Wine and Your Teeth

Wine drinkers beware. The nectar of the grape can damage your teeth. According to researchers, the acid in wine can erode your tooth enamel. Even more so, if the wine is a high acid style like Sauvignon Blanc or Riesling! What to do? They say that the night before a wine tasting you should apply remineralising agents like calcium, phosphate and fluoride to coat and protect your teeth. After tasting, don’t immediately brush them, as they are more likely to be softer. Using a brush when teeth are soft not only rubs the remnants of wine further into the enamel, but also makes them more vulnerable to damage. Simply rinse with water and later on use your finger with some toothpaste on it to clean them. 

Bordeaux Whites

When one thinks of Bordeaux, it’s the reds that usually come to mind, and rightly so… they’re renowned. However, there are many dry whites available in the region that in lots of cases are better value than the reds and provide enjoyable sipping. Mostly made from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with a little Muscadelle thrown in, they’re crisp, clean and fresh. The whites of the Medoc on Bordeaux’s left bank, although not able to wear any sub-appellation on the bottle other than “AC Bordeaux”, are mostly stainless steel styles and decent. Graves produces good whites and many see oak. If you’re looking for really good value, then Entre-Deux-Mers is a great choice. So the next time you feel like a dry white, think Bordeaux. 

Monitoring Your Wine

Keeping track of what wine you have stored at home is an important concern. If you have only a few bottles it’s easy, however, when that number rises to hundreds and more, it’s almost impossible. There are computer wine programs on the market that can help. These fascinating programs contain maps, wine region information, vintage charts, places for tasting notes and much more. Some can even advise you on the best time to drink certain wines. You have to keep it updated though. Every time you obtain new wine or drink some, it must be recorded, along with the pertinent data. Nothing’s worse than spending good money on wine and forgetting you have some of it or letting it mature beyond drinkability.

Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Tuscany has many great wines, mostly red. However, the beautiful, ancient, medieval, walled town of San Gimignano in the region is famous for its white wine produced from Vernaccia grown around its perimeter. Recently there, I tasted the 2013 and 2014 vintages. The 2013 vintage showcased wines decently structured with lots of minerality, floral, fruit, honey and stone notes. The 2014 vintage was not quite as structured as the 2013, but still the wines are soft, fresh and crisp. I particularly found those with a little Chardonnay included and some delicate oak treatment most interesting. If you get the chance to try Vernaccia from this town, I believe you’ll find it most interesting and enjoyable.

2010 Brunello di Montalcino

I just returned from Tuscany where I tasted all the latest vintage releases of their red wine. Of special note is Brunello. Front and centre this year was the 2010 vintage. If you’re looking for big, bold, ripe Brunello with great fruit structure and aging potential, then this vintage will definitely not disappoint. The wines are packed with juicy, sweet dark cherry, leather, tar, licorice and chocolate and they have a very firm, solid backbone. The vintage is rated five out of five stars by the consortium, but if I could give it a higher rating I would. Yes, the wines are that good. Across the board, all the wines I tasted from this stellar year were spectacular. Well worth stocking up on and will provide decades of wonderful sipping!