On the Road with the Grape Guy

On the Road with the Grape Guy is a on-going feature that follows me from event to event ... I post my thoughts, feelings and reviews of what happened and what I tasted ... basically it is here that I review the events I attend and the things that thrilled me.

Report from - Undurraga Tasting ... May 6, 2008

14 May 2008

 

You have probably heard of Undurraga, or at least seen their name on the shelves before, but of late they have disappeared.  A source told me, “we used to go all the time, when we visited Chile, but they became so bad we couldn’t go back – the quality just wasn’t there anymore.  Too bad too, they were once one of the biggies, right up there with Concha [Y Toro].”  I met that contact at this tasting and he was blown away by the new move toward quality wine Undurraga has taken.

A few years ago new investors and owners, led by Jose Yuraszeck T. came to Undurraga and have changed its landscape drastically, focusing on quality and terroir driven wines over the “just-get-it-out-there” philosophy of the previous regime.  New Winemaker, new lines, new labels … and best of all, new wines makes Undurraga a winery to watch over the next few years and well into the future.  From what I tasted on this night, and if the level of quality continues, they might never be as big as Concha, but their wines will equal some of Concha’s best.

The Best of the Bunch …
There were wines at every price point, from $12 to $60, and wines for every palate in both the white and red category.  But my favourite (and just to prove it I had 3 glasses worth) was the $35 Founder’s Collection 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon.  Big wine at 14% with such elegance of flavour and big time age-ability.  Chocolate, red and black fruit, good use of wood, along with flavours of herbs, vanilla and cinnamon … it’s all here and it’s amazing.


To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.

Report from - Germany - Uber Wine Tasting ... May 6, 2008

14 May 2008

 

With winery names well beyond the pronunciation capabilities of your average North American, Germany has long been a tongue twister of a wine region for many.  Unfortunately, I’m not about to facilitate anything.  Having sat through a lecture on Terroir, Ripeness and Style – with each presenter getting up and speaking better English than I could ever speak German, rhyming off names of vineyards, wineries and regions which rolled off their tongue like butter on a hot roll and then they’d segue back to English with ease.  I still can’t get some of these names out, and I heard them being said a few times; the good news is you don’t have to be able to pronounce it to enjoy it – you just have to be able to find it.

Riesling is still king in Germany (20,627 ha); Pinot Noir seems to be her Queen (11,371 ha) and the rarely-seen-on-a-label (over here anyway) Rivaner, their prince, in the middle (14,983 ha).  Today I tried a few Rieslings, but also looked at a grape not even listed in the top 8 of Germany’s white grapes:  Gewurztraminer, with some very good results.

Riesling … (Read more)

 

To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.

 

 

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