Wines of the Week 15 April 2011
International Wine Challenge-induced delay in posting this week, but here they are:
2010 Domaine Bellegarde Cuvée Tradition Jurançon Sec, France
Latest vintage of this consistently good dry Jurançon. Fresh, sappy nose with touches of apricot and minty herbs, and a zesty palate with flavours of apple, orange and minerals. No oak, lovely purity. 13% abv.
£11.95, Yapp Bros.
2009 Hilltop Premium Red, Eger, Hungary
A juicy, peppery, velvety red with spiced-plum fruit and crunchy fresh acidity. It’s a blend of cabernet franc and cab sauvignon, with a bit of kékfrankos and merlot, and it’s from what was apparently a very good year for Hungarian reds. I can’t claim any in situ experience of the vintage, but am willing to believe it on the strength of the three Hilltop reds The Wine Society has just introduced (the other two are a straight kékfrankos and a straight cabernet franc, both £9.50). This blend is 13% abv.
£7.50, The Wine Society.
2007 Racemi Sum, Torre Guaceto, Puglia, Italy
This is a gem, made from a Puglian grape variety that was nearly extinct until Gregory Perruci decided to revive it. It’s a full-bodied southern Italian red with a sweet perfume reminiscent of primitivo and a similar sweetness of fruit, together with lots of earthy spice and nutty richness, but grippier tannins and fresher acidity. Sum is named after the truly obscure grape variety susumaniello. 14% abv.
