The second batch of Sauvignons I’ve tried recently – the first is here Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Marlborough, New Zealand (£9.99 widely available) Classic style, a touch off-dry with a mix of juicy grassy citrus and riper, more exotic tropical fruit, a good zesty crowd-pleaser. B(+) The […]
Margaret River
Wakefield Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, Clare Valley, Australia (£10-11 Majestic Wine Warehouse, Alexander Hadleigh, Cheers Wine Merchant, Raeburn Fine Wines, Sandhams Wine Merchant, www.slurp.co.uk) Maybe not the most complex wine, but scores for its honest juicy richness, with ripe berry and blackcurrant fruit pepped up with notes of mint, mocha […]
Wine Tasting Video: Cabernet-based wines from Australia, Chile & South ...
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Chardonnay 2008, Margaret River (£20.50 Domaine Direct) Rich but refined style with tangy apple and nectarine flavours set against a creamy leesy richness. More forward than the Art Series bottling, but still a classy mix of richness and restraint. S- Xanadu Chardonnay 2008, Margaret River (£12.85 AG Wines, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Four Australian Chardonnays
Kuentz-Bas Riesling Tradition 2008, Alsace, France (£9.50 The Wine Society) Clean and fresh, yet quite full, lots of green apple and citrus tang plus an undercurrent of spicy minerality, full but dry finish. S- Crossroads Medway Vineyard Riesling 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand (£9.50 Mentzendorff) Just too simple, with lemon & […]
Riesling from Alsace, Australia & New Zealand
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Margaret River, Australia (£15.99-£18.99 Domaine Direct, Fortnum & Mason, Highbury Vintners, House of Menzies, Luvians Bottle Shop, Uncorked, Winedirect) Quite light in body but full of flavour – smoky, nutty tinned pear, like Bordeaux Sauvignon, plus tangy, flinty Loire-like gooseberry character. Crisp but luscious, […]
Sauvignon Blanc from Australia, New Zealand & South Africa
McHenry Hohnen Cabernet/Merlot 2008, Margaret River (£9.99 Majestic) Surprisingly forward, rounded wine, showing just the right amount of leafy mint and eucalyptus character alongside juicy plummy fruit, hints of leather and tobacco and smooth ripe tannins. B+ Averys Pioneer Barossa Shiraz 2007 – made by Yalumba (£8.99 Averys) A lovely […]