VAWC started the second half of the 2007 year with the “Flight of Fancy” tasting September 21st 2007.
We sipped and slurped our way through three flights of wine, each flight containing three varietal wines from differing regions, for a total of nine wines for the evening. Although it was hard to keep the attention of the group and tally the scores by the end of this extended tasting we did have a clear winner of the golden grapes: Chilean Merlot. Overall the red wines came out on top with the cheapest wine of the night receiving the second highest score making it the best value of the night. I myself went and bought a case of it the next day. Below is the fill list of wines together with the prices, scores and tasting notes.
All wines were provided by the lovely Frans from Quinta Wine and Liquor shop, located on the Niewe Leliestraat, just off Prinsengracht.
Flight of Chardonnay
Wine 1: Chablis
Producer:
Region: Chablis, France
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Price: € 14.85
Score: 2.4
Extra info: Fresh and fruity red wine. Nothing too spectacular little length on the palate.
Wine 2 : Bergsig Chardonnay
Producer: Bergsig Estate
Region: Breede River Valley, South Africa
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2005
Price: € 12.95
Score: 2.07
Extra info: Complex and fragrant on the nose, flavours of buttered toast, caramel and citrus, and a long, lingering finish.
Wine 3 : The Olive Grove Chardonnay
Producer: d’Arenberg
Region: McLaren Vale, Australia
Grape variety: Chardonnay
Vintage: 2004
Price: € 15.90
Score: 1.52
Extra info: Complex honey, cashew, fig. The oak overpowers the flavours of this wine. Was not one of the favourites of the night.
Flight of Pinot Noir
Wine 4 : Chorey-Les-Beaune
Producer: Domaine Maillard Pere & Fils
Region: Bourgogne, France
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir
Vintage 2003
Price € 21.90
Score: 2.64
Extra info: Well balanced wine. Bright ruby color, powerful bouquet with underlying leather tones and red berries.
Wine 5 : Fereal Fox, Pinot Noir
Producer: d’Arenberg
Region: Adelaide Hills, Australia
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir
Vintage : 2005
Price: € 24.90
Score: 2.73
Extra info: Strawberry, plum, and many different spices, including cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Nice long finish.
Wine 6 : Oyster Bay Pinot Noir
Producer: Oyster Bay Wines
Region: Marlborough, New Zealand
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2005
Price: € 19.95
Score: 2.32
Extra info: Fragrant, soft and flavourful with aromas of ripe cherries, plums. Soft tannins providing structure and length to the wine.
Flight of Merlot
Wine 7 : Bellefontaine Merlot, Vins Pays d’Oc
Producer: Bellefontaine
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Grape varieties: Merlot
Vintage: 2006
Price: € 5.95
Score: 2.86
Extra info: Ripe, plummy fruit and southern warmth with a little complexity on the finish. Great everyday bottle of wine. Second highest score of the night with the cheapest price tag makes this wine the best value wine of the night.
Wine 8 : Newen Merlot
Producer: Bodega Del Fin Del Mundo
Region: Patagonia, Argentina
Grape varieties: Merlot
Vintage : 2005
Price: € 9.95
Score: 2.55
Extra info: Intense ruby color. Aromas of spices, red fruits, raspberry, vanilla and tobacco. Soft tannins with some length.
Wine 9 : Paso Hondo Merlot
Producer: Vinedos de Canata
Region: Bio Bio Valley, Chilie
Grape varieties: Merlot
Vintage: 2003
Price: € 16.90
Score: 2.95
Extra info: The winner of the evening, well rounded and structured wine. Full of flavor, with toasted, smokey notes.