Cien Y Pico ‘Doble Pasta’ Tintorera 2009, Manchuela (£11.99 Liberty Wines) Really can’t work out whether I like this wine. I can’t fault its richness – it’s full throttle, deep inky wine packed with slightly baked/jammy dark berry fruit, backed up by notes of herbs, cold ash and a stony […]
Cabernet Sauvignon
Bergaglio Sassaia Monferrato Rosso 2007, Piedmont (₤18.60 Symposium Wines) Oh so nearly… This combines the ripe plummy blackcurrant of Cabernet Sauvignon with the awkward herbiness, rose petal and tar of Nebbiolo and friendly blackberry edge of Barbera, but then the flashy vanilla sheen of oak intrudes and takes away much […]
Wine Tasting Video: Italian reds – Brunello, Monferrato, Primitivo etc
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 & ...
Dourthe Cour du Roy Montagne St Emilion 2010 (£12.99 selected Co-operative stores) Rich round style of Bordeaux, juicy, full and fleshy, with gutsy plummy and baked berry flavour backed up by smoky bacon oak, just let down by overextraction, which accentuates that baked edge, and highlights slightly clunky tannins. B(+) […]
Wine Tasting Video: Assorted Red Bordeaux
Marks & Spencer Bordeaux Rosé 2010 (£6.99 Marks & Spencer) Fresh, sappy young style, like apple and blackberry pie in a glass, with a touch of leafiness on the finish. B Sacha Lichine Le Poussin Rosé Vin de France (£9.95 Wine Hound, Last Try Wines, Wine Reserve, Living In Store, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Rosés from southern France
Some wines I filmed before Christmas when I’d been banished to one of the darker rooms in the house… Wakefield Estate Merlot 2009, Clare Valley, Australia (£9.99-£10.99 Cheers, Constantine Stores, Majestic, Nidderdale Fine Wines, Oliver’s Beer and Wine, Saxty’s, Sommelier Wine Co) Reasonable ruddy berry and plum fruit with a […]