Advertising maven John Hegarty – sorry – SIR John Hegarty needs no introduction for those in his field of influence. And the good news is that his field of influence is spreading ever wider- he’s due to do a presentation to the Institute of Masters of Wine about how wine […]
France
Four wines, all made under the guidance of consultant winemaker Olivier Dauga. Based on this quartet, the Dauga style seems to be less flashy, less oaky, less ripe, less malo-in-barrel-y than that of Michel Rolland. This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing, merely a matter of personal […]
Four red Bordeaux all made with TLC from Olivier Dauga
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, […]