Joy of Terroir 2011

Terroir quiz Each month Decanter magazine showcases some of the finest terroirs from vineyards around the world and the 2011 collection included Prosecco in Italy, Santa Cruz in California and Yealands Estate in Marlborough. See all 12 here... Clos du Mesnil Champagne January – Clos du Mesnil, Champagne

As a blended wine, Champagne isn’t always associated with terroir, but Krug’s Clos du Mesnil is a bit different. This 1.85ha south-facnig plot of Chardonnay grapes has been surrounded by the village of Mesnil-sur-Oger in the CÃ´tes de Blancs since 1698. The Krug family, who bought it in 1971, replanted the vines one by one, and in 1979 released the first vintage of the wine as we know it today – a single-vineyard bottling, made only in great years. With a production of 12,000 bottles, each prices at sround Â£600, the most recent vintages are 1998, 1996, 1995, 1992 and 1990 (descibed as ‘magic in a bottle’ by Jancis Robinson MW).

Thelma Mountain Vineyards Stellenbosch February - Thelema Mountain Vineyards, Stellenbosch

It may be chilly here in the northern hemisphere, but the harvest will begin next month across South Africa, at estates including Thelema Mountain Vineyards. It was 1983 when Gyles Webb bought a run-down fruit farm at the top of the Helshoogte Pass, 6km from Stellenbosch on the 640m-high, southwast-facing slopes of Simonsberg - one of the highest, coolest spots in the region. The restoration process began with the clearing of apple, pear and plum trees plus virgin mountainside land, to make way for vines, of which 40ha were planted in the granite-rich soils, producing Thelema's signature minty Cabernets. Romanee-Conti Burgundy March - Romanee-Conti, Burgundy

While it produces six other grand cru wines, the famed Burgundy domaine of Domaine de la RomanÃ©e-Conti has a monopoly on its revered, 1.8-hecater grand cru vineyard of RomanÃ©e-Conti. The mid-slope site was first identified as of note by the monks of St-Vivant in 1512, and has since gone through a number of owners and ownership disputes. Square in shape, it abuts fellow grands crus Richebourg, RomanÃ©e-St-Vincent and La RomanÃ©e. The vineyard, iron-rich sandy limestone on rock and marl, was completely replanted in 1947. Today, managed to biodynamic princples, it yields an average of just 400 cases a year. Santa Cruz California April - Monte Bello, Santa Cruz, California

Monte Bello is the flagship vineyard of Ridge estate, managed by 2000 Decanter Man of the Year Paul Draper. Around 33ha of the vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7ha to Chardonnay. Both are cult wines. The Santa Cruz Mountains is Californiaâs coolest Cabernet Sauvignon producing area and the 40-hectare vineyard sits at 400-850m above sea level, 24km from the Pacific. The vines are low-yielding, at just 27hl/ha. These factors, and Draperâs non-interventionist practices (organic certification is due this year), help explain the winesâ exalted reputation. Vines were first planted here in 1885, but the vineyard was neglected until 1959 when four Stamford Research Institute engineers bought it and founded Ridge in 1962. Draper became winemaker in 1969.

Cartizze Prosecco Italy May - Cartizze, Prosecco, Italy

Italyâs most famous fizz can be produced only in Friuli and Veneto, but the jewel in the crown is Prosecco di Conegliano e Valdobbiadine, promoted last year from DOC to DOCG status. Sitting proudly atop that region is the hill of Cartizze, its only grand cru, and widely considered the source of the very highest quality Prosecco â and certainly the most expensive. A vineyard of just 106 hectares, each worth around E1million, the terrain is a mix of marl, sandstone and clay. Entirely south-facing, its prodigiously steep slopes are shared by 140 different growers who tend to pick late and ripe.

Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes A view of Chateau d'Yquem. Does the molecular research hold the future of Bordeaux's wine? Yealands Estate Marlborough Yealands Estate in Marlborough. Isole e Olena, Tuscany August - Isole e Olena, Tuscany

Set in the central part of the Chianti Classico DOCG, 450m above sea level, is one of Tuscanyâs most revered estates. Once two separate hilltop hamlets, âIsoleâ and âOlenaâ were purchased and merged by the De Marchi family in the 1950s. Today led by Paolo de Marchi, who took over in 1976, Isole e Olena now covers 50 hectares of vineyards after an extensive replanting project. The soil is a mixture of rock, sandstone and clay that allows sufficient drainage in heavy rainfall (approximately 900mm annually) while retaining a degree of moisture. While 70% of the estateâs production is given over to a traditional Chianti Classico and Vin Santo, more of its wines are now made outside the DOCG regulations, as IGTs. Examples include the 100% Sangiovese Cepparello and varietal wines from Chardonnay, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Wehlener Sonnenuhr Mosel September - Wehlener Sonnenuhr, Mosel

This steep, rocky vineyard in Germanyâs Mosel Valley is highly prized for its pure, elegant yet powerful Rieslings. Its name refers to a stone sundial installed on the most prominent rock among the vines, which faces directly southwest towards the town of Wehlen, across the river Mosel. It was put there in 1846 by Jodocus PrÃ¼m so that growers could keep track of time. The vineyardâs 65 hectares are on blue Devonian slate with very thin topsoil. This gives a lively minerality, crisp acidity and focused peach and citrus flavours to both dry and sweet wines. Harvesting as late as possible is key to getting the best and ripest fruit from vines that are on average 80 years old. The vineyardâs 200 or so parcels belong to some of the areaâs leading names, with the biggest sites owned by JJ PrÃ¼m (18%) and Dr Loosen (11%). Bodegas dos Andes Neuquen Patagonia October - Bodegas dos Andes, Neuquen, Patagonia

Bodegas dos Andes was one of two Patagonian wineries to win the highest accolade at this yearâs Decanter World Wine Awards, taking the Red Single Varietal over Â£10 International Trophy for its ChaltÃ©n Malbec ColecciÃ³n 2009. It was part of a fantastic showing from Argentina, which won six International Trophies, more than any other country. Set in Patagoniaâs newest grape-producing area of San Patricio del ChaÃ±ar in NeuquÃ©n, Bodegas dos Andes is owned by Chileâs CÃ³rpora Group. It focuses on Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Malbec, and winemaker Pablo Herrera says the low humidity, rocky soil and large day and night temperature differences at this altitude (1,750m) gives concentrated, aromatic grapes from eight-year-old vines. While still a young region â 10 years ago it was only known for fruit trees and dinosaur fossils â San Patricio del ChaÃ±ar proves that the excitment surounding Patagonia seems increasingly justified. Hill of Grace Eden Valley November - Hill of Grace, Eden Valley Henschkeâs Hill of Grace vineyard in South Australiaâs Eden Valley produces what is arguably Australiaâs most famous Shiraz. It has been a single-vineyard bottling since 1958 and is one of just 11 wines rated as âExceptionalâ in the Langtonâs Classification of Australian Wine. The 4ha of Shiraz vines planted on the 8ha plot are still on their own roots and the oldest, the Grandfatherâs block, originate from prephylloxera material brought over by early European settlers and planted in the 1860s. The Hill of Grace name is a translation from the German âGnadenbergâ, also a region in Silesia, and given to the Lutheran church across the road. Away from passing Merino sheep flocks, the old vines, tended with organic and biodynamic practices, yield just 2.5 tonnes per hectare from an alluvial soil of sand over clay. Clos des Fees Roussillon December - Clos des Fees, Roussillon

Former sommelier, wine merchant and wine writer HervÃ© Bizeuil established this estate over seven hectares (now 18ha) in 1999, converting his garage into a winery for the first vintage. The vines span a number of terroirs across Roussillon in southern France, 15km apart, at varying exposures. While the region boasts a range of soils, Bizeuil sought out clay-limestone sites for the ârich and powerfulâ wines he desires. The Agly Valley in Roussillonâs north boasts spectacular steep-sided hills, stony garrigue and bush-trained vines. In its upper reaches lies the prehistoric village of Tautavel and the bowl-like Cirque de Vingrau, home to the vines that make up his renowned Clos des FÃ©es â a blend of Syrah, MourvÃ¨dre, Grenache and Carignan from minimal yields of just 12hl/ha. The vines seen here are 50-year-old massal-selection Grenache, while the mountains are the Traou de Cabali (Trou de Cheval), through which smugglers on horseback crossed the border between France and Spain in the 16th century.

Joy of Terroir 2011

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