Septima (according to the blurb) specialises in complex yet approachable wines. Apparently they are increasingly in demand thanks to their full bodied flavours and excellent fruit expression.
Opening the bottle I’m hit with a nose reminiscent of old furniture. Like a grandparents cupboard or a dusty attic that hasn’t been used in years...
Once it’s had a chance to breathe you start to get an idea of what it’s all about though. Berry fruits come through; there is a hint of burnt vanilla and the rubber smell of a new inner tube.
Taste is described as soft, warm and elegant with sweet tannins on the notes. Whilst I’d agree with the soft and warm it’s hardly elegant and could probably do with laying down for a while.
Six months on American oak has given it an interesting edge, the jammy fruit is tinged with smoke and it has a rather persistent, if slightly raspy at first, finish. That said it’s not without its charms; mainly the price as it's set to retail at just £7.49 a bottle in Wine Rack.
After the first glass and with the steak, egg and chips it becomes a much more enjoyable prospect; for me it's clearly been made to enjoy with meat. Cheap enough to quaff; light enough to not worry about it in the morning and in my opinion you couldn't ask any more for the price!
Your steak, chips and egg photo is making me drool. I may be drunk but every component looks lush. Well browned skinny chips, a lovely molten yolk with crispy white. Nicely charred steak with buttery looking yellowy fat. Want.
ReplyDeleteDude it's really easy; fries no more than 5 ml take no more than 10 minutes at 190c in a deep fryer. Steak 1 inch thick only takes 2 minutes on each in a hot pan. When it's resting cook the egg in the same pan, the White crisps quickly than take it off and let the White set from the heat of the pan. The yolk should stay molten!
ReplyDeleteNow you see, steak, egg and chips always has me itching for the hot sauce bottle...
ReplyDeleteBtw that rubber inner tyre tube smell isn't a good thing, it's a reductive sulphur related compound and points to slightly shoddy winemaking, both Malbec and Shiraz are common offenders. It's one of the ones I can't really get over, deal breaker as far as wines are concerned for me.
You are like the Mr Myagi of wines! I never would have known that, it makes absolute sense at the price really. I'll keep my nose ready for it in future.
ReplyDelete