Spanish Wine Rocks

I recently came back from the Spanish Islands and had the chance to reacquaint myself with the Timpranillo grape. Huge robust Reds, excellent with Paella and Tapas, which seemed so perfect even in the hotter climes of the Med. The Spanish are very passionate about this grape. The wine from the grape they rate as highly as anything from Barolo, Bordeaux or Southern Australia. It's easy to get hold of, mainly found in Rioja and Navarra so look out for Marques de Caceres, Marques de Riscal and Vina Ardanza, all excellent.

The real surprise though was a lovely white wine produced by the massive Torres company called Vina Esmeralda. Readily available from Oddbins it retails at a mere £6.99 and is an excellent example of a Moscatel and Gewurztraminer mix producing a wine that is very easy to drink, very fruity with a slight hint of spice from the Gewurz. Try it one of these warm evenings, chilled and in a clean glass it is a very welcome change from the numerous Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs in this price range.

The French are selling out!

Has anyone else noticed the increase in varietal labelling from the french recently. I first noticed it in a bar in Spalding of all places. Louis Jadot no less! Their bog standard Bourgogne Rouge was clearly labelled Pinot Noir. I was mortified, how could such a well known shipper stoop to such levels and follow New World. What ever happened to people using their brains, and learning about this fine subject. But then I thought, no let's give the on trade the benefit of the doubt, maybe it is just to make life easier for the bar tenders who get constant request from customers along the lines of grape variety rather than a request for their finest red burgundy.

Yesterday I was in an off licence in London and Baron Phillipe de Rothschild had done the same, Oh My God! Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon etc etc. Clearly the world is going mad. Why are the french dumbing down, surely it is up to the New World to up skill their customers and differentiate their products by producer?

Not only am I disappointed at this turn of events but I for one will NOT be buying any french wine that cheapens itself by putting the grape variety on the label. Am I alone and out of touch???

BTW a for a great website that is well informed and really useful the click here.