All these are from a tasting I was supposed to be doing for James Nicholson in Northern Ireland in early May 2010 – it was postponed due to volcanic ash travel problems but is due to be rescheduled very soon… (and it’s also a video I did in my office […]
France
A dozen wines from Naked Wines arrived on the doorstep – here’s what I thought of the first six… Château Lagrave Cissan Listrac-Médoc 2005, Bordeaux, France (£12.99 www.nakedwines.com) Gentle, tender claret, with touches of gravel, tobacco and cedar to its blackcurranty fruit, and a refreshing finish. S- Ocaso Malbec 2007, […]
Naked Wines Reds – Part 1
Clarendelle is the ‘new’ range of generic Bordeaux from one of the finest addresses in Bordeaux. May I quote from a press release that accompanied them…. ‘According to Prince Robert of Luxembourg, great-grandson of Clarence Dillon and President of Château Haut-Brion; “Clarendelle’s style and structure represent elegance, complexity and balance. […]
Clarendelle from the owners of Haut-Brion
More from the batches of wine that arrived from Morrisons & The Wine Society – this time it’s the reds (the whites are here). The Society’s Claret NV (Sichel), Bordeaux, France (£5.95/£5.42 The Wine Society) Leafy, sappy, young and refreshing unoaked style, uncomplicated tender and fruity, does just what it […]
Blind Tasting: Morrisons & The Wine Society Part 2
A couple of first sights this week. On Monday came across my first bottle under the new IGP regulations – to all intents and purposes the new name for Vin de Pays – in the form of the Wine Society’s French Dry White (which will feature on a video here […]
Bye-bye Vin de Pays, Hello IGP (and Vin de France)
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 […]