Robert and Remirez: Robert Parker's 100point tasting at Hedonism Wines, featuring the Remirez de Ganuza Gran Reserva 2004

Last week, hot on positive heels from the London Wine Fair, Bancroft headed along to the much coveted 100 point Parker tasting at Hedonism Wines in Mayfair to present our Remirez de Ganuza Gran Reserva 2004.

After a gap of 25 years there was quite a crowd waiting on tenterhooks outside the shop for Robert, internationally renowned wine-critic and owner of the Wine Advocate, all eager to taste the 8 100 point wines on show and to meet the man himself.

Joined by Jose Utrasun and Luis Alberto Martinez from the winery, based in Rioja Alavesa, over 200 happy punters came to taste our wine - and with the tokens stacking up, we proved to be one of the most popular of the evening by far: 

Bancroft Wines is delighted to be UK exclusive agent for Bodegas Remírez de Ganuza, an estate which embodies the forward thinking attention to detail that says so much about modern Rioja. The Bodega has received many accolades over the years for their exceptional wines. Indeed, Robert Parker himself once dubbed it "The Latour of Rioja".

91+ Parker Points for De Stefani 1624

eRobertParker.com awards the 2008 De Stefani Stefen 1624 with 91+ points.







Here's what the review from eRobertParker.com said:

"The 2008 Stefen 1624 pays homage to the winery's founding De Stefani family (spelled "Stefen" in old Italian) that traces its lineage back to the year 1642. This is an exciting and impressive effort. Marzemio grapes are harvested at the end of October and subsequently air-dired to increase their sugar concentration. After fermentation, the wine is aged in barrique for 36 months. It opens to a bright garnet-ruby colour and pristine aromas of small berry, dried currant and cherry cola. Drink 2015-2022.

De Stefani's wines offer new tastes from an eccentric selection of mostly indigenous Italian grapes. Today. Alessandro De Stefani manages the estate and represents the fourth generation of this winemaking family to do so. If you are passionate about Italian native grapes like Raboso and Marzemino these are definitely worth seeking out."

Lucky Tuesday Tasting at Ametsa with Arzak Instruction & Bodegas Remirez de Ganuza

We were very fortunate to have Luis over from Bodegas Remirez de Ganuza, to talk us through all their wines, including a few bottles and magnums of older vintages sent from their cellar - hence the lucky epithet. Without talking about every wine we tasted, I would like to focus on the mini-vertical of their Reserva wine, which is the lynch-pin of their range. Their wines are aged for longer than the statutory period at each level, so their Reserva could be labelled as a Gran Reserva (one for the purists, out there!). 

Pierre Gaillard Condrieu 2012 reviewed by Chris Kissack

Some grape varieties can be the cause of mistaken identity, even for the most experienced blind tasters. Not unlike the plot in Twelfth Night, Chris Kissack has a Shakespearean moment when sampling Pierre Gaillard’s 2012 Condrieu.

Dinner with Alfred Tesseron from Chateau Pontet-Canet, by Alex Robertson

On Wednesday night this week, private members club, Home House, was the venue for an intimate gathering with Alfred Tesseron of Chateau Pontet-Canet. A delicious 3 course dinner was laid out for a tasting of vintages going back to 1995 and finished with a very special sample of Mr Tesseron’s Cognac Lot 53. 

Burgundy Trip (2011 Vintage) - Day One, by Jason Busby

An early start to get to Gatwick for our flight to Lyon. No mention of terminal confusion! Arrived mid morning in a sunny Lyon to collect car ready for 2 hour car journey to Beaune, one of my favourite places on earth, with its uncommercial, friendly atmosphere - oh and some of the greatest wines available.

Montrachet

The Wine Doctor chooses Asiaticus Pierre Gaillard 2010 as his Wine of the Week

The Wine Doctor has chosen Pierre Gaillard's Asiaticus 2010 as his wine of the week this week.

The grapes for this cuvee come from the same historic site near the village of Seysuel where Villard grows grapes for his Seul en Scène cuvee. Asiaticus has the attributes of a modern masterpiece combining rich concentrated fruit; open, ripe, powerful and velvety with warm sweet spices. It has a classic freshness and elegance combined with exceptional, almost new world, concentration and ripeness that makes it both charming and profound. 

UGC Bordeaux Trip - Days Three and Four, by Alex Robertson

Days 3 and 4 require real stamina as the tastings continue and detailed notes need to be taken for every wine. Our palates were starting to tire but we persevered with the wines of St. Emilion, Pomerol and Graves. The properties at most of the châteaux are stunning and in some cases brand new cellars had been built since last year.

Ch. Cheval-Blanc

Ducru Beaucaillou vintage comparison, by Alex Robertson

A good friend and keen wine man invited me for dinner to taste a couple of vintages of Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou last night and what a fine evening it was. I am very much looking forward to visiting the Chateau to taste the 2011 vintage in a few days time.

Hartenberg Lunch with James Browne at the Gilbert Scott, by Johnny Paterson

This week we were really pleased to welcome the owner of Hartenberg Estate, James Browne, to the UK. We met in the beautiful bar at the Gilbert Scott for a small lunch with a few clients. Everyone was hugely impressed with the wonderful refit of the building and the huge grandeur of all the rooms especially the dining room.

Hartenberg Mackenzie comparison and Paul Pillot 2005, by Claire Scott-Gall

I spent last weekend with my in-laws in the countryside and yet again was utterly spoilt with good food and excellent wine. My husband and I store wine in his father’s cellar since the “cellar” in our one bed flat in London merely equates to a cupboard under the stairs. It is always very exciting delving into the boxes we keep there (I must make an inventory next time!) and this visit we found a bottle of Hartenberg Mackenzie 2004 that we bought on our first trip to South Africa in 2007. I couldn’t believe it when Will’s dad pulled out a bottle of the 2006! Having never done a Mackenzie vintage comparison, I was beside myself.

Cornas, Pierre Gaillard 2010 in the office, by Sean Burbridge

This is the 5^th vintage of this Cornas made by one of our favourite Northern Rhône producers, Pierre Gaillard.

Ten Minutes by Tractor Winemakers Dinner

Wednesday 25th January 2012
The Boundary, Entrance in Redchurch Street, 2-4 Boundary Street, London, E2 7DD
Apértifs from 7pm with the tasting commencing at 7.30pm

For many, TMBT produces the best Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Owner and winemaker Martin Spedding, will be presenting his acclaimed wines and will discuss everything from the history of the estate to his unique winemaking techniques. It promises to be an interesting evening with some delicious wines.

Christmas Day – by Jason Busby

This year, with Christmas falling on a Sunday, I had to wait until the “proper” hour to start drinking and so Champagne was not the first drink of the day. Once the wrapping paper was removed by 6am and the children sent to make lunch, the first wine of the day was a cheeky Petit Chablis from my favourite Chablis producer Billaud-Simon. A 2006 I bought a few years ago and the last of the batch, so one to remember. Although young vines were used, this was better than any regular village Chablis I've had in any restaurant or used to sell at a previous job with a multiple retailer!

My Christmas wine choice, by Martin Wheatley

One of my favourite combinations at Christmas time is smoked fish and Champagne.  Every Christmas Eve it is becoming customary in my house to enjoy a simple meal, with a centrepiece of Gleneagles Paté. A combination of Smoked Salmon, Smoked Trout and Smoked Mackerel needs nothing more than savoury biscuits and good bread to really set the Christmas scene. Nothing showy, but very much in keeping with tradition for this day and certainly served with one eye firmly focused on the excesses of the gluttonous day to come! 

What will I be drinking this Christmas? By Johnny Paterson

This year it has been a really tough choice for us whether to have goose or turkey, and this year we are having turkey. Controversial as the old man will be muttering under his breath that this is an American invention, like coca cola...anyway the questions mount as I have had no time to plan what to have with this beast of a bird. So I have played it safe and gone into the depths of my small and decreasing cellar, to find something we can all enjoy… 

Good Food and Wine Guide 2012 – Hay Shed Hill Five Star rating

The latest Good Wine Guide 2012 by Nick Stock has just hit our desk. As always Hay Shed Hill has done very well and has received a five star rating overall. Here are the results for the wines we stock:

2011 Margaret River vintage report by Michael Kerrigan

The 2011 vintage in Margaret River, and across Western Australia in general, was remarkable if only for how completely different it was to the rest of Australia’s grape growing regions.  It has always been of some consternation to us in the West that the quality of Australian vintages is assessed on what happens in the middle and east of the country, with Western Australia so far away and influenced by completely independent weather systems we often experience vastly different conditions that shape the quality of our vintages and wines.

Christmas Wine Tasting

Bancroft’s Christmas wine tasting, which was held at our offices last night, confirmed just quite how good our Christmas offer is this year. We showed 13 wines and they were all tasting fantasticly well, with Anne-Claire Forest’s Pouilly-Fuissé being the most ordered white on the night, confirming the incredible value found from this producer. Michel Juillot’s Corton-Charlemagne 2007 was a serious Christmas treat for us all, as was the Château Léoville-Barton 1996.  A wonderful evening was had by all and it is comforting to know our guests will certainly be enjoying their Christmas wines in a few weeks time. Here is a summary of our Christmas offer:

Keep the Cristal Popping!

There are few things in the vinous world which excite as much as a chilled glass of Champagne and when the chilled champagne in question harks from the house of Louis Roederer, one’s smile is noticeably broader. Last night we were treated to an evening in the presence of Mark Bingley MW of Maison Marques et Domaines Ltd, the UK agent for this prestigious house, together with five cuvees of Roederer Champagne to enjoy. Sometimes working in the wine trade can be a real slog.....  Honest!