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Tasting Notes: August

02.08.24

5 min read

At the eto studio, we delight in discussing everything from movies and books to our latest favourite wines and dishes. Dive into the experience of relishing these with us. Enjoy a glass of wine and explore some ideas for the month's Tasting Notes.

TO DRINK

Rhône Revelations

2023 Luberon, Château La Canorgue Blanc

A blend of Marsanne, Roussanne and Clariette from organic wine pioneer Jean-Pierre Margan's vineyard. This family-owned estate, over 200 years old, produces a fragrant, herby white wine with wild-flower notes

2020 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Les Garennes, Gomaine Les Alexandrins

Made from old vine Roussanne and Marsanne, fermented and aged in oak. Expect aromas of stone fruits with a hint of vanilla. Try it with Poulet à l'Estragon (chicken with tarragon).

2021 White Maison, Crozes-Hermitage

A strong floral aroma with a silky palate, balanced bitterness and minerality. The wine has a beautiful gleaming hue and pairs well with grilled sole or sea bream.

City Sippers

Renegade Urban Winery

Challenges traditional winemaking in London, crafting innovative blends from diverse sources. Their approach celebrates the city’s creative spirit and the UK’s multicultural essence, with each bottle featuring the eyes of a different UK resident. 

Au Bon Climat

The French idiom for "in the right spot". Santa Barbara has more than 30 wineries in its downtown Funk Zone - and acclaimed winemaker Jim Clendenden at Au Bon Climat focuses on traditional, site-specific wines, especially Burgundian-style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Oddio

Situated inside a 170-year old heritage-listed church in the inner-city Adelaide suburb, this is a winery by day and (sometimes) an event space by night, featuring takeovers from local restauranteurs.

TO EAT

Summer Salad

A twist on a classic Caesar salad that adds furikake for a touch of umami to the dressing along with grilled romaine lettuce and mushrooms for smokiness. Any leftover roast beef? Try this Thai beef salad, the perfect recipe to add something refreshing with a bit of spice to your day. The key to a good salad is layering different flavours, textures and colours - which no one does quite as well as Ottolenghi - his sweet summer salad combines all the best summer produce.

Dip, Dip, Hooray!

Homemade dips elevate any gathering. Adam Gray's flatbread recipe includes three light and delicious dips to serve alongside it. Rick Martinez, author of "Mi Cocina" has three classic Mexican salsas to please any crowd. And finally, this Greek goddess dip is vibrantly green with bright herby flavours. It goes well with just about anything, and comes together in 5 minutes.

TO EXPLORE

Outdoor Cinematic Escapes

Enjoy films under the stars this summer. Situated inside the brutalist Sculpture Court at the Barbican in London, this outdoor cinema screens cult classics and international gems. The Kreuzberg in Berlin is the oldest open-air cinema inside Künstlerhaus Bethanien, where you can catch everything from art-house classics to the latest blockbusters. In Mykonos, Cine Manto revels in a unique setting, with its botanic garden, koi carp pond and 200-year-old cactus.

Sip, Savour, Seek

The summer holidays are upon us, and what better way to spend it than combining the twin pleasures of food and exploration? The tasting trail in Tasmania is a self-driving food and wine adventure including over 40 producers of wine, cheese, beer, chocolate and spirits - all whilst driving through the rolling agricultural landscape of the western coast. From Sussex to Whiltshire, Great Britain is home to more than 900 vineyards - discover beautiful landscapes and wander through some vineyards and enjoy wine tastings. Here at eto, we love Anthony Bourdain, and his food trail pays tribute to a childhood growing up in Leonia, New Jersey, and summers spent at the Jersey Shore.

TO TRY

Culinary Collaborations

London's Dishoom meets New York's Pastis for Bombay-inspired breakfast treats. Try the Parsi Omelette with coriander and green chilli, or the Blood-Gosh Mary with savoury makhani sauce. Carousel London hosts global chefs such as Indoesnian pioneer Rachel Stephanie and Latin American's BBQ master Humo Negro. In Hong Kong, 1111Ones offer a five-course menu inspired by Lam Tian Xing's "Master of Boundlessness" paintings.

Hi-Fi Hangouts

In Dublin, Hang Dai takes you on a trip to Hong Kong. The booths replicate train carriages, and tables have been made with bespoke sound-absorbing technology with an open-plan kitchen where you can see authentic roast duck and dumplings being made. Eavesdrop in New York is serving up cocktails, natural wines, small plates and music in an environment that allows music of all kinds to be celebrated and experienced anew. A café, bar and radio studio in King's Cross, London, Spiritland is home to a world-class sound system by Living Voice that presents music in a rarely-heard clarity and precision.

TO DISCOVER

Cultural Agenda

The highly acclaimed dance drama, "Wing Chun" is premiering at London's Sadler's Wells this summer, the true story of the martial artist and prestigious Grandmaster Yip Man and his influence on the legendary art. Edinburgh will be buzzing with excitement in August as The Fringe returns, and travellers from around the world flock to watch the latest in the field of performing arts. The 81st Venice International Film Festival is just around the corner and the opening film is the long-awaited follow-up to Tim Burton's Beetlejuice. Also playing is the sequel of Joaquin Phoenix's Joker with Lady Gaga as Harley Quinn, plus Angelina Jolie in the biopic of opera legend Maria Callas, and many more.

Fun Guides

Apple Music's inaugural list of the 100 best albums of all time has sparked much debate but what exactly makes an album worthy of the accolade? In this guide, discover how these lists are shaped. Korean Barbecue has gained popularity around the world lately, and it's an experience like no other. So find out how to distinguish your samgyeopsal from your bulgogi and the best way to enjoy it here. Ever wondered why, when a suave sommelier leans over your shoulder and asks if you've chosen, your brain malfunctions? We certainly have. But it doesn't have to be that way. To help you, we've caught up with two highly experienced sommeliers and asked them for their top tips on how to talk to sommeliers here.