jamie goode's wine blog

Day 5 in South Africa: Constantia, Cape Point and sheet rain

2009-11-07T19:02:00.003Z

The final day of my South African itinerary was a really good one, only partially spoiled by some really awful weather. From lunchtime onwards, it poured with rain in true English fashion. This was pretty annoying, because we had left some time free in the afternoon for some R&R � specifically, we'd planned to go down to Boulders Beach to see...

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More from South Africa: the day in pictures

2009-11-06T21:28:00.003Z

Some pictures from a truly exciting day spent in Tulbagh, Paardeberg and Paarl. Eben Sadie, who makes some of South Africa's very best red and white wines. Bush-vine Carignan at Vonderling, Paardeberg Flowering Cabernet Sauvignon, Vonderling A Nomblot concrete egg next to a barrel, Tulbagh Mountain Vineyards (TMV) Worm compost, TMV (and Rebecca...

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Day 3 in South Africa - Franschoek, mostly

2009-11-05T16:16:00.004Z

Had a great day today, even though for most of it the rain was lashing down in vast sheets. We began with another larger producer, continuing yesterday's theme: DGB, hosted at Boschendal. They have a range of brands, including Douglas Green, Bellingham, Franschoek Cellar, Boschendal and from 2010, Brampton will be all theirs. Highlight? The...

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South Africa, day 2

2009-11-04T17:20:00.002Z

First chance to report from the road. Arrived late on Tuesday and spent the afternoon with some wine scientists at Stellenbosch University, before heading out to Durbanville for a dinner at Ntida with some of the top producers in this small but appealing wine region. It was great fun, and I liked the wines. I stayed overnight at River Manor in...

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A new netbook

2009-11-03T20:49:00.001Z

I've just replaced my beloved Asus Eeepc with a new netbook. The Asus developed some technical problems, and so I bought a little Samsung (here). It's very like the Eeepc, except that it runs XP rather than Linux, is slightly larger, and has a larger screen. My fingers like the larger keyboard, and my eyes like the larger screen. But it's not as...

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Some airline lounge wines

2009-11-02T19:56:00.005Z

I was supposed to be flying premium economy tonight, but I've happily been upgraded, so now I get to use the T5 BA lounge (I think it's the north one I'm in). So a chance to taste some wines and relax a bit before a flight that will be made immeasurably more comfortable by those lovely BA lie-flat beds. First up, Cline Cool Climate Syrah 2006...

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Off to South Africa

2009-11-02T17:53:00.003Z

I'm off soon (50 minutes) to South Africa for a five-day trip. It's the first time I've been since December 2005, when I tagged on a three day wine segment on the back of a scientific conference - those were the days when I had to juggle wine writing with a full time job. It was a very enjoyable trip, written up in anorak-like detail elsewhere on...

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A boy's day out: rugby and beer

2009-11-01T11:31:00.002Z

Got a good deal yesterday. I was allowed to take my brother-in-law Dave out to watch Quins vs. London Irish at the Stoop (for the benefit of non-sporty types, this is rugby union), while the rest of the extended family went off to Thorpe Park for the day. We started off with a curry, followed this by some beer in the Barmy Arms, and then wandered...

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Bloggers Conference: what I'd say if I was there!

2009-10-31T10:07:00.005Z

Sad to be missing the second European Wine Bloggers Conference which is taking place in Lisbon this weekend. But as an old-time wine blogger (indeed, I think the original wineanorak blog was the first wine blog in Europe), and as an opinionated git, I think I'd have plenty to say, along these lines: 1. Authenticity is everything. You have to be...

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Precision viticulture in the news

2009-10-31T09:38:00.003Z

Interesting to see the BBC news site pick up on a story about English winegrowers using precision viticulture. It's not really new technology - it has been around for a while, and I wrote a chapter on it in my wine science book (happy to send this chapter to anyone who is interested - email me). But it's a sign of the progress being made in the UK...

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Does Sauvignon age? Two older Seresins

2009-10-30T17:31:00.004Z

Does Sauvignon Blanc age? I used to think 'no'; now I think 'usually not', but perhaps I should say 'yes, when the original wine is balanced and not too green.' Here are two older Sauvignon Blancs from Seresin, one of Marlborough's leading producers. Both have aged well; the 2002 is very stylish indeed, the 1999 more 'interesting'. Seresin...

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New world Chardonnay: Chilean Chablis, Australian Burgundy

2009-10-29T19:36:00.003Z

Perhaps a slightly naughty title, but here are two fabulous new world Chardonnays, one very much in the style of Chablis, and one in the style of a Puligny Montrachet. Chardonnay's star is waning (can stars wane, or just the moon?), but I think that it's a serious grape variety and deserves a bit more respect. Maycas del Limari Unoaked Chardonnay...

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New Douro 2007 - a thrilling vintage

2009-10-28T19:33:00.005Z

Today was the long-awaited New Douro 2007 tasting, where we finally got an in depth look at the 2007 vintage in the Douro. It was held in the spectacular east room on the seventh floor of the Tate Modern (the view is above). 2007 is a very exciting vintage with some lovely wines. And its interesting to see a diversity of styles, too. You'd be hard...

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Recently on the main wineanorak site

2009-10-28T09:19:00.002Z

Some recent additions to the main wineanorak site:Collelungo, Ricasoli, and Palazzino: three more reports on my Chianti tripChinese tea: a masterclass in the art of teaOdfjell: one of Chile's top wineriesPortal: Douro producer reviewedMicroterroir: Vi�a Casa Silva's research projectColares: tasting old wines from this unusual Portuguese region2007...

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A truly beautiful NZ Pinot Noir

2009-10-27T18:59:00.004Z

I just love this wine. I suspect there's something special about Pinot Noir from the Wairarapa (Martinborough) region: when I visit NZ again early next year, I'm going to pay a visit to explore further. Martinborough Vineyard 'Te Tera' Pinot Noir 2008 Martinborough, New Zealand 13.5% alcohol. Beautifully focused with elegant cherry/berry/spice...

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Not wine, but tea

2009-10-26T20:13:00.003Z

Instead of a glass of wine, I'm drinking some tea. It's Flowering Dragon Eye Tea from specialist importers JING. It's certainly the most visual brewing experience I've had: the hand tied balls of green tea open up in the pot to reveal flowers - in this case, a pot marigold in the base, an arch of pure jasmine blossoms and a globe amaranth flower...

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Stunning Champagne: R&L Legras

2009-10-26T19:08:00.004Z

This is a wonderful Champagne, from R&L Legras in Chouilly. It's a pure Chardonnay, and possibly the best fizz under �30 from anywhere. Champagne R&L Legras Brut NV Very warm, aromatic, toasty nose is beautifully perfumed and quite profound. The palate is precise and taut with high acidity and real complexity. Lovely focused lemony fruit...

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Walks with the hound

2009-10-26T10:10:00.004Z

It has been a lovely autumn so far in west London. Lots of gentle late-season sunshine, with above average temperatures. Great for walking the dog. When I was persuaded that getting a dog was a good idea, just over three years ago, I never realized quite how much it would change our lives. The mutt in question, Rose the Labradoodle (RTL) is a...

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Some serious Riesling

2009-10-25T23:12:00.004Z

I know how incredibly boring it must be to keep hearing the same message repeated here ad nauseum: Riesling, when it is done well, rocks. And Germany just seems to do it so well. I love it, as do most wine trade people. It seems that the average consumer remains to be convinced, though. But this is a serious Riesling, made in a dry style, and it's...

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Great value Shiraz, part 9

2009-10-24T18:51:00.002Z

I just keep coming across affordable examples of the wonderful Syrah grape that have loads of personality and interest. Here's one from Spain that has some of that lovely meaty Syrah character to it. Actually, it reminds me a bit of the Porcupine Ridge Syrah from South Africa. Hacienda El Espino 1707 Syrah 2007 Alamansa, Spain 13.5% alcohol, 3...

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Wrestling with tannins

2009-10-23T19:31:00.003Z

Regular readers of this blog will know that I have a strong interest in the language of wine. I find it fascinating that in the wine trade we frequently share our own private, conscious experiences of specific wines with others. This, of course, requires that we develop a vocabulary for describing the taste and smell of wine (although I do know...

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Reluctant mechanic: the power of the internet

2009-10-22T22:51:00.005Z

I'm a reluctant mechanic. It's not one of my core skills. But my 12 yr old younger son recently spent some birthday money on a second hand mini-moped. It had a problem: the pull-start mechanism had sheared, damaging the bit it engages with on the engine. I had to act. Through the internet, I found out that the bit referred to is known as a...

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Two fantastic Syrahs from Great Southern

2009-10-22T12:53:00.003Z

Great Southern is a region in Western Australia. As the name suggests, it's in the south of the state, and it's one of Australia's coolest wine regions. These two Syrahs are very cool-climate in style, and they're fantastic. Both wines are made with fruit from the same vineyard by winemaker Andrew Hoadley. This is what he has to say about La...

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Cheese, a great NZ Riesling and a great restuarant

2009-10-21T22:27:00.005Z

I'm currently sitting at my desk, eating a simple tea of bread rolls and Comte cheese, drinking an understated, rather elegant New Zealand Pinot Noir (Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2008, Marlborough, New Zealand). Cheese and bread is understated as a meal. But you get all you could want from it: deliciousness, calories (cheese is...

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Parker and neuroscience

2009-10-20T21:40:00.003Z

Thanks to fellow blogger Tyler Colman for bringing to my attention an interesting post by Jonah Lehrer on his blog The Frontal Cortex. He argues that the sensory limitations of the human brain make a nonsense of a serious belief in the 100 point scale. He states: The underlying assumption behind such point scores is that the taste of a wine is...

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