Bordeaux is one of the most famous wine regions on the planet and home to some truly stunning stories. Alas, there are some stories hidden within the vines that you may not have heard, stories that only continue to add to the wonder and splendour of this vino-paradise. With that said, I decided to unearth just a few of these tales and arm you with a little more know-how when it comes to Bordeaux! Cheers!
If world leaders were drinks
Words by Colin Hampden-White
Collage: Colin Hampden-White
Not too long ago I read a book both fascinating and educating, but also fun. It was by my friend and fellow drinker Helena. Her book Vinalogies described wine varieties as certain well known figures, and that got me thinking. If I reversed the idea, how in drink terms would I describe some of our well-known figures of today. I am starting with our leaders. From a completely unscientific and ill-educated stand point (which should suit Mr Trump), I give you my thoughts on what drinks our world leaders might be.
vladimir Putin
I wonder what drink comes out of Russia which has very little finesse? Certainly not Russian sparkling which can be very good, or Russian vodka which as we know is some of the best in the world. In fact, I’ll re-think that last idea. Russia does make some of the worst, most dangerous vodka in the world, and it usually illegal and more commonly known as Meths, now that does sound like Putin?
Vladimir Putin: Meths
Angela Merkel
Germany as a nation is known for its ability to be precise, and their leader Angela Merkle is no exception. She has brought her country through a migrant crisis, a global economic crisis and Germany is at the moment the most well organised in Europe at handling Covid-19. If I think about a wine which has precision, it would have to be Riesling. With high acidity, it is incredibly precise, but with age it can mellow and gains a great deal of complexity. Now I think that sounds familiar.
Angela Merkel: Riesling
Boris Johnson
Boris is a bit of a dichotomy, some would say that under all that bluster and opposing sweetness, there is a hugely intelligent man with lots of depth and strategy, however others would say there is the sweetness and bluster, but no depth or strategy, so is he a sophisticated English Blanc de Noir, or a simple mead? For me he’s a bit of both, so a cocktail perhaps.
Boris Johnston: Mead-Mosa
Xi Jinping
China is a huge country with so many different people, cultures, landscape, food and drink, and their leader has been able to keep all these things in mind whilst rising to become their autocratic leader. China once changed their leader every so many years, but Xi Jinping has managed to have the law re-written to rule forever! This takes cunning, strength, depth, political and social sophistication and having an eye on the long term. I think the best of Chinese Cabernet Sauvignon is certainly like that, and it won’t be too long before Bordeaux, and California are looking east.
Xi Jinping: Chinese Cabernet Sauvignon
Emmanuel Macron
From a British point of view the French are our favourite neighbours and our most annoying partners, they strike when we want to go on holiday, yet create marvellous cheese and wine when we get there. As a nation they display ancient culture and modernity at the same time, with much in common with the UK. Their leader however seems to be on the young side. Trying to push forward new ideas with a fresh face and really doesn’t seem to be concentrating on the long-term at all. A little like a Beaujolais perhaps? He certainly has character but seems a little youthful.
Emmanuel Macron: Beaujolais
Donald Trump
I’m not even going to try and sum up what anyone thinks of the USA, it is a complex and multicultural nation with citizens from every background in the world. It’s a shame their leader doesn’t reflect the nation as a whole. Now I first of all thought he would be the Two Buck Chuck of world leaders, but at least there is an honesty about Two Buck Chuck. You get what you pay, for, in fact most people would say you might get rather more. With Trump on the other had you’d be asking for a refund. Now I have to point out you should NEVER drink disinfectant, but this is what perhaps Donald Trump should be and clean up his act.
Donald Trump: Disinfectant
Kim jong-un
We know very little about what happens in North Korea, we know very little about their food, culture and even drinks. However, we do know that their leader Kim Jong-un is an evil b****rd and keeps his citizens from the truth in the world, and, for the most part in poverty. Like one of the drinks we do know about, which pretends to do good, but really it can’t, but is able to be made by poor families. To a western palate I’m sure it would be abhorrent, and Baby Mice Wine is something I have written about in a little more depth in these pages, and I definitely think sums up the horror that is Kim Jong-un.
Kim Jong-un: Baby Mice Wine.
I am sure there are more comparisons to be had, and I hope to make some more soon, but I hope you liked my light hearted look at our leaders and how world drinks might suit them.
One Minute Wine Ace: Sauvignon Blanc
Words by Helena Nicklin
Sauvignon Blanc. Arguably the most recognisable white grape variety around and the ‘Marmite’ of wines; you either love it or you hate it. This zesty grape is all about cut grass, nettles, gooseberry and wet stone flavours with distinctive aromas that fans describe as elderflower, dissenters as cat pee. It’s an English Country Garden on a crisp, spring morning with its wet stone pathways and damp fern aromas!
Sauvignon Blanc Tasting Tour
Get to know this grape by trying versions from the locations most famous for it:
The Loire Valley, France
France’s Loire Valley is Sauvignon Blanc’s original home, and the villages of Sancerre and Pouilly Fumé are two of the most famous names. This is where you’ll find the classic, more reserved style with nettley notes and a mineral tang. Wines from Pouilly Fumé also often have a flinty, smokiness to them thanks to the soil (‘fumé’ means ‘smoked’ in French). Try also wines from Touraine and Menetou-Salon for inexpensive, refreshing versions.
Marlborough, New Zealand
Sauvignon Blanc has a permanent holiday home in Marlborough, which is now now arguably even more famous than Sancerre. Equally happy here as it is in France, the flavour volume is turned right up and someone has brought out the tinned asparagus and tropical fruit! You can’t do Sauvignon Blanc without trying one from Marlborough.
Casablanca Valley & Leyda Valley, Chile
For amazing value, with more savoury, smoked grapefruit notes (and sometimes, a little bit of farmer’s armpit), head to cool-climate Chile. Casablanca Valley and Leyda Valley are two regions to look out for, the former offering inexpensive, fruity Sauvignon and the latter, more of a step up in style.
Bordeaux, France
Sauvignon Blanc is one of the two key white grapes of Bordeaux. Here it’s usually blended with Sémillon and oaked a bit to make gorgeously weighty, tropical dry whites as well as sweet whites: enter, Sauternes!
Napa Valley, California
Napa Valley, California - for dry, Sauvignon /Sémillon blends, just like in Bordeaux.
Want some suggestions? These are tried and tested!
Sancerre, ‘Le Fort’, Fouassier, 2018. £24.99 (£19.99 mix 6 price), Majestic
Menetou-Salon, Le Clos du Pressoir Vignobles Joseph Mellot 2018. £18.75 Corney & Barrow
Pouilly Fumé, ‘Les Chaumiennes’, A&E Figeat, 2018. £18.25 Corney & Barrow
Olivier Dubois, cuvée prestige Sauvignon Blanc, Touraine, 2018. £9.99 (£8.99 mix 6) Majestic
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc, £7 on offer at Sainsburys
Yealands Sauvignon Blanc Reserve, £11.59 Waitrose
Dourthe, La Grand Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc, Bordeaux, £9.49, Ocado
Co-op Irresistible Sauvignon Blanc, Leyda Valley, £7, Co-op.
Coyote Mint Sauvignon-Semillon, Napa valley, £13.99 on offer at Laithwaites
Which wine for storecupboard snacks?
Today was a proud day. Helena got to write for the nation’s most popular newspaper: The Sun. And what better subject could there be than wine to go with your isolation diet? Here’s a version of what she wrote where you’ll discover the perfect wine matches for everything from curry pot noodle to cereal.
You’re welcome.
Egg and Chips
Wine: Exquisite Vintage Cava, £6.49, Aldi
Bubbles with eggs is the ultimate posh brunch, so channel the Windsors as you get stuck into eggs and chips with cava. Forget prosecco; it’s too sweet for this. Cava however is affordable, Spanish fizz made just like champagne but with different, local grapes. Cool bubbles will freshen everything up and its savoury, toasty notes will stand up to the chips.
Curry Pot Noodle
Wine: Freeman’s Bay, New Zealand Pinot Gris, £5.99, Aldi
For maximum experience with minimum effort, match your curry Pot Noodle to the perfect vino. You’ll need a refreshing white wine with bags of ripe fruit to balance the mild spice and not get lost against the sauce. Pinot Gris is the grape for this - one from the New World will give the most fruit, such as this stunner from New Zealand.
Beans on Toast
Casillero del Diablo, Merlot, £6.50 on offer, Sainsbury's
Believe it or not, there’s a brilliant wine match for baked beans and it’s juicy, soft and red. Merlot is the Frank Sinatra of wine, thanks to its luscious, velvety tones, especially when from a place with lots of sun. Chilean Merlot is what you need both texture and flavour-wise here and this old favourite will see you right. Beanz Meanz Merlot.
Spag Bol
Wine: Exquisite Malbec, £5.99, Aldi
There’s one wine grape that loves beef more than anything: Argentinian Malbec. Smooth, silky and sophisticated, but also, ballsy with ripe blueberry fruit and milk chocolate notes. It’s what you want when you’ve made the effort to cook and will give boom to your bolognaise! Even if you’re still in your dressing gown...
Pepperoni Pizza
Wine: Terre Siciliane ‘Appassite’, £7.99, Lidl
Hot spice is normally a tricky match with wine but naturally, the Italians have the answer. This wine is made in a special style called ‘appassimento’ with partly dried grapes, which gives it more body and tang but also, crucially, ripe cherry sweetness - the perfect foil for hot pepperoni.
Fried Chicken
Wine: McGuigan Estate Chardonnay £5.10, Sainsbury’s
Chicken loves the Chardonnay grape and fried chicken practically begs for it! You’ll need bold, tropical notes and a splash of crisp citrus to pep it all up and make the batter sing. This perfectly balanced Aussie Chardonnay is such good value that you’ll be singing too.
Bowl of cereal
Wine: Côtes du Rhône Blanc, Les Dauphins, £6.50 down from £8, Tesco.
Let’s just say it’s 5pm and you’re still in your PJs looking for a snack rather than breakfast, yes? We’ve all done it. With non-sugary cereals like cornflakes or rice crispies, you’ll want something white, dry and weighty, preferably with some earthy flavours. The French white grapes Grenache blanc and Marsanne are ideal here and this bottle really looks the part. If you replace the milk with wine, I won’t tell...
Jacket Potato with Cheese
Wine: The Fire Tree, Sicilian Fiano, £4.49, Aldi
A simple, comforting dish like this needs a simple, comforting white wine. You can’t go wrong with Fiano. This southern Italian white grape is never expensive and is hard not to love with its sunshine character. It’s all about passion fruit, orange and lemons with a refreshing zing. Just what you need to brighten up your cheesy jacket.
Banana and Custard Dessert
Wine: Semillon £6 half bottle, Tesco
Sweet treats need sweet wines or whatever’s in your glass will taste metallic. This Semillon could be a pud in itself with its gloriously unctuous, honeyed apricot notes. If you’ve had Sauternes, this style is similar but a fraction of the price and it’ll make your banana go bang!
Tomato Soup (tinned)
Wine: Chianti £6.99 Lidl
Tomatoes are one of the hardest things to match with wine, so once again, we look to the Italians. The Tuscan grape Sangiovese (the grape in chianti) is used with so many Italian tomato dishes thanks to its sour cherry, balsamic and fresh herb flavours. With cooked, creamy tomatoes like a tinned soup, you’ll want something with a bit of age on it. This Chianti riserva is just the ticket.
Our Top Drink Discoveries: April
We’re fortunate to try a lot of beautiful drinks from around the world, in fact, sometimes our homes end up a bit like warehouses… but it’s all in the name of research. Research which leads us to writing pieces like this to share the very best discoveries we make with our amazing community… you!
Whether, wine, spirits or no-lo are your thing, check out our April ‘Best of’ picks and add something new to your discovery shelf today. You may just find a new favourite…
Gusbourne Rosé Brut
I just wrote a massive article about English Sparkling Wines so it would be a little silly if I didn’t highlight one. This gem has been one of my favourites for quite some time – so much so that whenever I travel internationally, I make sure I’ve at least one bottle to share with those I know have a fond appreciation for sparkles. Fact is, we’re creating some dazzling sparkles and it’s the texture and mouthfeel on Gusbournes wines that really impress me. The nose gives you ripe red meadow berries with hints of flowers and apricots. As you take a sip your taste buds are overwhelmed with an assortment of strawberries, cherries and redcurrants which seem to intertwine into a raspberry cream and slight lemon curd. As I mentioned before, the texture is everything and the bubbles gently wrap themselves around the tongue as they glide into a long harmonious finish. This is English sparkling wine at its best.
Gran Moraine Chardonnay 2017
I love a good Chardonnay to wind down in the evening and right now I’m loving this beauty from Oregon. Deriving from the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, this rich, fruity and balanced Chard is teaming with flavour and the most important thing for me in a wine like this – texture. Some people love oak, others don’t, but for me this has the perfect in-between balance and just a enough to make it a really well rounded and quality driven Chardonnay. Rich, but now overpowering you can expect to taste apricot, buttery lemon, kiwis and clementine’s. For those who love Chardonnay, this is for you. For those who don’t, I’d dare say it will convert you.
McGuigan Philosophy 2014
McGuigan is known for being a quality-driven everyday wine at an affordable price – but they’re not just about great supermarket finds. Take for example The Philosophy, a top shelf Cabernet Shiraz blend which was produced in 2014 from some of the wineries top vineyards in Langhorne Creek, Wrattonbully and Clare Valley. This elegant yet dark ink bomb is packed full of blackcurrant and plum offering a combination of terroir driven notes while keeping true to the Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. A generous 24 months in French oak barrels paves way to chocolate, black meadow fruits and cedar oak with a velvety texture and soft tannins.
Orin Swift Machete 2016
This wine is simply divine. It’s a testament to the insanely good Petit Syrah coming out of California, held up in this case with a structured blend of syrah and grenache to complete the story. David Phinney (the winemaker) is a true genius and anything he seems to touch these days turns to gold. This red blend packs a bunch of flavour, with deep dark plum, cassis and cedar oak brought together with vanilla, chalky tannins and a smooth raspberry chocolate finish. If it’s cold outside, this is a sure-fire way to warm up.
£66 from Great Western Wine
Mirabeau Provence Rosé Gin
When it comes to rosé my top choice for quality and value is always Mirabeau, which made me pretty god damn excited when they announced they were making a gin. While the base botanicals consist of juniper, citrus, orris root, angelica root and coriander it’s the Provençal twist containing a variety of herbs such as bay, thyme and rosemary alongside the neutral grape spirit and base distillate of Mirabeau Classic Rosé that really makes this gin stand out from the crowd. The result is a fruity and textured gin with lemon, coriander and citrus bursting with floral notes, rose petals and lavender. The story ends on a final note as those herbs add an extra kick of character to the blend.
£35 from Waitrose
Gran Patrón Platinum Tequila
I love a good tequila it seems to be one of the spirits I’ve really found an appreciation for over the last few years. If I was to name one house that consistently delivers quality across it’s whole portfolio, my mind takes me straight to Patrón. It seems there’s a little something for everyone and while I’ll happily get my hands on a Reposado for my margarita needs (quick tip, avoid the salt rim, it ruins the drink), I love nothing more than to sip on something of premium quality. That brings me to Gran Patrón Platinum, arguably the world’s first ulta-premium tequila. With each bottle taking around 30 people to create, quality is of the utmost level. Agave is individually sourced for its rich sugar content before being harvested, triple distilled and left for 30 days in oak tanks to create pure elegance. The result is a smooth and seductive nectar of agave, orange, vanilla. Lime and white peppercorns. Pure bliss if you ask me and don’t even get me started on a Mexican Martini (google it, you won’t be disappointed).
Æcorn Aromatic
In this day and age we are all about balance and I applaud those beginning to discover non-alcoholic spirits. The truth is, we don’t always want to drink booze, but what I do always insist on is creativity when it comes to what’s in my glass. This brings me to Æcorn, my new favourite non-alcohol tipple. My attention has taken me to the ‘Aromatic’ option which is rich and smoky in flavour. The difficulty up until now is that non-alcoholic spirits lack flavour, texture and any form of excitement, but this is where Æcorn has changed the game. I find myself frequently pouring a measure over ice with tonic water or simply just in a chilled ice with a couple of cubes and neat. When it comes to the flavour there’s a lot going on, with vanilla, cherrywood a smokiness and even a little cola combined with a silky-smooth mouthfeel and warming clove and oak on the finish. It may be a little daunting getting into this world, but once you’ve tried it you’ll be just as hooked as I am. Give it a go, you won’t regret it and you’ll likely feel better for it!
£20 from Waitrose
Don Papa 10 Year
I first discovered Don Papa when I took a trip to the Philippines and I had no idea the country was even producing rum. Turns out it became one of the best discoveries I made, as I’m totally hooked on the stuff now. The 10-year old is their super premium version, distilled from some of the finest sugar canes in the world from the Negros Occidental region. Aged for 10 years in re-charred oak barrels it is then blended, leading to dried fruit flavours, pure cocoa, coconut, caramel and a kiss of cedar oak. Few people know that due to the humidity in the Philippines, the barrels are prone to some of the highest angel share yields in the world (that’s where spirit evaporates from the barrel). The thing is, Don Papa never re-fill them with recent vintage stock, meaning what you get in the bottle is not only pure but incrediblt concentrated. Rum is a beautiful drink that more people should be exploring, start here, like I did and you wont be disappointed.
This content was originally published in Oracle Time Magazine under Aidy’s Drinks Column. You can subscribe to the online magazine here to view online or order the magazine in print format.
Brilliant rums under £30
Rum is a difficult category to delve into and decipher which bottles on the shelf will taste good. It seems that the rum category, as with many spirits, is as much about the brand as the area of the world in which the rum is made. There are some rums that are great value for money and more than that, they taste much better than their price tag would suggest. You will certainly recognise the names of some of the rums below, but you may not have tasted them recently. Others may be completely unknown, but if you love rum, I would definitely try them. Some of them are spiced, but none of these are flavoured, I may cover that another time, but for now I’m keeping it traditional.
Dead Man’s Fingers
Dead Man’s Fingers is a spiced rum made in St Ives in Cornwall, UK. It’s made on the premises at the Rum and Crab Shack which, if you’re down that way in the future, serves great food, and of course their own rum. This rum is a blend of Caribbean rums with a decent dose of spices. So why not order “Three fingers of Dead Man’s Fingers”!
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £18
The Duppy Share Caribbean Rum
In the world of whisky, it is the angels who take their share of the spirit as it matures, but in the Caribbean, it is the Duppy spirits who travel around the islands taking their cut. That is the story of where this rum gets its name. Matured in ex bourbon barrels, there is a mix of rum from Barbados which is five years old and rum from Jamaica, which is three years old.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £26
Goslings Black Seal
There is a black seal on the label, but the name originally comes from the black wax seal which was used to seal the bottles. Made with rums from pot stills and continuous stills, this rum has been produced in Bermuda since 1806. This is the perfect rum for a Dark’n’Stormy cocktail, which is lucky really as the Gosling brothers hold the trademark to that cocktail.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £23
Mount Gay Black Barrel
Black barrel gets its name from the heavily charred barrels in which it is matured, and it’s those barrels that give it the flavour which punches well above its price point. The rums are created in a double distillation in a pot still, and a single distillation in a column still. The larger proportion comes from the double distillation. Altogether, a brilliant rum.
ABV: 43%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £27
Appleton Estate Signature Blend
This rum is matured in smaller barrels than normal, giving the spirit more contact with the wood and a richer flavour in a shorter period of time. Called the “Signature Blend”, it is rounded out by marrying the rums in oak casks before bottling. Fruity and full of flavour, it is excellent value and tastes like rum that costs double the price.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £16
Kraken Black Spiced Rum
Named after the legendary sea monster, this rum is incredibly rich and very spicy. It has been in the UK for ten years now and it has gained a reputation for being a great rum. At its recommended retail price of £26, Kracken is very well priced and tastes like rums that are over £40, so at £20 on Amazon right now, it is an absolute bargain.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £20
Lamb’s Navy Dark Rum
This rum has a long history and a great reputation for value for money. Made from rums from Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana, it is smooth and easy. Where it really shines beyond much more expensive rums is with a mixer. The flavours in this rum are made for mixing and I’d rather have this with coke than many rums four times the price.
ABV: 40%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £14
Ableforth’s Rumbullion!
Here is my exception to the title of this piece. Ableforth’s Rumbullion is one rum worth spending just a touch more than my £30 upper limit. It has won a bunch of awards and it’s not hard to see why. With high proof Caribbean rum at its core, it is richly spiced with Madagascan vanilla and zesty orange peel. Small amounts of cassia and cardamom are also added. This rum is great to enjoy neat, or on ice with a squeeze of fresh lime.
ABV: 42.6%
Size: 700ml
Buy it now for £31.69
For more on rums from around the world, Aidy Smith gives us the best four rums to look out for.
How to invest in whisky
Global markets are crashing, and the investment market is a difficult place to navigate. As we drink more in this time of lockdown, why not invest in something we are drinking? Colin Hampden-White gives us the lowdown on how to invest in whisky...
Investing in whisky
There are two principle ways to invest in whisky: one is to invest in bottles. These can be old or new bottles, and the brand or distillery of bottle is important. Then come casks of whisky. In the case of casks, the distillery from which the whisky comes is of lesser importance. A good return, between 10% - 15%, can be made from whisky casks from almost any distillery, as the blended whisky market always needs them.
Investing in bottles of whisky
The challenge with bottles is that it’s difficult to invest serious money as you need an awful lot of them to make it worth investing at all. Finding the right bottles, at auction or new releases, takes time and expertise and even then, a return is not guaranteed and you really need to know your shallots from your onions.
Investing in whisky casks
Casks are a different prospect. As blenders will always need whisky, there is a stronger market for casks. Scotch whisky casks are a simple asset, held in bond in Scotland and no duty is levied whilst it stays in bond. As whisky is considered a depreciating asset, there is no capital gains payable on its sale. So how does one buy the right casks? Diversity is the key to good investment portfolio. Casks can be bought freshly-filled to well-aged. A cask at zero age is called a ‘new fill cask’. The liquid is called ‘new make spirit’ and will legally become whisky after three years and a day. Casks can also be bought at any age beyond. The casks become more expensive as they gain maturity and the rate of return grows exponentially the older it gets.
Another consideration is the type of oak the whisky is stored in. Whisky can be stored in what is known as a first fill a refill or a rejuvenated cask. Think of the cask like a tea bag: the first fill is like an unused tea bag which gives out lots of flavour. The refill is a lightly-dunked tea bag; it takes longer for it to impart flavour to the whisky. Whisky in a first fill cask may be very good for a return on a young whisky, say up to twelve years old. When buying an older cask, a refill will be much better. An old, first fill cask may make the whisky taste too woody.
There are blended whiskies that like to have a good percentage of rejuvenated casks. These are much-used casks whose surface wood has little flavour left, so a couple of millimetres are shaved off the inside to expose active wood, ready for reuse. They have a different flavour profile, impart flavour at a similar rate to a first fill cask, so blenders can use the whisky earlier and they are less expensive.
Lastly there are two types of oak cask: European oak and American oak, providing the whisky with different flavours. American oak gives vanilla, coconut and sweeter flavours whilst European oak gives spicy and nutty flavours. European oak casks are much rarer in the industry and are more sought after. They are more expensive, but can give a great rate of return. Around 90% of the Scotch market uses American oak casks and 90% of Scotch sold around the world is blended whisky. So whisky from a European oak cask (ex-Sherry for example) is a sound bet. If the whisky is sold to an independent bottler rather than for blending, and perhaps further maturing before bottling, then a first fill European oak cask would be more desirable.
How do you find whisky casks to buy?
In general terms, the best investment would be a range of casks including new make and aged casks in a mixture of American and European oak. If you’re buying a very old cask or wanting a longer term investment, I would suggest a re-fill cask. So how and where do you find and buy casks? You can’t just rock up to a distillery and pop a cask in the boot. Whisky brokers only deal with the industry, however there are companies who can buy from brokers and do deal with private investors. Of course, you can find brokers on the internet. But for reliability of service and quality of product, you might look at Cask Trade Ltd. I have been in the whisky industry for many years and have consulted to them since their start, and they understand the market well. Cask Trade don’t broker other peoples casks, they sell their own stock, so you know when you buy a cask it exists and won’t be bought from under your feet having been sold by another broker.
So settle down one evening with a dram that’s old enough to vote and contemplate owning more than just a bottle or two. Here are some specialist recommendations:
Auction: whisky.auction
Cask sales: Cask Trade Ltd
A few suggestions which would make good bottles to buy now:
Glenmorangie, A tale of Cake
Limited release from this distinguished distillery. A tale of Cake has been finished in Tokaji Casks giving it a sweet sponge cake flavour mixed with the traditional flavours of orange, vanilla and orchard fruits, one expects from Glenmorangie.
ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml USA 750ml
Buy it now: UK: £89.95 USA: $109.99
Auchroisk 25
A limited release from Diageo of this little seen distillery is a good bet. This release was from 2016 and therefore should be selling out pretty soon. Once sold out the auction prices will start to rise.
Balbalir 1990 AND 1983
Balblair stopped producing vintage bottles two years ago in favour of aged statements like 12, 15 and 18. Already sold out at retail in the the UK, these vintage Balblair’s would be a good buy for someone in the USA, or at auction.
ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml USA 750ml
Buy it now: UK: Sold out USA: $259.99
ABV: 46%
Size: UK 700ml USA 750ml
Buy it now: UK: Sold out USA: $499.99
Like this? Try: Move over Macallan: it’s Tamdu time! or Johnnie Walker from £60 to £100K or Rare and independent whisky bottling
Marvellous Malbecs under £15 for Malbec Day
Words by Helena Nicklin
Friday 17th April 2020 is World Malbec Day! It’s fair to say that globally, Malbec is now one of the world’s best-loved red wine grapes, thanks to its ability to make wines that are gloriously velvety, fruity and chocolatey at relatively inexpensive prices. It’s easy to see why for years it was seen as the best value wine on a restaurant list. While much of the Malbec that the world has fallen in love with in recent years has been from Argentina however, the grape actually has a French heritage...
A Brief History of Malbec
Malbec was widely planted in south-west France and found favour with royalty such as Eleanor of Aquitaine, Henry II and Francois I, who was such a fan, he had a Malbec vineyard planted at Fontainebleau, just outside Paris. The south-west region of Cahors has always lauded this grape and to this day, any red wine labelled Cahors must be at least 70% Malbec. The style there is inky black and tannic, with spicy, savoury notes.
Malbec was also widely planted not far away from Cahors in Bordeaux. In fact, until a particularly hard winter in 1952, up to 60% of the blend for red Bordeaux wines could be Malbec - a grape chosen for its softness, to help balance the harder tannins of its more muscular cousin, Cabernet Sauvignon. Malbec however, was not its happiest in Bordeaux. Late ripening, delicate and low yielding, it became too much of a risk for the winegrowers at the time who were seeing colder winters. From the harsh winter of 1952 then, producers decided that a replacement was needed that could balance the beefy Bordeaux Cabernet, yet deal with the weather much better. Merlot was the answer and so most Malbec vines were grubbed up and replaced.
Malbec moves to Argentina
Before Bordeaux made the big move from Malbec to Merlot, the reputation of Bordeaux wines was second to none. The famous great classification of 1855 had solidified the reputation of certain producers, so the world now knew that some of the finest wines in the world came from Bordeaux, France. At around this time, the president of Argentina, Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who was partial to a glass of good wine, commissioned French agronomist Michel Michel Aimé Pouget to bring cuttings of the finest French vines back to France which at the time, included Malbec. In the dry, warmer climate and incredible light of Argentina, Malbec thrived in a way it never had before.
New World Vs Old World Malbec
Try some Malbec from Cahors against some from its new home in Argentina…
The Original: Cahors
La Patrie, Cahors Malbec, France. £7, Sainsburys
Dark and powerful with lots of structure, this wine is heavy with black fruit flavours and cocoa powder notes. Ballsy and rustic but also satisfying and great value.
Jean-Luc Baldès, Malbec du Clos, Triguedina. £7.99, Waitrose
A step up in silkyness from La Patrie, there’s more bramble fruit and elegance in this wine , which is just crying out for cold cuts, paté and a fat steak.
Le Vassal de Mercues, Georges Vigouroux, 2016. £13.99 Majestic (£11.99 mix 6)
While some Cahors needs a lot of time to come round, this one is drinking very well now. Expect more tannin than its Argentinian friends and a whiff of barbeque meat, lots of spice and serious substance. With a hard, nutty cheese or a fat piece of meat, this will shine.
The Newcomer: Argentina
Exquisite Collection Malbec, Uco Valley, 2019. £5.99 ALDI
I’m usually sceptical of wines this cheap, especially from the Uco Valley, which is a premium region within Mendoza, but this Malbec is an excellent example of type: soft, with juicy, ripe blueberry and milk chocolate. At this price, you can stock up (provided you can get online…)
Benmarco, Susana Balbo, £14.99 (£12.99 mix 6), Majestic
This voluptuous wine is why people love Malbec. Think chocolate muffin with a splash of red fruit and spice, but a complexity that will make it shine with food. A classic Mendoza Malbec but with a brain.
Don David, Blend of Terroirs Malbec, £9 COOP
From Argentina, but not Mendoza. Salta is an Argentinian province to the northwest of the capital city. Malbec from here is a little different thanks to some epic high altitudes, which bring more defined day/night temperature swings and lots of sunlight. The result is thicker skins, so drier and with more dark chocolate, saline and minty notes. This one is that, with a touch of red berry fruit.
Also try:
Intipalka Malbec, Vinos Queirolo, 2018, Peru £10.75 Corney & Barrow
A Peruvian Malbec! Quite different in style but incredibly delicious. Crisp, fresh and light on its feet, with notes of cool raspberry, red cherry and liquorice spice.
Like this guide? Try Cheap wines that taste expensive, or perhaps 5 reasons to love English wine