According to
Andrew (and who are we to dispute him!) it is nine years since the last Framingham tasting at
Regional. The tasting group enjoyed the wines so much that it won’t be nine
years until the next.
Andrew had
selected a diverse range of wines from their portfolio, showcasing the both the
main-stream wines and their new ‘F-Series’ wines. The ‘F-Series’ wines are not
better or worse than the Framingham
wines but different, made to push the envelope of wine making with flavours and
styles to intrigue wine lovers, not technocrats!
The wines were
divided into 3 flights. First up were the Rieslings.
We started with
the Dry Riesling 2004. This style can look quite bony, lean and mean when first
released but mellows and fills out with age (bit like the rest of us). This
wine has a lovely light gold colour and was showing some toasty aged characters
and not a hint of kerosene. The palate is crisp, complex, long and delightful
still with plenty of life left. The ‘F-Series’ Riesling 2009 was quiet on the
nose at this stage with hints of mineral, stone fruit and a leesy character.
Quite dry, nice texture, long finish. This is a fascinating wine and one to
follow with much interest over the next few years or so. The Classic Riesling 2007
is, according to Andrew, the best they have made. Light lemon, bouquet starting
to show some development, again minerals, blossoms, good varietal character,
well balanced and a long finish. The Select Riesling 2008 is made in the
Spatlese style with only 7.5%alcohol. The colour is a delicate light lemon green.There are notes of
apples, blossoms and wet stone, excellent balance and a crisp finish, lovely.
The next flight
showed some of the other white varieties they do. First up was the ‘F-Series’
Viognier 2009. Light straw, classic fragrant apricot blossom on the nose with
some leesy notes. A powerful palate, quite high alcohol as you would expect
with this variety, rich, well textured and a sustained finish. The Pinot Gris
2008 is light gold in colour. Pear and spicy ginger bread notes are followed by
silky, complex palate with good length and concentration from what must be low
yields, delicious. The Gewurztraminer 2008 is light gold with a spicy Alsatian
style bouquet, a complex moderately intense palate with a smooth texture and lovely
balance. The ‘F-Series’ Gewurztraminer VT has a rich golden hue, an abundant
bouquet of honey and spice, a full, rich, unctuous palate with layers of
flavours unfolding, long and intense. Absolutely delicious!
The final flight
showed the wines made from Pinot Noir and Montepulciano. First up was the
‘F-Series’ Montepulciano Rosato 2010. This displays a pretty strawberry pink
colour. The nose is a riot of strawberries and other red fruit with hints of
dried herbs. The palate displays good intensity and nice tannic grip on the
finish that makes good rosé so refreshing. The Pinot Noir 2009 has a moderately
complex bouquet with hints of cherry, herbs, and smoke. Quite young still with
nice fruit flavours on the finish. The ‘F-Series’ Pinot Noir 2009 is quite a
different kettle of fish, purple red colour. Red and black fruit on the bouquet
with notes of game and earth. A very serious palate, rich and silky supported
with fine tannins and a long finish, very good. Montepulciano is an Italian
variety usually found around central Italy on the Adriatic coast. It can
be quite rustic in that typical Italian way. Framingham’s Montepuliciano 2008 is anything
but rustic. Exhibiting a deep red colour, the nose has savoury, dried herb
notes, a warm juicy palate with savour and a medium body, fine but firm tannins
frame the finish.
Andrew is obviously a winemaker who thinks a lot about
his wines and this is reflected in the quality and interest his wines possess.
These are food friendly wines full of character and charm, well worth seeking
out. Thanks, Andrew for a very enjoyable evening.