Awards & Press

“Dark, rich and handsome” is how Imbibe Magazine describes the fantastic dark sherries tasted by a panel of Sommeliers led by journalist Clinton Cawood.

With all the focus and recent buzz being on lighter styles such as fino and manzanilla, it was great to see a tasting dedicated to the darker sherries which have got so much to offer. The results of the tasting are published in the November/ December 2011 issue of Imbibe Magazine. Different styles were represented by well known producers, Amontillado, Palo Cortado, Oloroso and Miscellaneous like Cream were carefully tasted, matched and scored by a diverse panel of judges composed of some of the most respected Sommeliers : Richard Bigg – Camino and Bar Pepito, Andrea Briccarello – Galvin Restaurants, Clinton Cawood – Imbibe, Mark Deamer – The Marylebone Hotel, Lionel Periner – La Trompete, Diana Rollan – Hakkasan and Agustin Trapero – Launceston Place, which most agreed and reported the overall good value and quality of the wines with an average score of 79% in total claimed as an “Imbibe Record”.

 Ehrmanns – agent for the prestigious Williams & Humbert Bodega in Jerez - submitted  three of their finest wines within the categories Oloroso and Palo Cortado. They all made it to the final cut and were very well received .

Williams & Humbert Palo Cortado dos Cortados 20 years scored 79 points – it was described by Diana Rollan ( Hakkasan ) as “intense and nutty on the nose, with richness, combined with some saltiness on the palate”. On the other hand Clinton Cawood stated “Poised, with nothing out of place, and with a good, long finish”.

 Williams & Humbert Collection Oloroso 12years old - a drier style scored 75 points in the Oloroso category– “Dried flowers and espresso on the nose, with some candy on the palate” stated Agustin Trapero. Richard Bigg said “Smoothes out the palate, to become quite satisfying”.

 Also in the Oloroso category with a sweet style was the Williams & Humbert Dry Sack Old Oloroso 15yo – compared to “liquid plum pudding” by Mark Deamer while Lionel Periner described “nuts, dried fruit and elegant finish with a hint of toffee and coffee”. Scored 73 points .

An excellent performance by Williams & Humbert which emphasizes the immense potential, versatility and value of their amazing range !

For more information on Williams & Humbert sherries and rhums, you can email Andre Neves : andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Jancis Robinson had the chance to try well over 100 of the Waitrose range and our ValdeSil Godello came out as the top Spanish Wine. Here is what she said:

Valdesil Godello 2010 Valdeorras 17 Drink 2011-2012
100% Godello from 30-year-old vines grown on the slate slopes of Vilamartín de Valdeorras at an altitude of 500 metres. The 2010 growing season began with heavy rainfall during spring, followed on the third May by frost that caused severe crop damage in different areas in Valdeorras. The grapes were hand-harvested 6-18 September and the yield was 30% below average at just 23 hl/ha. A short skin-contact maceration was followed by static settling of the juice and fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Aged on the fine lees for four months in stainless-steel vats. No malo, and bottled May 2011. TA 6.0 g/l, pH 2.97, RS 3.9 g/l.
Looks a little like a rip-off of the Palacios wine. But lovely freshness and smokiness and sheer confidence – racy but not feeble. Long and neat. Creamy. 13.01%
£15.99 Waitrose

Tinto da Anfora got a very good review too:

Quinta da Bacalhôa, Tinto da Anfora 2008 Alentejo 16.5 Drink 2010-2014
50% Aragónez, 30% Touriga Nacional, 10% Trincadeira, 5% Alfrocheiro and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, grown in three wine regions in Alentejo: Arronches (Portalegre), Borba and Arraiolos. After a traditional vinification the wine was aged for 12 months in a mixture of French and American oak barrels. Each variety was vinified and matured separately. Winemaker Vasco Garcia. TA 5.5 g/l, pH 3.60, RS 3.2 g/l.
Fun and rich and chock full of sweet fruit and character. Sort of marrons glacés flavour. Neat and complete. GV 14%
£7.99 Waitrose

To see the article go to http://www.jancisrobinson.com/tasting_articles/ta20111009.html

For any more information about these wines contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Once again, the magazine Wine Enthusiast has selected its Top 100 Cellar Selections : wines which are great to keep and our Palacio De Bacalhoa made it to the final cut.

This is how they selected the 100 wines :  “To a large extent, our list of Top 100 Cellar Selections reflects which classic wine regions released the best vintages during the past year. In 2011, that means the list is heavy on 2007 Barolo and 2006 Brunello di Montalcino, but light on the terrific 2009 Bordeaux and Burgundies, which are largely yet to be reviewed. In the interest of diversity, we sprinkle in wines from a wide range of countries and grape varieties, but since most of these ageworthy wines come from established regions and top vintages, the emphasis is on quality, not value. Despite that, this year’s list does feature 30 wines that were originally released for $50 per bottle or less, including the year’s top pick. Multimillionaires shouldn’t have all the fun, should they?”

Palacio da Bacalhoa 2007  is described as : “A selection from Quinta da Bacalhoa, this sumptuous wine layers the darkest fruit flavors with a structure that is solid, dense and powerful. Juicy plums, licorice and a firm, stalky edge go with wood aging and bone dry tannins. Age for 5-6 years. 94 points”.

Palacio Quinta Da Bacalhoa is sold exlusively through Independent Wine Merchants and horeca sectors.

RRP : £23,80

Stockists : Humble Grape, Lido ( UK) Ltd, Lisboa Delicatessen, Soho Wine Supply and The Wine Shop

For the full article go to http://buyingguide.winemag.com/toplists/2011/cellarselections

For more information you can contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Luis Gutierrez – Spanish specialist for www.jancisrobinson.com and also writer for www.elmundovino.com – wrote a great article about the Valdeoras DO in North East Spain and the revival of old grapes such as Godello. Look out for his review on ValdeSil – the main producer of the small DO.

Ehrmanns currently import two of their wines : ValdeSil and Pezas de la Portela.

Luis Gutierrez writes about ValdeSil: “It is a wine that even though it drinks well early on, ages surprisingly well, showing more quince, spice and, dare I say it, minerals (flint, gunpowder), than the white fruit and flowers that dominate in its youth. I like it best about three years after the vintage.”

And on the Pezas da Portela:” is a step up in complexity, pezas being a Galician word for a small parcel or plot while Portela is the village in the parish of Vilamartín where the grapes for this wine are grown. Eleven small plots with an average age of 50 years, planted on decomposed slate, which imparts a mineral character to the wine. Yields here are small, around 16 hl/ha, and the grapes are fermented and aged for six months in a mixture of used French oak barrels of various sizes – 350, 500 and 2,000 litres. I think the Pezas 2007 is drinking well already, but the 2008 is still in the process of integrating the wood. I like this wine about four years after the harvest. Their first vintage was 2002, which today drinks impressively well, showing a golden colour, a spicy quince nose and is full and fresh in the mouth, very much like a Loire Chenin.”

For the total article go to : http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/a201110252.html

For information about ValdeSil wines, you can contact : andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

The wines are currently available from : Waitrose, Hawkshead Wines, S.H.Jones, The Wine Shop, Goodrich Wines, Burdett Wines.

Every year, Wine Enthusiast Magazine puts together an intriguing list of its TOP 100 BEST BUYS, with all the wines having a suggested retail price of $15 or less. This year, ten Portuguese wines were selected including our very own Tinto Da Anfora 2008 from Quinta de Bacalhoa. The wines were reviewed by Roger Voss, the magazine’s European editor. 

Here is how the magazine itself describes the process: “Over the past 12 months our tasting panellists reviewed more than 16,000 wines, granting the coveted BEST BUY designation to only 1,224 ( 7,6%). From there, we whittled the numbers down to the top availability and buzz. We also tried to balance the list in term of wine style, variety and origin.”

Roger Voss awarded 92 points to Tinto Da Anfora, the highest note achieved by a Portuguese wine, he describes the wine as “Always an impressive wine, this latest vintage of Tinto Da Anfora powers forward with great balance among its black fruits, ripe tannins, oak and enticing acidity. There is a jammy feel to the texture, although the firm structure holds it all together.”

Tinto Da Anfora is a unique blend of native varieties (Aragonez, Castelao, Trincadeira and Touriga Nacional) with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon, it has wonderfully rich, smoky fruit without ever appearing blowsy or overblown.  A regular feature on TV Show Saturday Kitchen, this wine has been critically acclaimed by journalists such as Jancis Robinson and Olly Smith and is a regular award winner at international competitions.

For more information about Quinta De Bacalhoa wines, please contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

In this week’s blog The Frugal Cook, Fiona Beckett recommends Castillo La Paz Tempranillo Syrah 2010 as a great wine under £6 from Waitrose ( currently on promotion ). To read Fiona’s top “Credit crunch drinking” wines, go to http://thefrugalcook.blogspot.com/

The Bierzo DO wines were reviewed by Josh Raynolds as part of a Best New Wines from Spain feature.

Both the Losad 2008 and Altos de Losada 2007 got great reviews. Josh Raynolds awarded them 88 and 92 points respectively, he wrote :

“Losada 2008 – 88 points – Bright violet. Slightly high-toned aromas of cassis, tobacco and smoky minerals. Then sweet and tangy in the mouth, with musky dark berry, smoked meat, pepper and spice flavors. This fresh, vibrant wine finishes persistent and gently sweet.

Altos de Losada 2007 – 92 points – Bright violet. Pungent, mineral-accented cherry and cassis on the nose, with flowers and musky spices adding complexity. Firm,focused and densely packed, with very good clarity and lift to its bitter cherry, licorice and violet pastille flavors. Shows very good intensity on the finish, with the mineral and licorice notes carrying through.”

This is extract from Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine cellar website : www.wineaccess.com

This is a very encouraging review which reflects how exciting Spain has becomed as a wine producer. Rioja has certainly paved the way for smaller, lesser known DO such as Bierzo. Losada Vinos De Finca is the perfect brand to taste to be introduced to this up and coming wine region.

For any information on the Losada Vinos de Finca wines, please contact Andre at : andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk 

Tahbilk Wines, from Central Victoria’s picturesque Nagambie Lakes region, has been chosen by leading USA wine publication, Wine & Spirits Magazine, as one of the Top 100 Wineries of the Year for 2011.

 Awarded by the editors of the magazine, the Wineries of the Year are chosen based on consistently high performance and scores throughout the magazine’s comprehensive 12-month tasting cycle.

 This is the fifth time Tahbilk has been awarded this honour, with the winery also being named in the Top 100 Wineries of the Year in 1996, 2001, 2003 and 2008.

 Wine & Spirits Magazine gave Tahbilk an impressive rating of 95 Points for the Tahbilk 2005 Nagambie Lakes 1860 Vines Shiraz and 93 Points for the Tahbilk 2005 Nagambie Lakes Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz.

 Tahbilk was also featured in the “Best Buys” section of the magazine; with the Tahbilk 2007 Nagambie Lakes Cabernet Sauvignon awarded 89 Points and the Tahbilk 2009 Nagambie Lakes Marsanne earning 88 Points.

 All of the wineries awarded the title of Winery of the Year will appear in the 25th Wine & Spirits Annual Buying Guide issue, to be published on October 12.

 To honour the Wineries of the Year and to share appreciation of their wines with both the trade and public, the eighth Annual Wine & Spirits Top 100 Tasting will be held at City View at the San Francisco Metreon on Wednesday, October 12, 2011. Tahbilk will be represented at the Top 100 Tasting event, which has been deemed “the best wine-tasting event in San Francisco all year” by wine writer W. Blake Gray.

 Established in 1860, Tahbilk celebrated 150 years of winemaking last year and is one of the oldest family-owned Australian wineries. Tahbilk also boasts the world’s largest planting of Marsanne and some of the world’s oldest Marsanne and Shiraz vines. The Estate is owned by the Purbrick family who have had five generations involved with the company’s operations since their purchase of the property in 1925. Recognised as a world class producer of iconic wines, the brand features the Rhone Valley varieties of Viognier, Marsanne and Shiraz as well as the traditional super premium varieties of Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Riesling.

 Alister Purbrick, CEO and Chief Winemaker of Tahbilk said, “We are very honoured to be recognised again as an International Winery of the Year by the influential Wine and Spirits Magazine in the US. For Tahbilk to receive this accolade, which recognises consistent high performance for a fifth time, is very rewarding, and a great compliment to our winemaking and vineyard teams.”

Tahbilk is a member of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW) an exciting initiative created by 12 multi-generational family-owned Australian wineries. AFFW represents 16 Australian regions across four states and has more than 48 generations and 1200 years of collective winemaking experience. AFFW is committed to raising the profile of premium Australian Wine, both domestically and globally, and a result like this is sure to help the cause.

For any information on Tahbilk wines and stockists, please contact Inessa at inessa.melnikova@ehrmanns.co.uk

The Portuguese winery has bagged an impressive two trophies at the Decanter Awards 2011. Not only it was awarded the Regional Trophy for Best Fortified Sweet wine under £10, but it also won the coveted International Trophy for Best Fortified Sweet Wine under £10.

Made by one of the nicest and most talented winemakers in Portugal – Filipa Tomaz Da Costa – the wine is a regular award winner ( 2003 won Silver at IWC 2010 ) and has developed a loyal fanbase over the years. The 2003 vintage was even shortlisted by Oz Clarke for its ”250 Best Wines ” Wine Buying Guide 2011 – the wine critic wrote : “This seems like wine from another age, and I suppose it is, because Moscatel de Setubal, made just south of Lisbon, is one of Portugal’s more ancient styles, clinging to life in our high-tension modern world through the support of companies like Tanners of Shrewbury. This is certainly sweet, but not unctuously so, because the ancient brown juices of fig and prune are mingled with a rich orange syrup of peel and marmalade, scented with cumin and sage and roughened by the bitter beauty of freshly milled spice“. ( Pavilion £6.99 ) – for more info on Oz Clarke www.ozclarke.com and www.threewinemen.co.uk

Stockists for Bacalhoa Moscatel de Setubal : selected Waitrose, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Trina’s Wines, Theatre of Wine, Whitebridge Wines, Smithfield, Vinoteca, the Oxford Wine Co, Wines Importers of Edinburgh, etc…

For more information on Moscatel de Setubal or other awards winning wines from Bacalhoa and the complete stockists list, please contact andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk

Great review from Olly Smith of Tinto Da Anfora on Saturday Kitchen. From Portuguese winery Bacalhoa it offers unique value for money, a wine like this under a tenner is a steal !

http://vimeo.com/27581975

Tinto Da Anfora is available from Waitrose, Majestic and most good independent wine shops – for the full list of stockists and information on teh wine – you can email Andre Neves at andre.neves@ehrmanns.co.uk