Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Where to Start?

Recently led a talk on German and Austrian wines. It's a shame really, German and Austrian wines are the purest, cleanest wines on the planet, with regulatory bodies that ensure a high level of quality. But that isn't enough. The wines also tend to be on the sweeter side, and everyone these days wants dry.

Tried to explain that 'sweetness' is a broad term. For instance, the Kabinetts (table wine) from the Rhein are sweet sure, but fruity and floral, whereas whites from the Mosel are more on the petrol and perfume end. And both are considered sweet, but sweet in different ways.

Also, lower in alcohol. But that's OK. We drank twice as much.

The event was also attended by a dignitary from the German Embassy. If you're reading this Ingmar, thanks for coming. Never heard anyone wax so poetically on drinking Dornfelder as a young boy on the slopes of the Swiss Alps… actually never heard anyone talk about anything remotely like that. But, thanks for the speech.

He did, it should be mentioned, object to my use of the adjective 'petrol,' thinking it derogatory.

TIP: Trying to slow the blizzard of the winter bulge? Try mixing one part mayo with two parts yoghurt for a creamy, low-fat sandwich spread. Wife's tip, but will say it's mine, cause she never bothers to read my work... and none of you will ever know (insert fiendish laughter).

Decanter magazine declared the 2005 Castillero del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile the best value Cabernet… and they're right. For around $6, the ripe fruit and easy going nature of the wine make it perfect for the price. Snatch it up, there should be plenty to go around. 8.8

Monday, November 13, 2006

British Pride

First impression of London. At Victoria Station, around ten years ago. The man directing the queue for the taxi rank was wearing a suit and tie underneath his bright yellow, fluorescent striped jacket. What's to be learned? That the British have an unnatural fondness for wearing reflective clothing? Sure. But also that the suit and tie indicated a great level in pride of work. In the States, attitude would be the norm… a verbal slap-down for asking a simple question.

Not here. It's a matter of pride.

Talking to a caterer, and luckily, they were in the catering business. Otherwise, you're wasting your talent man! Trying to drum up some work. Need help brushing-up that wine list? Jacob is the man. They got someone of course, "who really knows…"

I doubt it.

The list was filled with the usual atrocity of Australians on the cheap end and French on the high end. The usual suspects from an industry full of people who seem more interested in appeasement than excitement. Where's that British pride? Stand up and say that people would like to be offered more.

Jack (see below) says we're not ready. Speaking of lesser-know wine country -- "People will turn their nose up, even if you tell them it is exactly what they're looking for."

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc should have a hint of gooseberry, as part of its 'flavour profile.' Had a supermarket version from Sainsbury's for £7. It was decent, hint of petrol in the nose. Lots of zip and tang, and really, really didn't go with my team losing at (American) football last weekend. New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 8.4; New Orleans Saints 6.3.

Went for a voice casting for a Sony PS2 game. Waited an hour. "They like everyone so much, so they're taking their time." Finally got in, read two lines. "Thank you, that is all."

Could use some of that British pride right about now.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

You Don't Know Jack

Jack works at the local Oddbins, selling wines. After the earlier blog, the search was on. Walked into the wine shop and Jack said that he was in the middle of a crossword, needed a badger-like creature for Seven Down. Native to North America. Nutria, Possum? Needed to be seven letters, third letter is an 's.'

No help from me.

Luckily Jack dealt with my question better. "What do you have that's different?"

A few seconds and a couple laps around the shop and Jack hands me a bottle of Adebengo from the Duero, made from Juan Garcia (grape). He is a clever bastard, Jack.

He knows about my show in the Duero, and Juan Garcia is seen as a blight on the local vines. You see, it lacks the international allure of Tempranillo. No one even seems to care about the origin of Juan Garcia. To find a place that makes Juan Garcia, and even exports it, is a treasure. It is typically a local grape and is being uprooted in favour of Tempranillo and French varietals, especially Cabernet and Merlot.

There is little room in today's competitive wine industry for a sassy, punk-ass wine grape that few people have heard of… especially a grape with a name that sounds more like a bandito on the run from La Migra, than one grown quietly in Spain's sleepy backwaters.

The wine is a bit tarry, and very earthy… a good example of how the earth renders flavour… that granite soil is there, in the wine, like a signature. The nose is full of blackberries and a touch of damp soil, like in a forest. The body is somewhat heavy, but overall the wines is very different and a joy to drink. A steal at around 8 pounds. 8.8 points.

Monday, November 06, 2006

In the Thick of it...


For a country that produces more than its fair share of wine writers, England fails to come through in terms of wine availability. Wines have been, and continue to be created, based on the British palate. But if there are no sales, wine producers -- and, namely, the handful of large drinks corporations behind 90 percent of the wines purchased in the western world -- will quickly pull the plug on the brands.

Let's face it, the average wine buyer is grappling with wine decisions, with the biggest factor being price. However, press releases herald the British palate as 'market savvy,' 'consumer confident' even, 'a force to be reckoned with'… yet if this palate were, in fact, so developed, there would be greater choice… it isn't as if we can't even tell the difference between gravel and gravy. Give us a break.

Budgens supermarket just opened a new branch near my neighbourhood. The wine section is well-lit and alluring. A place for serious wines. So, one may go and expect to get something really different, no? Say a Zwigelt from Austria? A Muller Thurgau from Germany? A wacky Dornfelder from the States?

Forget it. In fact, the choice of Australia wines, which all basically taste the same, bleed over into the 'GERMANY' section. Interestingly, there were no German wines. Wouldn't someone notice? Shameful.

However, there is one Israeli producer (that country makes great wines), one Greek producer, and one producer from Peru.

PERU? Nice.

Here's a lesson, according to the back label, apparently the 2005 Tacama Gran Tinto, made from a blend of Merot, Petit Verdot and Tannat which are picked from the first vineyards to ever produce wines in the Americas… back in 1540…. using French grapes? Now, this isn't a history blog, but…

A weak and flabby nose, with the odor of moldy blackberries and crushed tobacco. It isn't unpleasant, but then, it's not very good either. Tight and rubbery in the mouth with a burning finish. Certainly different and more exciting than drinking a Chilean Merlot or Argentinean Malbec, but for £8, a better version of either would be available. 7.8

Tell us about any 'different' wines at your wine stores. Don’t need to buy them, but let's see what choices we are being provided with. If the rest of the world's wine shelves are anything like the one's in my neighbourhood, then we still have a long way to go.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

My Blog?

Back from Spain. Went from Madrid, up to Salamanca and the Duero valley… over to Rioja and then up to Bilbao. Took a flight to Barcelona and hung around Penedes, where Cava, Spanish sparkling wine is produced. Spent the last two days in Madrid shooting the 'first' scene and the 'last' scene.

Got about 12 hours of high-definition digital video. Now we have to work it into four 30-minute episodes. Piece of cake. For me. The director is feeling the pinch though…

Sorry it's been more than a month. Appreciate the patience. Made this joke during the last night in Madrid. After stumbling through several attempts to order a few beers for the boys, the waitress promptly provided me with a plate of olives. Went back to the table, olives in hand, and the punch line went something like: "Madrid is alot like London… the person taking your order doesn't speak English!"

If you got that joke, congratulations, deep inside you are a Londoner.

The day before leaving, was sharing a sweet moment on the street with my two-year old daughter. She was trying to pet a kitten. Got verbally assaulted by a stranger. Threatened to smash my nose and generally beat me to a small whimper mass vaguely resembling a pulp before the cops came. Felt paranoid for the two weeks whilst on set, but my little girl brushed it off. She is a Londoner.

The day of my return, saw a man, drunk off 12 pints of lager, peeing in plain site, in front of a group of otherwise healthy, well-adjusted teenagers… his stream was slapping right on the outside wall of a porta-potty. That porta-potty is a Londoner.

Got an email from an old friend wanting wine advice, my favorite advice to give, on a botte to give as a gift to his father, who is remarrying, and normally doesn't drink. Missed my chance though, for a timely reply, cause of Spain. He wanted a white, not too dry, or a blush… my belated response:

I would have recommended a Reisling (grape) from the Mosel (region) in Germany, flinty and fresh, but not dry... or the more exotic Gruner Vetliner (grape) from anywhere in Austria... look for tell-tale hints of white pepper...

On the blush maybe a Tavel (region) Rose from France... but those tend to be on the dry side... Banrock Station makes a pretty crazy sparkling Shiraz from Australia...