England, Mum, Niece, Son but no Sun

About this time every year I travel to England...to visit my mum and my niece.

Sunday was packing day...more than enough clothes as the weather could be any type in England.

A case of wine...just enough room for the driver. 

Monday 25 January 2016
Left home at 9.30 and in Holland had some pleasant weather 
which stayed until I reached Rotterdam.
Smaller ship than normal...but same food in the Brasserie. 
A glass of Riesling and an early night. Storm...force gale 8...
which you notice more on a smaller ship.

Tuesday 26 January 2016
Had arrived at midday...and was greeted by a happy mum. Unpacked and rested.
As we sat down at the table in the Twelve restaurant my body was still racing. 
A racy riesling had been carried over and we chose the food. 

Soup for my mum and the madras cured salmon for me. 

It was light and delicious and the wine grew to love it as well. 
My mother chose the barbecued pork...which her elderly hands had 
difficulty with so I cut it up into small pieces. I opted for Mr Johnsons Duck...
he being of a farm that rears them. 
Tasty and by this time the riesling had opened and filled out. 
Alzinger Höhereck Smaragd Riesling 2011
Wachau, Austria
Delicate at first and a touch withdrawn...and the special glasses owner Caroline 
had got for us really enhanced the wine...no more thick rims.
 
It was really special to take every sip as it developed into perfection. 
Mum even took a second glass!
Points 17.5


Wednesday 27 January 2016
Went for a massage to loosen the muscles from the drive...
My niece Nathalie wanted to take us out for lunch...and we had pie and chips at a local cafe...
then back to mum's place...with Nathalies dog Pepe. 

She left at 5pm...
and we still had no plan for dinner so we ended up at 12 again. 
No pain...mum went for the soup and cod loin...
I had the corned beef salad and then the Rösti....both courses ' suggested' 
to the waitress along with others...so both surprises when they arrived.

Hirsch Grüner Veltliner 2011
Kamptal, Austria
A touch unbalanced after the unscrew...the fatness of the grape slightly dominant. 
Needed food and was fine for us both...just the memory of yesterday with the Riesling...
Points 16.5


Thursday 28 January 2016
A light lunch at the Euston Hotel...and a lazy sleepy afternoon. 
Having no chores or appointments...causes the body to worry after months of asking...
Out to...you know where...with Mum and Nathalie...and took along Pichlers M. 
Scotch Eggs and the Chicken.

F.X. Pichler Smaragd M 2005
Wachau, Austria

I havead this a couple of times(lucky me)...so alluring at this age.
Points 17.25

 

Friday 29 January 2016
Busy evening at the Twelve.
Changed our normal table as there were 'loud' children nearby. Loud meaning...

their parents just let them roam. I know from my family and friends...you let them roam
now...only yourself to blame later.
Mushrooms for starter and then the Bowland Beef

Wine had not travelled with me...but I had contacted a merchant in Cambridge

for a mixed case of this property
Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling 2003
Eden Valley, Australia

Need to try this again at home...seemed to be needing a few years still. 
Points 16.75

Saturday 30 January 2016
Bought a racing paper and watched the horses on tv...had 3 winners and was up on the day.
We decided to stay in so it was fish and chips from Seniors 'Chippy' and a bottle of
German beer from the local supermarket

Sunday 31 January 2016
We wandered across the square with a bottle of Hirztberger.
They had a Sunday menu which we chose as the choices we had not had as yet.


The goats cheese with beetroot and then the grilled Salmon.


Franz Hirtzberger Riesling Singerriedel 2007Wachau, Austria
This seemed a little fat...maybe needed more airing...cos itdid not stir the soul in me.
Points 17
 

Monday 1 February 2016
Out to a light lunch at the Shard Pub...down by the river...where we spread my 
brother's ashes 6 years ago. With the wind gusting...I helped my mum down the few steps 

to the pub...and she was shouting...'I can't see', I can't see! 
I turned to look at her and the cape she was wearing had blown over her head. So funny.

In the evening we went to the local Italian...Mimmos...and took the first red of the holiday. 
The starter of Black Pudding was a touch too much but mum finished it off. 

Nathalie and I were laughing because she had already had her Prawn with Melons. 
A shared Pizza Marinara went nicely with soft Pinot Noir.

Schneider Weiler Schlipf Pinot Noir *** 2009 
Baden, Germany

Schneider makes such attactive Pinots...young or old...the balance is always perfect.
Just a trace of strwaberry fruit...and a nice maturity.
Points 17 

The jovial waiter made for a nice evening. The wind was strong outside...
Storm Henry they are calling it.

Tuesday 2 February 2016
For some reason...could not sleep from 6am...and eventually gave up. 
We set off for Lytham and had a light lunch at a cafe called 'Fancy That'...
homemade Quiche with fresh salad...and then a piece of cake...
with the amusing name of Lemon Drizzle.

My wanted to buy her perfume...so we went to the perfum shop.
As she enetered the assistant asked if she could help. 

Mum said she wanted her favourite perfume...which is Boucheron...but she said Bergerac.

The assistant looked at me...and was going to ask...but I beat her to it...
yes I said..he is a detective..mum means Bouscheron! So funny.

Twelve again...
Pigs head...which sounds worse than it is.
Alzinger Boibenberg Smaragd Riesling 2012
Wachau, Austria
More acidity than expected...needs a year.

Points 16.5

Wednesday 3 February 2016
Shopping with my niece...lunch at the New Penny....
And our favourite Thai had opened after the staff holidays.it is in Cleveleys...called Thai Delicious.
The food had changed....the sauces seemed thicker...the wine much better.

F.X. Pichler Dürnsteiner Kellerberg Smaragd Grüner Veltliner 2009Wachau, Austria
Perfect...if only the food had been. There is gloss and spice to this...
Points 17.5


Thursday 4 February 2016
Nowhere we wanted to 'risk' so back to our regular haunt. 
The artichokes were a nice taster...and the lamb carre medium rare as ordered. 
 

Finally...I opened a Chardonnay. Kollwentz Chardonnay Taschler 2011
Burgenland, Austria
No overoaked version...headlng for streamlined...
but still asking for a few jogging years to round the hips.

A touch fat still...this always is compared to it's sister Gloria.
Points 16.75


Friday 5 February 2016
Treated myself to a massage to relax the shoulders.
We are out tonight with Nathalie and her boyfriend Adam.
Nelles Spätburgunder B52 2009
Ahr, Germany
About time for a red...and Nelles B52 never disappoints...
with it's silky palate and soft tannins...Nathalie even came back for a second glass.
Points 17


Saturday 6 February 2016
My football team...Manchester City play the league leaders at lunchtime....
so it is down to the local pub to watch on the big screen. 
They lost....to a team who could be champions. 
After the poor Thai a few days ago a takeaway from the Mews was collected...
Sea Bass in Red Curry. Maybe it is me...but we did not become friends. 
Even the Bavarian Beer failed to please tonight. Early to bed and forget the day!

Sunday 7 February 2016
Some sun and WIND. We drove to the Shard pub down by the river for lunch...
Lancashire Hotpot and Beef Suet Pudding....very British. 

Watching to two ladies clinging to each other in the wind on the way to the car was. So funny.

The view from my mum's apartment is a windmill...and it was brighter today.
A rest in the afternoon...some packing and a last date at the twelve with Nathalie and Adam.



A couple of new choices...one being a goat's cheese tart...
and I ended up with beef and Yorkshire Pudding as my mum 'stole' my Rösti.

A recent favourite Hirsch's Riesling 2011 completed the pleasures. 
I asked to pay and owner Caroline said as we had been so often...9 visits in all...
only 2 meals would be charged. Nice touch!

Monday 8 February 2016
Had done most of my package yesterday...so had breakfast and said goodbye to Mum.
I had contacted an old school friend...and stopped over for lunch to see Kevin and his wife Erica. 

From their cottage to Hull is 2 hours...and I arrived just after 16.00. 
No wait to get on the ship as I book priority( means I get off first next day). 
I had bought some food at a motorway supermarket as I always eat in the cabin on the way home. 
No way I am going to eat the ship's food twice in 2 weeks. 
Early night as we lose an hour from England to Mainland Europe. 
Finished the tasty food and captain informed us that it would blow force gale 9 in the night. 
I managed to get a couple of hours before it started.

Tuesday 9 February 2016
Somehow got enough sleepand had time to eat a bowl of porridge for breakfast. 
Left the ship at 9.30 and was home 5 hours later. 
Terrible weather though on the way back. 
Rain and aqua planning...but made it.

Italy, France & Spain

As the days get colder...so the wine changes colour. Our monthly meeting was 'pre-planned' by telephone. Volker and Robert would be bring reds...could I supply a white? Pas de problème Messieurs.

Now...after so many years collecting...there are various 'odd bottles' in the cellar. The secret of having something mature to drink is down to the amount of wines in your cellar meaning that you have something to drink without opening anything too early. Did you understand that? Good. Well... I remember the early days when I told my wife I had very little I could drink. She gazed at the partly filled cellar...and then I explained...that most have to be left alone! Those days are gone...and with 700 bottles at the last count...there will always be something for everyone at the right time. The white I took along I had purchased about 9 years ago...had tried and enjoyed...then decided to leave it a couple of years. Time flies by...and the bottle gets lost in the masses. To make sure I would not be opening an old, undrinkable liquid...I had tried it the day before...taking a small drop with my Coravin. It seemed OK...so was transported to our meeting place...Restaurant Schaab Louis. Bottle opened and I waited for the guys to arrive with their offerings for the evening.

Vie di Romans Piere Sauvignon Blanc 2004
Friaul, Germany
What can I say...just perfect. As per usual..the others have to try to guess what, where, year, grapes etc. Robert said Sauvignon Blanc...then they headed all over the world until finally arriving back in Italy. Then it was easy as Robert remembered some excellent bottles way back when. The vintage however...was more difficult...10 guesses before the only one left was 2004. To be fair...it would have been impossible for anyone...as the wine shows absolutely no ageing. It reminded me a touch of a red...drink this warmer and blind and you would be lost. Absolutely lovely drink...all components a point. Hard to describe wine...most of the primary fruit is gone but the smoke, minerality and candied character that remains is most pleasing. Beautiful, savory, creamy.
Points 18

Domaine des Grécaux Héméra 2001
Coteaux de Languedoc, France
Volker had just returned from the South of France...and had visited this property. He had been given the bottle by the owner. Even when we had narrowed our guessed to Languedoc...there was no way this was so old. 2001!  The colour alone would have stopped you even venturing a guess. Almost black in the middle...and still tight...the nose offering pencil, fruit compote...a touch ethereal. Gingerbread and raisons. The palate shows softness...with an easy tannin mix...rum top...very enjoyable surprise.
Points 17.25

Nin Ortiz Planetes de Nin Vi de la Vila de Porrera 2011
Priorat, Spain
Robert had just returned from Priorat...but did not bring this with him.
We had tasted a white from this property at a previous tasting...and Robert had told us the reds were impressive.
70% Grenache, 30% Cariñena. Fresh red berry nose...with a touch of blood orange. Silky tannins and a style more akin to Pinot Noir....which is where we started with guessing. Quite full flavoured and well integrated acidity.
Points 16.5

Next meeting early December...

Bistro Mitch

My idea of winding down from the day job...is to wander to local eateries...with a bottle from my cellar. My second eating home in recent weeks has been a Bistro that has been offering good quality for more years than I can remember. It is within staggering distance...and the brisk walk home is good for the digestion. The lady in charge is Layla...who runs the service alone. In the Kitchen is Jimmy...from Algeria. He cooks with mediterranean flair. Below are some dishes from the past 6-7 visits. As I was tired of listening to the CD's that were on offer...I took along a 'soul mix' which has hardly left the player since. Two more have followed. It seems they are also liked by other guests. So...I take my music and my own wine...even took a corkscrew once to open an old bottle. Those 'waiter' corkscrews tend to pull too one-sided at times.

One evening I met up with two friends. They asked if I wanted to join them. I was not sure...but my wife said to go ...she wanted to stay home. I called the friends and said OK...and they asked if I would bring a couple of bottles. We joked at the table that they only wanted me so that they would have something excellent to drink.

Erwin Sabathi Chardonnay Merveilleux 2009
South Styria, Austria
A wine that had been in and out of the fridge over the past few weeks.
Reasoin being...that I was afraid there would be too much oak.
Answer...get outta here you fool. Gorgeous nose...just perfect Chardonnay. The palate was more of the same..and a thrill to drink.
Points 17.75

Claus Schneider Pinot Noir Weiler Schlipf Barrique 2007
Baden, Germany
No real notes made as we were chatting and laughing.
They had been impressed by the white...no less so with this
perfectly aged Pinot Noir. Soft burnt/smoke aromas and a palate
that applauded your patience Barry
Points 17.5

Dr. Heger Spätburgunder Winklerberg 2011
Baden. Germany
Sometimes I leave a small amount in a bottle. Layla or a regular customer get to try. A few days later...a lawyer...had tried it. He had googled and seen the costs. It was originally € 30,-- but obviously cost more nowadays. What is expensive for one is a deal for another. I told him there are people who bungy jump for high amounts of money...I get my pleasure less dangerously.
This has the brittleness of youth that needs food...spiky strawberries I find is a good description.
Points 17

F. X. Pichler Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg 2008
Wachau, Austria
Lovely, lovely scent. Thick and thin...best way to describe this. Any fatness is
quickly a second thought as the zippy acidity forces you to be fair and enjoy this until the bottle is empty.
Points 17.5

F. X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg 2005
Wachau, Austria
Apricots and peaches leapt out of the glass....fatness at first...then the mid-palate showed pepper and spice. Complex and with pertfect balance.
Points 17.5

Keller Kirchspiel 2007
Rheinhessen, Germany
Ripe..sucking on yellow fruit...then orange peel. How on earth does Keller get all
this going on and with a lightness that makes it a pleasure to drink or gulp.
Points 18

Keller Hubacker Riesling 2006
Rheinhessen, Germany
Had this  acouple of days after the Kirchspiel...and it seems more top heavy and unready. Decant or leave a few years. At the moment...
Points 17

F. X. Pichler Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M 2008
Wachau, Austria
Not joking...the palate showed liquorice. Soft tobacco...so complex
and just about starting to spread it's wings. Opulent but with a fresh
acidity. Love it!
Points 17.75

Wittmann Riesling Morstein 2009
Rheinhessen, Germany
Faint petrol note...exotic yellow fruits...citrus injection...lovely balance...so easy to drink...light of foot...and a wine that I would have had difficulty with 5 years ago...my tastes are changing with age. I am becomming a Riesling freak!
Points 17.75

Sattlerhof Sauvignon Blanc Kranachberg 2007
South Styria, Austria
It is four years since I last tried this.The lonely bottle was transported by foot...and the glass stopper removed...no need to take my corkscrew.
Top property...Willi Sattler in the saddle (I like that description)...
Barrique...hhis is top cinema...a slick slider...a smooth operator. A nose that appealed and evolved...oily stones....mango...and gooseberry...but if you are looking for the razor sharp kind...please leave the room now.
You won't find them in the 'Steiermark'...and that's why I am here. This has low residual sugar levels...it is a middle-weight boxer with a light-weight's dancing feet. 'Don't dare call me fat' it says....and then defies your criticism by bouncing over the palate...great feel in the mouth...and if you only gave me one word to describe it...'glossy'.
Points 17.5

Leth Grüner Veltliner Gigama Grande Reserve 2012
Wagram, Austria
Layed-back oak...complex stone fruit on the nose. Smoky
minerals...tropical fruit...a touch of sweetness...held back by perfect acidity.
I was wary that this would be too young...but hey...as they say..if you are young enough you are good enough...or is that a football phrase (smile).
A new find for me...
Points 17.25

The Godfather of Wine

I am the Godfather of two children...one in England...Natalie...my late brother's daughter...and Merle...my wife's nephew's daughter. ( Understood?)
Her parents love fine wine...so along with Merle's older sister...we went to our favourite restaurant....La Fattoria.I refrain from saying Italian...as the kichen comprises of Moroccans. And boy...do they cook well.
We are never disappointed.
I took along two bottles...both mature.

Hirtzberger Riesling Smaragd Singerriedel 2001
Wachau, Austria
What an great smell...creamy stone fruits. Some petrol...and a touch of quince. BUT...This is bone-dry. The mineral veins have kept this lively and perfect now. Without them you would be looking maybe at a dessert-style wine. Citrus acidity...peach palate...long finish. Very lovely.
Points 18.25

Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy 2000
Tuscany, Italy
Having tried the 2008 in April...then the 2004 in early September...the chance to buy this one on Ebay was a no-brainer. Popped and poured...sweet cherries...just so elegant...leather...pipe-tobacco.Delicate silky fruit on the palate...just a trace of oak...with grainy tannins..and a lightness that makes it perfect with good Italian food.
Points 18.25

We order accross the board...and taste and exchange over 4 courses. Taboo in fine restaurants...but we don't go there. Here my choices.

Beef Carpaccio

Pasta in Gorgonzola Sauce

Duck with dates...the Classic

Kosher Winner

The gap between the last meeting and this one...had been over 5 weeks...as I had been on holiday.
Same venue...but this time inside...the weather for the garden was just too cool. With that in mind...two of us...Robert and myself...had opted to bring reds...the white was down to Volker.

Ökonomierat Rebholz Riesling Im Sonnenberg 2008
Pfalz, Germany
This reminded me so much of a Riesling from Alsace...that up-front fruit...then the dryish finish.
Wrong of course. After a guess from Robert of the Mosel area...I opted for the Pfalz....because of the border to Alsace. Then, after much further guessing...we ended up at Rebholz. This 'lesser' vintage is squeezed between two top vintages...but I always feel that wines show what they are made of...without being over-helped by perfect conditions. It went admirably with the Flammkuchen. The strong Grapefruit finish softened with air and the wine showed good balance. Volker always brings a good Riesling to our meetings.
Points 16.75

Tzora Vineyards Misty Hills 2009
Judean Hills, Israel
At our last meeting I had been fairly successful guessing Robert's Riesling from Australia. He was not going to make the same mistake again.
We started with Europe...answer NO...New World...answer NO...then had a discussion as to what the New World means. It did not help...we finally had to give up...which pretty much satisfied Robert. He felt 'kosher.' I thought it was a 'schlamassel'
What we did manage to guess...was the main grape...Cabernet Sauvignon(70%)...and that it was a Cuvée...but the other grape just never occured to us. Syrah(30%) was the answer. The colour was quite deep with young purple...the nose was spicy...eucalyptus...dark fruits...earthy. The palate...with the 18 months in French oak barrels...revealed a smoothness and lovely blackberries...easy tannins...and a fine finish.
Very good.
Points 17.5

Now...all I need to do for my choice next time round...is find a vineyard on the moon....Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon Cuvée...and wait for Robert to start guessing!
 
My choice had been tried a few years ago Pinot Perfection
It had been a hit...so time to try the last bottle from my cellar.
Fritz Wassmer Spätburgunder XXL 2009
Baden, Germany
The nose enticed...they easily guessed Pinot...and Baden...but I was not trying too hard this time round.  This had won a trophy way back when. Maybe after the lithe wine above...this showed less elegance...and probably needed more acidity. The style is typical Fritz Wassmer...I generally prefer the reds from brother Martin.
Points 17

I had packed the half-bottle in my rucksack...and halfway through the Wassmer...asked if I should open it.
Silly question really. My 'Butler's Friend' easily removed the cork.
Chateau Latour 1971
Pauillac, France
Dry tobacco, cedar...still drinkable...but in the half-bottle...a few years too late. 

Volker left to catch a train.
Robert went to the bus stop.
I walked 400 yards back home.