Recorded with unjustified optimism before the England v US game…
Montana Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Marlborough, New Zealand (£7.99 Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s Morrisons, Asda) Refined, quite elegant style for Marlborough, with a lean stony character to the citrus and lemongrass flavours; good tense minerally finish too. S-
De Grendel Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Coastal Region, South Africa (£9.99 – down to £5.99 21/6/10-4/7/10 Oddbins) Feels less forward on the nose than the Montana, with herb and citrus aromas, but is let down by slightly intrusive green pepper and woodsmoke edges (similar verdict after it’s been open for a few hours). B
Castillo de Molina Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009, Elqui Valley, Chile (£7.99 Majestic, Sainsbury’s) Clean and fresh, with a slightly nettle-like herbiness, but is just too lemon-jelly-like for real class. B-
Palo Alto Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009, Maule Valley, Chile (£7.99 Asda, Booths, Sainsbury’s, Somerfield) Is there some Sauvignonasse here? Certainly there’s a nutty, almost old-fashioned white Bordeaux-like edge that makes me think so, but it’s none the worse for that. Simple, and needs drinking soon but has a nice honest grassy citrus profile. B(-)
Casas del Bosque Sauvignon Blanc Reserva 2009, Casblanca, Chile (£8-£9 Awin Barratt Siegel) Neither brash nor wimpy, this starts of in gentle fashion but then grows on you. Fragrant and herby, with ripe lemon and mineral notes, it has a confident persistent finish that keeps you coming back for more. S-
Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2009, Central Valley (£6.99 Oddbins, Majestic, Asda, Booths, Budgens, Londis, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Somerfield, Tesco, Waitrose) Refreshing, young, almost chillable Pinot, with plush plum, raspberry and cherry flavours and a soft, earthy finish. B(-)
Cono Sur Pinot Noir Reserva 2008, Casablanca (£7.99 The Co-op, Tesco) Lighter but finer than the basic Pinot, also more aromatic, with raspberry, blackcurrant and cherry flesh and an earthy, iron-like minerality. S-
Casas del Bosque Pinot Noir Gran Reserva 2008, Casablanca (£12-13 Awin Barratt Siegel, www.everywine.co.uk) Rich & intense, starts off with prominent smoky chocolate wafer oak, and then the fruit emerges – fresh and slightly cooked red berries and plums – and there’s a touch of spice on the finish. Very tasty and promising. S(-)
Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir 2008, Casablanca (£20.99 Oddbins, Tesco, Waitrose) Gentler and finer than the Casas del Bosque, confident in its lithe juiciness, and with more subtle oak, rich but always fresh, with gentle plum, ripe tomoato and black cherry flesh and a yummy finish. S(+)
Snoqualmie Naked Merlot 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines) Starts with a pleasant leafy edge, a touch of tobacco and reasonable plummy fruit, but then goes rather dilute, with clunky oak coming through. C
Nostros Merlot Gran Reserva 2006, Casablanca, Chile (£6.39 www.qpwines.com) Typical Chilean reduced blackcurrant pastilles and mint, with tangy blueberry flavours, but let down by reduction and rather raw, angular oak. C+
Botalcura La Porfia Carmenère Gran Reserva 2005, Rapel, Chile (£10.99 www.qpwines.com) More of what you expect from a wine labelled Gran Reserva, has the polished plushness of good ageing, alongside notes of plummy berries, vanilla, five-spice and herbs. S(-)
