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Top wines from the SITT

Specialist Importers Trade Tasting (SITT), Vinopolis, 23 February 2009

Although it is only a few years old, SITT has established itself as one of the most interesting tastings in the London trade calendar. I spent a few hours tasting in earnest, and although I only really scratched the surface of the myriad interesting wines on show, here's my selection of some of the most interesting wines I tried. 

Rolly-Gassmann Riesling 2004 Alsace, France
Beautifully aromatic nose: sweet lime and honey notes with some herbiness, and some floral notes too. Concentrated, balanced palate with a hint of sweetness. Really expressive fruit here: this is brilliant. 93/100 (£13.49 UK agent Richards Walford)

Domaine de la Soufrandaise Pouilly Fuissé Vieilles Vignes 2006 Burgundy, France
Beautifully aromatic : fresh, toasty and pure, with some fruit sweetness. The palate is concentrated, rich and intense with sweet herb and melon fruit dominating. Beautiful focus here to this really pure wine. 93/100 (£18.99 UK agent Richards Walford)

Raúl Pérez Ultreia Saint Jacques Mencia 2007 Bierzo, Spain
Sweet, elegant pure red fruits on the nose. Beautifully refined. The palate is smooth with pure cherry and berry fruit – almost Pinot Noir-like – showing lovely freshness and elegance. 93/100 (£7.95 Indigo Wine)

Craggy Range Block 14 Syrah 2006 Gimblett Gravels, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Lovely fresh, vivid white pepper and pure red fruits nose. The palate is concentrated and smooth with fresh peppery raspberry and blackberry fruit. This is a beautiful, fresh expression of Syrah and it’s seriously good. 93/100 (£19.99, UK agent Louis Latour)

Terredora Taurasi 2001 Campania, Italy
Wonderfully complex spicy, earthy nose is grippy, complex and earthy. The palate is super-complex with earthy yet elegant fruit and complex spicy notes. Beautiful stuff. 93/100 (£21 UK agent: Winetraders)

Gulfi Nero d’Avola 2007 Sicily
This is a really beautiful expression of Nero d’Avola that reminds me of Pinot Noir. It shows fresh, aromatic, expressive cherry fruit with lovely purity and freshness. Good acidity too. 91/100 (£12 UK agent: Winetraders)

Christine Campadieu Collioure La Pinède 2006 Roussillon, France
Lovely liqueur-like purity to the sweet red fruits nose. Super-elegant, smooth and pure on the palate, where the sweet fruit dominates. 92/100 (£12.75 Yapp)

Bridge Pa Louis Syrah 2005 Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Lovely focused, fresh nose showing minerally, peppery raspberry fruit. The palate is pure and focused with great definition and spicy, peppery fruit. A fantastic, well-defined Syrah. 93/100 (£23.95 Yeo & Co/New Zealand Wine Distribution)

Tarras ‘The Canyon’ Pinot Noir 2007 Central Otago, New Zealand
Fresh sweet cherry fruit on the nose with lovely purity. The palate shows pure raspberry and cherry fruit. This is just a lovely Pinot with real purity and focus. 94/100 (£23.95 Yeo & Co/New Zealand Wine Distribution)

Gladstone Vineyard Pinot Noir 2007 Wairarapa, New Zealand
Lovely vivid, fresh, pure sappy berry and cherry fruit nose. Great purity. Sweet, pure, fresh cherry fruit palate with real richness and depth. This is brilliant. 93/100 (£13.75 Great Western Wine)

Terrabianca Campaccio 2005 Tuscany, Italy
70% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, with origin 60% Maremma and 40% Chianti Classico. Lovely elegant pure sweet cherry and plum nose. The palate is fresh and pure with bright cherry fruit. Sophisticated with lovely purity of fruit. 93/100 (£18.95 Great Western Wine)

Hunters Pinot Noir 2007 Marlborough, New Zealand
Very expressive sweet herb and cherry nose is elegant and pure, leading to a palate that’s bright and focused with elegant cherry fruit. Quite beautiful: a lighter style of Pinit. 92/100 (£12.95 Laytons/Jeroboams)

Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Vineyard Cabernet/Merlot 2006 Margaret River, Australia
Beautiful nose of well-defined blackcurrant fruit with a nice, savoury, gravelly character. Dense pure palate of blackcurrants and minerals. Just delicious. 92/100 (£17.95 Laytons/Jeroboams)

Wines tasted 02/09  
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