LIGHTER SIDE 11 December 2020 11
THE LIGHTER SIDE OF BERNSTEIN
Stirling Wines: Gift ideas for the Wine-Lover and the Wine- Lover’s Lover
Trevor Stirling +44-207-170-5087 *protected email*
Some of you already know that one of the things I did before joining Bernstein was to run my own private-client wine merchant (Stirling Wines) and that I have a WSET Diploma (the pre-cursor qualification to Master of Wine). This is the latest in a very sporadic series of e-mails, musing on the world of wine, which I hope will be of interest, as well as some thoughts on wines to buy.
It’s that time of year again. Gift ideas which might be helpful to the wine lover – or indeed the wine lover’s lover. As the author sat down, it became clear the biggest challenge in writing this is that the classics are timeless. So apologies if there are repeats from last year.
Books
Books are a safe bet for the drinks nerd. But this year, let me start with the new books before highlighting the evergreens.
Strictly speaking, the first book is a new edition. Don’t be fooled by the Knackered Mother title. Helen McGinn used to be the Wine Buyer for Tesco and really knows her stuff. This is a fantastic unpretentious guide to the world of wine, whatever your gender.
EXHIBIT 1: The Knackered Mother’s Wine Guide
Source: Amazon
Analyst Page
Disclaimer – Not a Research Report
One that I have not read yet, but it’s getting great reviews is Noble Rot. According to Tim Hayward of the FT: “An entirely new sort of wine book, devoid of stuffiness and presented in what I can only describe as ‘haute fanzine’ style. Incredibly informative, slays quite a few holy cows and, in the very best way, will drive you to drink”
EXHIBIT 2: Noble Rot
Source: Amazon
Another one I have not read but on my wish list this Christmas is Oz Clarke’s English Wine (Exhibit 3). Oz is a prolific, entertaining and easy-to-read wine educator but no light-weight. The subject matter is likely of local UK interest. But for anyone who is interested in the ‘world’s newest fine wine region’ (at least for sparkling wines, see below) , it promises to be an informative read.
EXHIBIT 3: Oz Clarke’s English Wine
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EXHIBIT 5: The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste
Source: Amazon
My next book is a little dry (no pun intended), if you sit down to read it cover-to-cover; but it’s a cracking refence book. The Wines of Northern Spain (Exhibit 4) by Sarah Jane Evans. If you want to know the difference between Garnacha and Graciano or delve into a catalogue of the greatest wines of Ribera del Duero, this one’s for you.
EXHIBIT 4: The Wines of Northern Spain
Source: Amazon
Sticking to the theme of Atlases, if like me you have fallen in love with German wine, the Wine Atlas of Germany (Exhibit 6) is a must buy. As you would expect, lots of detailed maps, lovely scenic photography and list of the major vineyards in each sub- region, critical to understanding fine German wine.
EXHIBIT 6: Wine Atlas of Germany
Source: Amazon
A book with a more North American slant at least in terms of authorship is The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste (Exhibit 5). This is a book I have bought but not yet got round to reading. Here’s hoping for a few hours break between Christmas and New Year. Rajat Parr is a famous US sommelier and Jordan Mackay a noted food and wine writer. They set out to describe, region-by-region, how the great wines of Europe should taste (a big ask). It should be fascinating reading for any prospective MWs.
Source: Amazon
Final one of the new books, another one for the nerds. Jamie Goode is probably the best wine ‘scientist’ writer. A few years ago, I featured his Wine Science: The Application of Science in Winemaking. This year, Flawless: Understanding Faults in Wine (Exhibit 7) is dedicated to exploring the main causes of faults in wine. This was a New York Times Best Wine Book of 2018.
Source: Amazon
And now the classics. The mother of all wine atlases is the 8th edition of the World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson. With over 400 pages and 200 maps, it has sold almost 5 million copies since the first edition was published in 1971 (Exhibit 8).
EXHIBIT 8: World Atlas of Wine
EXHIBIT 9: Wine Grapes
Source: Amazon
The gold standard reference book remains The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson, now in its 4th edition. Don’t be put off by the rather English title ‘Companion’, this is the closest the wine world gets to an encyclopaedia (Exhibit 10).
EXHIBIT 10: The Oxford Companion to Wine
Source: Amazon
There is also Hugh Johnson’s invaluable Pocket Wine Book, a wealth of useful detail packed into a really convenient format, one I buy every year, and a snip at £9 (Exhibit 11).
Source: Amazon
For the uber-nerdy would-be ampelographer, there is also Jancis Robinson’s massive 1,220 page tome called “Wine Grapes: A complete guide to 1,368 vine varieties, including their origins and flavours” (Exhibit 9). Be warned, it is very heavy in every sense.
EUROPEAN BEVERAGES
EXHIBIT 11: Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book
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EXHIBIT 13: The Drunken Botanist
Source: Amazon
Continuing the theme of nerdy wine reads, one of my favourites is Uncorked by Gérard Liger-Belair (Exhibit 12). Ever wondered why a flute is better for champagne than a coupe (though according to some a glass is better, see below), or why do the bubbles get finer and smaller the more the champagne ages? This is the book for you. The science is impeccable but the book is still very readable
EXHIBIT 12: Uncorked – the Science of Champagne
Source: Amazon
Decanters, glasses, cork-removers and other gadgets
I have a particular weakness for decanters. Not everyone agrees; but I think that virtually all wines (except very delicate old flowers) benefit from some decanting; and for most high-class reds, it’s almost criminal not to. There are loads of pretty decanters which are functionally useless. My personal favourites come from the firm of Riedel (www.riedel.com ) who for me get the mix of aesthetics and functionality just right. I haven’t tried their Tyrol but it gets great reviews (Exhibit 14).
EXHIBIT 14: Riedel’s Tyrol
Source: Amazon
Finally, the UK may be on the edge of peak gin but The Drunken Botanist remains a cracking good read. This quirky guide explains the chemistry and botanical history of over 150 plants, trees, flowers and fruits, showing how they form the bases of our favourite cocktails (Exhibit 13).
Source: Riedel
However, they are very expensive. For those who have access, Riedel glassware is much cheaper in Germany. A great German on-line store with frequent discounts is www.porzellantreff.de who ship worldwide (e.g. €22 to the UK). For example, the Riedel Tyrol above costs £495 at list price in the UK but is only €275 on Porzellantreff, almost half price.
For even better value-for-money, I found this on Amazon. The ‘Smaier decanter’ (Exhibit 15), a look alike of Riedel’s Vinum
Amadeo (which has a list price of £396) for only £33! Too good to be true? Maybe. But at that price, it has to be worth a punt.
EXHIBIT 15: A look alike of Riedel’s Vinum Amadeo for £33
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type. The original lever action models are now branded Le Creuset; they are not cheap but they are efficient and easy to use (Exhibit17). Ontheotherhand,theJohnLewislookalikeisless than half the price and every bit as good!
EXHIBIT 17: Lever action corkscrew
Source: Amazon
Say champagne glass, and people tend to either think of a flute or a saucer (allegedly modelled on the left breast of the French Queen Marie Antoinette). However, these days Champagne experts prefer something much closer to a classic glass shape, as saucers let the bubbles dissipate too quickly, and flutes retain the bubbles but don’t have space for aromas to develop. I am almost as nerdy about glasses as books and took the plunge, buying some Riedel champagne glasses. If you like vintage champagne, they are definitely worth the money and the cupboard space.
EXHIBIT 16: Riedel Vinum Champagne
Source: Company images
Another useful contraption is the Butler’s Friend (so called because it reputedly allowed the staff to remove a cork, have a swig from the bottle and then replace the cork), known in the USA as an Ah-So. It works by inserting two prongs on either side of the cork and then removing it with a combined twist and pull. It takes a bit of practice to master the technique but is invaluable for old crumbly cork (Exhibit 18).
EXHIBIT 18: Butler’s Friend
Source: Company images
A related gadget that intrigues me but which I have not yet tried combines the corkscrew and the Butler’s Friend, and is called the The Durand. Hoping that Santa is reading!
Company images
Corkscrews are an object of obsession for some collectors but for me are strictly functional. My favourites are the Screwpull
EUROPEAN BEVERAGES
EXHIBIT 19: Durand Corkscrew
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Source: Company images
Another gadget that I use a lot is an aerator. Lots of different companies make these devices (Exhibit 20), which are very effective at speed aeration. They are invaluable if you forgot to decant a wine well in advance or simply if you want to drink a youthful wine but not be assaulted by the tannins.
EXHIBIT 20: Wine aerator
EXHIBIT 21: Coravin
Source: Company images
A Wine Course
It was Alexander Pope who first said that “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. COVID has restricted our ability to get together. However, once the vaccine is rolled out and near normality returns, book yourself on a course for 2021. Probably the best place to start is one of the courses administered by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust www.wset.co.uk . They offer a ladder of courses, combining theory and tasting, ranging from an 8-evening introduction to a two year semi-full-time Diploma. And there is a similar ladder of courses covering the world of spirits. The courses are offered right round the world but are slightly less common in the USA. For readers based in London, Berry Bros & Rudd run an introductory course using wines from their list to illustrate each region and variety. A good way to kill two birds with one stone BBR WSET.
Source: Amazon
Perhaps the biggest innovation in wine gadgets in recent years has been the Coravin system (Exhibit 21). A thin, hollow needle is inserted through the foil and cork into the bottle. The bottle is then pressurized with argon gas, which pushes wine back out through the needle and into the glass without letting any oxygen into the bottle. Once the needle is removed, argon is left in its place (hence no oxidation), the cork reseals itself and the remaining wine continues to naturally age as if it was never touched. Great for checking the maturity of wines which you are cellaring or extracting a class of fine wine without having to open the entire bottle (though I must admit, I am very bad at stopping at just one glass).
WINE
What would the holiday festivities be without good wine? Around the world, there are huge differences about what we are celebrating, should we be celebrating and what we should eat. However, this is one time of year for no half measures and bargain hunting is put to one side in favour of the tried-and- tested classics.
Bubbles
It’s hard to beat champagne as an apéritif, for me ideally a blanc de blancs (made 100% from chardonnay grapes) but I’m not fussy. You can’t go wrong with one of great family-owned Champagne houses, such as Bollinger, Pol Roger or Roederer (Exhibit 22)
EXHIBIT 22: Roederer NV
Source: Company images
At the Stirlings, we are lucky to know the UK importer of André Jacquart, and our house champagne is their Le Mesnil Experience (Exhibit 23), a blanc de blanc from grand cru vineyards around the famous village of Le Mesnil. Whilst the wine is an NV, it is from very old vines, aged for a minimum of five years. At approx £45 a bottle retail, it knocks the socks off other champagnes which sell for multiples of its price.
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EXHIBIT 23: André Jacquart, Le Mesnil Experience
Source: Company images
If you want to go another notch up in the world of bubbles, go for vintage champagne. Here the extra time in the bottle makes for finer bubbles and a nutty character. I am lucky enough to be able to lay down youngish wines on release until I think they are ready. And the highlight for me this COVID-blighted year was Pol Roger 2008 Blanc de Blancs that I laid down about five years ago. I can not sing the praises of this wine too highly, especially in those Riedel glasses (I should be on commission, joke, compliance!).
EXHIBIT 24: Vintage Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs
Source: Company images
If you’ve had a really, really, really, really good bonus, try Krug’s Clos d’Ambonnay for £1,900 per bottle (Exhibit 25) and let me know what you think.
EXHIBIT 25: Krug’s d’Ambonnay
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English sparkling wine has moved on enormously in terms of quality and reputation but is still largely unknown outside the UK. Nyetimber (Exhibit 26) is arguably the benchmark pioneer. I have great memories of serving it blind at my first ever Bernstein wine- tasting, when it completely bamboozled the audience; and the trick worked again last year in Milan. Sadly, no Bernstein wine- tastings this year ☹.
EXHIBIT 26: Nyetimber
EXHIBIT 27: Langham
Source: Company images
If you are having a UK-style meal with turkey, either Pinot noir or another tasty light red or a full-bodied white wine such as Chardonnay are safe bets.
Full-bodied whites
For chardonnay, go for a more opulent style, more Meursault than Chablis. From Meursault, try a premier cru from Boillot or one of the big names. Further up-scale is Corton Charlemagne. Wine snobs often look down their noses at negociant wines; but for my money Louis Latour’s Corton Charlemagne is by no means cheap at £90 per bottle but still good value for money. At the top of the white Burgundy heap are the Montrachets such as the inelegantly named Bâtard Montrachet (insert an ‘s’ and you get the English translation) or at the very top of the tree Le Montrachet.
As a new world alternative, go for something from the cooler climate parts of California (e.g. Saintsbury in Carneros or Santa Barbera); both regions are cooled by ocean fogs to make surprisingly refreshing wines. Last year, I featured Fess Parker from Santa Barbara. This year, I am going further up the West Coast to Oregon. Lemelson’s Reserve Chardonnay (Exhibit 28) is a real stunner. Full bodied, buttery but not oaky, packed with flavour but still with a strong backbone of acidity. They also do a top-notch Pinot Noir – Thea’s selection.
Source: Company images
I haven’t tasted the wine yet but Dorset wine maker, Langham Wine Estate (Exhibit 27) has just won the International Wine & Spirit Competition Sparkling Wine Producer of the Year 2020, beating all the major champagne houses.
EXHIBIT 28: Lemelson Reserve Chardonnay
11 December 2020
Source: Company images
But why stick to chardonnay; there are many other full-bodied but crisp alternatives. The Northern Rhône is best known for its red wines from the Syrah grape. But the region also makes excellent whites from the Marsanne and Roussanne grapes. Another bargain is made by JL Chave; his red Hermitage sells for hundreds of $s a bottle but his white St Joseph is typically closer to $30 (Exhibit 29).
EXHIBIT 29: St Joseph Blanc
Source: Company images
Regular readers will know that I have wittered on ad nauseam about the quality and value for money of German wines. This year, my annual wine-tasting tour of Germany had to be cancelled due to COVID (fingers crossed for 2021, Martin). However, I am still drinking the gems we discovered last year in
Franconia. This region lies around the city of Würzburg, on the river Main, half way between Frankfurt and Nuremberg. The traditional bottle shape here is the very distinctive bocksbeutel, (the same shape as Mateus rosé for any silver-haired British readers). Riesling is widely planted but the traditional star grape is Silvaner. The names can be off-putting but if you get a chance, try the excellent Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner Grosses Gewächs (Exhibit 30). Translated into English, this is a grand cru wine from the Silvaner grape, made by Hans Wirsching in the village of Iphofen, with grapes from a hillside vineyard named after a Prince-Bishop of Würzburg called Julius Echter. No wonder these wines are difficult to find outside Germany. But don’t be fooled, these are truly top notch wines, the match of any fine burgundy, eulogized by Jancis Robinson and served in Lufthansa First Class. Just a pity they don’t fit in conventional wine racks.
EXHIBIT 30: Wirsching Iphöfer Julius-Echter-Berg Silvaner Grosses Gewächs
Source: Company images
In previous editions, I have also sung the praises of the Chenin Blanc grape, be it from its spiritual heartland in the Loire valley or its second home in South Africa. However, this time round, I want to return to northern Spain, to Galicia and the Godello grape.
This grape is a bit like Chenin; at its best, it has that magnificent combination of round generous body and zinging acidity. Its home territory is the region of Valdeorras; but it’s on its way to over-taking the better known Albariño as Galicia’s most planted white grape. Try a wine from Valdesil, Telmo Rodriguez or Rafael Palacios, who makes what is arguably Spain’s best white wine O Soro (Exhibit 31) at well over €150 per bottle. However, all three also make superb wines at around the $20 mark.
EXHIBIT 31: Rafael Palacios’ O Soro
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Source: Company images
Medium-bodied reds
The classic medium-bodied red is Pinot noir from Burgundy the home of this temperamental grape. Good Burgundy is not cheap; but rather than plumping for the big name grand crus, try a premier cru or even a ‘villages vielles vignes’ from one of the top producers on the Côte de Nuits such as Roumier in Musigny, Domaine Leroy in Vosne Romanée (Exhibit 32), Chevillon or Gouges in Nuits St Georges
EXHIBIT 32: Leroy Bourgogne Rouge
Source: Company images
California has cooler climate areas to the north of San Francisco, such as Russian River valley and Sonoma; however, the prices of the wines are often stratospheric. In my view the wines of Calera (Exhibit 34) are less well known but every bit as good. The core of the estate is near Mt. Harlan, 100 miles south of San Francisco in San Benito County. Its elevation at 2,200 feet above sea level makes it one of the highest and coolest vineyard properties in California. As well as the estate wine, Calera make a brilliant ‘Central Coast’ wine from bought in grapes.
EXHIBIT 34: Calera
EXHIBIT 33: German Spätburgunder a.k.a. Pinot Noir
Source: Company images
Staying in the Old World, Germany is also becoming a source of really high quality Pinot noirs. Yes, Germany, where Pinot noir is typically called Spätburgunder; and for many years, they were typically weedy, bitter and unripe. However, a combination of global warming and a new generation of wine makers has workedwonders. MyhousePinotisstillfromMartinWaßmerin Baden (Exhibit 33), in the warm South West corner of Germany, a wonderfully velvet full-bodied wine.
Source: Company images
For a toothsome, alternative to pinot noir, try a Barbera from Piedmont in Italy. Barbera is the ‘everyday’ red grape of Piedmont, high in acidity and flavour but low in tannin. As such, it makes for a perfect marriage with new oak to create really savoury, fruity, medium-bodied wine. There are many excellent Barberas from the regions of Asti and Alba, that represent very good value for money and are widely available. If you can, go for something with approx 5 years bottle age, ideally from 2010 or
2015. One of my favourites is from one of the best of the new generation of producers – Enzo Boglietti (Exhibit 35).
EXHIBIT 35: Barbera d’Alba
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Source: Company images
My only wine trip this year was a furtive few days in Sicily before the second lockdown in October. But we had a truly spectacular trip/tasting on the northern slopes of Mount Etna at Tenuta delle Terre Nere (Exhibit 36). The vineyards here are up to 1000m high, with the snow-covered peak of Etna a constant presence. They make wonderfully refined red wines from the Nerello Mascalese grape. Etna Rosso is often described as the Burgundy of Sicily; but be patient, the good stuff takes at least 5 years until it is ready for drinking and the great stuff 10 years. If you can get hold of an aged example, they have the same forest- floor character as old burgundy and a perfect match to turkey, especially with a mushroom stuffing.
EXHIBIT 36: Tenuta delle Terre Nere
Source: Company images
Full-bodied Reds
If you’re having a more full-bodied meal than turkey (such as pheasant), it’s hard to beat a Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The First Growth Bordeaux wines now sell for stratospheric prices. But there is good value to be had amongst 5th growths such as Haut Bages Libéral (situated next to Chateau Latour) or Batailley (Exhibit 38). I have just cracked open a case of the 2000, which is drinking beautifully.
EXHIBIT 38: Château Batailley
Estève d’Uchaux (Exhibit 37), whose top wines benefit from 6-8 years of bottles age, or more.
EXHIBIT 37: St Estève d’Uchaux
Source: Company images
If you are looking for another red wine to savour with the turkey, try a top-of-the range Côtes du Rhône, with decent bottle age. Côtes du Rhône is a vast appellation, often making very average wines. However, the best areas have their own village appellations, such as Cairanne, Rasteau or the much more obscure Massif d’Uchaux. Here one finds growers such as St
Source: Company images
Another good source of value is the sister châteaux of the great names. The same team that manage Lafite Rothschild also oversee 4th growth Duhart Milon (Exhibit 39).
EXHIBIT 39: Château Duhart-Milon
Source: Company images
And 5th growth Château Clerc Milon (Exhibit 40) is part of the same family as Mouton-Rothschild and just across the road from Lafite Rothschild.
EXHIBIT 40: Château Clerc Milon
Source: Company images
In previous Stirling Wines, I have featured Brunello di Montalcino which are great wines but becoming a bit pricey. For better value for money, try Chianti Classico Riserva. These wines are viewed as a bit naff by those who remember the straw-covered fiasco which adorned many a student’s room in prior decades as an impromptu candle-holder. However, the best wines are a match for anything from the trendier parts of Tuscany. Wine Enthusiast recently highlighted Castello di Volpaia Riserva 2016 (Exhibit 41) at around $35 and the widely available Villa Antinori Riserva at the same price. If you can find one that’s 10 years old from say 2008, even better.
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EXHIBIT 41: Castello di Volpaia Riserva
Source: Company images
If you want something slightly lighter-bodied and easier on the wallet, try cool-climate syrah. In previous editions, I highlighted New Zealand. This year, it’s time to revert to one of the old world classics Côte Rôtie (Exhibit 42). Côte Rôtie is the Yin to its more famous neighbour Hermitage’s Yang. Côte Rôtie is typically only 90% syrah, co-fermented with 10% of white viognier, to give a softer smother, more velvety wine. Don’t get me wrong; this is still a full-bodied red, but with more than a touch of elegance. If you can find an example with at least 10 years bottle age, try Rene Rostaing’s Côte Rôtie, ideally the Côte Blonde.
EXHIBIT 42: Rene Rostaing’s Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde
Source: Company images
Still on the track of cool climate syrah, try Boekenhoutskloof Syrah (Exhibit 43). South African wine-makers for many years used Bordeaux as their benchmark. But for me, most of the Cape winelands (but not all) are too warm to ape Bordeaux, follow the Rhone instead. One of the first wine- makers to take this path was Mark Kent of Boekenhoutskloof. \
EXHIBIT 43: Boekenhoutskloof Syrah
Source: Company images
Dessert wines
The next few wines are unchanged from last year – they are timeless.
The classic wine to serve with dessert is Sauternes, and a very fine wine it is. However, for something a little different, venture off the beaten track. There are fantastic sweet wines from elsewhereinFrance. Oneofmyfavouritestompinggroundsis the Loire valley, or rather along the banks of the smaller tributaries of Loire, where the autumnal mists create the perfect conditions for botrytis wine. Appellations to look out for are Bonnezeaux, Quarts de Chaume and Coteaux de Layon. Château de Fesles (Exhibit 44) is one of the bigger, more widely available properties in Bonnezeaux.
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EXHIBIT 44: Château de Fesles
Source: Company images
Elsewhere in Europe, the sweet wines of Austria are undervalued by everyone except the Austrians. For my money, some of the best of these wines come from Alois Kracher, who produces wines near the Hungarian border. Here the mists that rise from the Neusiedlersee give the perfect environment for the botrytis mould which creates luscious dessert wines that won’t break the bank (Exhibit 45).
EXHIBIT 45: Kracher
Source: Company images
Tokaji from Hungary is also a fantastic source of dessert wines. To my mind, István Szepsy makes the best wines in the country; in the words of Jancis Robinson “I do feel the word genius is not too hyperbolic a word to describe the modest Mr Szepsy”. His wines are not cheap but you can find his Tokaji Szamorodni (Exhibit 46) for roughly £50 per bottle.
EXHIBIT 46: Szepsy Tokaji Szamorodni
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Source: Company images
Outside Europe, Australia’s De Bortoli make an exquisite Semillon-based botrytis wine Noble One. Many of our readers will never have heard of UK food retail chain Morrisons, unless they followed Bruno Monteyne when he covered European Food Retail. However, Morrisons stock one of the most amazing bargains of the botrytis world – a half-bottle of own-label botrytis wine produced by De Bortoli for £6 (Exhibit 47) – I kid you not, even if the label is unlikely to win design awards.
EXHIBIT 47: Morrisons The Best Bortytis Semillon
suited to a dessert. The two classics are Banyuls (made on the coast just north of the Spanish border) and Maury (Exhibit 48).
EXHIBIT 48: Maury 1928 Solera
Source: Company images
Digestif
And to finish, something to help the digestion. There are some good Late Bottled Vintage (LBV) ports for £10+ or 10yr Tawnys at just under £20. However, I think it’s worth shelling out a little bit more and going for a gorgeously rich nutty 20yr old Tawny such as Taylor’s (Exhibit 49), £35-£40.
Source: Morrisons
Finally, if you are having a chocolate dessert, try a fortified red from Roussillon in Southern France. These wines are made in the same way as port is made but are slightly less tannic and better
EXHIBIT 49: Taylor’s 20yr Tawny
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Source: Company images
If you prefer your port juicy and fruity, roll out the barrel and go for a tasty vintage. Perhaps the best value at present is single vintage ‘quinta’ wines from lesser known years. Good examples include Graham’s Quinta dos Malvedos and Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas (Exhibit 50).
EXHIBIT 50: Taylor’s Quinta de Vargellas
EXHIBIT 51: Cockburn’s Vintage Port
Source: Company images
Source: Company images
Higher up the scale try something like Cockburn’s 1994 (Exhibit 51), £50 per bottle on Wine Searcher. Still an absolute snip compared to an equivalent Bordeaux or Burgundy.
DISCLAIMER: NOT A RESEARCH REPORT
This does not contain an analysis of any securities of individual companies or industries and does not provide information reasonably sufficient upon which to base an investment decision. Therefore, this opinion piece is not a Bernstein research report. Instead, the views expressed herein represent the personal opinion of the author regarding the products discussed herein. Any reliance upon any opinion, advice, statement or other information in this opinion piece is at your sole risk. To the extent there is any pricing information provided, the prices are only as of the date of the opinion piece and are not intended to represent any survey of market price. Prior to purchasing any third party product discussed in this opinion piece, you are advised to verify pricing and other information.