Ugni Blanc has more names than God and crops up all over the place to be used for all styles of wine. In France it is a major component in the production of both Cognac and industrial alcohol, not that there is any other connection between these two products.
This week it appears as the co-vinified junior partner of Colombard, another grape that contributes to the production of Brandy, in a regional wine from Gascony. Co-vinified simply mean the grapes all ferment together, rather than being blended together after they have become wine.
Week U (2014) is Charte d'Assemblage, Cotes de Gascogne, IGP. 2012. Waitrose £8.49
Zippy appears up front in Waitrose's own tasting notes and I assume this not a reference to the long running children's tv series of the early 1970's - early 1990's, but a subtle warning that this is unlikely to be a soft, buttery white Burgundy style wine.
It is under a screw cap and this is usually an indication that wine is intended to be drunk when it is still young and fresh. I don't anticipate any problems in satisfying that expectation.
Over a game of Cribbage, won by the better team by pegging out just in time (what's that?), I discovered that zippy is a fair description. Not to be confused with sharply acidic, but certainly as bright and lively as the banter about 'two for doing it' and 'one for his knob'. (What?).
Pale lemon yellow, in colour, medium intensity aromas of citrus and stone fruits, with a hint of tropical fruit, or at least ripe peaches on the palate. Good finish and at 11.5% made a very acceptable summer evening drink. We had it after a NZ Sauvignon Blanc and it wasn't too jarring a change but perhaps a little softer.
There are many good wines of a similar style available around this price point, so it will have to compete with equally well made 'everyday wines' to get into the shopping trolley and, sadly, that probably means I am more likely to buy it if Waitrose trick me into thinking it's a bargain. (No foul pay implied, that's just how the world works.)
This week it appears as the co-vinified junior partner of Colombard, another grape that contributes to the production of Brandy, in a regional wine from Gascony. Co-vinified simply mean the grapes all ferment together, rather than being blended together after they have become wine.
Week U (2014) is Charte d'Assemblage, Cotes de Gascogne, IGP. 2012. Waitrose £8.49Zippy appears up front in Waitrose's own tasting notes and I assume this not a reference to the long running children's tv series of the early 1970's - early 1990's, but a subtle warning that this is unlikely to be a soft, buttery white Burgundy style wine.
It is under a screw cap and this is usually an indication that wine is intended to be drunk when it is still young and fresh. I don't anticipate any problems in satisfying that expectation.
Over a game of Cribbage, won by the better team by pegging out just in time (what's that?), I discovered that zippy is a fair description. Not to be confused with sharply acidic, but certainly as bright and lively as the banter about 'two for doing it' and 'one for his knob'. (What?).
Pale lemon yellow, in colour, medium intensity aromas of citrus and stone fruits, with a hint of tropical fruit, or at least ripe peaches on the palate. Good finish and at 11.5% made a very acceptable summer evening drink. We had it after a NZ Sauvignon Blanc and it wasn't too jarring a change but perhaps a little softer.
There are many good wines of a similar style available around this price point, so it will have to compete with equally well made 'everyday wines' to get into the shopping trolley and, sadly, that probably means I am more likely to buy it if Waitrose trick me into thinking it's a bargain. (No foul pay implied, that's just how the world works.)
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