January 23rd was apparently World Sauvignon Blanc Day. The 4th annual Sauvignon Blanc Day was May 17th, 2013, although as the calendar progressed, it became May 16th. Californian winery St Supery is today celebrating the ‘fifth annual global online celebration‘ of Sauvignon, although some sources say it may be the 6th… I […]
Australia
Champagne Comtesse de Bellefleur NV, France (£29.99 Laithwaites) Rich with a slight nuttiness, but it looks like that richness seems to come from high dosage rather than extended aging or a good base wine. OK, but not much class. C(-) The Society’s Champagne Brut (Alfred Gratien), France (£29.50 The Wine Society) […]
Four Sparkling Wines – Champagne, Cava & Tasmania
Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2013, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£24.99 Majestic, Bentley’s Wine Merchants, CellarVie Wines, D Byrne & Co, Harrods, Leamington Wine Company, ND John Wine Merchants, Noel Young Wines, Ozwines.co.uk, Philglas & Swiggot, Provender Brown, Taylor’s Fine Wines, The Secret Cellar, Shills of Cockermouth, Slurp.co.uk, Winedirect.co.uk) Initially shy […]
Chardonnay from Australia, France, South Africa & California
Final post from the week in which Australia Day falls, with the accent today on Pinot Noir. Louis Latour Maranges 2012, Burgundy, France (£23.54 Spirited Wines) There’s gentle raspberry fruit in here, but overall, it’s rather fey, with not enough flesh and flavour to back up the stalky notes, and […]
Pinot Noir from Australia, California & France
A fourth set of wines with an Aussie theme in celebration of the week in which Australia Day falls. Today, Cabernet. Ish… Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£12.99 Majestic, Morrisons, Globe Wines, Matthew Clark, nzhouseofwine.co.uk) Reasonable leafy fragrance, but there’s a slightly baked edge […]
Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from Australia, Chile, New Zealand & Argentina
More wines to celebrate the week in which Australia Day falls. This time, it’s Shiraz, with a European version making its way into the line-up… Smart Dog Syrah 2013, Alentejano, Portugal (£8.99 Adnams) Sweet, almost smoky notes alongside the cinnamon and clove aromas, but while there’s no shortage of flavour, […]