Liquors & Lace  Musings on fine wine & spirits.  Little notes on beautiful things.  Stylish picks and high-fashion loves.

Pick of the Tasting:  Boutinot, London

From Boutinot’s Autumn Tasting in London last week, here’s my pick of the bunch…

Amarone della Valpolicella by Pra, Veneto 2007:  Aromas of dark cherries, cured meat and blackcurrants are rich and heady, with a note of sweet, roasted red peppers leading to a full-bodied palate of mouthfilling blackcurrant, black cherry and raisinated dark fruits with a touch of spice.

Minimal Gruner Veltliner by Sepp Moser, Kremstal 2008:  Honeyed stone fruit, vanilla and pastry crust on the nose, met by a pear and lime freshness.  Apple tart palate with a creamy mouthfeel, a spicy finish and lovely red apple juiciness.

Zeltlinger Himmelreich, Spatlese Riesling by Markus Molitor 2007:  A lime and smoky mineral nose does nothing to prepare you for the palate of this Spatlese Riesling, which is surprisingly sweet in comparison.  Juicy acidity is beautifully balancing, with a slight spritz on the front of the palate following on to a creamier mouthfeel with a stone fruit character and savoury hints on the finish.  According to my notes, I could drink buckets of the stuff.