The 2009 vintage in Beaujolais is being touted as the best in living memory. Hype? Well, this sextet from Georges Duboeuf, the region’s most famous producer, didn’t disappoint. It’s a little early for most of these to be in the shops, and that’s no bad thing, as they’re all wines […]
Burgundy
Château de la Terrière Beaujolais Villages Vieilles Vignes 2008 (£8.99 Majestic) Light, simple aromas with a touch of bubblegum, OK raspberry flavour, but finishes rather thin & scrawny. C Domaine des Nugues Beaujolais Villages 2007 (£8.99 Majestic) More depth of flavour, some plump plumminess but has lost the crunchy freshness […]
Beaujolais – the proper stuff…
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 […]
Four Chilean Pinot Noirs plus a Burgundian interloper
A lovely set of wines from Jean-Marc Brocard Domaines Brocard Petit Chablis Sainte Anne 2008 (£10.99 Oddbins) Bracing young wine, fresh and flinty, with creamy citrus fruit and a briny note to the finish. B+ Chablis Domaine des Manants 2008 (£10.79-£13.49 Balls Brothers, House of Townend, SH Jones, Grapevine (Cockermouth), […]
Up the Chablis ladder from Petit Chablis to Grand Cru
Tesco Finest Sonoma County Chardonnay 2006 (£9.99 Tesco) Ripe and oaky, but not OTT in either respect, this has freshness and zing missing in virtually all similarly priced competitors, touches of pineapples and peaches, with mealy nuttiness and just the right amount of toasty oak. B+ Wild Boy Chardonnay 2008, […]
Three Californian Chardonnays + a Burgundian interloper
Blason de Bourgogne St Véran 2008 (£9.99 Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose) Quite lively aromas, with peach and citrus coming through strongly, but the wine is actually quite restrained. Simple but fresh and honest, nice drink and good value. B(+) Domaine Eugénie Carrion Chablis 2008 (£10.95 fromvineyardsdirect.com) Starts of rather dumb, but […]