The annual summer tasting and garden party took place in the pleasant confines of Kevin and Aoife Crowley's garden. These are the notes from the formal part of the event.
1. Domaines de Saint-Lannes, VdeP Cotes de Gascogne
Peach and citrus nose. A big
burst of flavour, good acid, apple at the finish. Teeth-tinglingly
good at this price. 12% alc., Columbard80%, Ugni Blanc 10%, 10% Gros
Manseng. The Gros Manseng is alleged to give it the richness, depth and
complexity that it certainly has.
€8.99
2. Riesling Classic, Otto Grün, Qba, Pfalz, 2004
Green fruit, very clean.
More than a hint of sweetness at end; taut, quite acidic but it suits it.
Will develop. A good price, maybe a bit too sweet. 12.4%.
JKL Wines €12.50
3. Altozano, ,Verdejo, V de la
Tierr Castilla y Leon, 2004
Dry, apply, a bit flat after
the Riesling. Quite well put together, fruit but not so much, and lacking
the zing. John Wilson says it's best value white in the budget
category; sorry, John! 13%.
Goggins, Tesco €8.99
4. Finca La Linda, Viognier,
Luigi Bosca, Mendoza, 2005
Lovely, dolly-mixture,
honeysuckle nose, greeny gold, honeyed. Well-balanced, long finish.
Nice; would go well with sushi. 13%.
Searson €10.20
5. Semillon, Tim Adams, Clare
Valley, S Australia, 2004
Huge nose, nice yellow-gold
colour, smoky, tropical fruit, good body. Creamy custard, fruity, comp[lex;
new French oak not overpowering. Lovely. 13%
Tesco €15.99
6. Gewurtztraminer Spatlese,
Schales, Rheinhessen, 2002
Tasted blind. Too sweet
without the body to match. 10% alc.
JKL Wines €12.95