A great day at the London Wine Fair where there were over 14,000 wines from 32 countries to taste. Even I had to concede at that figure!
A few picks from me that stood out:
* HIKA Txakolina is a newly-founded winery, but I was impressed with their products and enthusiasm. Made with 80% Hondarribi Zuri grapes, native to the Basque Country, and 20% Chardonnay. I shall be trying to get my hands on a few bottles of this beauty.
* Nyetimber has had a single aim for over 25 years – to make the finest English sparkling wine, to rival the very best in the world, including champagne – and I think they have. Each bottle is made from one hundred percent estate-grown grapes and well worth a try.
* Fraccaroli’s Luganda DOC ‘Pansere’ from Italy was exceptional. Delicate with notes of citrus and spring flowers, giving it lively, fresh notes and wonderful fragrance.
* Simonsig from South Africa’s Stellenbosch area is always a winner for me. Today they were highlighting their fizz, but all of their products are top notch & worth a try.
* A refreshingly great light Sparkling Pinot Noir with a hint of pink from Australia’s Bird in Hand Winery in Adelaide. Lively on the palate yet delicate with flavours of strawberry.
* Kalfu Kuda a cheekily good Chilean sauvignon blanc, not one of your bog standard ones you see on pub menus. It is fresh and aromatic, with citrus and tropical fruit aromas, eg grapefruit, pineapple and pear which intermingle with herbal notes.
And, lucky me being a port lover, spotted KOPKE, the oldest Port Wine House since 1638, on the way out. This port was sublime, but at around the 100GBP mark for 1/2 bottle of the 40 year old, that will have to be for a special occasion.
A big thank you to my personal sommelier for the day – Dave P. What this guy doesn’t know about wine isn’t worth knowing. Cheers Dave!
