It's been a while since I've done a large tasting like this and I was very much flagging towards the end, not helped by probably walking miles due to the shortage of spittoons, which was really irritating as the merchant or even winemaker could be telling you something interesting, but you have to wander off to the centre of the room to spit, and then wait your turn again back at the table. Not great for the exhibitors trying quickly to build a relationship with a company that might be buying from them.  A few people told me that Judy Kendrick has passed on organisation of SITT to someone else, and if that's the case, I think it showed.  Or maybe the government has introduced a new tax on spittoons?

First, here are a few quick impressions as headlines, with the full tasting notes following below.

Table 2, Vintage Roots
Côtes de Gascogne Quatre Cepages, Pajot 2010 was jolly good: fresh citrussy, but with nice body. Great at c. £7.99
Their Morgon was lovely stuff, though no bargain.
Stellar Organics, No Added Sulphur Cab Sauv 2010 from South Africa. A good easy drinking cab with a nice bit of funk.
Novas Carmenere/Cab Sauv Emiliana 2008 (Chile) A very luxurious wine at a nice price.

Table 17, Jackson Nugent
I rather liked the Delheim wines. Gorgeous gewurz, gorgeous noble late harvest riesling. Grand Reserve Cabernet 2007 very impressive.
Even the Delheim Pinotage Rosé was drinkable. One of the few expressions of pinotage that I might willingly drink.

Table 21, Winehaus
Bonkers. What possesses someone to decide to specialise in the wines of Baden-Württemberg? Definitely deserves a look, though bear in mind that I tasted the rieslings so you don't have to. (The riesling Eiswein was lovely, though.)
Most of the wines were good, though not great. Some unusual stuff (unusual in the international context, not for Württemberg), like a 100% pinot meunier dry still white wine and a rather glorious Lemberger rosé Eiswein.

Table 26, Hungarian Food & Wine
All pretty solid stuff. The Tokaji and the Cserszegi Fuszeres were a bit disappointing.
But the really good Heimann Kekfrankos Selection 2008,  I thought a fascinating wine.

Table 27, Astrum
Again solid stuff. The Pfaffl St Laurent Altenberg and (an old favourite) the Verus Sauvignon Blanc were the standouts, though the Abbazia di Novacella Kerner and Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg are both worth a taste: nice wines.

Table 31, Indigo Wine
Some interesting Spanish reds. A pleasant but distinctly over-valued Bobal from the unfortunately named (for the British market) Bodegas Ponce.
The organic Syrah-Garnacha from Bodegas Jimenez-Landi impressed me, as did a biodynamic, unsulphured Cab Franc-Merlot blend from Bodegas Escoda, a funky, animalistic hairy-bollocked wine that's not afraid to step on the cracks between paving slabs.

Table 44, Winetraders
Got the feeling he didn't like people he didn't know coming to taste his wines, but it was good to get an opportunity to taste through the range of Bellbird Springs wines from Waipara in New Zealand.
The Pruner's Reward was a good traditional NZ sauvignon at a not unfair price.
The Home Block White (essentially an edelzwicker blend) is a firm favourite of mine and completely lived up to expectation.
It was the Block 8 Sauvignon Blanc, which I'd not come across before, that I found particularly impressive: very white Bordeaux-like, with a really classy feel.
The Pinot failed to rock my boat at all, though.

Table 49, Bella Wines
It was good to meet and chat with Hamish Wakes-Miller, whom I'd known for a while through the wine forum on Tom Cannavan's wine-pages. 

I'd gone to taste the Marc Kreydenweiss (yes, he of Alsace fame) Rhônes, which were all really good, the Perrières Costières de Nimes standing out for me, but I'd be happy to have any of the three in my cellar. Is there really such a thing as Vin de Pays des Côteaux Flaviens, or has Kreydenweiss invented it?

While at Hamish's table, I also tasted the Domaine La Prade Mari wines, with which he's more closely involved in the production. The roussanne was a bit disappointing: too young, from too young vines? But the others were all good and particularly good value. The Chant de l'Olivier is most definitely worth crossing the road for. Absolutely cracking stuff at a pleasingly keen price (£10.99).

Vintage Roots
www.vintageroots.co.uk

Vintage Roots, based in Hook, Hampshire, are specialists in organic and biodynamic wines.  On this sample of their portfolio, I would say the wines are carefully chosen for a pretty high level of quality across the board, at very fair price levels.

• N.V. Fleury Champagne Carte Rouge Brut - France, Champagne, Côte des Bars (Aube), Champagne 
  Leafy black fruit on the nose. Quite punchy. Good depth and nice toastiness. (87 points)
• 2010 Domaine de Pajot Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne Les Quatre Cépages - France, Southwest France, Gascony, Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne 
  Very attractive nose - quite full and balanced with a hint of lime. On the palate there are fresh citrus notes, but with a nice body. (90 points)
  
• 2009 Rock Ferry Sauvignon Blanc Cawtes Cave - New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough 
  Powerful green pea and asparagus nose. A good classic New Zealand sauvignon blanc with hints of tropical fruit. (88 points)
  
• 2009 Wild Thing Sauvignon Blanc La Mancha  - Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, La Mancha 
  Apparently buying this supports the Born Free Foundation.
  Very fresh nose with pear and apple fruit. Very pleasant, balanced sauvignon blanc (surprisingly so for me, as I wouldn't associate a region like Spain's La Mancha with a fresh style of sauvignon blanc). Fairly simple, but none the worse for that. (86 points)
  
• 
  2008 La Raia Gavi Pisé - Italy, Piedmont, Gavi 
  Biodymanic & lees aged. An unusual, but not off-putting nose, with hints of petrol and hops. Pleasant enough, but, for me, there's not really much to it. (83 points)
  
• 
  2008 Domaine de la Grand Chaume Chablis Le Grand Bois Romain Bouchard - France, Burgundy, Chablis 
  A rich, buttery, toasty nose, very much oak forward. Very weighty. Some delicious beurre noisette notes. (87 points)
  
• 2008 Milton Vineyard Chardonnay Opou Vineyard - New Zealand, North Island, Gisborne 
  A light, bright nose. This has a good buttery feel to it in the mouth, along wih some spirity flavours. Good 'ordinary' chardonnay. (86 points)
  
• 2009 Domaine Chasselay Morgon Les Charmes - France, Burgundy, Beaujolais, Morgon 
  Gorgeous raspberry fruit on the nose. Delicious, open palate. Very winning. Lovely wine. (91 points)
  
• 2010 Stellar Organics Cabernet Sauvignon - South Africa, Western Cape 
  Fairtrade and no added sulphur (both feature prominently on the label)
  A gorgeous nose. Fruity initially with sweet black fruit. A good easy drinking cabernet sauvignon. Very pleasant mouthfeel. Good length. (91 points)
  
• 2009 Cabirol Montsant garnatxa/tempranillo - Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Montsant 
  On the nose, there is some slightly dusty raw oak in front of a somewhat perfumed black and red fruit character. Smooth, forward fruit on the palate, rounded off with spicy tannins. (88 points)
  
• 2008 Emiliana Novas Carmenère Cabernet Sauvignon - Chile, Central Valley, Rapel Valley, Colchagua Valley 
  A bit muted on the nose, with some dark, brooding mulberry fruit. Very velvety textured in the mouth. Lots of luxurious, not over-sweet black fruit. Very long. It has a good structure, with the tannins starting to knit into it. Much, much posher feeling than its £8.99 price tag: feels more expensive! (91 points)
  
• 2008 Domaine Jean Bousquet Malbec Grand Reserve - Argentina, Mendoza, Valle de Uco, Tupungato 
  The nose has smoky, deep, black fruit. Silky, sweet black fruit on the palate too. Very fine, but maybe a bit lacking in interest/character? (88 points)
  

Jackson Nugent Vintners
www.jnv.co.uk

• 2010 Delheim Sauvignon Blanc - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 
  A lovely, rounded sauvignon blanc nose. Good, crisp yet rounded character. Nice peary-peas on the finish. (89 points)
  
• 2009 Delheim Chardonnay Sur Lie - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 
  A perfumed, intense, leesy nose. Not a wine that's going to sneak up on you from behind. In the mouth, there are big, open flavours. Some nutty, caramelly, praline notes appear towards and on the finish, with butterscotch flavours lingering in the mouth. (88 points)
  
• 2010 Delheim Gewürztraminer - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 
  A powerful, essence-of-gewurztraminer nose. On the palate, it's a good, weighty gewurz. There's some sweetness, but it's not overdone. All in all, a lovely, classic, ripe gewurz. (91 points)
  
• 2010 Delheim Pinotage Rosé - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 
  Apparently there's a touch of muscat in the blend too. The pinotage is picked unripe.
  It's a light raspberry pink colour. Sweetish, pinky gamay sort of nose. This is actually quite pleasant. Maybe because there's so little pinotage character in there? (88 points)
  
• 2007 Delheim Shiraz Vera Cruz Estate - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 
  A powerful, perfumed nose that's a touch on the funky side. A bit raw and young on the palate at the moment, but nice stuff (91 points)
  
• 2007 Delheim Grand Reserve - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 
  Some smoky oak, which some powerful black fruit is trying to beat into submission. Lovely, balanced, gently aromatic palate. Very inviting stuff. (91 points)
  
• 2010 Delheim Edelspatz Noble Late Harvest Botrytis Riesling - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
  Honeyed lime marmalade nose. Much less sweet/cloying than the nose would suggest. This is hedonistic with excellent balance. (94 points)

Winehaus
www.germanwinestore.co.uk

Winehaus is a bit bonkers. What possesses someone to decide to specialise in the wines of Baden-Württemberg?  Franken I could understand, but Baden-Württemberg? The wines from that region are completely different to the more commonly found German wine-producing regions further north, the Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Ahr, Mosel etc.  Red wines are much more commonly found here, with many pinot varieties/variations planted, and Blaufränkisch (here called Lemberger), though as it is still Germany, there has to be riesling.  On the basis of tasting this sample of the wines, riesling is categorically not a strength of Baden-Würrtemberg.  I don't know much about Winehaus, but with a portfolio like this it has to be a labour of love, and deserves support.

• 2007 Dyade52 Riesling trocken Connoisseur's Choice - Germany, Baden 
  There's chalky minerality onthe nose, with some subtle, crisp riesling fruit. Quite tropical fruit on the palate. Nicely balanced. (88 points)
  

• 2008 Weingut Stutz Riesling trocken Edition - Germany, Württemberg 
  There are limey notes on the nose with a slatey minerality. There's a nice balance on the palate. A bit light on riesling character maybe. Nice though. (86 points)

• 2009 Weingärtner Cleebronn-Güglingen Pinot Meunier blanc de noir QbA trocken "St Michael" - Germany, Württemberg 
  A slight onion skin pink. Talcy-minerally nose with blackberry leaf notes. Interesting palate. It feels half-way to being a red wine. Decent, pleasant drinking. (85 points)
  
• 2008 Dyade52 Riesling - Germany, Württemberg 
  Oddly stunted nose. Quite a biscuity feel on the palate. Odd. (83 points)
  
• 2009 Dürrenzimmern-Stockheim Lemberger Weißherbst - Germany, Württemberg 
  A mid salmon pink colour. Quite creamy red fruits on the nose. A good, easy, rounded, off-dry rosé that seems to me to be in a fairly commercial style. (84 points)
  
• 2007 Dyade52 Samtrot Premium - Germany, Württemberg 
  Very perfumed red fruits on the nose. An attractive, very soft and easy palate - quite juicy - with raspberry fruit characters. (87 points)
  
• 2007 Dyade52 Pinot Noir Winemaker's Edition - Germany, Württemberg 
  Forward, juicy redcurrant fruit on the nose. Really rather sweet fruit on the palate - only balanced on the finish by some bright acidity. A bit odd. (84 points)
  
• 2007 Weingut Kistenmacher-Hengerer Lemberger Edition S Trocken - Germany, Württemberg 
  Aged in French (Allier) oak barriques. The nose has fresh blackberry fruit and some toastiness from the oak, together with a bit of green pepper. Quite forward sweet fruit on the palate. (85 points)
• 2007 Dürrenzimmern-Stockheim Spätburgunder Divinus QbA trocken - Germany, Württemberg 
  Quite a pure, sweetish red fruits nose. Much more primary fruit on the palate, with good precision. (86 points)
  
• 2007 Weingut Stutz Spätburgunder trocken N - Germany, Württemberg 
  Biodynamic grapes, aged in local oak from a cooperage in the same town as the winery, Heilbronn. It's quite toasty on the nose. Decent balance on the palate. There are lots of spicy oak tannins on the finish, but overall the oak's handled well. (86 points)
• 2007 Dyade52 Lemberger Connoisseur’s Choice - Germany, Württemberg 
  Smoky, dusty oak on the nose, which almost seems a bit carmenère like. A good, well-made, attractive wine, if slightly saippy and green. Nice character for food. Really does put me in mind of carmenère. (89 points)
  

• 2007 Jupiter Weinkeller Edition Jupiter Lemberger QbA trocken - Germany, Württemberg 
  Not overflowing with character on the nose. But there's nice balance on the palate, which has a touch of a Chilean feel to it in the purity of fruit and cleanness of expression. Really rather nice. (92 points)
  

• 2008 Dürrenzimmern-Stockheim Riesling Divinus Eiswein - Germany, Württemberg 
  Very pure, light, fresh riesling nose with a hint of sweetness. Delicious palate. Fabulous acidity. (92 points)
  

• 2008 Dürrenzimmern-Stockheim Lemberger Divinus Weissherbst Eiswein - Germany, Württemberg 
  On the nose there is honeyed black cherry jam. It has a lovely, precise purity on the palate with remarkable freshness. (92 points)
  

Hungarian Food & Wine
www.hungarianfoodandwine.com

• 2008 Chateau Megyer Furmint Dry Selection - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji
  There are crisp, minerally pears on the nose. Very attractive tropical fruit on the palate. Nice balance. (88 points)
  
• 2009 Frittmann Cserszegi Füszeres - Hungary, Kunsag
  Heavy, sweet peach-laden nose. Fairly lively. Bit sweet. Dull. (82 points)
  
• 2009 Garamvári Szőlőbirtok Irsai Oliver - Hungary, Dél-Balaton, Balatonlelle
  Pleasant, aromatic nose. Remarkably muscatty palate. Quite delicate, but with a firmness on the finish. (86 points)
• 2008 Domaine Szeremley Riesling Selection - Hungary, Badacsony
  There are slightly honeyed green apples on the nose. Good, clean palate. Perfectly fine, but it's not going to threaten Germany, Alsace, Austria, New Zealand etc. (87 points)
  
• 2009 Bodvin Dry Furmint Áldomás - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji
  Slightly grassy, delicate peach/pear fruit on the nose. Decent stuff, but it doesn't thrill me. (84 points)
• 2009 Pannonhalmi Apátsági Pincészet Tramini - Hungary, Pannonhalma-Sokoroalja
  A delicate, spicy gewurz nose. Good, fresh palate. Works well. (88 points)
  
• 2009 St. Andrea Boldogságos - Hungary, Eger
  A blend of 42% welschriesling, 39% sauvignon blanc, 19% pinot gris. Biodynamic apparently.
  Very grassy, herbaceous nose with some asparagus notes. A rich, complex palate. A very interesting wine. A touch spirity on the finish maybe, but not unduly so, or at all harsh. (90 points)
  
• 2007 Orosz Gabor Kiraly Hárslevelu Kings Hill - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji
  A heavily aromatic nose. Is there some oak on this? Feels like it. Initially, it's got a very luxurious mouthfeel, but quickly it feels more all fur coat and no knickers. It seems a bit over-extracted and over-concentrated to me, unfortunately. (82 points)
  
• 2008 Egri Korona Borház, Harmonia Red Cuvée - Hungary, Eger
  A blend of kekfrankos, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. The nose has light red fruits and some minerality. Good, lush, unchallenging easy drinking. Nice. (87 points)
• 2007 Egri Korona Borház, Egri Bikavér - Hungary, Eger
  Fairly rich berry fruit on the nose. A pleasant palate with lots of nice character and a good firm structure. Good, typical Bull's Blood. (89 points)
  
• 2008 St. Andrea, Akutya fáját - Hungary, Eger
  According to which source or translation tool you use, akutya fáját seems to be the equivalent of "Oh My Gosh!" or "Anything Goes". It's a blend of kekfrankos, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc. It was described to me as a sort of declassified bikaver.
  It has an interesting nose with some fairly sweet red fruit and some fun spice. It's light and fresh on the palate with a good, interesting depth of flavour and layers of red and black fruit. (89 points)
  
• 2008 St. Andrea, Áldás Egri Bikavér - Hungary, Eger
  On the nose, there's a touch of weediness behind some sweeet red fruit. There's a lot of sweet, bright red fruit on the palate. Easy and simple, but it delivers. (86 points)
  
• 2008 Heimann Kékfrankos Selection - Hungary, Szekszárd
  A rather strange, but not unattractive nose: there's dark fruit, apple pie spice, tarte tatin, and even a hint of caramel. A complex, rounded palate with great depth and interesting. Whether it's because of the rather weird nose, or in spite of it, this is really rather fascinating. (92 points)
  
• 2009 Bodvin Tokaji Cuvée Late Harvest - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji
  Furmint 60%, Yellow Muscat 20%, Harslevelu 20%
  A very fragrant, floral nose with honeyed apricots. Good, elegant palate, with some interesting pear notes. (88 points)
• 2001 Chateau Imperial Tokaji Aszú 5 Puttonyos - Hungary, Hegyalja, Tokaji
  An odd nose - sort of strange, spirity pencil shavings. Is there something wrong with this? The man from Hungarian Food & Wine says not. Ok then. Well, despite the dodgy nose, on the palate, it's a decent, fairly old-fashioned Tokay. But it lacks the elegance of the best examples. (83 points)

Astrum Wine Cellars
www.astrumwinecellars.com

• 2009 Enologica Wamba Verdejo Rueda - Spain, Castilla y León, Rueda 
  Very pleasant white fruit with a certain richness on the nose. Clean and almost refreshing on the palate. Very good finish. It really fills out on the finish too. (88 points)
• 2009 Russolo Ribolla Gialla Venezia Giulia IGT - Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Venezia Giulia IGT 
  Bright minerality and a lovely florality combine on the nose. This is in a fairly light style: it's very clean and fresh with just a nice floral lift on the palate and good acidity. (88 points)
  
• 2010 Verus Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc - Slovenia, Podravje, Ljutomer-Ormož 
  There's nice clean minerality to the fore of good sauvignon blanc fruit. Very good palate. Easy, but with a pleasing complexity behind. (91 points)
• 2009 Abbazia di Novacella (Stiftskellerei Neustift) Kerner - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Valle Isarco / Eisacktaler 
  Good nose: some florality and fragrance, with a hint of white peach. Nice and full on the palate with good acidity. Needs food. (89 points)
  
• 2007 Cantina Terlano Pinot Bianco Riserva Vorberg - Italy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Alto Adige, Terlano 
  Creamy, sweet melon fruit on the nose. Open, rounded palate. Very good fruit character with an attractive streak of austerity. (89 points)
  
• 2007 Weingut R & A Pfaffl St. Laurent Altenberg - Austria, Niederösterreich, Weinviertel
  Good, subtly perfumed red fruit on the nose. More pinot noir like than the Württemberg pinot noirs tasted on the same day. Very good palate - it has a lovely balance and elegance; almost sexy indeed. (90 points)
• 2006 Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco 
  Paint thinners and sappy green leaves on the nose. This is not without attraction, and Barbaresco lovers would probably love it, but I am not one of them, so treat these comments with caution. The high acidity makes it tends towards weediness in the mouth. Finely structured tannins.
  Not scored as I don't get on with Barbaresco, and it would be unfair of me to mark it down.
  

Indigo Wine

• 2006 Celler Escoda-Sanahuja Conca de Barberà Coll del Sabater - Spain, Catalunya, Tarragona, Conca de Barberà 
  A biodynamic blend of cabernet franc and merlot made with no added sulphur.
  A wild, funky nose with black fruits. Very animalistic and meaty. This is a wine that isn't afraid to step on the gaps between the paving stones. Meaty, fleshy palate. Definitely on the wild side. Very attractive. (91 points)
  
• 2009 Jiménez Landi Méntrida Sotorrondero - Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Méntrida 
  60% syrah; 40% garnacha. Organic.
  A really interesting complex nose with some attractive vegetal notes and bright fruit. Superficially a bit simple on the palate. But there are some great depths and complexity here. (90 points)
  
• 2009 4 Kilos 12 Volts - Spain, Balearic Islands 
  There are youthful, vibrant dark fruits on the nose. Quite a luscious, silky mouthfeel. Fairly sweet fruit. But it's nicely put together. (88 points)
  
• 2009 Emilio Valerio Navarra Laderas de Montejurra - Spain, Navarra 
  There's nice perfume on the nose with an interesting chalky minerality. Pleasant palate. This has good balance and a nice meaty, spicy weight. (88 points)
  
• 2009 La Casilla Bodegas Viñedas Ponce Manchuela - Spain, Castilla-La Mancha, Manchuela 
  Biodynamic, 100% foot-trodden bobal.
  Juicy, sweet red fruit with nice character on the nose. The palate is very similar to the nose. Soft and easy, though with some firm tannins on the finish. (88 points)
• 2007 Bodegas Bentomiz Málaga Ariyanas Dulce - Spain, Andalucía, Málaga 
  Made with semi-dried moscatel grapes from the Malagan hills. It has a sweet, perfumed muscat nose. There's good balance on the palate. Perfectly pleasant, but it doesn't over-excite me. (85 points)

Winetraders (UK)

• 2009 Bellbird Spring Sauvignon Blanc Block Eight - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara 
  A very, very poised elegant nose, feeling almost white Bordeaux-like. Very good palate.This is very definitely a sauvignon blanc for people who don't like sauvignon blanc. It has a very classy feel. (93 points)
  
• 2008 Bellbird Spring Home Block White - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
  A very pleasant, gently spiced nose with hints of sauvignon blanc and pinot gris fruit. Fairly rich palate, but nicely balanced. An interesting wine from the blend. (92 points)
  
• 2009 Bellbird Spring Sauvignon Blanc The Pruner's Reward - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
  Bright, clean, slightly leesy-feeling classic sauvignon blanc nose with gooseberry, peas and asparagus. Lovely palate, with a tiny hint of sweetness that tames the aggression of Kiwi sauvignon. Good stuff. (89 points)
• 2009 Bellbird Spring Pinot Noir Block Eight - New Zealand, South Island, Canterbury, Waipara
  The nose has nice, precise red fruits with a hint of beetroot sweetness and earthiness. Not bad on the palate. Needs time: it feels a bit disjointed at the moment. (87 points)

2009 Alsace Pinot Gris, Philippe Gocker, Mittlewihr (Winegrowers Direct)
A light, fresh, bright nose. Straightforward Alsace pinot gris. Good at the price (c. £11). 86/100

2008 Gewurztraminer Kitt, Domaine Rémy Gresser, Alsace (Top Selection)
A nice, classy, perfumed gewurztraminer nose - feeling very controlled. This is a good, classy Alsace gewurz with nice weight and balance.  There's also a nice freshness, especially on the finish. Rather seriously priced at nearly £20 though.  89/100