Ad Bibentum

Ad Bibendum

18th May 2008

This was a wine merchant I came across via a book of Belgium suppliers. It pretty much turned out to be the top Belgium non French based source of great wine. They have a shop in Brussels but the heart of business seems to be via direct internet sales supplied from their warehouse in St Trudien. It was here that we headed for their Spring Wine Tasting. The company is the creation of two brothers, Johan & Bjorn Monard. They are from a big wine family as there father is famed as the best importer of Bordeaux in Belgie.

www.adbibendum.be

Australian Whites

Rolf Binder
Helios Semillon
Barossa Valley
2007

As the label suggests this is a 100% Semillon from one of the better Barossa producers. Oaky new world modern style with creamy nose. The expected toasty vanilla flavours are supported by a apple and lime. OK. 7/10. €11.01.


Frankland Estate
Frankland River Region
Western Australia
www.franklandestate.au

Isolation Ridge
Chardonnay
2006

Lighter more refined nose. Hints only of cream. More forward on the taste with too much oak influence. Too much creamy ice cream. OK. 7/10. €14.52

Cooladerra Vineyard
Riesing
2007

A much better Riesling from the Western Australian producer. Classic petrol nose. It sounds a bit strange but petrol is a good and typical nose for Riesling. Good citric fruit on the taste. Full flavoured and good layers that develop in the mouth. Very good. 8.5/10. €15.37


Leeuwin Estate
Margaret River
Western Australia
www.leeuwinestate.au

Art Series
Riesling
2006

From a well known winery and the famed Aussie Art Series range. This is 100% Riesling and although I am normally a fan of the style I wasn’t that impressed with this. Closed unresponsive nose but this may be because of the youth of the wine. Some gooseberry hints which is not normally a Riesling trait. Tarty. Well made but not my idea of a Riesling. 6.5/10. €14.64.

Prelude Vineyards
Chardonnay
2006

This is from the second tier label from the winery. The nose suggests a more citric feel than one dominated by new oak. The oak is more richer on tasting. Good substance. Forward. Lacks a little elegance. Good. 7.5/10. €22.75

Celebratory Blend
Chardonnay
2005

This 100% Chardonnay is a limited edition made especially for Ad Bib to make their 10th anniversary. 7000 bottles only produced. More noticeable oak on the nose. Full of typical new world flavours with tropical fruit, pineapple mango. Creamy soft style. Good balance and complexity of flavours. Very good. 8/10. €35.70

Art Series
Chardonnay
2004

Restrained elegant nose. Hints of flavours, oak and tropical fruit, but in restraint. Thick creamy texture. Darker hue than many of others. Tropical fruit on taste. Long complex finish. Oak layers also there but in balance. Built to develop over the next 10-20 years so still very young. Very good/ excellent. 8.5/10. €59.84.


Pierro
Chardonnay 2001
Margaret River, WA

Known as one of the top WA Chardonnay. Tropical fruit abound on the nose here. Gooseberry and pinenut come through in an intense fruity hit. Oak is also in appearance and a good creamy texture laps through. Very good. 8/10. €44.77

Artevino

Antevino

Achterstraat 140
2980 St. Antonius (Zoersel)
T: +32 3 340 89 49
F: +32 3 340 89 48
info@artevino.be

We attended a wine tasting as a present from Nancy’s brother, and headed off with Nancy’s Mum and Dad. The wine shop is housed in a smart newly built premises. Talking to the young owner he started the business when he was 17 and its now slowly expanding. It has a good coverage and mainly stocks less well known wineries and some more unusually areas as well. We did go on a Saturday afternoon and with the same person pouring the wine and also managing the shop it was a bit stop and start but we weren’t in a hurry.

Maankloof
Chardonnay
2004
Western Cape
South Africa

This was the opening wine and was very much a special offer, 20% off at the moment. Full on oak nose that blasted past any other flavour. The taste was similarly over extracted. You could almost taste the oak chips. A wine for people who don’t like wine! Rubbish. 6/10. $5.50 (with current 10% off)

McPherson
Chardonnay
2007
Victoria
Australia

I thing after this one he realised that we weren’t great fans of new world Chardonnay (Nancy excepted). This was a considerable improvement than the first. Oak is still there but some fruit does come through. Full of tropical mango, pineapple and a touch of grapefruit. A bit too much fruit and too forward. OK. 7/10. €7.49

Mount Nelson
Sauvignon Blanc
2004
Marlborough
New Zealand

Light almost water coloured. Fruits coming through include grapefruit and gooseberry. The sharpness is really evident. Acidic but in balance. Tropical flavours and a tangy edge to it. The winery here is controlled by Antiriori, the famed Tuscany house. Not my favourite style but again good to ok. 7.5/10. €13.29

Pfaffl
Wien 1
2006
Vienna
Austria

This is most unusually an Austrian white wine blend, this being made up of Riesling, Gruner Veltiner and Pinot Blanc. Light and crisp. The nose has some clan fruit but has much more subtly and elegance. Hints of the tell tale petrol give away the Riesling. Mineriality and citric fruit with a finish of apple. Very good. 8.5/10. €9.53

Viña Trewa
Syrah Reserva
Maule Valley, Chile
2003

This Chilean Syrah was rather disappointing. It was full on the nose nd had a tannin prelude but then flatten out very quickly. Weak and dull. 6.5/10. €7.68

Raka
Biography
2005
Stanford
South Africa

This a new winery but already seems to be winning awards. Its owner is Piet Dreijer, who was originally a fisherman, Raka being the name of his first boat. His wines are made by Daniëlla van Rensburg. This is 100% Shiraz. Deep but clear red. Spice and pepperon the nose. Dark fruit with a good structure. Some tannins to hold the fruit on. Very good. 8.5/10. €14.69.

Raka
Figurehead
2004 Stanford
South Africa

This is a mainly a Bordeaux blend, lead by 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, and then Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the key difference is that it has 14% Pinotage. Much more openly fruity. Spicy nose. White pepper. Some tannins to add to the complexity. Good. 8/10. €13.25

Pérez Cruz
Cot Limited Edition (Malbec)
2003
Maipo Valley
Chile

Cot, or Malbec as its known outside of France, is normally championed across the Andes in Argentina so its unusual to see from Chile. It shouldn’t be as this was a fine and complex wine. Floral and full of herbs and spice. Good complexity. Very good. 8.5/10. €15.48

Tishbi
Shiraz Estate
2005
Zichron-Yaakov
Israel

I was intrigued by the wine from this winery as had never tasted Israeli wine beforeand was very happy when our hosts opened a bottle for us to taste. Dark. Tight red cassis fruit. Cherry. Spicy and black pepper. A good body and enough tannic structure to be a good food wine. A pleasant surprise. Very good. 8.5/10. €18.80.

Back to Perpignan

Last week it was back to Perpignan for a few days. I worked down there for 10 months last year but haven't been back since February. Much the same as when down there before. The rebuilding of the old cinema in the centre hadn't got much further. It is the oldest cinema in France and is meant to be being renovated but I really haven't seem much change in the lasy year.

I stayed in the centre and eat out a couple of times, once to an old friend and once to a new restaurant.

Tuesday it was the the famous Casa Sansa, of which you can see previous posts. I went with a French colleague and he was also suitably impressed. Had the rack of lamb. Yum! Had a new wine that was there choice of the month, last year there monthly choice remained unchanged for whole of my time down there.

L'Esprit Singla
Domaine de Besombes
Cotes du Roussillon 2004

Dark deep red. Blackberry brambly nose with a richness of cream. Tight chewy big food wine. Dark bitter cocoa. Am not sure of the cepages but imagine Grenache is in the main. Very good. 8.5/10. 18€ in restaurant and 7.95€ in Carrefour.

The other one was Le Gastro, also in the centre but this time the otherside of the small river that runs through Perpignan. Not seen before so assume its new. Seemed very good. Busy but staff all friendly. Had the fixed 25€ menu consisting of a mushroom and fois gras salad, and the duck breast.

Am back down again in a few weeks and looks like I will need to be down roughly one week a month.

Great Chablis

I'm in Belgium all this week. Working from home but its really enjoyable to gain or the extra time that that enables. No travelling time to work. And I can go running at lunch time. A certain golden retreiver seems to be enjoying it as well. Though her snoring can cause a bit of embarrisment when taking important calls!

I have done many wine postings for a while but I have a few which will go into a later blog but here is one from tonite.

Domiane Pagnier
Chablis
2006

Chablis is just to the north wesy of the main Burgundy region and though it shares the grape, Chardonnay, it needs to be much more steely , minerally, and less oaked. I really like it especially on warm summer evenings. And being a very warm summer evening I picked a bottle up from Carrefour. Grippy intense fruit, apply nose. Great body and substance. Long and a god layer of fruit. A very good Chabis and will be heading back to get some more. 8.5/10. 10.35€. Carrefour (GB) Geel

Busy running & mtb

Just coming to the end of an extended weekend as both Thursday and Friday were holidays in Belgium. Monday isn't so will be back to work tomorrow. The weather has been mixed, Thursday and Friday nothing special as you will see below but Saturday and today are very nice. Busy doing both running and cycling.

Thursday we did the Abdijtocht, which is a 15 km cross country run between the old Abbeys at Averbode and Tongerlo. These to abbeys are historic and are many centries old, but are still in use and inhabited by white clad Norbertine monks. Averbode was founded in the 1100 abd is dominated by its Baroque church. An hour before the run the heavens opened and it poured with rain. We sought cover under the archway along with several hundred others. The run goes through the very muddy woods around the abbey heading north to Tongerlo. The crowds weren't as big as expected due to the rain but still big enough espeially when we went through the centre of Westerlo. The race ended up at the abbey at Tongerlo, also founded in the 1100 but now more well known as the original source of the local Tongerlo beer. It was a really enjoyable run and I finished in 1 hr 9 mins and Nancy in 1hr 15 mins.

Friday the weather was a bit more settled and I went out mountaining biking in the afternoon. Back in the same area that was running the day before and following the 20 km green route I got very muddy but it wass great fun.

Saturday we had the annual Osterloo race, which is held in the village we live in. The start is only 200m from the appartment so no logistical problems getting to the start line. The weather was this time a bit too hot as well in to the 20's. I ran with Nancy, who was trying to beat her position last year when she was the 3rd women home. She got one place better this year and came 2nd, about 2 minutes behind the first place.

And today a bit more leisurly though we will take the bikes out this afternoon and cycle to Nancy's parents. We that the plan any way.

Antwerp 10 miles

Starting to settle into live based perminently in Belgium. While I am still working away 9some where in Europe) for some of the week I do at least get Friday working from home in Geel. One of the side benefits of this is that I can spend more time on getting the fitness level up.

On the subject of fitness Sunday saw us running the Antwerp 10 miles. It was one of the many events one in Antwerp that day focused around the Marathon in the morning. The 10 mile was in the afternoon and we got there in plenty of time and had a relax coupleof hours enjoying the warm spring weather before the start. Good mainly flat run. The main exception was the noval idea of the two road tunnels that we had to run through, both under the Schalder river. The thing about tunnels is that the down hill bit is first and then you have the climb back to the surface again. The middle part of the race is through the cobbled streets of the old town, and the good weather ensured a big turnout of spectators.

The time were great, a combination of not being overly fit, the weather and the tunnels. I finsihed in 01:18 and Nancy in 01:24. The biggest problem with the day was the Antwerp transport system which ground to a halt trying to get everyone out again.

To see photos etc click on link www.inganterp10miles.be

Grant Burge

Grant Burge
Barossa Valley
South Australia
http://www.grantburgewines.com.au/

Grant Burge wines have been in existence since 1988, but the family have been growing vines for much longer and the Burge website proudly exclaims that Grant is the 5th generation to make wine. These days he has some 200ha and produces a wide variety of wines headed as expected by Syrah. The majority of the top wines are named after the vineyard from which the either wholly or partly come from.

The wine tasting was at Australian Fine Wines in Lier, Belgium on 29th March 2008.

Pinot Noir Chardonnay
NV
Methode Traditionelle

This sparkling wine is sourced from grape on in Eden Valley. Toasty nose. Though champagne styled it is lighter and without the distinctive bitterness. But that is not to say it is too fluffy. Good acidity. Good balance between old world and new world styles. Very good. 8/10. €17.95.

Barossa Vines
Semillon
2004

The Barossa Vines is the everyday range of wines. This Semillon is sourced from with Barossa. Sweet lemon nose. Touch of petrol plastic give it a slight Riesling style. Fresh and good body to the wine. Very good. 8/10. €7.50.

Barossa Vines
Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
2006

This is a blend of the two white grapes sourced from the Cameron Vale and Lily Farm vineyards. The Sauvignon really takes over giving it a big new world personality with driving tropical nose full of mango and pineapple. The tropical fruit burst carrys through on the taste. Too much in your face fruit for me. OK. 6.5/10. €7.95.

Barossa Vines
Riesling
2004

I can’t find this referred to on the website. Big petrol nose. Bit too much as the petrol hints that are typical for Riesling are meant to be hints not a trip to the garage. Some apple fruit comes through in a second wave. OK. 6.5/10. €7.50.

Zerk
Semillon Viognier
2004

Mainly Semillon, the grape are sourced from the Zerk vineyard in Barossa. These are old vines dating back some 70 years. Good toasty nose. Tropical fruits and lemon, but smooth and much more elegant than some of the earlier wines. Long complex finish, and a refreshing level of acidity. Very good. 8.5/10. €10

Summers
Chardonnay
2006

The majority of the Chardonnay is from the Summers vineyard in Eden Valley, and rest from the Adelaide Hills. Big oaky styled wine. Full on creaminess. Loads of tropical fruit but has a good level of acidity to add some structure and shape. Not my favourite style but well made. Good. 7.5/10. €12.25.

Kraft
Sauvignon Blanc
2006

Again this is in the major from a single vineyard, Kraft, right in the centre of the Barossa Valley., but demand has also lead to additional grapes being sourced from the Eden Valley and Adelaide Hills. Another big tropical wine. Full of mango, gooseberry and passionfruit. Ends with a hit of apricot. Full on wine but is very well structured and has very good finish. 8.5/10. €12.25.

Lilly Farm
Frontignac
2006

From 20 year old vines in the Barossa. Fontignac is a local south of France name for Muscat. Good elegant light floral nose. Good Rivesaltes styles aperitif, which it is modelled on. I would say stick to the really stuff though. Good. 7/10. €8.25.

Barossa Valley
Cabernet Merlot
2006

This is a blend of 68% Cab and balance Merlot from various different Barossa vineyards. Peppery nose. Good body and build. Black fruits, brambles and black current. Pepper again on the finish. Good well delivering wine. 7.5/10. €9.45.

Barossa Valley
Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre
2006

The classic Aussie blend known as GSM. Good easy sweet nose. Very inviting. Delicate perfumed. Good fruits and lighter tannins. Drops a bit on the finish. Good. 7.5/10. €9.45.

Barossa Valley
Shiraz
2005

Classic Barossa grape. Earthy nose. Harsher more rural feel. Grippy tannins. Really hints centre of the tongue. Pepper, dark cherry, cassis. Bigger wine and works well. Very good. 8/10.

Barossa Valley
Shiraz Viognier
2004

Another classic blend with in true Rhone style a touch (10%) of the perfumed Viognier is added to take some of the harshness from the Shiraz. More earthy nose and a sweeter, more fruitier style. Good.7.5/10. €9.45.

Cameron Vale
Cabernet Sauvignon
2004

This is from the Cameron Vale vineyard located between Lyndoch and Williamstown in the south of the Barossa valley and the vines are all over 30 years old. Interestingly a touch of Shiraz is also added. Salty sea nose which was not to be expected. Then black tight fruits with a good wack of tannins. OK. 6.5/10. €12.75.

Hilcot
Merlot
2005

Merlot is not the most common Barossa grape but this vineyard was planted in 1982. Light easy wine with touch of oaky vanilla. Grow through tasting and good undercoat of spice. Elegant and refrained. Red fruits. Good. 8/10. €12.75.

Miamba
Shiraz
2005

100% Shiraz from the Miamba vineyard, again at the south end of the Barossa. Slightly closed nose. Then opens up with soft red fruits. Some spice but not overly exciting. OK. 7/10. €12.75.

Filsell
Old Vine Shiraz
2005

This is from 100 year old vines from one of most acclaimed vineyards in the Barossa. Concentrated intense. Big oaky hits. Big muscley but harsh and tough. Big dry tannins. Spice Christmas cake Chocolate. Chewy and built for red meat. Very good. 8.5/10. €18.95.

Adegnego
Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre0

2002

This is the first of the top Icon range. All the fruit is from the Barosssa and all is old vines, including 110 year old Grenache. The split is 39% Shiraz, 35% Grenache and 26% Mourvedre and it has seen 17 months in french oak and a further 2 years matured in Burges cellars before release. Smooth and elegant. Complex undercurrent of flavours. Big intense spicy menthol nose. deep cherry flavours. Long and intensive sweet finish. Excellent. 8.5/10. €39.

Balthazar
Shiraz Viognier
2003

Mainly Shiraz with just a touch of Viognier all sourced from Eden Valley. Clear bright red brown colour. Slightly earthy nose. Smooth easy drinking as is smoothed out by the Viognier. Dry finish. Lacks a bit of personality. OK. 7/10. €21.95.

Holy Trinity
Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre0
2002

Old favourite of mine. Again all old vined grapes again with oldest well over 100 year old. Again a light red colour but this time a much more intense and bigger earthy Rhone like nose. Good mix and layer of flavours. spicy and touch of fruit cake. Touch of salty finish. Good level of tannins. Excellent. 9/10. €21.95.

Meshach
Shiraz
1999

From the oldest best vines from the Filsell vineyard in the Barossa. fermented and then matured in oak barrels for 20 months. This is the top wine from the winery. Big wow nose. Concentrated fruit. Chocolate, Christmas pudding, spice and pepper. Tight but well structured tannins. Long intense finish. Excellent. 8.5/10. €60.

All in all a very good tasting through one of Australia's finest big producers.

Arrived at new home in Belgium

Now offically living in Belgium.

Brought the last of my things from my house in UK including the bear.....

More Cadman wines

I have been backin England for the last week or so, which has made a change. Not for much longer though. The fortnight has two main objective, first to kick start my new European role and secondly, to complete all the things needed to be done to move to Belgium. Been busy getting my house ready to rent out and sorting out the tax impact of the move. Lots to do ahead of drivig over on Friday.

And I'm still not over the footie last night.

On the wine front a few more notes from the box of wines that I mentioned in the last post.

Domaine de la Prose
Embruns Blanc
Coteaux du Languedoc St Georges d'Orques 2003

This wine hales from the very south of France. The Coteaux appellation is a large area that covers the areas of Languedoc not already snaped up into their own appellations. The top villages can place their names on the labelas well, hence is wine is fom the village of St Georges. The wine is made by Bertrand de Mortillet. Its a blend of classic south of France wine grapes, Vermentino, Roussane, Viognier, Grenache. It pours to a deep viscous yellow gold. Big concentrated taste. Full of thick tropical fruits and touch of old honey. Big wine but am not sure where it is aiming for and to me it doesn't quite work. Bit strange. 6.5/10. £8.99.

Kopparossa
Unwooded Chardonnay
Coonawarra 2004
Austarlia

The winery takes its name from a combination of the former region of Koppamurra and the terra rossa soil on a disincte limestone ridge that runs through the region. This is a straight forward unoaked (good) chardonnay. Light tropical fruits. Easy, light and vry drinkable. Good straight forward Chardonnay. 7.5/10. £9.99.

Le Serena
Rosso di Montalcino
Tuscany
2004

Rosso is the second wine from the town of Montalcio, the top being the rightly famed Brunello, which produces some of Italy's greatest. The winery makes both, using the same Sangiovese grape. I am normally a grat sangiovese fan but this didn't quite work for me. While it had the typical deep but clear red colouring and a big tannic introduction it seems to be missing any complexity. The ending ws dull and flabby. Not impressed. 6.5/10. £13.49.

And one more wine this time not from Cadman.

Reserve des Tuguets
Madiran
2005
France

Madiran is one of those famous old appellation in the southwest located between Bordeaux and the Pyrenees. The classic grape from the town is Tannet, and here its combined with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Brooding murky dark red. Beefy, brambly nose. Black fruits, touch of mentol. Chewy teeth gripping tannins. Long complex spicy finish. Built for red meat. Very good challanging wine. 8.5/10. £4.99 (from £8.99) Tesco.