Roc St Vincent Bordeaux Sauvignon 2013, France (£8.25 Sainsbury’s) Fresh sappy style, nettles and cut grass to the fore, Grannie Smiths apples and grapefruit close behind, and a touch of Alka Seltzer-like minerality to add further zest. B(+) Château Gaillard Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Loire, France (~£10 Vintage Roots, Sip […]
France
Champagne Comtesse de Bellefleur NV, France (£29.99 Laithwaites) Rich with a slight nuttiness, but it looks like that richness seems to come from high dosage rather than extended aging or a good base wine. OK, but not much class. C(-) The Society’s Champagne Brut (Alfred Gratien), France (£29.50 The Wine Society) […]
Four Sparkling Wines – Champagne, Cava & Tasmania
Two different French takes on Syrah Vidal-Fleury Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2012, Rhône, France (£16.95-£17.95 The Square Wine Company, Hailsham Cellars, Whole Foods Market) With its ripe berry (red and dark) character and hints of vanilla, there’s almost a New World feel here, but then the peppery finesse kicks in, along with […]
French Syrah from the Rhône and Languedoc
Bit of a mish-mash – but a nice mish-mash… Cantina Gadoro Beneventano Fiano 2013, Campania, Italy (£8.99 Waitrose) Reminds me of a white Bordeaux with a dollop of Viognier in there. Tinned pear, nutty, peachy exuberance and a touch of vanilla all reined in by a spine of herbal freshness. […]
Assorted Whites from Italy, Germany, Romania & France
Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2013, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£24.99 Majestic, Bentley’s Wine Merchants, CellarVie Wines, D Byrne & Co, Harrods, Leamington Wine Company, ND John Wine Merchants, Noel Young Wines, Ozwines.co.uk, Philglas & Swiggot, Provender Brown, Taylor’s Fine Wines, The Secret Cellar, Shills of Cockermouth, Slurp.co.uk, Winedirect.co.uk) Initially shy […]
Chardonnay from Australia, France, South Africa & California
Not much quality-wise between these two, although they are different in style – a blend of the two worked very well! Asda Extra Special Pays d’Oc Viognier 2013, Languedoc, France (**£5 Asda) This has the nutty pear and peach flavours, but they’re reined in by crisp citrus acidity. Maybe the […]