Jersey Island (UK) – La Mare Bailiwick 2012

Domaine and vineyard

La Mare Wine Estate was established in 1972 by Robert Blayney and was purchased by the new owner in 1997 when Mr Blayney retired. The estate itself is a fascinating combination of history and tradition. Comprising of historic buildings and beautiful gardens; extensive vineyards and orchards; function rooms, a winery, distillery and estate kitchens which produce a wonderful array of genuine jersey produce.

The first building of the actual estate was built in 1600 and two centuries after, in 1797, is dated the construction of the central farmhouse. The Second World War, due to the German occupation of the island, meant abandon and poverty for the property.  Only in 1968 the restoration of the estate started, with the slow transformation in the actual touristic attraction, as well as the keeper of the jersey’s traditional gastronomy.

Of the 25 acres of the domaine only 6 are dedicated nowadays to the vines, resulting in a limited production.

The wine

A dry red wine with soft tannins and long finish, made from Pinot Noir, Regent and Rondo grape varieties. Extended cold soak, fermentation and maceration followed by eighteen months cask maturation in old and new French oak barriques.

Black cherry and raspberry fruit on the nose integrated with spiced oak character. Although currently young this wine will continue to develop in bottle with careful cellaring becoming smoother and more complex.

Tasting Note  

Date	18 January 2015
Wine name	BAILIWICK	Vintage	2012
Nation	United Kingdom	Region	Jersey Island
AOC-DOC	//	Grape Varieties	Pinot Noir, Regent, Rondo
Serving temperature	16-18° C	Alcohol	12,5
Price (in euro)	14	SO2 (in mg/l)	Nd

Visual Examination		Taste analysis
Limpidity	Limpid	Body	Weak
Color	Ruby Red	Balance	Quite Balanced
Consistency	Quiet consistent	Soft sensations	Scarcely Warm – Scarcely Soft
Effervescence	//	Hard sensations	Quite Fresh – Quite Tannic
		Flavors intensity	Scarcely Intense
Olfactory analysis		Flavors	Red berries
Aroma intensity	Scarcely Intense
Complexity	Scarcely Complex	Finish/Persistence	Quite Persistent
Quality	Quite Fine	Overall evaluations
Aromas	Red Berries	Development	Young
		Harmony	Scarcely Harmonious

 

Food pairing

Roast dishes, game and cheese of character.

Once again the wine of the Channel Islands ... leaves a bitter taste.

The screw cap does not bode well. Opening it, in the glass ends a pale colored nectar with quite light aromas. In the mouth you can hardly feel the taste almost crushed by an acidity typical of young wines. In short, anything that is worthwhile to go back to Jersey, at least from this point of view. To be fair the manufacturer recommends resting the wine in the bottle for some time (how long?) to give it time to reach full maturity. Should I have again a bottle in my hands I will certainly follow his advice, hoping for better results.

Official website: www.lamarewineestates.com