. This wine is very young and I look forward to see how it develops over the years - if I can hold on to my remaining bottles.
(Tasted on September 3, 2010)

Tasting: La Gramiere 2007

I've started posting some tasting notes again as I have been meaning to do for ages. I'm hoping this will go automatically in future, but here's last night's post:

La Gramière 2007
produced by Domaine de La Gramiere in Cotes du Rhone Villages region, France
Note: Looks young, with purple, red fruit in the glass, and the nose is dark and brooding. However, the first taste was bright - like a blast of cherry flavoured lifesavers, followed by a dusting of soft, ripe tannins and deliciously tart berry flavours. Still young, but vibrant and alive. A great tipple
Food pairing: lightly grilled lamb
(Tasted on August 29, 2010)