This week Don's chosen two wine's of the week, one white and one red:
White Wine of the Week: Wohlmuth, Pinot Gris, Styria, Austria 2009.
Austria is just across the border from Italy and has similar climatic conditions. however the Austrian wine scandal of 1985 destroyed the market for Austrian wines, but ultimately forced them to tackle low standards and reposition themselves as a quality producer.
Wohlmuth are one of the world’s top producers and this wine is full-bodied wine than the previous one, it is crisply fruited with aromas of grapefruit and apples and a long finish. It rates a 1.5 on my dryness scale and is perfectly suited to Chicken and Seafood dishes
Red Wine of the Week: Pinot Noir, Alto Pampas, Argentina 2009
Red Burgundy can only ever made from Pinot Noir and commands some very high prices, however the grape is fast becoming an international variety and is being grown in many other countries, apart from France. However do not expect bargain Burgundy, as the ones that are cheap usually taste so, and the good ones from area like Central Otago in New Zealand and the Napa Valley in California can easily equal Burgundy prices.
In our quest for a reasonably priced Pinot Noir we have tasted close to 100 different wines and this is by far and away the best one. Aromas of bay and thyme give way to strawberry and redcurrant flavours; this is a soft young wine suitable for immediate drinking with Lamb shanks or casseroles and rates a B on my red wine scale, where A is light and fruity and E is big dark and heavy.
Don Rutherford owns and manages Bradley’s Wine Bar & Restaurant who source fine wines from around the World that will not be found in the supermarkets. For more information, Don can be contacted on 01553 621309.
