Crowd-pleasing virtual wine tastings | Alistair Gibson

Over the past few months I have sadly had to cancel many wine tastings I was due to host.
Mont Rocher Vielles Vignes Rosé 2019, Pay d’OcMont Rocher Vielles Vignes Rosé 2019, Pay d’Oc
Mont Rocher Vielles Vignes Rosé 2019, Pay d’Oc

It is a shame because it is one of the aspects of the wine trade that I most enjoy – watching and listening to people as they taste new wines.

I have missed this interaction with consumers greatly.

However, this weekend I am delighted to be giving a virtual wine tasting for around 70 people from Selborne Wine Society.

The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley MarlboroughThe Crossings Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley Marlborough
The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc Awatere Valley Marlborough
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Logistically it’s not been easy, with some 25 households involved and the wine needing to be delivered to each of these.

To keep it simple I was asked to select just three wines, so it was important to make them as interesting but crowd-pleasing as possible.

With the sun shining, rosé proved to be the big winner during lockdown, and particularly Provence-style pale rosé.

Mont Rocher Vielles Vignes Rosé 2019, Pay d’Oc (Hermitage Cellars £7.35 on offer from £7.80) is a dry pale pink rosé, similar in style to a Provence rosé but without the price tag.

Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2013, StellenboschGlenelly Estate Reserve Red 2013, Stellenbosch
Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2013, Stellenbosch
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Made from old vine cinsault, it is really fresh with strawberry and raspberry on the nose followed by more soft berry red fruits, and a nice twist of lime on the palate before a refreshingly dry finish.

It’s the sort of rosé that it is acceptable to add ice to, if you really must, and would work with a tomato and black olive tart.

Apparently sauvignon blanc was the biggest selling grape variety over the past few months.

The Crossings Sauvignon Blanc 2019, Marlborough (Hermitage Cellars £9.60 on offer from £10.80) is a wine that reminds you why we all fell for this style of wine in the first place.

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It has been much praised in the many wine competitions it has been entered in.

The Crossings has ripe passion fruit and melon on the nose, followed by more tropical fruits and minerals on the palate with some pleasing zesty, crunchy acidity on the finish.

It is brilliant value and perfect with Thai-style fish cakes.

For the red wine, Glenelly Estate Reserve Red 2013, Stellenbosch (Hermitage Cellars £12.95 on offer from £15.95) is an interesting take on a Bordeaux red, being a blend of the four main Bordeaux grapes with the addition of a little syrah.

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It has dark fruits, sweet spices and cedar on the nose, followed by a medium to full bodied palate with ripe tannins and a long, lingering finish.

This would be lovely with some barbecued lamb or mature hard cheese.

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