A year apart, a continent apart, a league apart? Plaisir de Merle Cabernet Sauvignon 2009, Paarl, South Africa (£14.99 SA Wines Online) I like the restrained plum, berry and blackcurrant flavours, and I don’t mind the slight hint of tomato-like volatility and dark chocolate character. However, there’s a slightly dank […]
Cabernet Sauvignon
Including possibly the first wine video to reference man-breasts… Plaimont Producteurs Les Vignes Retrouvées Saint Mont Rouge 2010, South West France (£8.50 The Wine Society) Young and feisty, but with a stern brow, this has slightly baked berry and blackcurrant flavours plus a touch of tomato underpinned by an iron-like […]
A pair of hearty reds from South West France
Aquitania is the Maipo winery established in 1990 by Bordeaux big-wigs Paul Pontallier (Château Margaux) and Bruno Prats (ex- Château Cos d’Estournel), along with Chilean winemaker Felipe de Solminihac. The first wines were released under the Paul Bruno label, but they’re now called Aquitania. Since 2002, Ghislain de Montgolfier of […]
Two reds from Aquitania in Chile’s Maipo Valley
Bit of a backlog in the video department at the moment, let’s see if we can rectify that with this collection of three sub-£10 reds from southern France Coin des Coquins Mourvèdre/Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Pays d’Oc, France (£7.99-£8.99 Old School Wines, The Salisbury Wine Store) Reasonable fruit and freshness, but […]
Three Pays d’Oc Reds
Château des Sarrins Côtes de Provence Rosé 2013, France (£15.99 Bibendum, TheDrinkShop.com) A previous bottle of this was extremely awkward and pongy, like it was having a really bad hair day (see here). This one – tasted just a fortnight later – was better. There’s still a light sulphury whiff […]
Three Rosés from Provence, Chile & Portugal
As of course you know, Caracal is another name for the desert lynx… Neethlingshof The Caracal 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£14.99 Majestic) Intense and fruity, with slightly stewed dark berry and blackcurrant flesh lifted by floral aromas and a herbal note. Some toasty/cedary oaky influence, but it’s in balance with […]