Routine is Routine…Why change it if it’s not broken?
I have managed to complete my weekly tasks of tastings & writing in a time when my change of scenery would give me reason and cause to not worry about it for the time being…
That however would be cheating myself from the challenge but also the promise I had made to myself.
"I am going to be as productive, if not more productive in lockdown as I had been previously in my entire life."
There was no reason why I couldn’t get it done, so I did it because I’m loving what I’m doing and it’s keeping me mentally sharp.
And so to tasting…
Being given free run of your Father’s wine collection is a dangerous level of authority to have in your hands
“With great power, comes great responsibility”
I want to try wines that are accessible but are also, available and easy to locate.
This is something I’m going to focus on going forward from week 7; a wise lady gave me some really good feedback which is,
“I’m enjoying this video but I’m not invested because I can’t taste the wine with you…”
I would like as many of you as possible to try these wines along with me and see if you can taste and enjoy what I am doing with the wines, so I will post the wine a week in advance and see if we can get as many of you tasting along with me;
Next week's wine will be "Marks & Spencer 2018 Fleurie" - a wine that I have never tried to my knowledge and something I am looking forward to!
But this is for another day… let’s cover this week’s wine!
THE WINE
Corder Family Vineyards
Cool Climate Pinot Noir
Elgin Valley
2014 Vintage
£19 – Commandeered from Martin Bloomer’s Cellar
MY NOTES
Colour: Pale Ruby to Pale Garnet
Nose: It’s a close fought race but the strawberry jam notes pip the more savoury qualities in the nose, the aromas are not heavily prevalent. Even the mushroom & clove notes are slow to appear and are very light in touch. Raspberry and Cherry present as a final flourish but the nose is delicate and restrained
Palate: Acidity is lower than expected and the wine has an unmistakably savoury note to it which, makes it eminently approachable - full strawberry and raspberry red fruit character, the age & the terroir of this wine is more apparent on the palate. Jam like fruit flavours are not over intense, and unlike it’s NZ brethren this Pinot is balanced if not a little thin now from its age. Clove, Mushroom & Light Leather linger on the palate but the finish is quick. Toastiness is maybe there but this could be a bridge too far in writing liberties...
Verdict: I enjoyed this wine, it was easy drinking and precise. I think it may have lost some of it’s more deeper characteristics with time or maybe this wine is supposed to be this way and more aimed towards a lighter / aperitif style of drinking. Still a great wine and well worth the hunt around my dad’s cellar.
PAIRING
I’m not in my normal environment currently, this wine would probably have me reaching for a cheese board and a bottle of white wine to warm up with before making something with a couple of duck legs I have in the freezer.
I couldn’t get past the idea that this wine would work very well with fattiness and something with oil & garlic to it, because the Acidity in the wine yearns for counterbalance.
As it was – I was kindly gifted a wonderful jar of Wild Garlic Pesto and one of my favourite things to make at home is Gnocchi. So comfort food, flavour and serendipity intersected with exactly that, Homemade Gnocchi, Wild Garlic Pesto & Spring Greens (for added healthiness).
It’s exactly what I wanted and maybe the Genoese amongst you will be rolling your eyes at the idea of a Pinot Nero instead of a Barolo or Barbaresco but trust me it worked wonderfully.
The Acid met richness and fattiness of the Oil & Cheese – the garlic high notes met the fruit and neither clashed aggressively. The texture of a light and fluffy Gnocchi is hard to beat with a wine that is equally light in style too but with enough personality to hold its own.
All the best
Goose
PS - Don't Forget to Eat & Drink With Love, it's pretty much all we've got now...and Golf (sic)