Hugel Gentil 2009, Alsace, France (£10.49 Cambridge Wine Merchants, The Oxford Wine Company, Rhythm & Booze) Fragrant but still fresh and dry, with gentle lychee, rose petal and citrus (with the peel) pepped up with nutty toasty spice notes, a touch of woodsmoke and a taut pithy finish. B+ Tim […]
Chile
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 ...
Yali National Reserva Cabernet Franc 2009, Colchagua (£8.19 Morrisons) Has the typical Chilean blackcurrant pastille character, along with quite rich, earthy, chocolatey richness, but ultimately misses out on the Cab Franc fragrance, and feels just too warm and rich. B- Torres Cordillera Carmenère/Merlot/Petit Verdot 2007, Central Valley (£11.99 Partridges, Gales […]
Wine Tasting Video: Seven reds from Chile
Tasted 10 Pinots one afternoon, and split them over two videos. This should have been the second installment, but it’s ended up being the first. The first (with some Aussie and NZ Pinots) is here. Laroche Viña Punto Alto El Chaparro Pinot Noir 2009, Casablanca, Chile (£16.99 Liberty Wines) Classic […]
Wine Tasting Video: Pinot Noir from Chile and France
Le Champ d’Orphée IGP Côtes du Tarn 2009, South West France (N/A in the UK) Lively, wild and off-the-wall wine, with savoury blueberry fruit backed up by earthy notes and chewy tannins – cassoulet would seem appropriate… S- Clos Poggiale Vin de Corse 2007, France (£12.45-16.50 Jeroboams, Planet of the […]
Wine Tasting Video: Assorted Reds from SW France, Corsica, the ...
Second batch of a range of Sauvignons I tried early in 2011 – the first lot (from New Zealand & South Africa) are here. Château Le Payral Bergerac Sec 2008, South West France (£8.99 The Bottle Bank) Typical smoky tinned pear of the region, and a grapey perfume too, just […]