This was a packed seminar and many were unable to get into it and stood at the back. Julie and Jose talked about connections between varieties and showed slides of GV and Syrah family trees, and yes both are Pinot related and there are other surprising connections.
Parents of GV are Savagnin and St Georgener, but there’s only one known vine of the latter although it’s been propagated with the first vintage due in 2016 so we tasted two GV. That sole St Georgener was later vandalised but managed to survive, and Jose showed us photos of before and after. The before showed a sprawling vine that looked like an abandoned wild vine.
Tatomer, Meeresboden Gruner Veltliner 2013, Santa Barbara County – Full bodied rounded soft smooth with spicy finish, some planted 2008 and others grafted onto old vines in 2011, half aged in 500 litre barrels.
Alois Hollerer Alte Reben Gruner Veltliner2014, Austria – spicy, soft acids approachable and concentrated from 50+ year old vines. Whole bunch pressed, stainless steel fermented aged in 1,500 litre Austrian oak barrels (this wine was donted by a LIWF stand whne they planned 1999 vintage GV didn’t arrive in time.)
and two Savagnin (Savagnin=Traminer=Gewürztraminer=Heida)
Dom des Muses Heida Tradition 2012 Valais Switzerland—Heida means ‘very old’, Fresh rounded and smooth, all stainless steel, no oak treatment. Good acidity giving vibration to this wine.
Dom des Cavarodes, Ostrea Virgula Savagnin 2012, Jura, France – Biodynamic, aged on lees, a ‘natural’ ‘orange’ wine aged on its lees. Funky, woody, ugh.
Parents of Syrah are Mondeuse Blanche and Dureza. There’s been a huge increase plantings of Syrah/Shiraz: 50 years ago it was the 35th most planted variety worldwide, now it’s the 6th most planted variety. There’s only 5ha of Mondeuse Blanche planted worldwide, though more’s being planted as a result of discovery of its family connection with Syrah. There’s one vineyard of Dureza, planted in 2010 and 2014 was the first vintage with 110 litres made. This is the very first public tasting of varietal Dureza.
Philippe Grisard, Mondeuse Blanche 2013, Savoie France – 2,000 bottles made, aged in lees. Slight apricot aromas, soft ripe, full bodied, rich and fat in the mouth, lacking acidity and finishes short. Has parent/child relationship with Viognier, some similarities in mouthfeel.
Pascal Jamet, Dureza 2014, Ardeche, France. -- Light bright purple colour, lot of spices with white pepper. You can see Syrah in it. Chewy with big tannins, taut linear – l’d like to see it with a bit more age, this is a tank sample.
Yves Gangloff, La Sereine Noir 2011, Cote Rotie, France – Sereine is an old synonym for Syrah. 4,500 bottles made, aged two years in 228 litre barrels, unfined and unfiltered. This is a big sophisticated linear Syrah with restrained fruits and pepper. Very nice.
Henschke, Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2010, Eden Valley, Australia. Planted in 1912 this is the oldest continuously produced single vineyard in Australia. Finished off in 300 litre hogsheads this has a strong sweet violet perfume and taste with a spicy finish. I find it to concentrated and overpowering to want to drink more than a glass.
A standout Masterclass that was my No. 1 priority at the LIWF and I am very pleased I managed to get in to it. The word ‘unique’ is appropriate for this tasting. I wonder what varieties will be chosen for 2016.
The world's first bottle of varietal Dureza -- the name is handwritten on by the winemaker for this tank sample.