Chateau Maine-Martin Bordeaux Supérieur Vieilles Vignes 2005 (£8.55 Caves de Pyrene) Graceful, cedary, mature claret, more on the berry (red and black) than blackcurrant side, supple and with a leafy vibrancy, still a touch of chewy tannin but not for further keeping. B+ Château Les Gravières de la Brandille Bordeaux […]
Cabernet Sauvignon
Errázuriz Estate Merlot 2010, Aconcagua, Chile (£8.99 Tesco, Sainsbury’s Asda, Majestic, Wine Rack, Taurus Wines, Booths, Matthew Clark, wine-studio.co.uk) Reasonable strawberry and blackberry with a touch of chocolate, but some of the fruit verges on the baked and raisinny, and it lacks freshness. C(+) Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon […]
Wine Tasting Video: Cabernet/Merlots from Chile, the Languedoc & New ...
El Patito Feo Graciano Roble 2009, Navarra, Spain (£8.99 Virgin Wines) Slightly boisterous youngster at the present, but calms down to show pure, plush blueberry and blackberry flesh, a fresher raspberry edge, notes of clove and new leather, and a warm dusty finish. B+ Tesco Finest* Viña Mara Rioja Reserva, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Spanish reds from Rioja, Navarra & Penedes
Prestige de Calvet Bordeaux Rouge Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (£10-50-£11 Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons) Quite simple, but has a friendly roundness, with juicy crunchy plum, blackcurrant and blueberry flesh and a touch of toffee. But a daft price. C+ Château Brassac Bordeaux Supérieur 2009 (£11.99 selected Co-operative stores) A year older, but […]
Wine Tasting Video: Merlot-based reds from Bulgaria & Bordeaux
Panamera Cuvée Napa 2007, Napa Valley, California (N/A in the UK) OK dark deep baked berry, but overdone smoky bacon oak, which lingers when the fruit has begun to fade, ripe but overblown and clumsy, with nothing in the way of freshness. C- First Drop ‘Mother’s Ruin’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Cabernet-based reds from Chile, California, Australia & ...
Piccini ‘Orange Label’ Chianti 2010, Tuscany (£6.99 Sainsbury’s) Fruity youngster that wouldn’t object to 20 minutes in the fridge before serving, with vibrant plum and cherry freshness, a touch of almond, some spice & herbs, and just the right amount of tannic bite to the finish. B(+) Umberto Cesari Yemula […]