Champagne Comtesse de Bellefleur NV, France (£29.99 Laithwaites) Rich with a slight nuttiness, but it looks like that richness seems to come from high dosage rather than extended aging or a good base wine. OK, but not much class. C(-) The Society’s Champagne Brut (Alfred Gratien), France (£29.50 The Wine Society) […]
Chardonnay
Bit of a mish-mash – but a nice mish-mash… Cantina Gadoro Beneventano Fiano 2013, Campania, Italy (£8.99 Waitrose) Reminds me of a white Bordeaux with a dollop of Viognier in there. Tinned pear, nutty, peachy exuberance and a touch of vanilla all reined in by a spine of herbal freshness. […]
Assorted Whites from Italy, Germany, Romania & France
Shaw + Smith M3 Chardonnay 2013, Adelaide Hills, Australia (£24.99 Majestic, Bentley’s Wine Merchants, CellarVie Wines, D Byrne & Co, Harrods, Leamington Wine Company, ND John Wine Merchants, Noel Young Wines, Ozwines.co.uk, Philglas & Swiggot, Provender Brown, Taylor’s Fine Wines, The Secret Cellar, Shills of Cockermouth, Slurp.co.uk, Winedirect.co.uk) Initially shy […]
Chardonnay from Australia, France, South Africa & California
Good pair of wines, perfect intro for those who aren’t familiar with Portuguese whites Tons de Duorum Douro White 2013, Portugal (£8.50 Tanners) Comes across like a Bordeaux Sauvignon that’s had a dollop of Gewürztraminer added, with its crisp tinned pear flavours pepped up with more exotic ginger and lychee […]
Two Portuguese whites
A wine that will divide opinions Champ Divin Pollux Côtes du Jura 2009, France (£17.20 Tanners) An assault on the senses, almost like a cross between plump Chardonnay and cider that has then been infused with lots of briny/yeasty character, along with nuances of herbs and fennel. Intriguing, certainly, but […]
Champ Divin Pollux Côtes du Jura 2009, France
Three different Chardonnays, three different countries, three different styles… Champ Divin Côtes du Jura Chardonnay 2013, France (£15.60 Tanners) Sets precise citrus fruit against muskier pineapple and hazelnut flavours, and adds is flor-like élevage elements for good measure. Lovely fresh, complex style, shames many similarly-priced Burgundies. S Torres Gran Viña Sol […]