Personal wine guru for the evening
Searching the internet, I came across an interesting trend from England. Decanter .com’s Adam Lechmere reported that a new, London-based company is cashing in on a booming new trend – private wine-tasting parties for well-heeled wine-geeks.
Taste-in, which bills itself as a ‘completely new way to entertain and impress at home’ has persuaded some of the UK’s most prestigious wine professionals to host its up-market home tasting service. Steven Spurier, Oz Clarke, Michael Broadbent, Tim Atkin, Charles Metcalfe, Robert Joseph and Joanna Simon, wine celebrities all, are on the company’s books.
With two services, the Classic and the Fine & Rare, Taste-in will deliver a wine celebrity and a tailored flight of wines (‘limited only by your imagination’ in the case of the five-star Fine & Rare service) to your door, for prices starting at £1,200 for 12 people.
The company’s founders, PR professional Sophie Jump and journalist John Stimpfig, reckon they have a ‘slick and simple’ service. ‘Once your tasting has been defined, the rest is up to us’ their brochure says. They are also confident, with suppliers like Majestic, Harrods, the Wine Society and Berry Bros lined up, that they can supply any wine the customer specifies. ‘If they want to taste a range of minerally Chardonnay, for example, we’ll get eight different ones from around the world,’ Jump told decanter.com.
She added that the impetus for the start-up came from two important trends – the continuing aspirational interest in wine in London and the influx of wealthy ‘new Europeans’ settling in the capital. ‘With the widening of the EU there are huge numbers of people coming to live here who want to absorb British culture – and wine is an important part of that culture’.
The Sunday Times’ wine critic, Joanna Simon, said the idea of doing an informal tutored tasting at home was the most attractive part of the deal. ‘You might still be entertaining clients, but the fact you are doing it at home and not in an anonymous hotel makes it far less formal’.
Date for your diary
La Maison du Vin, the new exclusive agent for the premium Australian wines Penfolds, and the Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel will hold a five-course Gastronomic Gala in the presence of wine maker Justin Knock. June 3 £30 per person including wines. For reservations: Maria Demosthenous, Tel: 26 829601, Fax: 26 829602 email [email protected]
Wines of the week
Marios Kolios once said that he has invested a lot of money in a business which, he hopes, will keep his children in the village. Well, with the standardisation on quality that characterises his wines I would say his children better be prepared for village life. The ex apple-tree grower, has stuck to the same grape varieties and blending techniques that established his winery. I have recently tasted three of his wines a white varietal, a red varietal and a blend.
2005 Persefoni Kolios Winery Pafos Region, Alcohol Volume 11.5%
Based on Xinisteri grape, this dry white had a successful 2004 vintage. The 2005 does not disappoint fruity, low alcohol Xinisteri fans. It is a faint, straw-like yellow in colour with a distinctive hue. Odd but not unpleasant perfumed aromas. Xinisteri grapes of 2005 are white flowers, green apples, pears and a whiff of almonds. Light in the mouth, fresh and acidic, balanced with the flavours consistent with a pleasant finish. Served at 7?C with feta cheese and tomato-based salads, fried vegetables and seafood. A silver medal winner at the 1st Cyprus wine competition and meal winner at the 6th International Wine competition in Thessaloniki.
2003 Ayios Fotios Kolios Winery, Pafos Region Alcohol Volume 13.4 %
This red is a real Cypriot blend of indigenous grape varieties Maratheftiko (40%), Mavro (40%) and Opthalmo (20%). Medium intensity in colour, young with purple tints, with natural scents of herbs that linger on the hillsides of Ayios Fotios, fresh red fruit, violets. Well structured, medium body, if a bit one dimensional on the palate, slightly acidic with some untamed tannins lurking, medium aftertaste. Served at 16? to 18? C with typical Cypriot lamb tavas, and grilled herb-scented lamb or beef. Both Persefoni and Ayios Fotios are considered good value for money.
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Kolios Winery Pafos Region Alcohol Volume 13.8%
The flagship of the winery made from the noble varietal of Cabernet Sauvignon. Inky, dark garnet colour, clear edge. Black pepper and red fruit aromas on the nose with light gamey quality and an odd but pleasant whiff of black olives over the intense peppery Cabernet. Jammy black fruit flavours on the palate, firm tannins present, with a good acidic structure that becomes apparent as it crosses the palate. Black fruit and that intriguing black olive character persist in a long finish.
