Wines to go with duck from Giles Kime are 2004 The Maverick Chenin Blanc (7.99; Majestic), 2003 Tim Adams Shiraz (9.99; Tesco), 2002 Tesco Finest Californian Reserve Viognier (4.99), 2002 Lizards of Oz Reserve Malbec (6.99; Asda) and 2003 Fitou Les Quatre (8.99; Waitrose).
Read more...VICTORIA MOORE discusses the French habit of serving wine by the pichet. She recommends 1997 Chteau les Ormes de Pez, St-Estphe, (15.50; uk.chateauonline.com) and 2000 Chteau la Vieille Cure, Fronsac (14.99; Sainsbury's). On what to match with curry, Moore likes 'the junipery fizz of a gin and tonic', believing wine isn't made for curry. Nevertheless, she likes Viceroy White (5.99; wineforspice.com).
Read more...Joanna Simon wants to start a 'one-woman campaign to persuade growers worldwide to give the Mansengs a go' -
Read more...JONATHAN RAY follows in the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson and discovers Virginia, 'America's fifth-largest quality wine-producing state'. He comes across the 'appetising-sounding Scuppernong grape', and with '100 registered wineries' and an ongoing investment in wine tours, Virginia, ventures Ray, 'might just be the next big thing.' His wines of the week include 2004 Zamora Zinfandel, California (6.99; Marks & Spencer).
Read more...JANCIS ROBINSON MW tries to avoid a hangover with a push for less alcohol in today's wines. She has noticed the beginnings of an 'uprising [against high levels of alcohol] among thoughtful wine producers', but is unconvinced by most of the techniques that have been tried so far. But perhaps Grard Gauby of Roussillon has found a solution. His Muntada wine used to be just short of the 15% mark, but 'since 2000 he has been completely biodynamic. And now his wines taste quite different just as flavourful but with more acidity and less alcohol and obvious sweetness.'
Read more...RICHARD EHRLICH has never had dinner with Jancis Robinson MW, Susy Atkins, Joanna Simon, Jane MacQuitty, Kitty Johnson, Susie Barrie or Sarah Jane Evans, but he reckons if he did the wine waiter would probably give the wine list to him. Yet 50 or 60% of most wine is bought by women.
Read more...Everyone loves hidden treasures, and MATTHEW JUKES has a few bottled secrets to share: 'Random though they are, they're also world-class, delicious and highly sought after.' Two examples are 2003 Chteau La Hase, Bordeaux (7.95; Lea and Sandeman)
Read more...It's a geography lesson from JOANNA SIMON, and Coonawarra is under the spotlight: 'If you ever feel it doesn't matter which Australian brand you pick off the shelf, because they all taste the
Read more...JAMIE GOODE relishes the chance to come up with some fruity partners for a jam butty. Two to try would be 2003 Red Rock Shiraz/Grenache/Pinot, Victoria (5.92; Asda) and 2004 Finca Flichman Tanguero Reserve Malbec, Mendoza (5.99; Unwins).
Read more...MATTHEW JUKES continues to follow Jamie Oliver around Italy this week and suggests a few 'slightly richer and fuller-bodied wines' to accompany the likes of pizza and risotto. His selection includes 2003 Monferrato Rosso, Le Monache, Michele Chiarlo, Monferrato (8.49; Oddbins) and 2003 Valpolicella Classico Ripasso, Veneto (5.99; Marks & Spencer).
Read more...JAMIE GOODE seeks out the best wines to suit Japanese cuisine. His first choice is 2004 Devils Rock Riesling (4.49; widely available): 'Wines like this are in danger of making German Riesling popular again. No, really.' He also picks 2004 Tesco Mcon Blanc Villages Chardonnay (4.99): 'This is a crisp, fresh all-rounder with a nice hint of lemon and apple and a minerally edge. You could match this with almost anything.' His last selection is Villa Maria Private Bin Gewurztraminer (8.25; Waitrose): 'With a sweet, musky smell of grape and melon, this remarkable white couples a rich texture with lovely fresh fruit.' n
Read more...RICHARD EHRLICH is confused: 'I just don't know what to believe about the state of Britain's beer industry,' he says. In his opinion, beer and food matching is a good promotion, and 'there is just as much potential for matching food and beer as there is for matching food and wine'. To help this trend along, selected CAMRA pubs are serving up a series of sausage-and-mash dishes with a beer to match, and Ehrlich
Read more...'Who can argue with more booze for less money?' asks ANTHONY ROSE. With prolific discounting in supermarkets, 'one shopper in five has become a "deal junkie",' he comments. But this isn't without its dangers for the industry, and some companies, such as Majestic and Waitrose, have introduced a better breed of promotion. Rose thinks other retailers would do well to follow their example, commenting: 'Isn't emphasising value and quality better than going for the lowest common denominator?' For splashing out at the weekend, Rose recommends 2003 Quinta do Vallado Douro Reserva (19; Noel Young Wines).
Read more...'Forget the propaganda,' says JANE MacQUITTY, supermarkets do indeed have 'tasty, distinctive, characterful wines, occasionally cut in price, from small to medium-sized producers, that can compete with similar fare sold by fine wine merchants'. And if you don't agree, you obviously haven't tried the 2004 Tesco Finest Pinot Grigio, Isonzo del Friuli (5.99) or 2003 Yering Station Shiraz/Viognier (9.99; Sainsbury's).
Read more...'The Roussillon is currently the most exciting wine region in France', according to TIM ATKIN MW. Grard Gauby is credited with proving the potential of the appellation, and Atkin comments: 'His wines aren't cheap, but they deserve to be compared with the best of Bordeaux and Burgundy.' Recommendations include 2004 Domain du Clos des Fes, Les Sorcires (9.69; Oddbins Fine Wine) and 2002 Domaine Gauby Vieilles Vignes Blanc,
Read more...Reconstructed lad TIM ATKIN MW used to indulge in the 'Vindaloo Challenge' while at university: 'Six of us went to an Indian restaurant and ordered the hottest curry on the menu. We then placed an ice bucket full of cold beer on the table and started eating. The first person to reach for a sip of lager paid for the meal.' Joking aside, Atkin points out that very few of the 8,000 curry restaurants in the UK 'have decent wine lists', and that a common listing is Piat d'Or, 'which tells you all you need to know'. After chatting to a number of sommeliers, he admits that the next time he braves a Vindaloo Challenge, 'there'll be a bottle of German Riesling Kabinett in the ice bucket'.
Read more...It's 20 years since TIM ATKIN MW started writing about wine. Asking himself whether he is still excited about wine, he replies that 80% are unremarkable (or worse), 20% are worth writing about and, of that, maybe 5% 'make me want to dance on the spot'. Three of the latter are 2000 Tesco Finest Barolo (12.99), 2003 Domaine Tournon Mount Benson Shiraz (14.99; stockists from Mentzendorff) and 2004 Verdicchio Marotti Campi, Marche (7.19; Oddbins).
Read more...It's fashion week for JANCIS ROBINSON MW as she takes
Read more...JANE MacQUITTY is also loving Argentina and asks why 'British drinkers still treat its wines with suspicion'. Malbec is Argentina's 'strongest suit', and this becomes all the more apparent to her after the recent Wines of Argentina tasting - 'Gone are the rustic Malbecs of a decade ago, and in their place are gorgeous, chunky, rich reds.' Her top-end choice is 2003 Lurton Brothers Chacayes (34.95; Robersons), moving down the price range to 2005 Catena Argento Malbec (4.99; Sainsbury's).
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