Wine for people who have a life
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Tweet My friend’s mum had several initials both before and after her name. She was very studious and serious, and never seemed to shave her legs (not sure if this was a statement or an oversight). Yet how did she spend her Saturday afternoons? Like many in the UK, watching Mick McManus beat 50 Shades [...]
Tweet World Malbec Day? Malbec World Day? Whichever way round it is, this is the third year on which April 17th has seen celebrations for all things Malbec-y – more info here. Here’s me setting into eight examples, all from Argentina, unless specified. Château de Chambert Cahors Malbec 2008, South West France (£16.99 Bennetts Fine [...]
Tweet Gimenez Riili Perpetuum Premium Torrontés 2011, Famatina Valley, La Rioja, Argentina (£10.95 Cupari Wines) I like the gingery spice, the confected lemon jelly cube character is OK, I’m not so keen on the washing up liquid note, C Mairena Torrontés 2011, Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (£10.95 Cupari Wines) A weightier, more floral version of the [...]
Tweet So why’s there a Madeira in among all these reds? The answer is chocolate… Changyu Cabernet Blend 2011, Ningxia, China (£9.90 currently not in the UK) Has the gentle leathery character and slightly figgy dark fruit of mature but not especially great Bordeaux, plus a slightly smoky note. OK, but ultimately a bit thin [...]
Tweet Louis Bouillot ‘Perle d’Aurore’ Crémant de Bourgogne Rosé Brut NV, France (£18.99 The Flying Corkscrew, The Guildford Wine Company, Richard Granger Wines, Dillies, The Food Company, Berits & Brown, Cornelius Beer & Wine, The Fine Wine Company, Ellies Cellar, Gwin Llyn Wines) Sweet fruit – red berry and apple – but also a more [...]
Tweet Benjamin Darnault Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2011, France (£10.99 Naked Wines) Soft, sweet and ripe, with hints of liquorice and black pepper, but it needs a little more freshness, and the fruit’s too jammy and baked for real class. B Virgile Joly Languedoc Saint Saturnin Paradise 2009, France (£15.99 Naked Wines) Fresh and vibrant [...]
Tweet Mairena Bonarda 2010, Ugarteche, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza (£11.45 Cupari Wines) I like the sweet rich berry and blackcurrants fruit backed up by a savoury/meaty note, but I’m in two minds about whether that chocolate-wafer-biscuit-like oak is just a little OTT – some will love it. B+ Trapiche Broquel Bonarda 2009, Mendoza (£10.99 Tesco) [...]
Tweet Wirra Wirra Mrs Wigley Moscato 2011, McLaren Vale, Australia (£9-£10 per 50cl Slurp, Oxford Wine Company, Flagship Wines, Oddbins, Whalley Wines, Amps Fine Wines) Breakfast wine – think freshly crushed grapes and strawberries with topped up with Lucozade. Maybe could do with a little more zip, but alarming gluggable. B Domaine du Tariquet ‘Les [...]
Tweet Viñalba Reserva Chardonnay 2012, Mendoza, Argentina (£10.99 Majestic) Weighs in at 14.5% but it carries it well, with perky peach and plumper melon flavours pepped up by a slightly nutty note. Like a rounder Mâcon wine. B(-) Panamera Chardonnay 2011, California (N/A in the UK) Slightly stolid style, with not enough freshness to counterbalance [...]
Tweet Alain Grignon Carignan Vieilles Vignes IGP Pays d’Hérault 2011, Languedoc, France (£7.49 Majestic) Starts off well with a fresh spicy edge, fruit is OK but veering towards the jammy dodger/baked spectrum, and there’s also a muddy vanilla softness. Can we have more spikes please Mr G? B- Miguel Torres Cordillera Carignan 2008, Maule, Chile [...]
