ARSE 2: The Wines

from [Spittoon] Full Postings

What I have to ask is what exactly DID I do during the ARSE 2 tasting/picnic? I served the wine, unveiled the hidden wines to the sounds of tuts and "I told you so's", and nibbled a bit of the food. I must have been enjoying myself too much as I didn't take a video as planned and I certainly didn't get to sample all the wines!

For those interested in seeing what was available (or what you missed if you didn't make it) here is the full list:

Wines generously supplied by Bordeaux Undiscovered

The Sparklers
Champagne Barnaut Secondé-Collard Blanc de Noirs Brut NV £17.49 (100% Pinot Noir)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
This proved the star of the tasting if the conversation was anything to go by, but also view the mentions on Gastonomy Domaine "a lovely toasty nose and a crazily low price" and Wine Woman Song "has the nose of a much more expensive Champagne".

Adam Crémant d'Alsace Chardonnay Extra Brut NV £12.99 (100% Chardonnay)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
This I slipped on while nibbling on the canapés; all seemed divine.

The Rosés
Chateau Ballan-Larquette Bordeaux Clairet 2008 £6.83 (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
Totally flummoxed most when served blind...

Chateau Roques Mauriac Rosé 2005 £6.84 (Merlot 60%, Cabernet Franc 40%)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]

The Whites
Chateau Laures Bordeaux Blanc, 2006, Entre Deux Mers £7.25 (60% Semillon, 30% Sauvignon Blanc, 10% Muscadelle)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
Fleur de Luze, Bordeaux 2007 £6.15 (100% Sauvignon Blanc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
This I enjoyed a few months ago as a great accompaniment to Scampi with Tartare Sauce - every bit as fresh and delicious now.

The Reds
Chateau Bel Air, Bordeaux Superieur, 2007 £7.10 (50% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]
Chateau Peynaud Bordeaux Superieur, 2008 £7.56 (50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc)
[Bordeaux Undiscovered/Adegga/Snooth]

Wines from Hardys
Supplied by Frank Pr
Hardys Varietal Range Pinot Grigio 2009, South East Australia 11%
Hardys Nottage Hill FreshCase Cabernet Shiraz 2008 South East Australia, 13.5%
Those on twitter may have spotted a photo of The Wine Sleuth grasping hold of this environmentally friendly case on the Chiltern Line train back to Marylebone.. says a lot about the quality of the wine as old Sleuthy has very exacting standards when it comes to wine!

Wines Purchased

Henschke Henry's Seven, 2006, Eden Valley, Barossa, Australia £17.99 Waitrose (75% Shiraz, 15% Grenache, 8% Viognier, 2% Mourvèdre)
[Adegga/Snooth]
Didn't even get a snifter of this - plenty pointed out how good it was mind! Don't you just hate that - someone with a mouthful tapping the empty bottle and nodding enthusiastically!?

Tomàs Cusiné Auzells, 2008, Costers del Segre, Spain £14.49 Oddbins (32% Macabeu, 19% Sauvignon Blanc, 16% Parellada, 10% Viognier, 8% Chardonnay, 8% Müller Thurgau, 3% Muscat, 2% Riesling, 1% Albariño and 1% Roussanne) Lees tank "batonage" and 10% fermented in French oak barrels. Alcohol 12%.
[Adegga/Snooth]
A question - does 1% of anything actually make a damn bit of difference to any wine? I really enjoyed this, if only for the interesting mix angle. Textural and fresh.

Doña Paula Series Naked Pulp Viognier, 2008, Mendoza, Argentina £12.99 Oddbins (100% Viognier) 8g/l Residual sugar Alcohol 14.5% 8 months in new French oak.
[Adegga/Snooth]
Rather rich and mouthfilling. A glorious joy; if perhaps a touch too rich to enjoy with food.

Bellbird Spring Home Block White, 2008, Waipara, New Zealand £18.99 Oddbins All four varieties (Pinot Gris majority, Riesling, Muscat, Gewürztraminer) grown in a one hectare parcel of vines. Residual Sugar 19.9g/l Alcohol 13%
[Adegga/Snooth]
High in residual (that's a little sweetness for the interested but non-wine-geek) but hardly noticeable. Bloody delicious.