Naked Wines Reds – Part 1

Posted by Simon on May 3, 2010

A dozen wines from Naked Wines arrived on the doorstep – here’s what I thought of the first six…

Château Lagrave Cissan Listrac-Médoc 2005, Bordeaux, France (£12.99 www.nakedwines.com)
Gentle, tender claret, with touches of gravel, tobacco and cedar to its blackcurranty fruit, and a refreshing finish. S-

Ocaso Malbec 2007, Mendoza, Argentina (£8.49 www.nakedwines.com - doesn’t seem to be on the site at the time of posting)
Just what you want from Malbec, juicy but never descending into jamminess, with lush, almost oily blackcurrant and blackberry flesh, a touch of vanilla and a fragrant, violet-tinged finish. S-

Parrot Valley Cabernet Franc 2008, Coastal Region, South Africa (£9.99 www.nakedwines.com)
There’s a touch of the South African smokiness but it’s in balance with the fragrant, leafy blackcurrant and cherry flavours, while the finish shows a dainty, almost chalky freshness. S(-)

J H Pacas Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, Coastal Region, South Africa (£12.99 www.nakedwines.com)
Nicely mellow and mature, but still with some freshness to with the ripe (but not overripe_ black fruit flavour, and some tannin too. Tasty, but just a little simple. B+

Belfield’s Blend (Merlot/Cabernet) 2006, Elgin, South Africa (£11.99 www.nakedwines.com)
Toasty oak is the first thing you notice, but then a wild, almost meaty, mealy edge comes through, along with plummy blackberry and blackcurrant, while the finish shows a herby, feral edge – nice wine. S

Kimbao Cabernet Sauvignon Carmenère 2008, Central Valley, Chile (£8.99 www.nakedwines.com)
An honest, juicy wine, with leafy, minty blackcurrant pastille fruit tinged with the exotic herb and coffee bean of Carmenère. Just a tad simple B(+)

Four Bordeaux-inspired reds from Chile & Washington State

Posted by Simon on April 30, 2010

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

Snoqualmie Naked Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines)
Corked

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(-)