IWSC: Top Biodynamic Wines

Biodynamic wines have made their mark at this year’s IWSC. One of the finest is Riesling Sélection de Grains Nobles 2017 from Domaine Albert Hertz in Alsace, France. Scoring 96/100 pts, the judges loved its aromas of honey, ginger and butterscotch, as well as its “firework display of fresh acidity”.

Another first-rate performer was Fattoria La Vialla from Tuscany, Italy, which scored 93/100 pts for its Occhio Di Pernice 2012 Riserva, impressing with its “superb intensity of red cherries and salted-caramel character”…article continues ..https://www.iwsc.net/news/wine/top-biodynamic-wines

#wine #biodynamicwine #redwine #whitewine #winelovers #IWSC #riesling #frenchwine #italianwine #instawine #winetasting 

Just in time for summer – Kendall-Jackson launches a low-calorie chardonnay

Kendall-Jackson is launching a lower calorie variant to tap into the ‘lighter wines’ category in the US.

Starting in May this new offer will be under the Kendall-Jackson brand.  Did you know that Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay has been the most popular Chardonnay in the US for over 26 years?

This low-calorie chardonnay will be called “Avant” is only 85 calories, has no sugar, and has 3 grams of carbs per serving” according to the producer.

This new low-cal wine contains 23% fewer calories than the standard Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay, based on a 150ml serving of wine at 14% abv, which contains 111 calories.

Kendall-Jackson winemaker Randy Ullom explains, “An initial harvest of grapes picked on the earlier side ensures lower sugar. A secondary harvest later in the season offers more complexity and concentration, which complements the wine, producing a full-bodied blend that’s structurally balanced and delicious, yet lower in alcohol and calories.”

Like the Vintner’s Reserve, the Avant Chardonnay is aged in oak barrels to bring a touch of vanilla to the wine, which is described as tasting of “grapefruit, pineapple, creamy lemon meringue and delicate white flowers”.

The 9% Chardonnay is also vegan-friendly and comes with an RRP in the US of $17.

Jackson Family Wines highlighted the commercial potential for this new wine by noting that the ‘lighter wines’ category had grown by 90% in the US in 2020.

Results of the “First Rosé Selection” by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles

The results of the first Rosé Selection by Concours Mondial de Bruxelles were released last week. The high number of entries for this first-time event proves its relevance for both producers and consumers.

Over 1,000 rosés were tasted in ‘lockdown’ and in full compliance with safety measures. The organizers hosted the four days of tastings with irreproachable professionalism. Strict safety measures were ensured throughout, from the lay-out of the tables to serving the wines and disinfecting the equipment.

In addition to the silver, gold and grand gold medals, the competition also awarded ‘revelation’ trophies to rosés that scored the highest in their category.

2021 Vinolok Revelation (Best competing rosé): La Madrague, Cuvée Charlotte / Côtes de Provence, France

2021 Medium-Dry Rosé Revelation: Vinia Traian, Cabernet Sauvignon / Cahul, Republic of Moldova

2021 Fortified Wine Revelation: Domaine du Chêne, Rosé / Pineau des Charentes, France

2021 Sparkling Wine Revelation: Matisak, Méthode Traditionelle Rosé Dry / Sekt, Slovakia

2021 Spanish Wine Revelation: Jaume Serra, Pinot Noir Cuvée Especial 2016 / Cava, Espagne

2021 Portuguese Wine Revelation: Sogrape, Inspirações Rosé / Bairrada, Portugal

2021 Italian Wine Revelation: Cantina Terzini, Rosato / Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo, Italy

Traditionally, rosé has been popular in spring and summer – this has changed. Rosé consumption year-round has gained traction in many countries across the globe, for numerous reasons: Rosé is fresh, accessible and multi-faceted; It lends itself to many different occasions, from the aperitif to al fresco drinking and mealtimes; It can partner with an extensive range of cuisines, particularly global cuisine, which is also extremely popular at the moment, including sushi to spicy foods and tomato sauce-based dishes.

View all the results here: https://concoursmondial.com/en/results/

#rosewine #pinkwine #winelovers #wine #instawine #winetasting #winenews #vin #roseallday #vin #sommelier #sparklingwine #wines #frenchwine #allday #provence #wineporn #drinkpink #cheers #wein #pinkwine

 

Gordon Ramsay launches his own brand of California Wines

Gordon Ramsay has built his reputation on being exuberantly critical of other people’s cooking—but pleasing the celebrity chef with your wine pairings just became a whole lot easier – he launched his own wine brand.

“Gordon Ramsay Signature Wines” are crafted by their namesake chef in collaboration with winemaker and Master Sommelier Chris Miller at Seabold Cellars in Monterey, California, where the wines are produced. The online shop at GordonRamsay.wine – which is the only way to purchase bottles outside of at Ramsay’s U.S. restaurants – launched March 10 with eight offerings: 2019 Rosé, 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, 2018 Chardonnay, and 2018 Pinot Noir, all from Monterey (priced at $20, $25, $30, and $35 respectively), a 2018 Chardonnay Reserve from Sonoma County ($45), and three 2018 Cabernet Sauvignons from California ($28), from Santa Cruz Mountains ($45), and a Reserve from Napa ($60). Bottles can also be purchased in three seasonal shipments as part of “The Ramsay Wine Club” which features additional discounts and other perks.

Ramsay partnered with Miller in 2018, aiming to make high-quality, old-world-style wines he could serve to complement the food at his restaurants. “It’s a little surreal for our humble little winery to be working with someone as prominent as Gordon,” Miller told Food & Wine. “We’re excited to share these wines with both his fan base and wine enthusiasts alike. We hope the introduction of this project creates an opportunity for more people to experience or be introduced to California wines, and that it will yield a greater appreciation for the quality and diversity of the wines produced here.”

Only a few hundred cases of each bottling are being made, with total production pegged at a mere 2,000 cases. The brand says they “source our grapes from sustainable and organic-practicing vineyards” and use minimal intervention winemaking: “native yeast fermentations, no ‘adjustments,’ restrained use of oak, little-to-no fining or filtration, and responsibly minimal sulfur usage” for final products that are “balanced, complimentary with food, and always 100 percent vegan.”

“Passionate winemakers in California’s cooler climate regions are producing delicious, balanced wines, and my time in California has convinced me that Californian wines stand with the best in the world. Christopher Miller is a master of his craft, so working with him has been amazing,” Ramsay told us via email. “Wine is a complex marriage of art, science, and tradition all captured together in a glass, and I am very excited to join in that tradition with Gordon Ramsay Californian wines. Until now the wine has been served exclusively at my restaurants in Las Vegas and Tahoe, so I’m very excited it’s now available to anyone to enjoy with a delicious meal or on its own with friends and family.”

Beyond additional winemaking details and tasting notes, the Gordon Ramsay Wines website also features at least three complementary recipes for every bottle, from options like truffle

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux announces 10 cities to host “en primeur” tastings [April 26-29]

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux has announced that this year’s en primeur tastings will be held in 10 cities worldwide (which includes Bordeaux) from April 26-29.

The Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux has said that Bordeaux, New York, San Francisco, London, Paris, Brussels, Zurich, Frankfurt, Shanghai and Hong Kong will be the host cities for this year’s campaign.

As noted on their website, tastings will be held from 26-29 April in Bordeaux, with further tastings held around the world on the following timetable:

26 April: Zurich and Shanghai
26-27 April: Brussels
27 April: Frankfurt and Hong Kong
27-28 April: Paris, London, San Francisco and New York

Dedicated venues in each city will be chosen where professionals will be able to taste the 2020 wines from the UGCB’s 131-member estates, in accordance with local health regulations.

The UGCB’s president, Ronan Laborde, said: “We are incredibly committed to maintaining ties with our clients and ambassadors. Despite the restrictions in place, we will do everything in our power to ensure they can enjoy the Bordeaux 2020 vintage.”

The new dates for this year’s campaign were confirmed earlier in the year but the UGCB at the time remained unsure if it would be able to hold the annual tasting solely in Bordeaux. It mentioned that its fall-back option would be to hold the tasting in cities around the world, building and improving upon the system of sending out samples that it rushed into place last spring.

#bordeaux #redwine #winetasting #enprimeur #bordeauxwine #instawine #frenchwine #vin #sommelier #finewine #vinsdebordeaux