Lockdown Wine Tasting With Alisdair Cooper MW and Winetrust

Virtual wine tasting with WineTrust

On one of these endless evenings stuck at home, I got invited to a virtual wine tasting session with WineTrust. What a great way to break the monotony of endless reruns on TV with a wine tasting via a Zoom call. We learnt a lot about new wine areas, new specially selected wines that were new to me and to realise that there was so much more to discover in the world of wine.

Alisdair Cooper MW, the Master of Wine who curated these 6 bottles for us to try, 3 whites, one Rose and 2 reds from all around the world. You would think that these specially selected wines would be expensive but the prices ranged from £9.50 to £23. These Wine Trust curated wine selections is like having your own personal wine buyer without the restaurant prices.

Don’t worry if you missed the date, you can watch the online wine tasting session replay here and but this selection here. Better still, get some friends together on Zoom and hold your own virtual wine tasting party.

Alisdair Cooper MW

Amalaya Torrontes-Riesling, Argentina £10.50

The Amalaya is a Riesling from high-desert region of Argentina. The vineyard is high up in the mountains, growing from 1600 to 3000m above sea level, growing Torrontes grapes and some Riesling. This wine has 15% Riesling added to add some acidity.

Tasting notes:
I expected some of the distinct petrolly notes of a Riesling but there was none of that here. Instead, on the nose, you get some floral and pineapply notes. It’s very fresh.
On the palate, it’s fresh and complex. Quite delicious. I really liked this one.

Food pairing:

Goes well with Asian food, Thai flavours like lemongrass or even at a summer BBQ.

Soave Classico Superiore DOCG Vigneto Montegrande 2016, Veneto, Italy £9.50

This Soave, made by the Cantina di Monteforte in Veneto, grows grapes over 1200 hectacres in mostly south and south east facing slopes. They grow The winemaker is a Kiwi, Matt Thompson, with years of experience working in this region.

They work as a cooperative for about 600 vineyards, one of the largest winemakers in the area. In the 70’s when this wine was at its height of popularity, they expanded the DOCG production to areas outside the immediate area. The grapes were grown in areas without the volcanic soil, which of course changed the flavour profile.

TIP: When buying Soave, look for “Superiore or Classico in the name as it shows that these wines were from within the original Soave area.

Tasting notes:
This award winning wine is made with 100% Garganega grapes in Soave. On tasting, you first get the freshness honey notes and later appreciate the richness of this wine. You can keep this in the fridge for up to 3 days when the flavour changes to something even richer.

Food pairing:
This wine works well with chicken or even pork dishes in rich creamy sauces.

Greywacke Wild Sauvignon, Marlborough, New Zealand £23

Greywacke was created in 2009 by Kevin Judd, chief winemaker at Cloudy Bay. From the Marlborough wine region in New Zealand which is now producing some of the best Sauvignon in New Zealand.

Made with 100% Sauvignon Blanc grapes and uses “wild” yeast and fermented in old oak giving it complexity of flavour and texture. At £23, this is the most expensive of all the wines we tasted and deservedly so.

Tasting notes
This wine has layers of fruity flavours like mandarin skin and kiwi with an underlying hint of oak. Tim Atkin MW says “It‘s a stunning wine, combining notes of white Burgundy, white Bordeaux and Kiwi fruit exuberance.”

Food Pairing
This wine is great for creamy chickcen dishes, richer fish dishes, even oily fish.

Cotes de Provence Rosé, Chateau Miraval, France £19

This is from Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s vineyard, Chateau Miraval whcih they bought in 2009. The opinion of most celebrity vineyards is unmentionable but here, they have enabled a creation of a winning rosé wine. Riding on the surge of popularity of rosé wine in the last 5 years, this petal-pink colour rosé is one of the top favourites.

Made with a combination of 40% Grenache, 30% Cinsault, 20% Rolle, 10% Syrah, all grown organically in the Correns village in Provence. Unlike some other producers, this wine was not made as a by product of red wine but was explicitly made as a rosé.

Tasting Notes
Smells of fresh strawberries, melons, nectarine and spring flowers.
refreshing acidity, minerality and a saline finish.

Food Pairing
Perfectly matches with Provencal cuisine of course, dishes with hints of garliand soup de poisson and surprisingly good with lamb. Great served as an aperitif or with Mediterranean dishes.

Giant Steps Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley, Australia £18

Giant Steps makes wine following the natural winemaking philosophy in the Yarra Valley. The region has great winemaking history, originally grown from cuttings from Europe. Since most of the same grapes were lost to disease, Australia has kept the

Tasting Notes
Tastes of dark fruits like cherry and hints of cocoa earthiness. Best decanted before drinking.

Food Pairing
Works really well with duck with cherry sauce or any lamb dish, roast, stews even with lightly spiced Middle Eastern flavours.

Chakalaka Spice Route, Swartland, South Africa £15

This full bodied, bold red is from the most dynamic wine producer, Charles Back, in the Swartland region in South Africa. Swartland, with hot days and cool nights, is one of the lesser known wine regions but is considered one of their hottest regions now. The young winemakers in South Africa and creating some interesting wines and this is one of them.

Made with a blend consisting of 41% Syrah, 17% Carignan, 15% Mourvedre, 10% Petite Sirah, 10% Grenache and 7% Tannat.

Tasting Notes
On tasting, it has dark fruit flavours, cherry, spice, oak and cedarwood. Tastes peppery with balanced acidity. You can keep it in the fridge for about 15 minutes to chill slightly and serve at about 14-15°C.

Food Pairing.
This wine will pair well with something a little bit spicy like a chicken curry or even lamb or even a grilled steak wtih a spicy rub.

Most of these wines from Winetrust cost £20 or less and a quarter are £10 or less. WineTrust buyers like to find new discoveries and the underrated wine makers. Only wines that are marked highly by their bespoke system makes it into their shop.

Check out their hand selected range on their site: https://winetrust100.co.uk/shop/6-bottles-lockdown-wine-tasting-case/