Stonehaven Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Western Cape, South Africa (£7.99 The Co-op) One of those wines that grows on you. Young and sappy with decent pithy fruit, but it’s the stony mineral character that makes the strongest impression. B Fox Gordon Family Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£11.99 Waitrose) Smells […]
Adelaide Hills
The Intrepid Bear Cabernet Franc 2011, Lodi, California (£9.99 Virgin Wines) Has the tar character of Cab Franc, and some ripe berry flesh, but it’s too jammy and confected (remember Jammie Dodger biscuits?) and the finish is slightly flat and dry. C(+) The Second Chapter Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Western Cape, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Cabernet and Merlot-based wines from California, South ...
McWilliams Mount Pleasant Isabelle Chardonnay 2010 Tumbarumba, New South Wales (£9.99 Waitrose) Refreshing, fruity style, a mix of citrus (tangerine/clementine) with stone fruit (apricot/nectarine/plum) with a light veneer of smoky toasty oak, ripe but sleek, with a slightly briny tang on the finish. B+ Thorn Clarke Mount Crawford Chardonnay 2010, […]
Wine Tasting Video: South Australian Chardonnay + a NSW interloper
The Spee’Wah Cuvée Chardonnay NV, Murray Darling (£9.50 The Drinkmonger, Bibendum) Simple, sherbetty style, has a honeyed edge to the cooked apple fruit, quite broad and biscuity, but lacks freshness. C Jansz Tasmania Premium Non Vintage Cuvée (£13.99 see below for stockists) Fresh, elegant style, strawberry, raspberry and apple, with a […]
Wine Tasting Video: Australian Sparkling Wine
First Drop Wines ‘The Big Blend’ Nebbiolo/Barbera 2009, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£18.99 Secret Cellar, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Hanging Ditch, Harvey Nichols, The Sampler) The bold berry fruit verging on the jammy dodgers, the note of liquorice and the aromas of mint and eucalyptus betray its Aussie origins, and despite a […]
Wine Tasting Video: Three reds with northern Italian accents – ...
The first installment of a set of ten Pinot Noirs I tasted recently – for some reasons I posted the second installment first (it’s here), but hey, they’re both live now… Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand (£14.99 Majestic, Rhythm & Booze, Booths) Bouncy young […]