My Glasgow Festival of Wine on June 17th was a fantastic day, with the sun shining on the city and a sell-out crowd of 325 wine lovers happily tasting wines from our 22 exhibitors that included winemakers from France, New Zealand and South Africa there to pour their wines, and the best of the UK’s wine merchants and importers.
It is such a busy day for me as the man in charge that I really don’t have time to taste and write notes on the wines, but I did manage to visit every stand and taste a few choice bottles, so I have gathered here a list of my favourites from the day: each a terrific wine with real character, and worthy of your attention!
Sparkling Wines
Cremant De Bourgogne NV, France. £7.99, Lidl
Elio Perrone, Moscato d’Asti 2016, Italy, £8.25, The Wine Society
Deseado, Brut Sparkling Torrontes NV, Argentina. £12.00, Richmond Wine Agencies
La Dilletante, Vouvray Brut NV, France. £17.99, Whole Foods Market
Nyetimber, Classic Cuvee MV, England, £34.99
Nyetimber, DemiSec MV, England, £35.99
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Rosé Millésime 2006, France. £90.00
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Blanc de Millenaires 1996
White Wines
Majestic Loves… Grüner Veltliner, 2016, Hungary. £5.99
Abellio, Albarino 2015, Spain. £5.99, Lidl
Vidal, Sauvignon Blanc 2016, New Zealand. £12.25, Hatch Mansfield Agencies
Flysch, Txakolina 2016, Spain. £13.00, WoodWinters
La Dilletante, Vouvray, France. £14.99, Whole Foods Market
Botham Merrill Wills, Chardonnay 2011, Australia. £30 for 2, Richmond Wine Agencies
Philippe Grisard, Mondeuse Blanche 2013, Savoie. £18.00, Alpine Wines
Spioenkop, Riesling 2015, South Africa. £19.00, The Wine Society
Laroche, Chablis Saint Martin 2016, France. £19.99, AdVini
Mullineux and Leeu, Old Vines White 2014, South Africa. £20.00 WoodWinters
Bodegas Ximénez Spínola, Exceptional Harvest 2015, Spain. £25.00, Valhalla’s Goat
Ken Forrester, The FMC 2015, South Africa. £25.00, Ken Forrester Wines
Riverby Estate, Single Vineyard Noble Riesling 2015. £26.00, Blackdog Wine Agency
Rose and Red Wines
Château Beaulieu, Cuvée Alexandre Rosé Magnum, 2016, France, £27.99
Iona Estate, Mr P Pinot Noir 2016, South Africa. £13.95, Vino 13
McHenry Hohnen, Amigos Shiraz Mataro Grenache 2014, Australia. £14.99, McHenry Hohnen
Weingut Christ, Gemischter Satz 2016, Austria. £16.00, Alpine Wines
Consolation, ‘Wild Boar’ Syrah 2015, France. £16.49, de Burgh Wine Merchants
Porta dos Cavaleiros, Dao Reserva, 2012, Portugal. £18.00, The Good Spirits Co
Domaine Sainte Croix, La Part de Anges 2011, France. £22.49, de Burgh Wine Merchants
Iona Estate, Pinot Noir 2014, South Africa. £21.00, Vino 13
Louis Latour, Côtes de Nuits Villages 2014, France. £21.99, Louis Latour Agencies
Clos St Thomas, Les Emirs 2011, Lebanon. £24.99, Chateau de Mediterranean
Cicero Weinbau, Pinot Noir ‘M’ 2012, Switzerland. £31.00, Alpine Wines