Tasted 24th May 2011

England

Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010 Sussex, England 11.99
100% Pinot Noir grapes from the Bolney Wine Estate at the 39 acre Bookers Vineyard in the heart of rural Sussex. The grapes were warm
fermented to aid colour, flavour and tannin extraction for 3 days, then the juice pressed from the skins and ferment completed at a
cooler temperature with a slower more gentle finish. Aged for 6 weeks in 2 year old oak barrels (75% French and 25% American oak)
and full malolactic. Winemaker Sam Linter. Alc 12.85%, TA 4.5g/l, pH 3.61. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 16 branches.
The very palest colour. Like a Spanish Rosado. Light, fresh, cherry nose. Very light taste indeed, with a slight sparkle. Blind, I’d think this was a rosé. It’s pleasant, actually, but realistically, it’s rosé.

Romania

La Umbra Merlot 2009 Dealurile Munteniei, Romania 5.99
Buyer’s Highlight- New to the range and exclusive to Waitrose, this is a fruit-packed Merlot made from hand-picked grapes grown in
the foothills of the Carpathian mountains. It really shows the quality and modern style winemakers are now achieving in Romania.
100% Merlot from young vines which were planted in 2006 on chalky soils, interspersed with marine fossils. The vines enjoy a sunny
exposition on south, south-east facing slopes in the foothills of the Carpathian mountains. The days are warm and nights are cool in this
region, which lies at the same latitude as Piedmont in Italy. The grapes were hand-harvested in October 2009, overseen by two winemakers:
Lorena Deaconu, a native Romanian; and Italian consultant winemaker Fiorenzo Rista. The fruit was macerated and fermented at 28°C for
10 days. Alc 14.0%, TA 5.17, pH 3.6, RS 7.44g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 238 branches.
Refreshing cherry on the nose. Bright and fresh taste with a touc of oak on the finish. Good. Wouldn’t necessarily guess it was Merlot, but it’s very appealing.

Bulgaria

Enira 2007 Thracian Lowlands, Bulgaria 9.99
80% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Syrah from the Bessa Valley. The vines are 6 - 10 years old, planted on clay-limestone soils
with gravel, on a gentle south-facing slope at 5,000vines/ha. Grapes hand-picked at optimum ripeness, in a relatively late harvest which
was delayed by rain. Cold maceration pre-ferment for 5 days at 12 - 16°C. Fermented in concrete vats at 28 - 30°C for 8 - 10 days with
regular pumpovers and pigeage. Natural malo in tank and aged in oak barrels for 12 months (50% 1-year-old, 50% 2-year-old).
Winemaker Marc Dworkin. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 14.82%, TA 5.4g/l, pH 3.5, RS 3.4g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine
Direct and 237 branches.
Very tall, thin, bottle. Showing its age. Beautiful aroma. Heady, tropical fruit aroma. Oak, but it’s older and gentle. This is lovely. Perfectly judged age. It is absolutely perfect now. Buy this for a dinner party of wine friends. They’ll love it and be interested in its origin. Really, this is beautiful. If you like wood and age. *

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mel

Mel,

love the Enira have a few in the cellar.
As you say drinks lovely even at a young age.

Trying to hold a 2006 back for another 5-7 years for testing purposes.
Have you had any older vintages ??

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

I echo the comments regarding the Enira 2007.

It's delicious. After a little breathe it really opens up and the sweet ripe fruit balances the old oak beautifully. It had started to die after a couple of days though, so I'm not too sure on its ageing potential.

Will definitely get some more when on offer.

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tribs

[quote="tribs"]You mean like at the moment then...[\quote]

I tried the 2006 last week, no notes taken but remember it opening up nicely after half an hour but recall thinking it not being a long term keeper

Well, as it is only 20% off at the moment, I was going to wait until the next 25% off any 6 offer that will inevitably crop up sooner or later.

Talking about keepers, I picked up a couple bottles of Parker Terra Rossa Coonawarra Cabernet 2006 from T on Wednesday night for a little over a tenner. Usual RP is £25. After doing a little research I returned in the morning to pick up the remaining 2 from the fine wine shelf only to find it had gone back to full price overnight.

James Halliday reckons this is one for the grandkids. He gives it a 96 and says it will be ready 2035!

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tribs

You're a bl**dy lucky Bu**er mon ami,

I would love that when I'm even more senior. Terra Rossa cab - yeah, much more my tipple than the Shiraz. You should eventually get all the usual St Julian style refinements (on steroids) with that - WHEN it is 10 years down the line fom now. Cigar box, mahogany draws, elegance as well as moderate firmness from finely grained tannins, vanilla oak (french) will come up as the the fruit evolves.

Very Nice score - next time, call me on the mobile before you leave the store

You only have to hope that the eucaliptus is in check (for me). Can be a pain when out of kilter.

This is wot Langton's say: Look deeper for the Terra Rossa attributes for '06
Coonawarra Cab 2006 - 9 /10
A low yielding and relatively early vintage. Warm dry conditions over summer and early autumn accelerated ripening. Rain fell during February and intermitently into vintage but there was no disease pressure because of breezy weather. Those who picked after the rain enjoyed small intensely flavoured berries with optimum tannin and fruit ripeness. For some producers this will be seen as an exceptional but atypical year. Delicate perfumed wines. They don't have tannin density and weight. Small volumes.

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Duncan

don't mean to rain on your parade Tribs because I've looked at this myself....but I think you've read the write up on the Parker Terra Rossa First Growth - not the same wine

The Tesco stuff is from the same vinyards but essentially the 2nd wine as the 1st growth costs closer to 40-50 quid
Formula wine and other retailers sell the one Tesco has for around 18 quid

still a good wine that scores around 90pts I think

Terra Rossa

Terra rossa 1st growth

Having actually read the reviews on the above properly, I see I'm actually incorrect in my previous comment - apologies
At just over a tenner - a fantastic bargain Tribs

[quote="tribs"]Well, as it is only 20% off at the moment, I was going to wait until the next 25% off any 6 offer that will inevitably crop up sooner or later.

did make me chucklle a bit as 5% = 50p but guess every little helps...
Tho by the time the next 25% offer kicks in the wine will probably have gone up by 50p - £1 anyway

Hmm, I hadn't really thought that through, had I?

I may get some after all.

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tribs

I'm thinking Enira, Rustenberg & possibly Macul/chat du Gazin/wither hills PN

rustenberg 09 is out in some stores now - the bottle is shorter than the 08.
dunno which is the better vintage tho as nothing on their site and no real vintage review/tasting notes anywhere to be found
Apparently 08 has recently been scored 93 by the Wine Advocate.....

No, you're right Shez, the wine I considred was on the brown label, not the cream label. therefore it is the 2nd wine, and will evolve a lot earlier. I've never seen the grand vin.

you haven't pi**ed on my fire ! Or his

(eg. Penfolds 407 versus the 707)

Nevertheless, the wine in singles is about £20 or so, therefore.....unless you commit to 6 when buying, you have 50% off for a few - Nice .

The reason why I like this wine is the vintage ! I wouldn't want a massive thumper myself. I'm believing that this wine could mature into a cab for many palates, but one with a certain grace.

cheers.

BTW - Du Gazin Lalande-de-Pomerol was sold out at my WR store. You're looking for the '09 presumably

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Duncan

No doubt the wine we are discussing is their second wine. The first growth is a blend and considerably more expensive. A lot of reviews I have read, though, say not to bother with the first growth and take the second growth Cabernet and save some dosh (nearly 3 times the price in Oz).

The TN from Halliday (links below) for the 2006 Cabernet, I took with a pinch of salt, but it does get other good reviews. Definitely worth a punt for a tenner.

Store Reviews

PDF review

I have been drinking the R M Nicholson from Rustenberg over the last few days. It's a similar blend to the John X Merriman but with the Merlot replaced with Shiraz. It makes a huge bloomin' difference. The Nicholson is much more New World. Its big and spicy. No cigar box or subtlety. I'm going to stick to the Merriman in future.

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tribs

Chaps the Rustenberg 2008 is rather poor compared to the excellent 2007 !!
Best wait for the 2009 release and check one first.
Enira 2007 is rather good not as good as the 06 though.

Tesco have pulled the Terra Rossa from the web ??
Does this mean a sale is coming ?? Not a regualr vistor to know wht though ??

Tricks

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

I know 2 tesco stores with Terra Rossa on the shelves.
Was at one on Tuesday and it wasnt on offer then but will keep my eyes peeled for the yellow px label

Rich, interesting on the Merriman.... haven't tried the 07 to compare with the 08 as I only have 2 at home that I'm keeping for future drinking.... but I really enjoyed the last 08 I had
maybe will get both 08 & 09 this time so can have future verticals...

Is Enira 06 that much better than 07 ? no choice but 07 on the shelves now