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It's a Groovy kind of love

30/4/2016

 
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I sometimes feel like I'm on a one woman mission to remove Sauvignon Blanc from the top slot, when it comes to white wine.
Britain's most popular white varietal leaves me, for the most part, cold.
Part of a recent judging panel, I tasted 13 Sauvignon Blancs in a row, and could find only one with a remotely pleasant flavour. Is it just me? 

I do get it though.

You want cold, refreshing, zingy wine with plenty of flavour, and no matter how much wine writers (& myself) try to convince you that THIS is the year of Riesling, you can't find it in your heart to love it.
​
That's where groovy "GruVe", Austrian Grüner Veltliner comes into play.
​Mineral enough to please a wine writer, but fun, approachable and great with spring food.


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Light, (just 12% abv) bright, and delightful to accompany summer salads, but without tasting as green as grass, Grüner Veltliner could be just what you're looking for.

This is example from Waitrose has a silver medal from International Wine Challenge. It will have been blind tasted by at least 2 different panels of 5 wine experts before a final judgement by some of the UK's most respected wine critics.

Currently reduced to £7.99 at Waitrose
, it's a great chance to try this varietal if you've not yet had the pleasure. At full price, I might choose my favourite GruVe below.  



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Refreshingly mouthwatering, with a good mineral backbone, a hint of white pepper and a healthy dose of citrus and green apple. It pairs well with salads, spicy Asian dishes and fish.

Single Estate, family made wine, m
ake it's acquaintance and never look at Sauvignon Blanc the same way again.

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If if you're up for pushing the boat out a bit more, the best GruVe I've had in the last 6 months is definitely this example from Perfect Friday Wine. Top
class, I'm afraid my tasting note is limited to just a few words, 2 of which are "bloody amazing". But then, it was Christmas Day when I drunk it.

If you're already a GruVe concert, try it and see what spending just £10.95 will get you.  It's a definite winner, and my groovy kind of love.

A whiter Rhône

14/4/2016

 
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the allure of Spring has started to show itself in Purple Teeth's Berkshire base. It was time for a wine rack spring clean.
Recently we've been semi addicted to Pazo Señorans' Albariño and Pinot Gris from Alsace or Oregon, making way for the occasional Chardonnay...
I found this Viognier/Rousanne (70%/30%) blend at Waitrose,  with 25% off (& an extra 10% off for MyWaitrose customers which brought it down from£12.99 to under £9. Considering a glass of Albariño cost £9 in Islington last night (shame on you, Angel) , this is worth staying in for.

Mr Purple Teeth was impressed. He noted a subtle citrus note first, a decent mouthfeel on the mid palate and a long an interesting finish. "Complex yet easy to drink as an aperitif", he concluded.

i had different plans - Munster cheese and some other snacks for a Friday night picnic.

Could the the wine match?

Strangely it worked pretty well with a simple green salad dressed with lime & chilli, chilli and vintage cheddar sprinkled as a seasoning.

Giving the wine a bit more chance to shine on its own, I enjoyed the light floral notes upfront. It's not a cloying Viognier floral, but subtle, white & light. A silky, weighty body is pleasant without being hefty, and there's a very clean and bright finish with hints of pear and camomile tea.
On day 2 there's more honey and a mellow note of something herbal.
Most Côte du Rhône is red, but both of these white grapes originate in the Rhône valley. If you fancy broadening your white horizons, this will appeal as long as you're not married to grassy Sauvignon Blanc.
Cheers!

    Purple Teeth

    My name's Heather and I've been enjoying wine for over 20 years. I'm the 2013 winner of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Rhone prize for oustanding students at the advanced level.
    My mission is to share my passion for the myriad varieties of fermented grape juice, hopefully inspiring you to try something new, or to host  a Purple Teeth wine party in your own home or business.

    My blog mainly features wines you should be able to find on your local high street or online, and occasionally, I will review restaurants, travel and other forms of alcohol, since my qualification covers spirits too.  I believe it's important to enjoy the calories and the cash we spend on alcohol, and I hope my guidance can help you reduce the risk of making a bad buy.
      
    When I'm not drinking wine, you'll find me on the dance floor where West Coast Swing is my dance of choice. Socialising with the friends I've made there from all over the world has also brought me new adventures in alcohol!  And just in case you're interested, I also write a blog called Confidence Within.  You'll find it at heatherharrison.weebly.com


    Remember to enjoy wine sensibly...
    For a woman, 2-3 units per day is the recommended maximum allowance.  This equates to around one standard "pub measure" glass of wine:
    175ml of 13% alcohol wine is 2.3 units (and a scary 140 calories).  
    You'll find all the facts you need about safe, moderate drinking at the www.Drinkaware.co.uk site. 
    Purple Teeth supports safe drinking. Never drive or operate machinery after drinking alcohol.

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