Day three of our four-day experiment in conjunction with biodynamic producer Avondale to determine whether the taste of wine really does vary according to the lunar cycle, brought fresh surprises: not only did the six Avondale bottlings in the tasting line-up (méthode cap classique sparkling, chenin blanc, white blend, blanc de noir, shiraz and Bordeaux-style red blend) express themselves differently, as on the previous days, but they also appeared a shade less attractive than before.
Muted were the pure fruity flavours of day one, and the equally appealing savoury and mineral qualities of day two, and more prominent were a “manufactured” candy store sweets character. The freshness that previously energised the wines seemed a bit less lively, too.
Given the wines’ apparent lack of joie de vivre, it was interesting that Avondale proprietor Johnathan Grieve’s preamble to the tasting focused on natural sources of energy and how these can be identified and harnessed by the biodynamic winegrower.