Casa Silva Doña Dominga Single Vineyard Syrah 2010, Colchagua Valley, Chile (£7.49 Waitrose) No shortage of plump, plummy sweet berry flesh, but it’s let down by rather obvious wafer-biscuity oak, and while they’ve tried to use reduction (excluding air from winemaking process) to keep some freshness, it hasn’t worked, and […]
Languedoc
Provins Valais Collection Chandra Kurt ‘Heida’ 2010, Valais, Switzerland (N/A in UK) Quite a bit beefier than many Swiss wines, this has musky peach and walnut flesh pepped up by notes of fennel and quince, and a finish that combines waxy, honeyed richness with a cool freshness. S Paul Mas […]
Wine Tasting Video: Whites from Switzerland, southern France & Chile
Vallée Blanche Malbec 2010, Pays d’Oc, France (£7.49 Majestic) Reasonable violet-scented plummy fruit and soft spice, but the muddy vanilla character from use of oak destroys the delicate flavours – think of someone with too much foundation… C+ Carmen Reserva Carmenère 2010, Colchagua, Chile (£9.49 Majestic) More of that clumsy […]
Wine Tasting Video: Bordeaux-ish wines from France, Chile, California & ...
Paul Mas Chardonnay 2010, Pays d’Oc, France (£8.49 Majestic) Clean, ripe but restrained style with apple and citrus notes and weightier peachy pineapple flavours enhanced by hazelnut and cashew nuttiness and a touch of vanilla. B Louis Jadot Marsannay Blanc 2008, Burgundy, France (£16.75 Rhythm & Booze, Slurp, Islington Wines, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Chardonnays from Burgundy, the Languedoc & Chile
Nicolas Perrin Syrah Vin de France 2010 (£13.99 Wine Rack) Vibrant, juicy oak-free Syrah, bouncy and fragrant, with a savoury edge to the smoky berry fruit, delicious and refreshing red wine. S(-) Château d’Anglès La Clape Rouge Classique 2008, Languedoc, France (£11.99 Wine Rack) On the mellow side, with the […]
Wine Tasting Video: Syrah/Shiraz from France, Australia & South Africa
Bordière Nord Syrah/Grenache IGP Pays d’Oc 2010, France (£6.99 Majestic) Reasonable sweet plummy fruit with some darker berry flesh and a touch of spice, but there’s also a rubbery (reduction) character that spoils the party. C+ Paul Mas Estate Carignan Pays de l‘Hérault 2010, Languedoc (£8.99 Majestic) Another one with […]