Ockenden Manor Fine Wine Tasting

The evening setting of Ockenden Manor in West Sussex is simply stunning. The sun was starting to set, the air was cool and refreshing and the wines were opened!

A nice group of 7 directors from a London based firm were the tastees, they were staying at Ockenden for a power meeting with a wee stay-over, cause they can!!

On show I was presenting 6 mixed and interesting wines; Bloomsbury 2006 Sparkling Wine from Ridgeview in Ditchling, Clos de Ratier Menetou Salon 2006, Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Chanteniere 2007, Crozes Hermitage Les Gravieres 2006 Jean-Luc Colombo, Chateau Liversan Cru Bourgeis 2006 and Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006 Cantina di Negrar.

Suffice to stay they were all superb, the white were served chilled but not too cold as to close them down, the reds were are carefully decanted;

Bloomsbury Sparkling Wine 2006
Ridgeview Vineyards/Ditchling
61% Chardonnay, 27% Pinot Noir & 12% Pinot Meunier
An award winning estate run by Mike Roberts. Quality English sparkling wine made in the Traditional or Champenois method, the same grape varieties as Champagne, similar soil and sub-soil structures. One of the many internationally acclaimed English Vineyards and wines today.


Clos de Ratier Menetou Salon 2006
Domaine Henry Pelle/France
100% Sauvignon Blanc. A lesser know classic Loire wine region. Just South West of its more famous cousins Sancerre and Pouilly Fume. The vines are grown on similar soils as Sancerre and the best wines from the region are hard to tell apart from Sancerre. The wine is produced and aged in tanks on the dead yeast cells or lees until bottling, adding a weightier and more aromatic style of wine. A similar process is carried out with Muscadet (Sur Lie), which lies at the mouth or estuary of the Loire near Nantes.


Saint-Aubin 1er Cru La Chateniere 2007
Domaine Gerard Thomas/Burgundy-France
100% Chardonnay
The white wines of Saint-Aubin (1er Cru), are classic white Burgundians. A stone’s throw away from both the villages of Puligny and Chassagne Montrachet situated in southern Burgundy. 20% of this wine is in new oak and ageing is for 10 months. Whilst good young this wine will mature and fatten over the next 3-5 years.


Crozes Hermitage Les Gravieres 2006

Jean-Luc Colombo/Northern Rhone
100% Syrah
Arguably one of the finest producers in Northern Rhone today. The vineyards of Crozes Hermitage are just on the outskirts or the surrounding lower slopes of the Hermitage. The vines are on average 40 years old, hand harvested and matured in small, new oak barrels for no less than 6 moths. The resultant wines are deep in colour (long maceration period during fermentation), notes of raspberries, blackcurrants and vanilla hints. Smooth with soft tannins and will mature further over the next 2-4 years.


Chateau Liversan Cru Bourgeois 2006
Grand Vin de Bordeaux
60% Merlot, 49% Cabernet Sauvignon & 1% Cabernet Franc
Liversan has been a classified growth in Bordeaux since 1932 and has never lost this classification, which is testament to its consistency of quality. Each grape is fermented separately then blended after a period of rest then matured in new French oak for no less than 12 months. The heavier depth of Merlot makes a more forward style of Bordeaux and is more easily accessible from a younger age, yet will/can benefit from further ageing.


Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2006
Cantina di Negrar/North Eastern Italy
Corvina, Rondinella & Molinara
One of the most famous wines from Italy. A blend of three indigenous grape varieties that have been hand harvested and left to dry over straw mats for a period of 3-4 months. The resultant grapes are shrivelled leaving less water and higher sugar and potential alcohol. Soft and rich on the palate with heady notes of dried fruit, prunes and red berries.


Ben Furst has been involved in the wine industry for 20 years. Having gained his WSET Diploma several years ago, Ben regularly presents wines to corporate and private groups throughout Sussex as well in London. Ben also consults for an English Vineyard as well as arranges group tours (and tastings) of English Vineyards, in addition to sourcing and advising on fine wines to private clients.

ben.furst@btinternet.com
07787448506