What's going on in the vineyards of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne? Exclusive, private, guided wine tours at www.bellawinetours.com
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Vineyards of France: Test your knowledge.
Click on the link and test your luck/knowledge.
If you get a score of more than 70K you will feature on the scoreboard.
Thursday 21 July 2011
Kreydenweiss in the Rhone
Marc Kreydenweiss has been making some sensational wines in Alsace for many years. In fact his family has been working the land near Andlau for over 300 years. More recently he converted to biodynamics and embraced a respect for the earth.
In 1999 Marc sought a new challenge and he bought 14 hectares of vines in the southern part of the Rhone valley, just near Nimes.
Since then Marc Kreydenweiss has rebuilt the winery and expanded the vineyard to 19 hectares. He has also converted this estate to biodynamic principles of viticulture and winemaking.
The soils around the estate are a deep dark red, with rich iron content(ferrugenous), which adds an extra dimension of minerality to the wines. Marc is very fortunate to have inherited some amazing old vines at the estate. He works these 100 year old vines very carefully, as they contribute incredible depth and complexity to the ‘Perrieres’ blend as well as to the special ‘Ka’ wine.
Marc Kreydenweiss uses very little new oak barrels for his wines. He wants the fresh, bright, elegant fruit to express itself. However he uses a few older oak barrels just to enrichen the wines. The old barrels are in fact from top quality producers (Domaine Leroy in Burgundy and Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf in Bordeaux)
Marc also has a small 2 hectare plot of vines in the Chateauneuf du Pape appellation. He adores this land, as it was previously only worked organically, so the land has never been treated by pesticides or heavy spraying. This is the perfect opportunity to create some fantastic wines.
Wines
Kreydenweiss ‘Perrieres’ 2008 approx UK retail = £12.75
A blend of 25% each of Syrah, Carignan, Grenache and Mourvedre.
Kreydenweiss‘Ansata’ 2007 £15.75
100% Syrah
Kreydenweiss‘Ka’ 2009 £29.00
100% old vine Carignan’
Kreydenweiss Chateauneuf du Pape 2007 £38.00
Monday 4 July 2011
Fantastic LuxuryTrip to South Africa planned for April 2012,
Many years ago I met Richard Hilton, a Brit working in the South African wine trade. Richard 'Dickie' Hilton has had great experience originally in Burgundy, as well as selling, blending and making wine in Africa. He owns a small winery and he has expanded in to running top quality wine tours. Similar to www.bellawinetours.com Richard can utilize his many years experience and contacts to manage and put together bespoke trips. Richard and his wife live in the Cape area and his knowledge and passion for wine, food and the Cape culture is outstanding.