Tao's Summer Wines
Sophie Kiang
1. Weingut Max Ferd. Richter, Riesling Trocken 2008
Typical
German, but with 8g/l residual sugar and good acid so comes across quite
dry. Very pleasant but not sure it's worth the price. (Zeppelin,
from same maker but at €13.95, is sweeter.)
Wicklow Wines €15.95
2. San Lorenzo Verdicchio Classico di Gino, Marché, Italy 2006
Quite deep colour. Quite a
big, rich mouth feel; butterscotch or rum and butter sweets. Slightly late
harvest. This is Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi DOC and named after the
founder of Fattoria San Lorenzo. Highly commended with fish. A very nice
wine.
.Fallon & Byrne €17.95
3. Chateau de Sours, Rosé,
2007
More or less St-Emilion and
made from 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Stern backbone behind a
lovely, fruity mouth feel. Lovely. Created through the saignée method,
from the free-run juice, this is regarded as "probably the best in the
world". Sebastien Lamothe is chef d'equipe and winemaker.
.Gilbey's, SuperVallu, Centra, O'Briens
€15.55
4. Enate Rosado, Spain, 2007
Quite a lot of acid.
Different from the usual rosé quite upfront. Very nice. 100% Cabernet
Sauvignon 13% alc. In the foothills of the Pyrenees.
Febvre €15.99
5. Domaine de Thulon, Régnié,
Cuvee Vielles Vignes, 2007
Not bad as Gamay goes! (For
those that don't know me, I dislike Gamay but wonder whether it's the
grape or the maceration carbonique technique that I really don't
like.) Régnié is a recently declared cru. 12.5% alc.
Wicklow Wines €15.95
6. Niepoort Vertente, 2006
Very hot that year and early
harvest. Usually 13%, this one is over 14%. Spicy, warming, 'porty'.
40% Touriga Nacional - from 12-60 years old vineyards- along with Touriga
Franca, Tinat Roriz (Tempranillo) and 15 other varieties. Lovely.
Wicklow Wines €21.95