Wine Cellar Review

Just what the doctor ordered!

I have in front of me a slender volume entitled, “Wine is the Best Medicine”. It was written a good many years ago by one Dr. E. A. Maury, a graduate of the Paris Ecole de Médecine and for a time, the resident specialist at London’s Royal Homeopathic Hospital. The photo on the back cover reveals that he bears an unsettling resemblance to Alfred Hitchcock. He writes that “wine is one of the most ancient and valuable sources of nutrition and contains vitamins and minerals frequently destroyed in cooked food”. He describes wine as a “greatly neglected supplementary medicine”, and goes on to claim that in conjunction with conventional medical treatment, wines can be helpful for a great many disorders. I like to think that he’s right, but he has a curious habit of referring to red wine as “vegetable blood”. I don’t know about you, but that strikes me as a bit dotty.

Bodegas Centenarias Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot 2008 (red), Chile. (Friendship Bt. 325)
The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (ka-bair-NAY soh-vee-NYON) and Merlot (MAIR-lo) is the classic recipe for red Bordeaux, because the powerful Cabernet is balanced by the much softer Merlot. Cabernet wines are high in iron, so if you are a bit anaemic, perhaps (says the Doc) you should try some. With a rich ruby colour and hints of purple, this wine has a pleasing aroma of blackberries, ripe cherries and an attractive peppery sprinkling of herbs. Although it’s as dry as they come, there’s a very soft mouth-feel with plenty of fruit, balanced by a good level of sweetish tannins. There’s a long fruity fnish too: typical of a well-made wine.

At 13% alcohol, it will probably be best with food; hearty meat dishes or game would suit it fne. As I’ve said before, some of the best value reds these days come from Chile. At this price, this elegant wine is a terrifc bargain. They don’t come much cheaper than this.

Lagarde Altas Cumbres Sauvignon Blanc 2008 (white), Argentina. (Wine Connection Bt. 499)
This is an attractive very pale gold, with a sweet bouquet of vanilla and pears. However, the wine is as dry as a bone, medium bodied with a very satisfying mouth-feel and a citrusy, herby taste. It’s quite a heady wine at 14% alcohol, but it’s had no oak contact. It was fermented at a low temperature in stainless steel tanks, so there’s a good dash of refreshing acidity in the favor.  I think this is a splendid wine, perhaps a tad expensive but worth every baht if you enjoy zesty whites. Served cold, it would make an excellent partner for fsh. I read somewhere that Sauvignon Blanc (SOH-vihn-yohn BLAHN) is one of the few wines that go well with sushi dishes. In case you’re wondering, Dr. Maury surprisingly recommends Sauvignon Blanc to help dissolution of gall stones and gout pains.

Incidentally, if you have fever, Dr. Maury claims that as well as the usual medications, “a good wine will help stimulate the patient’s own biological defences”. He recommends a bottle of Champagne every day, which seems much more fun than a handful of paracetamols. He sounds like my kind of doctor.