Tony 'Mr Canada' Aspler comes to dinner

Tony Aspler@work during 2014 DWWA

Friday afternoon saw the end of the main section of judging for the 2015 Decanter World Wine Awards. A small panel will soon decide on the International Trophies – the top wines from more than 16,000 entered this year.

Tony Aspler, now the doyen of Canadian wine writers, was over in London for the DWWA as the regional chair for Canada. He came to dinner on Friday. 

2008 Pinot Reserve Chapel Down

After a very busy day judging it was good to start the evening with this fine English sparkling wine. It is a blend of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, which spends a minimum of 5 years on its lees. The resulting wine is complex: rich with notes of toast and brioche.  

 1995 Le L' d'Or de Pierre Luneau, Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine sur lie 

I have been regional chair for the Loire since 2003 and this edition has very clearly been the most successful in terms of gold medals awarded – a total of 10. Last year we awarded a then record of four golds. In the 2015 edition Muscadet played a significant part – highlighting both the quality of the 2014 vintage but also underlining what efforts have been made in the Pays Nantais to raise quality. 

There have, of course, always been quality-minded producers in the Pays Nantais like Pierre and Monique Luneau. Although a very drinkable and spectacular 1995 Muscadet will surprise some, lovers of Muscadet will not be surprised that this 1995 L d'Or has aged brilliantly and remains youthful. The ceviche of tuna, scallops and salmon was a very good foil to Pierre and Monique's wine. 

   

1980 Châteauneuf du Pape

Château de Beaucastel 

The label is slightly askew ....

Main course was a simply roasted chicken with the intention that the 1980 Beaucastel should not perhaps be overwhelmed by strong flavours. Although I opened the 1980 about an hour or so before we started to drink it I didn't decant it until just before before serving as on tasting it when first opened the wine seemed quite delicate so I didn't want to take the risk of it fading in the decanter. This may have been a mistake as the wine opened up while we drank it with the final glass being the most impressive. An example of how as wines age regions move closer together with the 1980s light bricky colour and silky texture approaching Burgundy.  

1999 Le Mont Demi-Sec, SA Huet

No dessert – instead a selection of cheese to accompany this 1999 Le Mont Demi-Sec from Huet. Honey, quince with lovely balance of this fruit and fresh but ripe acidity in the finish. Showing some evolution but brilliantly precise and surely good for at least the next 30 or 40 years. A bottle, that dates from the time when Gaston Huet was still alive, which illustrates why demi-sec is perhaps the most classic style of Vouvray. Simply a treat!  

'Quarto' of books recently received: World Atlas, Canadian Wineries, Cognac and Boutique Beer

 Three of the four new titles: Canadian Wineries, 

World Atlas of Wine (7th edition) and Cognac 

Two new wine books, one on spirits and one on beer

Brief details for the moment. 

Tony Aspler and Jean-François Bergeron: Canadian Wineries, Firefly, $29.95, 272 pagesTony supplies the text and Jean-François the photos. Tony is Canada's most established wine writer. There are now 560 wineries in Canada with wine now made in every state. Tony and Jean-François profile 60 of the leading wineries. 

Nicholas Faith: Cognac - the story of the world's greatest brandy, infinite ideas, £30, 212 pages

Nick is a leading authority on Cognac and his new book tells the history of Cognac as well as how and where it is made plus a listing of the producers and their Cognacs.

Hugh Johnson and Jancis Robinson MW: The World Atlas of Wine, 7th edition, Mitchell Beazley, £40, 400 pages

This is the seventh edition of Hugh's ground-breaking work. First published in 1971, it was hugely influential in cementing my interest in wine. This 7th edition will also be available as an iBook edition for £19.99. Both the paper and the i version will be published on 7th October. 

Ben McFarland: Boutique Beer – 500 of the World's Finest Craft Brews, jacqui small, £25, 224 pages 

This new title reflects the growth in the number of small and micro-breweries.  

 

2012 Decanter World Wine Awards: some pics from Day 2

One of the tasting rooms@The Worx – early morning already to go

The workers' breakfast

Christabel Lemke

Danny Casely: logistics supremo

Christelle Guibert: organiser of the DWWA

John Radford: Señor Spain  

John Switzer and Tony Aspler

John Switzer 

 Michael Schuster: Burgundy

Emily O'Hare: wine buyer for The River Café

Michael Hill-Smith MW: Australia

Now that John Livingstone-Learmonth's Rhône panel has started to award a few Gold medals, John has obviously decided he ought to carry a gold sticker around with him just in case ...  

 Panos Kakaviatos and something German

 Allan Cheesman in sombre mood!

Ian d'Agata: Italy

 Viewing Giles MacDonogh with his German group 

2012 Decanter World Wine Awards: some pics

Peter Franz and the Sensible breakfast group

Gérard Basset MW: Regional France

Tony Aspler: Canada 

Mark Savage MW

 

Mark Williamson (Willi's Wine Bar, Paris)

 Andrew Jefford: Languedoc-Roussillon

 Anthony Rose

 Beverley Blanning MW and Guy Woodward (editor of Decanter)

 Judges gathering

 Gérard Basset MW

 John Livingstone-Learmonth sprinkling gold dust over the Rhône with Steven Spurrier

 Chris Kissack proofreading his Bordeaux book due out soon (Dennis Books)

 Juan Carlos Rincón suitably attired for The Worx

Panos Kakaviatos

 Peter Nixson

 Richard Baudains: Italy

 Tony Aspler and Sarah Ahmed (Portugal)

Allan Cheesman and Chris Kissack

  

Tony Aspler elected to Wine Media Guild of New York Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame

Tony Aspler in London May 2009

Tony Aspler, Canada's leading wine writer, has just been elected to the Wine Media Guild of New York Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame. Here is the notice of his election:    

'Congratulations! We are writing to tell you that you have been elected to the Wine Media Guild of New York Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame. The Wine Media Guild is a professional association of 50 leading US wine writers, authors and journalists. It was founded in 1976. Membership in the Guild is based on sponsorship and election by the members. [See our website for a list of members: www.winemediaguild.org and click on "Members." ]

In 2007, we established the Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame to recognize and honor, by induction, individuals who have made significant contributions to the body of wine writing and education. Each year, individuals who have had exceptional careers and significant achievements as wine authors, journalists or educators are nominated and elected by a committee of their peers. Consideration is on a global basis.  Previous Inductees include, among others: Michael Broadbent, Robert Parker, Kevin Zraly, Steven Spurrier, Matt Kramer, Hugh Johnson, Jancis Robinson, James Halladay, Peter Sichel, Gerald Boyd, Dan Berger, Ed McCarthy and Karen MacNeil. [Go to  www.winemediaguild.org and click on "Hall of Fame" for photos and bios of previous Inductees].'

Tony Aspler's Cellar Book

I have recently received a review copy of Tony's new book. He is one of Canada's leading wine writers and probably the longest established. His Cellar Book is subtitled: 'How to design, build, stock and manage your wine cellar wherever you live'.

As you would expect from a writer of Tony's experience this is well written and a good read – he also writes wine crime detective stories. Subjects covered include why you should store wine and where to store it. As well as the basics a considerable part of the book is taken up with what wines to put into your cellar.

Naturally my first check was to see what Tony would recommend in the Loire. His dream Loire cellar includes Silex and Pur Sang from Didier Dagueneau, Grand Clos from Château de Villeneuve, Bonnezeaux from Fesles, Les Rouannières from Château Pierre-Bise, Quarts de Chaume from Domaine de Forges, La Belle Dame from Vacheron and Les Millerits (Anjou Villages) from Domaine des Rochelles. I would be happy with any or all of these choices.

However, Tony has rather exaggerated the area under vines in the Loire – citing 300,000 hectares. This may have been the total pre-phylloxera, there are only around 70,000 ha planted now.

Jancis Robinson MW

Earlier on in the book Tony cites Jancis Robinson MW's guide to grape's aging potential. She gives Loire Chenin Blanc – 4-30 years, which was a bit of a surprise. Having tasted a number of Chenin Blancs well over 30 years of age – some more than 60 years old, this seems to me a bit of an underestimate.

Tony Aspler's Cellar Book is published by Random House, Canada Can$32.95, 339 pages, sepia illustrations.

(Apologies that this post has been rather disjointed for the last few hours but have been caught up with working on the post on my investdrinks-blog.)