Open Mike: World Cup wines.

Without doubt some great matches ahead but how about we open some wines from some of the competing countries?
Guess we can leave out Nigeria, Ghana, Honduras, Columbia but who knows! Anything from Brazil would be of interest, how about Mexico? Needless to say many of the other participating countries are wine producers so we could have some fun here.

I will start off with a German Riesling later today so think about joining in .

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/teams/

Did the wine focus for this month prophesy the outcome?

If Spain win, I will open the best Rioja in the house .
UK lassie has tasted some sparkling wines from Brazil>

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink ... -wine.html

During the group stage, I don't plan on drinking any Hock or Oporto, I can tell you that. Should miracles occur, I'll worry about my drinking choices in the knockout stage when the occasion arises. Maybe I'll drink my dwindling supply of CA wines for a while?

Jingoistically yours,
Mark Lipton

[David M. Bueker]

World Cup???

When is American Football season?

During the group stage, I don't plan on drinking any Hock or Oporto, I can tell you that.

But no ban on Palm Wine? Nothing to fear from that side?

Palm wine? Good one Rahsaan, had to look it up>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_wine

Not sure I will be drinking any as I watch the African teams .

So I do not think that Germany will win the event but nevertheless lets kick-off (nice pun) with a superb German Riesling.

WTN: 1996 Stephan Ehlen Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese, MSR.

Forumites will remember my extensive notes on the `91/`97 from this estate.
Tim York thought that the `96 might show better acidity and he appears to be spot on.
Dry cork, 8% alc, $25 Cdn, Lot # 2-590-6-97. Medium gold in color, to be expected. Some very nice aromatics here, some gasolein, tropical fruits, mineral tones too.
On entry, still showing good length and balance. Fine acidity, not too sweet, some spice on a fresh finish. "Mature..at its prime" from across the table. Apricot and tangerine as it opened up and it all held up nicely on day 2. My expectations were confirmed!

[David M. Bueker]

So Budweiser is one of the main World Cup sponsors, and FIFA forced Brazil to overturn a ban on alcohol sales in stadiums. The ban had been in place since 2003 due to severe violence and death due to inebriated fans. Let's hear it for FIFA.

I'm not opening any wine for an event run by FIFA.

[Robin Garr]

I'm not opening any wine for an event run by FIFA.

FIFA may be on the ropes with the growing tide of revelations about corruption and match fixing.

That said, though, I'm not boycotting World Cup!

The whole idea of my thread is just to have some fun and drink some wines from the competing World cup countries. It really is quite simple eh. More participation makes this a more fun place!

[David M. Bueker]

I'm out on this one. FIFA is a terrible organization.

[Robin Garr]

I'm out on this one. FIFA is a terrible organization.

I still love World Cup. And I love wine! I never really thought of having to look for reasons to drink wine, though.

Spain could possibly be repeat champions in Brazil so thought I should try a nice rosado on offer at a downtown whisky and winebar that was sort of decked out in various national colors!.

2013 Bodegas Muga Rioja Rosado.

$9.00 a glass, think $21 on the shelf. Very light salmon color, no real depth. On the nose some cherry, strawberry and what seemed like a hint of rhubarb. Did not deter however, I am not a big rhubarb fan!
The previous `12 vintage was a bust in my opinion but this is much more fruitier and has more depth. Good acidity and went well with some innovative potstickers.
Many rosados would have to be good to equal this one, same could well be said for some of the footie teams out there .

Opening game today, Brazil Croatia. However think France so have a `09 Domaine Lafond Roc-Epine CdR ready to go.
Have posted a few notes on this domaine in the past, remember a very good white.

I'd like to write a TN about a Brazilian or Croatian wine but I've never seen either on offer. I would expect Croatia to have some nice ones from local grape varieties.

As for France, that's about 80% of my consumption. I need to think of a wine name which has football connections.

Le Figaro ran an article entitled something like "8 reasons for boycotting the World Cup". David would like that .

I'd like to write a TN about a Brazilian or Croatian wine but I've never seen either on offer. I would expect Croatia to have some nice ones from local grape varieties.

Never had a Zinfandel/Primitivo/Tribidrag, Tim?

Mark Lipton

I'd like to write a TN about a Brazilian or Croatian wine but I've never seen either on offer. I would expect Croatia to have some nice ones from local grape varieties.

Never had a Zinfandel/Primitivo/Tribidrag, Tim?

Mark Lipton

Mark, I've never seen a Croatian Zinfandel/Primitivo/Tribidrag in the shops and ergo have never drunk one. Would love to.

Did I read that Uraguay had been beaten by Costa Rica? This reminds me that one of the only "foreign" wines which I have bought in a supermarket here was a Tannat (60-70%) from Casa Magrez in Uruguay. It was revolting. One sniff overwhelmed me with wood and tannin dominated rich fruit. I didn't drink any but Germaine, who did, said she didn't even want to use it in the cooking. Some people may like this style and I can imagine some critics giving in over 90 points

I don't like a lot of Bernard Margrez's Bordeaux. I remember tasting some equally overoaked prestige whites. And he's pompous to boot.

France easily beat Honduras as television and radio are reminding us here most of the day. Which of my bottles should I dedicate to their victory? The nice Baudry in the bargains sticky thread or yesterday's premoxed Foreau?

Did I read that Chile and Australia were going to play a match? That would give people where their wines are available an opportunity for interesting comparisons!

France did indeed put up a good show Tim and Baudry shined. Sorry I cannot say the same about my Lafond CdR .

TN: 2009 Domaine Lafond Cotes du Rhone Roc-Epine.

Opened and decanted one hour, Diam-style cork, cellared two yrs, $22 or thereabouts.

Plummy rim, some depth, no sign of age. Cherries, dark fruits, black currants on the nose but nothing exceptional.

Initial entry is dry, quite acidic to me and not a note I would expect. Full-b odied, pepper, lots going on but unpleasant finish over the two day period. Balance seems out of wack and sure lacks some charm. Pity as this house turns out some nice wines, including a white I posted on years ago.


******Belgium plays Algeria Tuesday, anyone up for a nice beer!!!!

Cross posted from the Spain WF in honour of France's continued participation and Spain's exclusion -

Côtes du Roussillon Villages Pur Schiste 2011 - Mas Amiel, Oliver Decelle - Alc.14.5% - (€9), made from Grenache, Syrah and Carignan.

IMO this French Catalan wine really gives a lesson to yesterday's Montsant from Spanish Catalonia made from the same cocktail of grape varieties though probably in different proportions. The main difference here is absence of burgeoning oak which allows the taste of the wine to come through and very good it is. Colour is deep red and the nose immediately shows dense dark fruit with a hint of liquorice. The palate is quite full and dense with lots of dark fruit laced with spice, mineral hints and again a little liquorice and has sufficient substance for the high alcohol to remain unobtrusive. I'll certainly buy more bottles unless the local Leclerc supermarket sells out before I get to it. Very good. QPR!

Sure rub it in about Espana, not that many here seem to care .

Many here know my preference for drier whites so here goes with a recent sampled Vinho Verde from Portugal who are on their last legs too in Brazil.

TN: 2012 Varanda do Conde Vinho Verde Alvarinho/Trajadura.

Not sure that this house is in the top flight but at $8 a glass at the wine bar who cares!

Slight spritz, medium straw in color. Citrus, floral tones on the nose with a brief hint of pineapple and peach. Dry entry naturally, minerals, melon, crisp, nice length, typical acidity here. "like the sharp finish" from across the crowded table. Nice appys served, pleasant moments indeed.

Originally from the north of the Vinho Verde region, the Trajadura makes wines with lower acidity and higher alcoholic strength than the other Vinho Verde grapes. This makes it a great candidate for blending in this cool, moist part of the country, where excessive acidity and low alcohol can be a problem even with vines trained in an efficient, modern way. Trajadura is a fairly aromatic variety, with gentle flavours of peach, apricot, apple and ripe pear and a pleasant touch of orange blossom. it is used in popular blends with Alvarinho, and with Loureiro and Arinto. Trajadura has a very long vegetative cycle, buds breaking early, grapes ripening late. The bunches are yellowish-green, tightly packed and medium sized. Yields are very generous.

I read that Italy are playing Uruguay today so last night's bottle was timely.

Chianti Classico 600 2001 - Villa Vignamaggio. This was a cuvée made to celebrate a 600th anniversary at the estate.

Lovely mature Chianti with medium plus body, ripe red fruit, tangy acidity, minerals, faint notes of oil and rubber, which I love but others may not, and enough firmness on the finish. Very good.

This was the last, except for one bottle of their Cabernet franc, from a small stash bought when staying at the superb Villa Vignamaggio about 10 years ago