Wines in the Press: Jancis Robinson stars on Wine Library TV

Published: 18 November, 2008

Jane MacQuitty considers the benefits of the world's largest mountain vineyard and Jancis Robinson MW stars on Wine Library TV. Victoria Moore wants to see more variety coming out of Australia and Tim Atkin MW examines a shifting trend in Portugese wines.

Jane MacQuitty, The Times, Saturday 15 November 2008

Portugal may be famed for its port, but Jane MacQuitty is keen to bring to our attention the unfortified reds produced in the River Douro too. The Douro is the largest mountain vineyard in the world. "At times it is hard to see how the hotchpotch of venerable, low-yielding vines, more than 100 different varieties, grow at all in this savage terrain," comments MacQuitty. Douro's table wine potential went relatively unnoticed until the mid-Nineties, but now new equipment and the planting of new single-variety vineyards on riverside slopes yields grapes that work well blended with the "softer, more aromatic yet more sharply acidic grapes grown on the higher vineyards". A good example being the "leafy, herby spice" of the 2005 Altano Red.

MacQuitty's other top picks this week are:

? 2007 Sicilian Red, Cantine Settesoli, Italy, (Asda, £2.98).
? 2007 Chilean Chardonnay, Central Valley, Viña San Pedro (Asda, £3.17)
? 2007 Seven Canoes Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau Valley, New Zealand (Wine Rack, £11.99 or buy three for £7.99 each)
? 2005 Chorey les Beaune, Les Beaumonts, Martin-Dufour, Burgundy, France (Wine Rack, £15.99 or buy three for £10.66 each)
? 2007 Viña Leyda Lot 5 Chardonnay, Leyda, Chile (Tanners, £11.30)
? 2007 Viña Leyda Las Brisas Pinot Noir, Leyda, Chile (Tanners, £9.80)

Jancis Robinson MW, The Financial Times, Saturday 15 November 2008

Jancis Robinson recently met up with Gary Vaynerchuk, the self-made US star of Wine Library TV. Vaynerchu has attracted a cult-like following of more than 80,000 viewers a day with his zany style (he routinely pans popular wines - sometimes even ones sold by the Wine Library). His hyperactive on-screen delivery and what he calls "that possibly obnoxious element in me" have earned him the scorn of some wine purists - but in Robinson he has a fan. "Vaynerchuk's taste in wine coincides quite remarkably with my own. We both love to introduce underrated wines to independently minded wine drinkers," she says. She found a recent appearance as a guest on his show (which you can find here)"hugely enjoyable".

Victoria Moore, The Guardian, Saturday 15 November 2008

Nowadays, Shiraz represents just over 20% of Australia's annual crush, with Chardonnay taking 28%. Throw in Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Semillon, Pinot Noir and the "inevitable" Sauvignon Blanc, and you've accounted for 80% of the country's total wine output. So what, asks Moore, might emerge next? Personally, she'd like to see more Tempranillo, Bandol and Petit Verdot reds on the table. The 2006 Lehmann Tempranillo Barossa Valley springs, amongst others, to her mind. Moore would also like to see more Viognier varietals flying the flag for Aussie whites - such as Tesco's 2007 Finest Block 7A Viognier.

This week Moore is also drinking the 2007 Pléyades Shiraz Cariñena from Spain (£4.99, Asda).

Tim Atkin MW, The Observer, Sunday 16 November 2008

Fine Rioja deserves comparison with the best of France and Italy, despite its image as a cheap, easy-drinking red, says Tim Atkin. And there's something to suit every budget - from "quaffable" bottles at under £6.99 to "sought-after modern Riojas" such as Artadi's Viña El Pisón, Benjamín Romeo's Contador and Finca Allende's Aurus - up to £100 a bottle but well worth the spend. There has been an "exciting" shift in the wine making process in the region too - traditional wines do still exist, but are slowly being replaced by those darker in colour, aged in French as opposed to more aromatic American oak, and capable of ageing for a decade or more in the bottle. 2008 might not be a vintage to remember in Rioja, but while we wait to see what 2009 brings, there are plenty of wines to tuck away or, better still, drink now.

Atkin recommends Rioja's at a range of price points, including:

? 2004 Barón de Ebro Rioja Reserva (£4.99, Tesco)
? 2001 Imperial Reserva, CVNE (£13.49 each for two, Majestic)
? 2004 Muga Reserva Selección Especial (£18.19, Waitrose)
? 2003 Artadi Pagos Viejos (£25.25, Corney & Barrow)
? 2004 Finca Allende Calvario (£65, Berry Brothers)