4th December 2022: The SWAS Christmas Quiz/Tasting

"Fine Whites, 2010 Reds and Christmas Treats"

The SWAS Christmas Quiz and Tasting was hosted this year by Bill & Lindsay in Worthing.

The SWAS Christmas Quiz

The Quiz was set this year by our 2021 Winner, Christopher, on the theme of "A Box of Varieties". Family Vos swept the board with their knowledge of wine grapes of the World, Peter was first, closely followed by Sioned. The prestigeous 'Daphne Hunt Memorial Trophy' was duly presented to them for safe keeping for yet another year!

Bill & Lindsay's 2022 SWAS Christmas Tasting on the theme of "Fine Whites, 2010 Reds and Christmas Treats":

The Whites:

1. 2017 Domaine Begude 'Arcturus', Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon, France; Chardonnay; 13.5% abv; Sourced from Majestic for £40

Notes (from Majestic for the 2020 vintage): "As this is made only in the best vintages, from a single organic plot, just 700 bottles are produced each year. Luckily, we bought the entire vintage just for you. If this had 'Puligny-Montrachet on the label, you'd be paying a three-figure sum. Its harmoniously integrated layers of cream, toasted oak, pineapple and mango won 91 Decanter points and was described as a ''golden pleasure'' by Jancis Robinson MW."

2. Les Plantanes d’Henri IV; Santenay, Burgundy, France; Chardonnay; 13.5% abv; Sourced from Majestic for £37

This is made on a magnificent 9th century estate that's named after the first Duke of Burgundy, Philippe le Hardi. He, interestingly, became famous when he banned Gamay from the region in 1395. Today, this is the hub of environmentally friendly, excellently produced wines, like this Santenay. It's rich, ripe and complex, with notes of stone fruits, vanilla and honey. Serve lightly chilled with Camembert.

3. 2011 Stephane Otheguy, Condrieu; N. Rhone, France; Viognier; 13.5% abv; Bought at Auction (currently priced at up to £60)

"A Viognier that needs time. Tight just now (in 2017) but showing stone fruit, apricot, a touch of honey"

4. 2017 Chateau de Chassagne-Montrachet; Burgundy, France; Chardonnay; 13.0% abv; Bought from Majestic

In the southern part of the Côte de Beaune Chassagne-Montrachet shares with Puligny the uncontested title of the prince of the world’s dry white wines: the divine Montrachet. This fine, broad hillside brings out the very highest expression of the two Burgundian grapes - the Pinot Noir and the Chardonnay, which grow here side-by side - such is the complexity of the region’s soils! Extensive marble quarries, which form a kind of cliff face, were the source of the pink and beige flagstones which went into the building of the Trocadero in Paris and more recently the Louvre Pyramid. The Chassagne- Montrachet AOC dates from 1937. It includes some plots in the neighbouring village of Remigny which share the same soil conditions.

The Reds:

5. 2010 Villa di Capezzana; Carmignano, Italy; Sangiovese; 14.0% abv; Bought from The Wine Society for £17 in 2016 and retrieved from storage in the SWAS Cellar.

Villa di Capezzana Carmignano is a deep ruby red color. Elegant with notes of red and dark fruit with spicy aromas. Well structured, with rich, concentrated flavors of currant and wild berries set against a backdrop of silky tannins. Outstanding served with roasted or grilled red meat, lamb, polenta, mushroom risotto and semi-hard cheeses.

6. 2010 Abeille-Fabre S Rhône; Lirac, France; Grenache/Syrah(?); 14% abv; Bought from Majestic for £11.99.

Lirac is an appellation of 795 hectares (1960 acres) of terraced and hillside vineyards on the western side of the Rhône river, approximately 10km (6 miles) north of the southern French city of Avignon. Wines from Lirac are generally a classic regional blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and Cinsaut and these full-bodied, red wines make up 85 percent of production here, with rosés accounting for 5 percent and whites the remaining 10 percent.

7. 2010 Château Peyredon “Lagravette”; Haut Médoc, France; 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot; 13.5% abv; Sourced from The Wine Society.

This rich and dense wine is packed with dark tannins. Its wood and juicy fruit show signs of firm extraction, giving it a bitter edge. At the same time, its dense structure promises medium-term aging.

8. 2011 Cavas de Weinert Cask Selection; Argentina, Mendoza; 40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot; 14.5% abv; Sourced from The Wine Society (currently priced at £25/bottle)

Lovely traditional-style wine, a blend of 40% malbec, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot, aged in large oak vats for nine and a half years until soft and mellow. With a soothing mature register of flavours - tobacco, cedar and leather, this has some similarities with Musar and Rioja reservas but with its own Argentine twist.

9. 2010 Château Pierbone; Haut-Médoc, France; 68% Cabernet Sauvignon. 32% Merlot; 13.5% abv; Sourced from The Wine Society for £14.95.

From the superlative 2010 vintage, this is a perfectly ready-for-drinking blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon and 32% merlot. With deep colour and an appealing cedar and leather bouquet, the wine has lovely balance, despite the heat of the vintage. Smooth, satisfying claret.

10. 2009 Weingut Pittnauer Ungerberg; Burgerland, Austria; Blaufränkisch; 13% abv; The Wine Society (2010 vintage priced at £26/bottle)

Fully mature blaufränkisch from Gerhard and Brigitte Pittnauer. The nose shows a wide variety of aromas of dark plummy fruit, forest floor, pepper and leather, with a 'wild' note. The palate is a joy; medium-bodied with savoury flavours, coffee, tobacco and sweet black-cherry. This is one for lovers of northern Rhône wines.

Dinner Menu:

"Lindsay's Lasagne" followed by a Selection of Seven Cheeses and two of Bill's Puddings: Tarte Framboise et Amande (Bakewell Tart) and Le Désert des Paysans Anglais (Bread and Butter Pudding) 😁

Dinner Wine:

11. A Magnum of Mas Jullien 2011 Terrasses du Larzac; Languedoc, France; Carignan, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Grenache blend; 14% abv

Olivier Jullien easily avoids all the pitfalls into which Languedoc wines often fall. Its wines do not hide behind an illusory richness in alcohol or aggressive tannins. The Coteaux-du Languedoc - Terrasses-du-Larzac is a fresh, complete and complex wine whose aromas of black fruits and supple tannins make it a very pleasant wine to drink and able to last a few years in the cellar.

Spearheading the Languedoc wine revolution, Mas Jullien was created by Olivier Jullien in 1985. Located in Joncquières, north of Montpellier, the estate covers 18 hectares. By identifying his soils and using native grape varieties, Olivier Jullien has been able to raise his estate to the highest level of excellence producing fine, subtle and perfectly balanced wines. The vineyard is worked in an environmentally friendly way, it was even certified in organic farming for a time. Olivier Jullien produces superb wines recognized and sought after by amateurs and professionals alike. He has undeniably succeeded in raising his estate to the top of the appellation.

Christopher kindly provided a bottle of 2005 'Authentis' Petit Meslier Duval-Leroy Champagne and, as well as a bottle of a 10-year old Taylor's Tawny Port, Bill very generously opened a bottle of an old Bargylus Syrian wine and a half bottle of a 2001 South African Straw Wine to be enjoyed by all...!