Where's My Parade?!: Keep Calm And Remember The Brancott Estate Tasting Notes

Brancott Estate wine notes, coming atcha!

'Citing!

A little while back I was invited to a fab wine tasting masterclass in Odessa Club with Jamie Marfell, a New Zealand winemaker for Brancott Estate, who was in town for the New Zealand wine fair. Helping Jamie guide us through the wines on offer was Irish wine expert Jean Smullen.

Jean gives this face to white wine kept in chillers.

Remember that next time you chill all the bejaysus flavour out of your Sauvignon Blanc!

Speaking of, first up was the Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2011.

It's made up of 50/50 their own vineyard and contract growers.

Mix of characteristics in this one-and just a touch acidic. Lime, grapefruit and peachy flavours.

This retails at around €13 per bottle.

pic via wineanorak.com

Next up on our wine map was the East Coast Pinot Grigio, 2011.

Pinot Grigio is a touch too acidic for me usually, but this was beautifully balanced.

Pear and plenty of citrus flavours abound, with a great length *snigger*...I'll get my coat...

This lovely can be snapped up for around €12.95. It would go great with cheese and pastry bites.

Well, it certainly did with the sample bites for us to try with the wines!

It went well with all of them *smacks lips*

Third up, Letter Series B Sauvignon Blanc, 2010. The label has been redesigned, looking modern and snazzy but retaining the simple clean line of the Brancott Estate design.

This Sauv. Blanc is more herby and has a definite sharpness to it. Food matches for this would be herb and roasted tomato dishes. Bit of basil pesto.....

Me gusta!

Last one was the Marlborough Pinot Noir, 2011.

This is lighter in colour and style due to the thin skin. It's harder to protect thin skin grapes so I feel if they make it into your glass and taste great, they're to be savoured all the more.

This PN is particularly elegant with the ripe red berry flavours and soft tannins. This can be matched with anything from frilled red meats to vegetable pastas or risottos. And, if you're unlike me, and can hold on to wine, this one will continue to improve given 4-5 years.

via cellartracker.com

I'd have to bury it like a time capsule to have any chance of leaving it alone. SO not going to happen!

The star of the show was the newly launched Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, which I may have mentioned....oooh, once or twice.....! So I will leave it at that for now...I will give it it's own moment...again!! Seriously, find an occasion (like, um, being thirsty) to get your chops round the Sauvignon Blanc Brut NV. It's around €16.95 in Dunnes, I believe.

We were left to enjoy the remainder of the wines and bites, not to mention the fab company in a lovely relaxed setting.

It being a school night (ahead of a very busy school day) I had to call it quits earlier than most.