Signature Wines Interview MW Derek Smedley
Posted on Thu 21st Feb 2013 at 12:07
Each month we pose questions to people who work, live and love wine. This month we interview MW Derek Smedley who gives us his views on Macedonia and their wines and how Stobi have strived to be at the forefront of the movement in the country to improve the quality and consistency of their wine production.Derek also shares his views on the wine industry along with a few interesting facts about himself. Derek has been in the Wine business since 1961 and became a Master of Wine in 1968.
Stobi Wines and Macedonia
- What did you know about Macedonian wines before you visited the Stobi Winery, and did this view change after you went there? I first tasted wines from Macedonia in 2008 and have seen how quality has improved year by year. Stobi wine is certainly in the forefront for the drive to achieve even greater quality and consistency.
- How has the Macedonian wine industry changed over recent years? A great deal of the change is in consistency with better balanced wines and wines which have their own identity. I am impressed how Stobi and other wineries have faith in the indigenous vines and are not just chasing down the international grape route.
- What was your impression of the Stobi Winery? I was very impressed. It is an instillation that measures up to top wineries in other wine regions / countries. Modern up to date well designed the equipment is high-tech, the barrel cellar impressive.
- What Stobi wine would you recommend an independent retailer stock and why? The Stobi Vranec Veritas Reserve 2011, it is the great red typical of the country a wine with real excitement.
- Vranec Veritas Reserve 2011, Tasted at the Emerging Regions Tasting London May 2013 and tasted at the Winery April 2014. The nose is concentrated herbal spicy red and black cherry but the palate is more open sweet in the middle. Red cherry and bramble refresh the mid palate sour cherry freshness balanced by the slightly sweeter bramble. There are layers of flavour sweetness yet freshness and on the back palate herbal leafy spicy excitement.
- Your pick from the Stobi Winery? There are many...... My top white and red are listed below: Smederevka 2013 - Tasted at the Winery April 2014 Lime and mineral refresh the nose and the start of the palate has lime freshness. The mid palate is broader pineapple but at the back the citrus and grapefruit dominate a fresh fruit mix with on the long finish an exciting herbal grassiness. Roxana 2012 - Vranec - Tasted at the Winery April 2014 The nose has depth the palate starts with rich flavours black fruits red fruits the layers of flavour giving lots of complexity. The fruit at the back is concentrated rich the back palate has depth yet there is freshness a sour cherry excitement on the finish.
The Wine Industry
- Harpers have just launched ‘March for the Independents’. What do you think of this campaign/event? I think that the sentiment behind it is excellent. The independent sector is a strong one; an important one as an independent offers a great deal of support and help to their customers. Wine is viewed as complex, people are diffident about experimenting and this is where the independent helps. A sector that is very important for lesser known areas and grapes.
- How have you seen wine trends change since you first became a MW, and what do you see moving forward? The biggest change is the range of wines available in the market. Also wine areas and countries that were little know when I joined the trade 53 years ago. At that time France mainly Bordeaux and Burgundy, some Loire and Rhône, Germany, Spain in the form of Rioja were the well known and important areas but only by the few. I think that there will be even more interest in variety of flavour which bodes well for the lesser known grapes and the lesser known countries and areas.
- Would advice would you give someone who wishes to become a MW? Read a lot, travel as much as possible, attend every tasting that you can and listen to those who have been in the trade for a long time.... gain by their experience.
About YOU
- The strangest drink you have ever drunk! Home distilled wine from a local indigenous grape on the top of a mountain in a shepherd’s hut in Crete. The shepherd (who had distilled it) could not name the grape but said that the vines grew wild on the slopes of the mountain. Is your glass half full or half empty? Half full.
- Which of the 4 seasons you love the most? Autumn.
- Your perfect Sunday afternoon is……? Walking my three Labradors then lamb roast with a glass or two of Stobi Vranec. Describe the Stobi Žilavka in 3 words Zesty, fresh, fragrant You can read Derek’s full tasting notes on his website here: www.dereksmedleymw.co.uk.