At Decanter we all love our wine, and every week members of the Decanter team - from editorial assistants to publishing director Sarah Kemp - tell us what they've been enjoying at home and when they go out...
What we’ve been drinking index
Tina Gellie
Chief Sub-Editor, Decanter
Pewsey Vale, Riesling, Eden Valley, South Australia 2007
On a girly weekend trip to Devon, we found ourselves in Torquay for the evening (sticking out from the crowd by being a. non-scantily clad, b. not part of a hen party, and c. both), struggling to find somewhere that served food past 9pm. At the end of the harbourside we found The Elephant and, while there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant upstairs, budgets steered us towards the brasserie. Always keen to impart my Riesling love on others, this old-faithful didn’t disappoint: fresh and zesty under screwcap, its lime-blossom nose and honeyed, grapefruit and minerally flavours were a real palate reviver. Perfect, too, with our varied dishes of scallops, smoked salmon and gnocchi.
Oliver Styles
Deputy Editor, decanter.com
Pieropan, Soave Classico, 2008
Floral, blossomy and honeyed with a hint of lanolin on the nose, this wine has a lovely, pretty perfume but with depth. On the palate its gentle and classy with good balance and great length. I had a glass of the 2007 at a lovely lunch in the River Café (celeb spotters would have clocked Michael Winner and Toni Collette on neighbouring tables) a few weeks ago. I have to admit, however, that there are some occasions on which scribbling tasting notes takes away from the pleasure of the moment. This was one of those occasions.
Guy Woodward
Editor, Decanter
Moss Wood Chardonnay, 2007
A-list Western Australia producer Moss Wood may be better known for its reds – notably its Bordeaux blends – but I was wowed by its Chardonnay recently. The nose is distinctly understated, just a hint of stone fruit, but more coconut and tree bark (the wine sees 100% French oak, but it’s very well integrated). There’s much more fruit on the palate – but quite zesty, citric fruit, giving way to more peachy/apricot tones on a long finish. For an oaked Aussie Chardonnay, this was supremely refreshing.
Adam Lechmere
Editor, decanter.com
Domaine of the Bee 2007, Vin de Pays de Cotes Catalanes, France
A Carignan/Grenache blend from the French side of the Pyrenees. Dense black fruit and sharp spice, with a base of very soft, very ripe, very juicy tannins. A big, smoky wine which we had with a robust spag bol. Delicious!
Lucy Shaw
Editorial Assistant, Decanter
Enate Uno Chardonnay 2006, Somontano
Tasted during an animated session with Enate winemaker Jesus Artajona Serrano on a recent excursion to Somontano, the 2006 is only the second vintage of this wine (the first being 2003). A striking deep gold colour, the nose is wonderfully complex with honey and malolactic notes of biscuit and buttered toast around a mineral core. The palate was rich, with an almost unctuous mouthfeel, with buttered popcorn, cream, hazelnuts and nougat in the mix. Very robust and full bodied, my two criticisms are the heavy use of oak (it spends 20 months in new French oak barrels), and the deliriously high price tag – €280 a bottle. Granted, only 1,000 bottles are made, but when you can buy the best white Burgundies at that price, is it justified?
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