Wine Tip

Posted by: rodwsmith on 07 May 2004

Some of you may know that I'm in the wine business (writing, lecturing etc).

I note that quite a few of you are into wine - there is an obvious synergy between it and hi-fi - so I thought I'd pass on a hot tip for a steal of a wine.

Casillero del Diablo VIOGNIER from Chile, 4.99
If you know anything about wine then I can tell you this tastes like a top Condrieu at circa £20.
If you don't, then it's a fantastically well made example of a tricky white grape with the right balance of fruit, acidity and a hint of oak.

It won't age particularly, Viognier generally doesn't - and if it did I'd be buying several cases, and probably not sharing the info.

It's from an experimental vineyard and the producers (Concha y Toro) didn't know which of their many "brands" to put it in, so the first two vintages went under the cheap (but good) C d Diablo range to garner press attention (which it has).

Drawback - they only made 4000 cases (not a lot). All exported to the UK, they sold 3000 of them to Safeway(!), and 1000 to Oddbins.

Safeway is actually a good place for wine at the moment. The new owners (Morrissons) have reduced the range and are selling off the surplus, heavily discounted. A close friend of mine has the unenviable task of phoning up his suppliers to say "sorry, no more" just before his redundancy..!

All the best

Rod

PS I know that touting for work on a board such as this is probably off-limits, but if anyone wants to hire a master of wine for private/corporate tastings or advice, please come to me first...
Posted on: 30 July 2004 by dvdkeogh
Rod thanks,

I bought a bottle of this to take to a party a little while ago but in the end it wasn't opened :-(... Think I might have to buy some more very soon.

Dave
Posted on: 23 August 2004 by Derek Wright
Rod

In your first note on this thread you said
"It won't age particularly, Viognier generally doesn't - and if it did I'd be buying several cases, and probably not sharing the info."

By when will the wine have gone past it's very pleasant and enjoyable state.

Thanks for the tip - my wine cred locally has improved drastically by introducing this wine to friends <g>

Derek

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Posted on: 23 August 2004 by rodwsmith
Derek

I'm glad (and surprised) that it continues to be available, and happy that you are still enjoying it.

Viognier is a grape variety notably low in acidity (like Gewurztraminer) and it is this that prevents the wine ageing particularly well. Over the course of about a year (depending on temperature of storage) the wine will lose its freshness and become slightly more "baked" tasting. It won't be in any way "wrong", just different and probably by then time to look for the 2004 vintage, which I fear (for all the reasons I gave at the beginning) will be either more expensive or less good.

I will of course let you know of any more bargains I come across. In fact I can already: Capcanes MontSant Garnacha Rosat (Rosé) from Oddbins, 5.49. A real stunner of a bone dry rosé.

Most - almost all in fact - rosé is a home for black fruit that has gone wrong in some way (mildew as often as not). Very few places and producers take it seriously, but the Spanish lead the way. I think because of its excellent ability to accompany food of varying temperatures and styles (paella after all is shellfish and chicken). Garnacha (Grenache) is also the best grape for rosé.

Santé

Rod
Posted on: 23 August 2004 by count.d
quote:
Over the course of about a year (depending on temperature of storage) the wine will lose its freshness and become slightly more "baked" tasting


Yikes! I better get drinking our forty bottles then.

P.S. I can't find it in the shops anymore.
Posted on: 23 August 2004 by Derek Wright
Rod

Thanks

and Count.d
down in the decadent south there are a few bottles around

Derek

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