White Wine appreciation & pictures thread

[PomBstard]

omniflow said:

For those of you who can't see beyond France, please try and stretch your horizons. There's a whole world of Wine out there (say's he who's listed mostly Californian wine). When in France, it's very hard to source anything that's not French. However, when you're in the UK it's extremely easy.

That last bit was true back in the 80s when I worked for the local branch of Peter Dominic (which had only just been rebranded from Arthur Cooper…)

By dint of not being a major wine producer the UK has/had a huge breadth of choice. I’m not sure that’s quite as true as it was now that the supermarkets have upped their games.

Compared to Australia though where every bottle shop used to be sectioned by grape variety, and then a section called “International” - it’s much better now, but people here often think of the relevant Aussie region for each grape without really appreciating regions in other countries (says he who has just posted a pic of a Clare Valley Riesling… )

[LooneyTunes]

PomBstard said:

Can confirm that 16yo Riesling is bloody lovely though

Riesling can take age very well indeed. It’s a massively under appreciated grape in the UK. I don’t think it’s helped by typically being not bone dry and Alsace/Germany/Austria being far from the easiest wine landscape to navigate.

I don’t drink vast amounts of white, but some of this years more agreeable ones have been 2008 GC Rieslings from Zind Humbrecht. They’re in a really good spot right now and opening a bottle has usually tuned in to opening two… also opened the first of my 2014 Zind Humbrecht Riesling Clos Windsbuhl with roast pork on Sunday and am looking forward to following that over the next decade or so.

Have never tried any aged new world rieslings. Probably should at some point.

Trouble is that there’s rarely aged Riesling available, irrespective of country of origin. People seem to buy and hold from release which means that many never experience them with age or, if they do, struggle to buy more. There’s a similar lack of love and availability for Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris, which is also a shame as some of these can be superb and can also develop significant complexity.

[PomBstard]

I don’t tend to buy aged wines - I buy wines and forget about them until they’re aged also got some 2010 and 2014 Grosset Polish Hill stashed somewhere too, as well as a couple of 2018 Gerwurt from Alsace.

I also rate Pinot Gris and Gerwurtz, esp from Alsace, as well as Hunter Semillon for something that can take a while to get better

[omniflow]

I too have had a few bottles of Pinot Gris that I really liked. However, google tells me that Pinot Gris is just an alternative name for Pinot Grigio - which does sound logical, but doesn't help explain why a bottle labelled Pinot Gris tastes much better than a bottle labelled Pinot Grigio.

Can anyone throw any light on this?

[andyA700]

omniflow said:

I too have had a few bottles of Pinot Gris that I really liked. However, google tells me that Pinot Gris is just an alternative name for Pinot Grigio - which does sound logical, but doesn't help explain why a bottle labelled Pinot Gris tastes much better than a bottle labelled Pinot Grigio.

Can anyone throw any light on this?

What the French would call "Terroir", a term which takes into account weather, soil type, location etc. Pinot Gris originated in Burgundy, Pinot Grigio in Lombardy, Veneto and Friulli. It is also down to the skill of the winemaker.

https://www.allrecipes.com/article/pinot-grigio-vs...

[Lotobear]

I wonder if this is sufficiently aged to crack open

I aso have a 1970 but unfortunately the cork has dried out so I suspect its buggered.

[LooneyTunes]

PomBstard said:

I don’t tend to buy aged wines - I buy wines and forget about them until they’re aged also got some 2010 and 2014 Grosset Polish Hill stashed somewhere too, as well as a couple of 2018 Gerwurt from Alsace.

Same for me, but every now and again I get offered something interesting. Several decades of buying, and most stored offsite, means I don't quite know what I've got.

Lotobear said:

I wonder if this is sufficiently aged to crack open

I aso have a 1970 but unfortunately the cork has dried out so I suspect its buggered.

Might just about be there... not had the 73, but have had a few other vintages. The 86 is my wine of the year so far. It you're concerned it might be off, I daresay there are plenty here would would be happy to risk it so that you don't have to...

This just arrived, after being slumbering in storage for the past decade and half. Have been working my way through other vintages but really looking forward to trying this one:


I have a major weakness for sweet whites but fortunately most people don't like them as it keeps the pricing a bit more reasonable.

[andyA700]

Lotobear said:

I wonder if this is sufficiently aged to crack open

I aso have a 1970 but unfortunately the cork has dried out so I suspect its buggered.

That is just showing off. If it has been stored correctly, I would think it will be amazing.

[Carl_VivaEspana]

thanks for the recommendations. it's been a bit quiet here on the white wine front for various reasons but we picked up a few bottles of this after being served it at a restaurant.

It's lovely stuff and at 9 euros a bottle it's about half the price of a bottle of Yaiza. It passed the sulphite nose test akin to a much more expensive bottle .

[Lotobear]

I bought 12 bottles of 2019 Condrieu from Aldi earlier this year - another steal at £9.99/bottle (on top of the Pomerol).

Speaking of ageing whites, it has improved markedly in the last 9 or so months. It's heavy for a white at 14.5% but has dried somewhat since I first tried it and developed into a really lovely wine that hides it's alcohol rather well.

[Regbuser]

These two have been giving a lot of enjoyment over the festive period



The one on the left is a sublime disappearing cloud on the palate, and the one on the right is very good, especially at the heavily discounted pre-Xmas price of £20.
Is the one on the left 5 x better than the right, hmmm..

[Carl_VivaEspana]

It's a slippery slope.....

[PomBstard]

Here’s a curio for the thread…




Vernaccia di Oristano is technically a fortified wine but despite appearances and fruity, nutty aromas, is bone-dry. It’s from Sardinia, and we had it as part of a degustation at a local Sardinian restaurant, served about halfway through the meal.

Not to everyone’s tastes, it weighs in at 15.5% and it’s reminiscent of Sherry, but worth a try for something different. It’s also the first time I’ve been moved to find a bottle I’ve tried in a restaurant - was exactly this one.

[ettore]

LooneyTunes said:

Might just about be there... not had the 73, but have had a few other vintages. The 86 is my wine of the year so far. It you're concerned it might be off, I daresay there are plenty here would would be happy to risk it so that you don't have to...

This just arrived, after being slumbering in storage for the past decade and half. Have been working my way through other vintages but really looking forward to trying this one:


I have a major weakness for sweet whites but fortunately most people don't like them as it keeps the pricing a bit more reasonable.

How did you get on with your Klein Constantia? A personal fave but becoming more troublesome to procure!

[LooneyTunes]

ettore said:

How did you get on with your Klein Constantia? A personal fave but becoming more troublesome to procure!

It does seem to have been subject to a bit of a populatity revival of late, but fortunately I've still got a few tucked away from when they were easier to find (and cheaper!).

I seem to have consumed mainly Port with cheese/desserts over Christmas and, when I went to grab one these, got side-tracked by some some VT that had also recently arrived (2005 Z-H Gewurztraminer Clos Windsbuhl VT), so your note was a useful reminder that I needed to try it so picked up a decent slab of cheese in anticipation.

I did give a bottle to friends who are also into wine: their resolve lasted approx 24hrs! (they reported back that they rather liked it)