Frustrated by publishers who couldn't handle the concept of a cross-genre book, Philippe set up his own company 'Wine Destination Publications' to get this recommended Champagne travel guide on the shelves. I agree with his comment that "wine tourism publications (is) a market sector that has... been largely ignored." I guess narrow-minded wine specialist or travel guide publishers thought book retailers wouldn't know where to put it in the shop - under wine, travel or restaurant guides? Anyway, who cares: this is rather useful if you're going on a trip to Champagne. Enthusiasm for and years of experience of the region's wines, historical insights, travelling tips and maps, where to eat and stay; it contains plenty of information without being too long and is good read too. Perhaps a little pricey at £18.99 but at least Philippe will be the main beneficiary (after the bank no doubt), rather than a huge indifferent publishing company. He also has plans to release Destination Bordeaux and others in this series. Available "from all good bookshops," as the flyer says: further info from www.destinationchampagne.com
15 September 2005
02 August 2005
Aldi Greek wines
Could do much better. These wines aren't very recommendable: not terrible but rather average. I've tasted more characterful Greek wines - admittedly more expensive than their £3.99 price tag. The reds are generally over-oaked and a little bitter; the white is probably the best one of the four. Anyway, here goes... tasted August 2005.
Click here for Aldi Posh wines - more like it (page temporarily missing).
2003 Goumenissa red (Xynomavro Negoska 12.5%) - Goumenissa is the region by the way. The 'best' of the 3 reds: still a tad unripe in the background but this is fruitier, rounder, less oaky and more 'winey', even if a bit basic. £3.99 80
2004 Mantina white, Peloponnese (100% Moscophilero 11%) - Pleasant enough aromatic floral v nutty oily fruit, mineral touches and freshness on the off-dry finish. £3.99 80
2003 Naoussa red, Macedonia (Xynomavro 12%) - Spicy cinnamon oak covering, pleasant enough but lacks fruit and body, finishes a little tart as well. £3.99 75
2003 Nemea red, Peloponnese, Nemea valley (Agiorgitiko 12%) - A bit less oaky than the Naoussa showing better depth of fruit and roundness, but still somewhat non-descript. £3.99 77
01 August 2005
Mountain Valley - Montenegro
To be brutally honest, the reds in this range go from average to pretty good but the whites are a waste of space, at least the samples I tasted - see my comments in each of the tasting notes. All the wines come from Plantaze's vineyards in the Lake Skadar region, located between the Adriatic coast and surrounding mountains (hence the name no doubt). With a bit of work in the vineyard and winery (and on the pricing), I'm sure we'll be seeing more and better from Montenegro. Tasted August 2005:
2004 Chardonnay - This wasn't good: faulty winemaking or something has left a heavy handed sulphur character; and that bitter finish implies unripe grapes and/or too much skin contact or badly acidified wine. No chance at £5.49. Under 70
2004 K white (11.5%) - Clean towards neutral and, like the Chardy (although not as marked), sulphur dominated with a bitter finish. 75
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (12.5%) - Simple 'Vin de Pays' type showing black cherry / currant fruit, soft-ish palate v dry coating on the finish. OK but at £5.99... 80
2004 Sauvignon Blanc - Not faulty at least, this is just about OK with some floral and citrus characters; but too boring to ask £5.49 for it. 75
2004 Merlot (12%) - Attractive enough Merlot style offering spicy biscuity plum fruit, reasonably fleshy mouthfeel with light bite of tannins. Again not bad but put it up against a Merlot from France or Chile at the same price... 84
2003 V red (Vranac 12.5%) - Similar soupy rustic style to the Vranac but richer and riper, shows quite good depth of fruit although, for me, the finish becomes slightly rough after a while. £7.49 84
2003 Vranac - Not bad at all actually: maturing rustic leather aromas with nice peppery undertones, fairly smooth and ripe finish. £5.49 85
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