Dinner Xara Lodge on the 23rd of May 2023

In May the aim was to target light-bodied red wines which are typified by Pinot Noir and Gamay grapes.  Such wines tend to be translucent in colour and tend to have a moderately high acidity and a perfumed aroma best collected by using a large globe shaped glass.

Gamay’s typical profile is , besides the highish acidity, fruity with a light body and alcohol and even lower tannins.   Dominant flavours (depending on terroire) is red berry, cherry, violets and also earthy and banana secondary flavours.  It is grown mostly in France, Switzerland, Canada and Turkey with the majority of production in the Beaujolais region.  Quality levels of Beaujolais have risen rapidly from a couple of decades ago where it was represented mainly by the frankly terrible ‘Nouveau’ and the ‘Cru’ wines can be of very high quality indeed as can the more mid-range ‘Villages’  the lighter versions are represented by the Fleurie and the Saint-Amour while the bolder wines by the Brouilly, Chenas, Mongon and Moulin-a-Vent.

Pinot Noir, originally from France, is now also grown very successfully in the USA, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Switzerland, Australia, Chile and Moldovia and other regions.  It is very fruit driven contrasted with high acidity, moderate body and alcohol and low tannins.  Dominant flavours are cranberry, cherry, raspberry, cloves and even mushroom.  There is significant regional variations in flavour profiles with cooler climes having cranberry and cherry dominating more while warmer climes will have instead raspberry and black plum.  Ther are at least 15 distinct clones of Pinot Noir and each has its own characteristic flavour profile.

Iro

Dr Ramiro Cali-Corleo

Chairman