Articles
Reading Wine
Articles
It was tasting a wine that is even older than yourself is a magical feeling. Madeira’s unparalleled ageing potential earns a special place in the arena of aged wines, and it is undoubtedly a sensational experience to enjoy this legendary wine.
The occasion for such a time-travelling experience was a unique tasting hosted by the Hong Kong Wine Society and organized by a long-standing member Edward Smith. As usual in these proceedings, we were presented with 12 wines to taste blind so that we could record our notes, give each wine a score, and reflect upon them without the influence of their label or their year of birth. The scores were then tabulated to establish a group ranking, followed by a thorough discussion of each wine among the members present.
At a vertical tasting going back to 1997 hosted by the Hong Kong Wine Society, participants discovered not only the tremendous quality potential of this legendary wine but also how beautifully the grapes of Sardinia can age. The 12 wines tasted impressed most by how consistent their quality was throughout, especially since each vintage showed apparent stylistic differences. This last discovery was another finding we did not expect and we removed from our minds the long-lasting belief that Italian vintages do not mark wines as much as they do in more northern wine regions of Europe. We learned this lesson with wines from a Mediterranean island even more surprising. Overall, the wines showed a delightful freshness of acidity with exquisite balance and proportion. Each vintage intriguingly expressed a different personality and was equally enjoyed by all.
In a deductive tasting exercise, winemaking techniques can yield helpful, sometimes essential, clues to identify the origin of a wine, even its quality status in the hierarchy of an Appellation.
Here is a helpful table outlining the effects of these techniques on style and quality. To be used alongside the tasting notes, of course…
In the context of “Amarone Opera Prima” held last June in Verona, I had a chance to present my case for the Amarone of the future. Focusing on six emblematic producers, my aim was to convince an audience of more than 100 journalists from around the world that the region is going through a generational change and seek to produce an Amarone both as an expression of place and a symbol of excellence.
It gives me great satisfaction to have had an active role in influencing and guiding this initial stage. For me, the work of an “Ambassador” was always so much more than conducting a few masterclasses here and there. It was to be involved from the get-go with establishing an effective strategy to favour long-term success. Most of all, however, I feel privileged to have worked under the leadership of Silvano Brescianini, the President of the Consorzio.
For study purposes, I created various MindMaps (dropbox folder) showing essential information for 175 Italian grape varieties. Click on an icon below to see my study notes...
These are based on the book by Ian d'Agata, Native Wines Grapes of Italy and reinforced with added information (organoleptic properties only) from Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and Jose Vouillamoz.
Excited to announce my partnership with the University of Gastronomic Sciences - Pollenzo for their "Master in Wine & Spirits" to teach the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 Award in Wines to students enrolling in this most comprehensive program to help participants expand their careers in Europe and abroad.
For study purposes, I created various MindMaps (dropbox folder) showing essential information for 175 Italian grape varieties. Click on an icon below to see my study notes...
These are based on the book by Ian d'Agata, Native Wines Grapes of Italy and reinforced with added information (organoleptic properties only) from Wine Grapes by Jancis Robinson, Julia Harding, and Jose Vouillamoz.