The Tasting Sessions

Our expert Hugh Baker provides a Cracking commentary on the wines from our launch event. We discovered on the night that blindfolding our guests can also produce inspired literary material.

They say removing visual stimuli heightens the senses… something we are both fans of.  This sensory enlightenment worked so well on Mark Heywood, we asked him to be our “special” contributor for the evening. Marks deliciously descriptive tasting notes conjur up all the right images for a great bottle of wine… they really had to be shared with you all.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Champagne Henriot Brut NV served to start

Wine 1: Mas Mudigliza Grenache Gris VDP des Cotes Calalanes, Roussillon 2006

Hugh: Very pale straw colour, with a hint of green.  Very fresh and dry, minerally (think sucking a granite pebble) and herby (think rosemary), even very slightly salty.  Guillaume suggested green almonds – I’ve never tried them but can only imagine he’s right! A unique chance to try a wine making the absolute most of a rare indigenous French grape, and would be excellent with sushi and sashimi.

Mark: Gorgeous start, talk about opening with a bang. Green mineral taste with astonishing freshness – what my Dad would call a cheeky little off-the-shoulder number.

Wine 2: Pouilly-Fuisse Verget Terroirs de Vergisson Clos du Martelet 2005
Paired with a sliver of yellow tail sushi with wasabi stem

Hugh: Pale straw in colour.  A classic white Burgundy taste: ripe apples from the Chardonnay, a touch of vanilla from the oak, a soft acidity tempered by malolactic fermentation.  Lighter than many white Burgundies, and delicious with seafood.

Mark: V is for Vanilla. Lovely light creamy white burgundy. Very punchy, very cool.


Wine 3: Mercurey Chateau de Chamirey 2002

Hugh: A bright, ruby colour.  Quite pale, still with youthful, purple rim despite being 6 years old.  Packed with red fruit like red cherries and raspberries, but with a touch of spice – one person suggested star anise which is spot on.  Surprisingly alcoholic at 13.5%, but well integrated and balanced.

Mark: Pinot Noir haunts my dreams – fat, red fruit with a very silky balanced taste and a hint of spice. The type of wine your mother warned you about – it will lead you astray given half a chance. One haunting sniff and you are hooked.

Wine 4: Mas Mudigliza Grenache Noir, VDP des Cutes Catalanes, Rousillon, France 2006
Paired with a Miso Duck Breast with kumquat compote and onions salad

Hugh: Inky, opaque, a gothic purple wine.  By French standards, big in-your-face fruit (black plum, even prunes) and highly alcoholic (14.5%) – this due to the ripeness of fruit from a sun-baked Mediterranean coastal location.  Unlike New World wines irrigation is not allowed which increases the concentration of flavours, and gives this wine its spicy character.

Mark: Shrink me I want to dive into this glass. Gorgeous thick purple colour with a knock’em dead nose you can smell a mile away. Think of a girl you know who looks amazing without makeup because this is what this wine is – gorgeous, simple, unadorned, in your face natural earthy beauty. Massive alcohol, hint of baked fruit and tannins to go all the way. Like Mardi Gras in Rio as my new best friend described it – he’s dead right, it rocked, big in every way – have you got the stamina?

Wine 5: Chateau Monbousquet St. Emilion Grand Cru Classés 1999

Hugh: A lovely deep ruby colour, with a brownish tinge at the edges (from the age).  All the classic Bordeaux characters are here: spice, leather, cigar box and cedar over a base of ripe, dark fruit.  There is a note of vanilla from the oak too.  Absolutely delicious, a real treat.

Mark: Makes you question everything you think you believe in and seriously messes with your world order. It shouldn’t be allowed to be this good. Ravishing colour and long, long legs. The aftertaste lingered for ages. I can still taste the deep smoky black fruit – and for the first time in ages actually wanted a cigar. What wine is all about, buy it, drink it, love it. You can never go back.