The last time I was at the country estate was for a few days while the Countryside Faction went off to celebrate their wedding anniversary. I hung out with the cats, chickens, and ducks, as usual. They are all growing more used to me. This time, their car hadn’t even started up before Hoozle was in my bedroom, looking for breakfast. (Hoozle, for those who need reminding, is a cat.) But, as is often the case, I digress.
I had sent the Countryside Faction some wine, and brought with me what is described, in technical terms, as a veritable shitload of cheese. On the day they returned from their trip, we had wine and cheese, and other bits and pieces. This was the first wine we tried.
As you may recall, I don’t think I’ve had a Lampyres I didn’t like yet. Hopefully this one continues the trend. I went this one because I hadn’t tried it before. Additionally, although I wasn’t sure from the get-go if it was co-fermented, I liked the blend of red and white grapes, reminiscent of the Cote-Rotie approach.
In the glass
My first thought was ruby, clear and pretty. TE thought it was garnet, at least it would be, if garnet was darker then ruby. When I said it was, at least in wine terms, she went with it being garnet. Also, it has disappointing legs according to TE.
The nose
Me: no. TE: blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, dried something. Prunes, maybe? (That might have been me suggesting prunes.) I definitely suggested ‘compote,’ mainly since I hadn’t used it as a word in a while. MT thought it had ‘not much of a smell.’ TE comes back with ‘cranberry sauce’.
The palate
Dry, bit of zing, fresh. Cranberry. TE adds red cherries. I think by this time I’m already enjoying the wine, or trying to follow the Countryside Faction’s various comments, as my own notes drop off.
It has nice acidity, medium body, as I recall. One of the things that intrigues me most is the finish. Here, for me, the white grapes show up. There’s a sort of grapefruit finish to it. TE agrees, and further specifies that it is a pink grapefruit. Given my tendency to avoid grapefruit when possible, I take her word for it.
Rating
Pretty on visuals. Easily a yummy-plus on taste. Enjoyable, quaffable but can also stand up to a bit of reflection and analysis.
Sustainability
Spontaneous fermentation, wild yeasts, low sulphur, unfined, unfiltered. Organic. The whole nine yards.
The technical info
12% ABV, Syrah (85%), Muscat d’Alexandrie (15%), £25.99 from Cambridge Wine Merchants