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Week in pictures: 14 – 20 September
This week has seen Douglas Blyde in Soho and drinking Pol Roger out of tankards, Encirc’s partnership day, Matthew Hoggard firing up the grill, Franciacorta at the Emmys, and Wines of Tejo’s first Manchester tasting.
Superstar South African
First unveiled in 2010, FINE Wine magazine crowned the Grand Vin of 4G Wines, G. Le Capitaine, as “the South African Shooting Star” while sommelier/consultant, Germain Lehodey described it as “like swallowing silk.” In 2018, just 5,339 bottles of G. Le Capitaine were produced, uniting Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc from twenty vineyards across the Western Cape in partially new French oak from six cooperages for 18 months. Following in the illustrious footsteps of the late Denis Dubourdieu, founders Vanessa and Philipp Axt brought on Dr. Valérie Lavigne as Master Winemaker, with Tian Scholtz overseeing the cellar, and Gustav Andrag tending the vines.
The Axts, ever keen on memorable launches, unveil each vintage in a country linked to the wine’s subtitle. Hence, for G. 2018, “Going, Going, Gone” was debuted at the Banksy Exhibition, Soho, its label playfully nodding to the artist’s Balloon Girl including a shredded effect. Hours before, a panel of tasters – including two Masters of Wine and three Master Sommeliers, convened at 67 Pall Mall for a blind tasting. Subject to four hours of decanting, among the contenders were five legendary wines from 2018, all boasting 100 Parker points: Châteaux Lafite, Margaux, and Ausone, alongside Pingus and Sine Qua’s Non Eleven Confessions.
Fortunately for the Axts, who had a sleepless night in advance of the tasting, G. 2018 triumphed, with, remarkably, only your humble correspondent pinpointing its fig roll, violet, and grain notes as unmistakably South African. Margaux, a touch one-dimensional at this stage, took second place, followed by Pingus, showing bright violets but a deficiency of finish. Ausone, supple and finely tuned, placed just behind, with Lafite thereafter offering a slightly discordant nose – hinting oddly at PX – yet delivering a velvet texture and real depth. Bringing up the rear, Sine Qua Non finished openly alcoholic and slightly unruly, rounding off the tasting in last place.
Sir Winston Churchill in Tankards
Heath Ball, popular publican of Highgate’s The Red Lion & Sun, has commenced service of Pol Roger’s flagship Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill in tankards, honouring the way in which the politician is said to have consumed it.
“There is a pub in Adelaide which sells more Krug than anywhere else in Australia, and they serve it in branded schooners,” he recalls. “A friend sent me a newspaper article about it and said, ‘this is right up your street.’ So, I went and asked around and found out that Pol do branded tankards for Champagne.”
Ball subsequently held a meeting with the Champagne house. “I pitched them the idea that I would sell their Cuvée Churchill by the tankard. However, to make it work, it would need to be sold at a great price.”
The result: a 175ml pour via glass tankard of 2015 Pol Roger Sir Cuvée Winston Churchill will set patrons such as the former England rugby player, James Haskell back £55. “I won’t make money from it,” adds Ball, “but God knows life can’t all be about money; you need to have a laugh.”
Encirc
Encirc Beverages recently hosted its first-of-a-kind Partnership Day, bringing together leaders and partners from across Encirc’s supply chain and customer base.
The event, spearheaded by managing director Richard Lloyd (pictured), brought together more than 100 companies including industry giants such as Smurfit Westrock, the WSTA, Diageo, Sainsburys and Tesco to share their thoughts and ideas on how best to address the issues facing the sector currently, and prepare it for the future.
Franciacorta
Franciacorta has marked its fourth consecutive year as the Official Sparkling Wine of the Emmy Awards, one of the most prestigious events in the global television and film industry.
With its unmistakable style, Franciacorta enhanced the experience of the winners and attending celebrities, adding a touch of Italian excellence to the awards ceremony held on Sunday, 15 September at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles. The event was broadcast live on ABC and other international networks, including Sky in Italy.
This year, Franciacorta wasn’t just in the spotlight for its wines but also introduced two important highlights that emphasized the bond between Italian art, culture, and gastronomy. The first was the presence of Miriam Leone, renowned Italian actress and ambassador of “Made in Italy,” who attended the Awards and main events as a special guest of Franciacorta.
“We are proud to have represented Italy once again at the Emmy Awards,” said Silvano Brescianini, President of the Franciacorta Consortium. “This year, with the presence of Miriam Leone and the participation of Augusto Pasini, we celebrated Italian excellence in all its forms: from wine to food, to cinema and television.”
Kingsland Drinks
Australian wine maker, Andrew Peace, and England cricket legend turned grill school owner, Matthew Hoggard MBE, hosting a press and influencer event at Hoggy’s Grill to kick start a pipeline of content, PR, digital advertising and social media.
Led by Kingsland Drinks, the event forms part of a wider, six-figure campaign investment for 2024/5 focused on Andrew Peace Wine’s award-winning and proven quality credentials, affordability and stamp of approval from the Good Housekeeping Institute.
The campaign uses the strapline ‘award winning wine, whatever the weather’ linking to a national moment of culture and coming together; the cricket.
Pete Fairclough, Senior Brand Manager at Kingsland Drinks, said: “The event marked an important moment in the brand’s growth as we work to clearly communicate the value the brand can offer retailers and shoppers.”
Wines of Tejo
Wines of Tejo’s first ever tasting in Manchester took place this week at The Fountain House on Monday, 16 September. It featured a walk-round tasting of 11 top producers and 2 masterclasses led by Dirceu Vianna Junior MW on World Class Wines and the other on the region’s most widely planted white variety Fernão Pires.
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