…in two rather different styles Villalobos Viñedo Silvestre Carignan 2012, Colchagua, Chile (~£18 Les Caves de Pyrene) I like the floral daintiness here, with a whiff of hops alongside the slightly smoky blackcurrant flavours, but there’s also something a little confected – do they still make Cola Spangles? – plus […]
Carignan
More wines like this please Priorat Maius Classic Priorat 2011, Catalunya, Spain (contact Ellis of Richmond) Captures the warm dustiness of Spain, with dried herbs and a touch of raisinned fruit making their presence felt. But there’s also a fresher side, with red berry, plum and damson flavours, some rose-hip […]
Maius Classic Priorat 2011
Two different French takes on Syrah Vidal-Fleury Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2012, Rhône, France (£16.95-£17.95 The Square Wine Company, Hailsham Cellars, Whole Foods Market) With its ripe berry (red and dark) character and hints of vanilla, there’s almost a New World feel here, but then the peppery finesse kicks in, along with […]
French Syrah from the Rhône and Languedoc
Encino Bierzo 2013, Spain (£13.99 Naked Wines) Starts off a bit stinky (something I’d say about rather a lot of Bierzo) but after a while and some judicious swirling, a juicy wild and spicy wine emerges, with soft berry and plum fruit pepped up with a hint of gingerbread. Good […]
Spanish reds from Bierzo, Tierra de Castilla & Montsant
A fourth set of wines with an Aussie theme in celebration of the week in which Australia Day falls. Today, Cabernet. Ish… Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£12.99 Majestic, Morrisons, Globe Wines, Matthew Clark, nzhouseofwine.co.uk) Reasonable leafy fragrance, but there’s a slightly baked edge […]
Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines from Australia, Chile, New Zealand & Argentina
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 […]