Two new Spanish wineries for Bancroft

We are pleased to announce that we will be launching two new Spanish wineries at the SITT Autumn tasting and also at our trade tasting on the 25th September in our offices: Bodegas Gargalo in Monterrei and Carisma in Pirineos.

Ten Minutes by Tractor given 5 stars again by Halliday

Ten Minutes by Tractor, Mornington Peninsula, has been awarded 5 red stars for another year by James Halliday in his recently published Wine Companion. All of Martin Spedding's wines were given 92 points or more, an impressive achievement.

Tacchino (Piedmont) launch their Moscato d'Asti

For more than three generations the Tacchino family has produced superb fresh and vibrant wines in Castelletto d’Orba in Monferrato, Piedmont. Alessio and Romina represent the new generation, inheriting the passion for these lands from their father and grandfather before them. We have been working with this wonderful domaine for many years and their Gavi is one of our best selling wines. Last year the domaine started making a Moscato d’Asti and we are pleased to be launching this wine at the SITT tasting this year.

Halliday gives Hay Shed Hill 5 star status

The 2013 Edition of James Halliday’s Australian Wine Companion hit the shelves last month.  Once again the Hay Shed Hill & Pitchfork wines rated very well. Of the fourteen wines that Hay Shed Hill entered into the companion, twelve were rated 90 points or above.  These fantastic results cemented their Red Five Star Winery Rating for another year.

New Croatian wines from Matošević at SITT Autumn and our September Trade Tasting

Bancroft is now the exclusive UK agent for Ivica Matošević, a very highly regarded winemaker in the Istrian region of Croatia. 

Jamie Goode reviews Marjan Simcic

Jamie Goode, Wine Anorak, has just written about the lunch we held for Marjan Simcic (Goriska Brda, Slovenia) at The Square. He rates Marjan and his wines very highly, labelling them as "impressive wines from Goriska Brda". We certainly agree!

An ode to Riesling (Part 2), by Alex Harper

Day 3 was the reason for the trip, a visit to the industry giant Reh Kendermann, home of the Black Tower brand.  It was in stark contrast to the small boutique operators such as Busch, but there was no lack of passion among the winemaking team there.  The reality is that this is the work horse of the wine industry and the style and price point at which the majority of the worlds wine is sold at.  We tasted through their range which included a response to the market demands of low alcohol 5.5% abv wines and their weight watchers range at 8.5% abv complete with full nutritional labelling. 

An ode to Riesling (Part 1), by Alex Harper

With nothing in my armoury of German vocabulary other than ‘Auf Weidersehen, Pet’ I set off for Frankfurt and a tour of some of the German wine regions care of the generous Reh Kendermann MW scholarship bursary.  Picking up the car I was faced with driving on the wrong side of the road (for the first time in my life) at night in torrential rain while the black skies were split in two by savage lightning.  Talk about a baptism of fire. Driving with my nose glued to the windscreen my terrified passenger and I arrived shaken, not stirred at our destination.

Beautiful Jurançon, by Claire Scott-Gall

Stephen, our buyer, has been doing quality control in the office today so we are fortunate to be tasting the Uroulat Jurançon from the fabulous Charles Hours.



Cape Chenin is making a comeback argues Sarah Ahmed

In this month's Decanter magazine (September 2012), Sarah Ahmed argues that Chenin Blanc can make really complex, delicious wines. We couldn't agree more. Take the example of Cederberg Private Estate up in the Cederberg Mountains. David Nieuwoudt makes unbelievable wines in a naturally organic environment. The wines are precise, mineral and utterly delicious.

Mas Amiel's Plaisir Blanc is Decanter's Wine of the month

Mas Amiel's Plaisir Blanc has just been rated as Decanter Magazine's best value wine of the month.

Sommelier trip to Slovenia and Croatia - day Two

9 am Monday morning, a few sleepy but smiley faces- we were all still digesting what was an incredible marathon of superb Slovenian food and even better wines. We all had a different favourite Simcic wine from the last night that underlines the sheer quality that runs throughout his range. Joao was impressed with the Opoka Sauvignon, Isa with that ultimate sweetie Leonardo, Colin and Neil could not resist Opoka Merlot, David was drawn in between red and white Teodor and Igor found Chardonnay Selection irresistible. Still we were unanimous that there is no compromise in the quality of Marjan's organic and biodynamic wines. Marjan's unparalleled passion coupled with the great potential of his Collio/Brda terroir help to produce really exceptional wines.

A few double espressos later we were on our way to the neighbouring Istrian Peninsula to visit Croatian star winemaker Ivica Matosevic. Not completely intentionally (we missed the right turn!), our journey lead us through the swathes of unspoilt forests and hills of Slovenia and Croatia. These are the famous hunting grounds full of pheasants, wild boars and deer. Istria is also famous for truffles and if we add oysters and fresh fish from the Adriatic, it is no wonder that this area is fast becoming one of the gastronomic hot spots of Europe.

Chateau Montelena featured in Decanter's Class of 72

Great article in Decanter's 2012 Californian supplement this month. The article focuses on how the Californian wine industry has changed since the 1970s when there was an influx of new wineries being set up. One of these wineries was the prestigious Chateau Montelena, Napa Valley, which was started by Jim Barrett and is now run by his son Bo. Winemaking has changed substantially over the last forty years, but Bo is still as passionate as ever for his wines and his land.

Read the full article here.

Slovenia and Croatia Trip in pictures - Part 2 Vina Matosevic, Croatia

Day two of their tasting trip and the team are off to Croatia to visit Vina Matosevic. The photo story is narrated by Neb Gusic, director.

5 hours later and we leave Slovenia.  After a few hours in the car, we are at Matosevic's in Istria, Croatia.

He greets us properly – with the glass of wine.

Slovenia and Croatia Trip in pictures - Part 1 Marjan Simcic, Slovenia

Neb Gusic shares his photos from his memorable trip to Slovenia and Croatia visiting Marjan Simcic and Vina Matosevic with a group of clients.

We arrive at Goriska Brda, Slovenia

San Francisco Gold for Schild Estate Shiraz 2010

The latest vintage of Schild Estate Wines’ highly-regarded entry level Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz has been awarded a Gold Medal at the 2012 San Francisco International Wine Competition. This year was the largest in the prestigious competition’s 32‐year history, with more than 4,500 wines judged.

My trip to Calvados in the motor home, by Mike Unsworth

We recently returned from one of our regular adventures touring France. My wife Helen and I are fortunate enough to own a motor home which has solar panels enabling us to “wild camp” as we have no need for electric hook-ups.

Patricia Langton visits Mas Amiel, Languedoc

Interesting article by Patricia Langton on her blog about her visit to Mas Amiel, Languedoc.

Bancroft Wines sponsors the Cambridge University Modern Pentathlon Club

Bancroft Wines has proudly sponsored the CUMPC for the last academic year and is pleased to announce will continue to do so for the up and coming academic year.

Jamie Goode reviews the Saint Joseph 2010, Pierre Gaillard

Great review by Jamie Goode on the Pierre Gaillard St Joseph giving it 92 points.