Triunfo Cariñena 2014, Cariñena, Spain (£8.49 Laithwaites) Ripe, sweet, juicy red that stays just about the right side of raisinny, with dark fruit flesh, a hint of brown sugar and a fresh, spicy finish – good pizza glug. B+
Carignan
Cape Heights Shiraz 2015, Western Cape, South Africa (£5.69-£6.95 Rannoch Scott, D&D Wine, Worth Brothers, Connollys) Dark earthy chocolate, gentle generous berry and plum, very much in that soft warm earthy South African feel, with a bit of the Cape bake and a savoury plum/tomato edge. Maybe the finish is […]
Spicy reds from Australia, France, South Africa & Spain
After yesterday’s white duo, here are five red gems from southern France – does anywhere in the world offer better value? Domaine Bertrand-Bergé Fitou ‘Origines’ 2013, Languedoc, France (£7.95 The Wine Society) Gentle herby ripe berry and plum, tangy and lifted flavours, very easy to drink, but with some earthy […]
Five delicious Southern French reds
Really enjoyed these two Mas Lavail Terre d’Ardoise Carignan Blanc Vieilles Vignes Côtes Catalanes* 2014, Languedoc, France (£11.99 Majestic) Yes, White Carignan. Gentle, relaxed style, with lightly floral, herby overtones to the pear and quince flavours and a sappy salty bite on the finish, like Sauvignon without the shriek. S- […]
A couple of delicious whites from southern France
A friend who used to work for a well-known UK High Street chain said that before its wine buyers were able to put a name to brettanomyces, they used to say to potential suppliers that they weren’t interested in reds with ‘that Rhône character.’ Both of these could do with […]
Two southern Rhône reds
Nice quartet of wines, you may find some of them soon in Oddbins & Cambridge Wine Merchants Domaine Le Clos du Serres ‘Le Clos’ Terrasses du Larzac 2013, Languedoc, France (N/A in the UK) Juicy and refreshing style, a bit dumb to start with but then opens up to show […]