I am a lucky man: I was invited to Vienna last week to give a Masterclass on Northern Rhone wines by my colleague Frank Smulders MW, who works at the prestigious Palais Coburg hotel. Palais Coburg is one of the finest hotels in Europe with a stunning wine collection and is also a Major Supporter of the Institute of Masters of Wine. Part of the hotel's wine activities is a series of Masterclasses, hence my involvement. While for many, the chance to spend two nights in a 5 Star hotel would be a big thrill, for me it was the chance to taste some fantastic wines. The audience was made up of some of Austria's top winemakers, as well as wine professionals from central Europe and wine collectors.
About Me
- DermotMW
- Dublin, Ireland
- Hi, I'm Dermot Nolan, and I became a Master of Wine (MW) in 1997, and resigned from the Institute of Masters of Wine in 2023 after being an MW for exactly 26 years. I opened a wine shop in Dún Laoghaire, Ireland, called The Wine Library, which closed in 2018, and this is my personal wine blog. I will do my utmost to be fair and responsible in my posts – please read my Who Pays article in re the ethics of wine trips and writing. I have worked in wine education, retail, and consultancy since 1990. I was a Director of the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) from 2008 to 2014 and was also a member of the Events Committee, founder of the Trips Committee, and member of the Governance Committee. Having had problems with potentially libellous comments from unidentifiable posters, I now require that if you post a comment, you must identify yourself properly or it won't be published. Please note that I do not review products or services on request so kindly don't ask. I value my independence and I believe my readers (few that they may be) do so also.
Showing posts with label syrah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label syrah. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Monday, July 27, 2009
Lebanese charm
Well, tonight I tasted the first of my birthday wines. Massaya Classic 2005 is a blend of 60% cinsault, 20% cabernet sauvignon and 20% syrah. Produced in the Bekaa Valley it's an interesting blend of grapes and producers - Dominique Hebrard of Chateaux Bellefont-Belcier and Trianon, Frederic & Daniel Brunier of Vieux Telegraphe and Sami and Ramzi Ghosn of Tanail in Lebanon.
The wine has a lovely ruby, garnet colour evenly fading from core to rim, suggesting some maturity. The nose is ripe and spicy, with warm berry fruits, some dried fruit and some pepper, suggesting a rich wine beginning to mature. The palate has a sweet, smooth entry, soft tannins and supple acidity, a rich but elegant middle palate, and a sweet long fruity finish. Overall, a good to very good wine.
So, thanks Bren for the good bottle.
The wine has a lovely ruby, garnet colour evenly fading from core to rim, suggesting some maturity. The nose is ripe and spicy, with warm berry fruits, some dried fruit and some pepper, suggesting a rich wine beginning to mature. The palate has a sweet, smooth entry, soft tannins and supple acidity, a rich but elegant middle palate, and a sweet long fruity finish. Overall, a good to very good wine.
So, thanks Bren for the good bottle.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
1963 Taylor
Hi, a brief post tonight as I'm in a hot hotel room in Luxembourg and it's hard to sleep. Why am I in Luxembourg? Well, a good friend just turned 80 today and we went out for a lovely meal - myself and my sister Mary, Martin the birthday boy and his partner Cliodhna, plus two other friends of Martin, Jake and Diana. Our dinner was at the Jaegdschlaas, a very reliable restaurant - though not the best for vegetarians - where I had a lovely filet de cheval!
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