As a self-confessed wine-o, I'm often asked to name my "favourite" wine.
To me, that's like asking someone else to name their favourite child.
Of course, there are those standout wine moments, those incredible and iconic bottles, those perfect pairings. But there is so much more than just that, when it comes to wine.
Wine is liquid art, and would you want to look at just one piece of art for the rest of your life?
I've been very lucky to study wine a bit, to travel with wine and to explore many of the world's wine regions.
I admit, I love wine! And while there are those I prefer less, and of course, there I styles I choose more often, there is a time and a place for all kinds of wine. Are you eating? Are you in company? Is it a celebration? Is it just a tipple? Only allowed one glass? And perhaps most important of all, is someone else paying?
I love exploring the world of wine and finding new wines to enjoy, as well as relying on those wines we choose when writing a blog is too much work, or we just want to relax with an old, reliable friend.
But for the very insistent, I will choose a few fine favourites and their alternatives.
To me, that's like asking someone else to name their favourite child.
Of course, there are those standout wine moments, those incredible and iconic bottles, those perfect pairings. But there is so much more than just that, when it comes to wine.
Wine is liquid art, and would you want to look at just one piece of art for the rest of your life?
I've been very lucky to study wine a bit, to travel with wine and to explore many of the world's wine regions.
I admit, I love wine! And while there are those I prefer less, and of course, there I styles I choose more often, there is a time and a place for all kinds of wine. Are you eating? Are you in company? Is it a celebration? Is it just a tipple? Only allowed one glass? And perhaps most important of all, is someone else paying?
I love exploring the world of wine and finding new wines to enjoy, as well as relying on those wines we choose when writing a blog is too much work, or we just want to relax with an old, reliable friend.
But for the very insistent, I will choose a few fine favourites and their alternatives.
If forced to choose, this might just be my favourite wine... Let's start with an icon.
While individually not the most I've ever spent on a bottle, probably the fine wine I've enjoyed most times is
Valbuena 5° by Vega Sicilia.
A stunning Ribera del Duero I've enjoyed on great occasions such as my 40th birthday, Wedding anniversaries, and at Christmas.
It's been both a great wine gift and a gift to myself.
Last supped at Restaurant Arzak in San Sebastien, the 2006 was divine. The fact that we were married in 2006 and drunk this on our wedding anniversary last year surely added to experience. A memorable wine, from an impressive winery, it probably would take the crown of overall favourite it I had to choose.
Find out more.
While individually not the most I've ever spent on a bottle, probably the fine wine I've enjoyed most times is
Valbuena 5° by Vega Sicilia.
A stunning Ribera del Duero I've enjoyed on great occasions such as my 40th birthday, Wedding anniversaries, and at Christmas.
It's been both a great wine gift and a gift to myself.
Last supped at Restaurant Arzak in San Sebastien, the 2006 was divine. The fact that we were married in 2006 and drunk this on our wedding anniversary last year surely added to experience. A memorable wine, from an impressive winery, it probably would take the crown of overall favourite it I had to choose.
Find out more.
Affordable Alternative
While in no way in the same league, one cannot drink iconic wines every day, or even every month. And though I love to give Purple Teeth readers a nudge to spend a little more, I would be foolish to expect many of you to part with £100 or more per bottle.
So, welcome Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero 2011 (by far the best vintage I've tasted) and currently available in Sainsbury's for £17. Accessible to most readers and still a bit of a splurge, I know several of you have sampled and enjoyed this in Spain based on my recommendation and it's a real regular favourite around here.
In fact, Mr Purple Teeth bought it for his team last Christmas.
Bold, smoky and almost chewy, it's a big wine for it's price,
Find out more about this second wine of another iconic estate, Pesquera, here.
While in no way in the same league, one cannot drink iconic wines every day, or even every month. And though I love to give Purple Teeth readers a nudge to spend a little more, I would be foolish to expect many of you to part with £100 or more per bottle.
So, welcome Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero 2011 (by far the best vintage I've tasted) and currently available in Sainsbury's for £17. Accessible to most readers and still a bit of a splurge, I know several of you have sampled and enjoyed this in Spain based on my recommendation and it's a real regular favourite around here.
In fact, Mr Purple Teeth bought it for his team last Christmas.
Bold, smoky and almost chewy, it's a big wine for it's price,
Find out more about this second wine of another iconic estate, Pesquera, here.
Image courtesy of Majestic Wines, where this will set you back £40 a bottle Choosing an iconic white is a lot harder.
My head and heart say Burgundy, but my memory brings Stag's Leap Karia Chardonnay to mind first.
Probably half the price of a Vega Sicilia, and many incredible Montrachets, it's still a stand out.
Recalling the first time, as one so often does with these iconic experiences, I remember a Christmas Eve in a lovely hotel in Tenby, Wales, and enjoying this so much with friends that we ordered another bottle to have with out Christmas Day turkey. And yes, by Boxing Day, we had extinguished their stock.
I've had some amazing Meursault, Montrachet and other top French Chardonnays, but the memory of this one is stronger. And it's not insanely priced either, at around £40 a bottle.
Another pricey Chardonnay I'll review soon. Affordable Alternative
Still a little rich for many of my readers' blood, in the £20 or so price bracket, there are other great Californian Chardonnays.
Sticking with Majestic, the Au Bon Climat Santa Barbara Chardonnay at £22 is a good choice, although I'd probably spend a pound or two more at Islington's The Sampler and buy a Clos du Val from the Carneros area of Napa. Oh wait.. I did. And I will sample and write about it soon.
At £28.50, it's probably still a little way off affordable for many readers.
So I'll opt for the £12.99 Argentinean Chardonnay by Catena that I've written about several times.
Bag a Bargain
One of the great things about a wine education is knowing a "bargain" when one sees it. Around 12 years ago, hard though it is to believe, My local Tesco was stocking Penfold's Grange for just £99!
"Just" probably doesn't seem an appropriate word to describe ~£100 retail for a bottle of red, but compared with today's prices... Let's just say I wish I'd bought a caseload. I can find stock of a recent vintage for £300 a bottle at The Wine Society.
Grange is arguably Australia’s most celebrated wine and is officially listed as a Heritage Icon of South Australia. Pre-dating the smartphone, I have no notes nor a photo to recall the vintage, but I vividly recall the sensation of pulling the cork on Christmas Day, giving it a good old sniff and crying out with joyful anticipation.
This house loves a bold wine, and they don't come much bolder than this. As memorable wine moments go, that Christmas Day is etched in my mind forever.
Affordable Alternative
Australian Shiraz is omnipresent now and ranges from sublime to dreadful.
Price is important, and there are many great Penfold's wines that come in at around 1/6 of the price of the average bottle of Grange, nowadays.
Sadly that still puts them in a bracket of £50 or more!
If Chateau Purple Teeth is known for any one "old friend" wine, it's probably The Hedonist Shiraz (£13.99 from Waitrose).
Many a friend of Purple Teeth has been turned on to the little piggy and while it's never going to beat the Grange in a blind tasting, it certainly knocks its socks off in relation to affordability and ease of access.
Australian Shiraz is omnipresent now and ranges from sublime to dreadful.
Price is important, and there are many great Penfold's wines that come in at around 1/6 of the price of the average bottle of Grange, nowadays.
Sadly that still puts them in a bracket of £50 or more!
If Chateau Purple Teeth is known for any one "old friend" wine, it's probably The Hedonist Shiraz (£13.99 from Waitrose).
Many a friend of Purple Teeth has been turned on to the little piggy and while it's never going to beat the Grange in a blind tasting, it certainly knocks its socks off in relation to affordability and ease of access.
  | Recommended by a wine school buddy who knew of my love for the Albariño grape, Palacio de Fefiñanes possibly tops the charts at around £16 from Waitrose, or if pushing the boat out, the Pazo Señorans from Berry Bros is around £18 a bottle. While hardly in the same league price wise as the other whites mentioned above, fashionable Albariño will still get your sommelier's smile of approval. Amazing with all kinds of seafood dishes, it's rich yet mineral notes are almost as food friendly as Riesling.  Affordable alternative In the sub £10 a bottle range, it can be hard to find good Albariño. It's best not to try. I've experimented with many and the only way to find drinkable wines for under £10 is to head to Spain. Instead, try Languedoc favourite, Picpoul de Pinet. Also fresh and fashionable, & just as good with all kinds of seafood the £9 Picpoul from M&S, with its Decanter Silver Medal will impress any dinner party host, and won't break the bank with the current 25% off 6 discount. |
Dessert
When comes to dessert I've had some amazing wines. Ranging from incredible and unctuous Pedro Ximenez sherry through Tokay's most incredible Aszu wines all the way to Sauternes and Barsac.
But while amazing Ice Wine is probably the "best" dessert wine for me, my favourite would have to be the Elysium Black Muscat we served at our wedding.
Almost affordable, at around £10 for a half bottle from Majestic and other stockists, this Quady winery gem has flavours of violet, lychee and rose and is as at home with chocolate as it is with blue cheese. Versatile, and highly enjoyable, you must try it if you like a sweet wine.
When comes to dessert I've had some amazing wines. Ranging from incredible and unctuous Pedro Ximenez sherry through Tokay's most incredible Aszu wines all the way to Sauternes and Barsac.
But while amazing Ice Wine is probably the "best" dessert wine for me, my favourite would have to be the Elysium Black Muscat we served at our wedding.
Almost affordable, at around £10 for a half bottle from Majestic and other stockists, this Quady winery gem has flavours of violet, lychee and rose and is as at home with chocolate as it is with blue cheese. Versatile, and highly enjoyable, you must try it if you like a sweet wine.
I have many more "favourite" wines, from the icons like Opus One to the less well known such as Swiss Petite Arvine, and maybe I'll share more of them another day.
Yet, I keep exploring. Always looking for that supermarket bargain, the local gem, the interesting experience, the off the beaten track surprise is what Purple Teeth is all about.
And if anyone wants to let me sample again some of the wine icons I've been lucky enough to try before, and those that remain distinctly out of reach (e.g. Screaming Eagle, Romanee Conti etc), I'm fairly sure they'll leap to the top of my friend charts!
Whichever wine is your favourite, please keep exploring, and keeping your wine mind open, and do let me know via Twitter or Facebook about those gems you've found that you'd like me to share with the rest of the readership.
Cheers!
Yet, I keep exploring. Always looking for that supermarket bargain, the local gem, the interesting experience, the off the beaten track surprise is what Purple Teeth is all about.
And if anyone wants to let me sample again some of the wine icons I've been lucky enough to try before, and those that remain distinctly out of reach (e.g. Screaming Eagle, Romanee Conti etc), I'm fairly sure they'll leap to the top of my friend charts!
Whichever wine is your favourite, please keep exploring, and keeping your wine mind open, and do let me know via Twitter or Facebook about those gems you've found that you'd like me to share with the rest of the readership.
Cheers!
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