Berry Bros in Belfast
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Anything but Port, this includes all non-Port fortified wines even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
Anything but Port, this includes all non-Port fortified wines even if they call themselves Port. There is a search facility for this part of the forum.
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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Berry Bros in Belfast
Tonight, Anne McHale of BBR presents a tutored tasting of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rhone here in Belfast. (Anne is from Belfast herself.) I will post a report here.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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Re: Berry Bros in Belfast
Have fun!
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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- Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
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Re: Berry Bros in Belfast
Thank you! We had a beautiful new venue in the top floor of the new MAC building and the tasting was absolutely excellent. Proper report follows tomorrow hopefully - but the 3rd wine of LaTour was a bonus.flash_uk wrote:Have fun!
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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- Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
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Berry Bros in Belfast
Before I post my report, I should point out that Anne (who at 34 is very young to be an MW) is a good contact to have in BBR. She works mainly in the education branch (teaching in the room where we attend the Port Walk). She offered a tour around the premises whenever we're in London again. I've never seen the Napoléon Cellar so would be intrigued.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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Re: Berry Bros in Belfast
It is certainly worth doing the tour. AHB and I did it a few years ago and it was very interesting. Never did see Napoleon though.
Sounds like you had an interesting evening.
Sounds like you had an interesting evening.
"The first duty of Port is to be red"
Ernest H. Cockburn
Ernest H. Cockburn
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
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Re: Berry Bros in Belfast
I'm only getting a chance to sit down and write this up now. We had an excellent evening in the company of Anne (her father initiated the Wine Appreciation Society in Queen's University about 40 years ago and is still going strong) and I would reiterate my advice to anyone to contact her if you're travelling to London and interested in a tour - Justin, perhaps worth doing next time you're in town?
The theme of the evening was Burgundy, Bordeaux & Rhône. There were three flights of three, poured blind, with each revealed after tasting and some information given about the wines, wineries and winemakers by Anne. We had some very good wines; my personal favourites are shown in this colour:
Good fun.
The theme of the evening was Burgundy, Bordeaux & Rhône. There were three flights of three, poured blind, with each revealed after tasting and some information given about the wines, wineries and winemakers by Anne. We had some very good wines; my personal favourites are shown in this colour:
- Flight 1 (all under £20/btl)
- 2012 Berry's Extra Ordinary Claret, Château Villa Bel Air
Dark purple, highly tannic, shades of new wood, aniseed; rather astringent. 50% Merlot, 40% CS, 10% CF. - 2011 Morgon, Côte du Py, Château Grange Cochard, Beaujolais
Very light bodied, fresh, dryness follows later. - 2011 St Joseph, Domaine Pichon, N. Rhône
Very woody, with a slight sourness, earthy, with a hint of barnyard or forest floor; leather and clove linger.
Flight 2 (all 2009s)
All wines in this flight were very good. - 2009 Monthélie Duresses, 1er cru, Bouchard Père et Fils, Burgundy
About 50% opaque, a slight orange ruby, some pale bricking. No nose at first (though it warmed up to be quite beefy). Cigar box and tobacco notes, tight and dry at the finish. Good stuff. - 2009 L'Âme Soeur Seyssuel, Domaine Michel et Stéphanie Ogier, N. Rhône
Dark ruby. Very heavily perfumed. Powdery tannins, some taste of parma violets. Acidity and barnyard. - 2009 Pauillac de Latour, Château Latour
Very deep and opaque. Fabulous: meaty, big. That's all I wrote. It's not a great bargain, at £63, but it's a Latour, and it was a great pleasure to taste it.
Flight 3 - 2008 Berry's Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Rossignol-Trapet, Burgundy, France
Brick colour. Very acidic nose, juicy rather than fruity. Rather past it. - 2009 Rasteau Violettes, Domaine la Soumade, S. Rhône
Acid and light, quite meaty in the nose. Cheesy and sour, very very tannic. Not enjoyed. - 2002 Château Haut-Bages Liberal, 5ème Cru Classé, Pauillac
Slight bricking, brown to ruby. Excellent. Light, balanced, beautiful acid, rather meaty, sharpness lifts it wonderfully. Wine of the night.
Good fun.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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Re: Berry Bros in Belfast
That's an interesting report. You really seem to prefer Bordeaux over Burgundy.
The Eleventh Commandment: Thou shalt know thy Port
- djewesbury
- Graham’s 1970
- Posts: 8165
- Joined: 20:01 Mon 31 Dec 2012
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Re: Berry Bros in Belfast
There were some good Burgundies; but yes, this time round the claret did it for me.
Daniel J.
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
delete.. delete.. *sigh*.. delete...
Husband of a relentless former Soviet Chess Master.
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