Wines in the Press: Cocktail shaking and blog making

Tuesday, 26 August 2008

Jane MacQuitty has been getting busy with her cocktail shaker, Victoria Moore has been indulging in a spot of wine blogging, and Jonathan Ray has been on a trip to one of Chile's most exciting prospects, the Limarí region. Meanwhile, for those of us still holding out for some late summer sun, Joanna Simon has dug out some perfect picnic picks, whilst Tim Atkin raves about Riesling.

Jane MacQuitty, The Times, Saturday 23 August 2008

Jane MacQuitty has had her cocktail shaker out and has been rustling up the "grown-up" versions of those "mickey mouse cocktails complete with rainbow colours and dyed fruit that reeks of suntan lotion," she says. "Wine is all very well, but if the weather's lousy, a stiff mixed drink is what we all need to invoke a summery mood". Find out how to rustle up the ultimate Mai-Tai or a "Cheat's Pimm's" (which also happens to be considerably more alcoholic than the "namby-pamby" commercial version). Back to the wine, and this week's top picks are:

• 2007 La Baume Winemaker's Selection Viognier, Vin de Pays, d'Oc, France (£4.49, Waitrose)
• 2007 La Baume Winemaker's Selection Merlot, Vin de Pays, d'Oc, France (£4.49, Waitrose)
• 2004 Cliff Edge Shiraz, Mount Langi Ghiran, Grampians, Victoria, Australia (£11.99, Majestic Wine)
• 2007 Pauletts Hill River, Clare Valley Riesling, South Australia (£9.99, Majestic Wine)
• 2007 Auzells, El Vilosell, Tomàs Cuisiné, Costers del Segre, Spain (£10.95, The Wine Society)
• 2006 Seresin Leah Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand (£14.95, The Wine Society)

Victoria Moore, The Guardian, Saturday 23 August 2008

"Wine has always struggled with its image because it doesn't translate easily into any broadcast medium", writes Victoria Moore this week. However, she says, wine blogger (and "wine fiend") Gary Vaynerchuk has been giving it a good go, so much so that his You Tube podcasts are beginning to attract a cult following. Wine commentary, says Moore, pretty much always takes one of two forms - either "nerdishly intellectual" or "bells-and-whistles popular", but she doesn't care which it is, as long as people are actually talking about it - something that Vaynerchuk is starting to achieve with his blog. "God knows what he'd say about this week's wines. I've chosen them to give a last hint of summer", Moore concludes. They are:

• 2007 Alto Adige Pinot Bianco, Italy (£8.99, Marks and Spencer)
• 2005 Tesco Finest Alsace Crémant Riesling, France (£8.99, Tesco)
• 2007 Rimauresq Côtes de Provence Cru Classé, France (£11 approx, Noel Young Wines)
• 2007 Taste The Difference Gavi, Italy (£6.99, Sainsbury's)

Jonathan Ray, The Telegraph, Saturday 23 August 2008

Jonathan Ray has just spent two days sampling some of the best of what Chile has to offer; sipping single-varietal Carmenères, Syrahs, Sauvignon Blancs, Viogniers and Chardonnays. He's been in Limarí, where although there are currently only three major wineries, other big names are reportedly queuing up to invest and plant. Watch out for this region, because according to the winemakers Ray met on his stay, the region is on the verge of "something special".

Joanna Simon, The Sunday Times, Sunday 24 August 2008

The summer might be drawing to an end, but Joanna Simon still has some advice to offer for those end of season picnics - even the ones which are threatened with a good, traditional British downpour. Steer clear of anything precious or delicate, go for something with a bit of zing that will stand up to garlicky chicken and herby dips, and, perhaps most importantly, take the screw-cap option, unless you want to risk being lumped with a corked wine in the middle of a field miles from your nearest Tesco. Simon's best picks for picnics are:

• 2006 Canaletto Montepulciano d'Abruzzo (£5.99, Sainsbury's)
• 2007 Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon (£7.99, Marks and Spencer)
• 2007 Bonterra Rosé (£9.99, Waitrose)

Tim Atkin MW, The Observer, Sunday 24 August 2008

Tim Atkin is raving about Riesling this week, and determined to inform his readers that it is not to be confused solely with cheap, sweet German varieties. He has just returned from the ‘Riesling Rendevous' event, organized to raise the profile of the grape. "The theory is that if every wine from Planet Riesling were labeled as dry, off-dry, medium dry, semi-sweet or sweet, punters would be more likely to drink it."

• 2007 Château Sainte Michelle Dry Riesling (Columbia Valley (£8.29, Berkmann Wine Cellars)
• 2007 Pewsey Vale Riesling, Eden Valley (£9.20, Oddbins)
• 2006 Dr Loosen Urziger Würzgarten Riesling Spätlese (£15.86, Howard Ripley)
• 2007 Josef Leitz Berg Roseneck Riesling Spätlese (£18, Marks and Spencer)
• 2001 Alsace Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile, Trimbach (£26, The Wine Society)