Château d’Esclans Garrus Côtes de Provence Rosé 2014, France (£70-£80 check Wine-Searcher for stockists) Delicate but persistent style, shows the slightly salty tang, along with touches of spice, smoky oak and vanilla to start with but these fade with time allowing the peachy but precise flavours tinged with herbs to […]
Grenache
Yalumba Old Bush Vine Grenache 2014, Barossa, Australia (£11-14 Morrisons, Co-op, Tesco, Flagship Wines) Pale but interesting, with light mint and herb notes pepping up sprightly red berry flavours, and with a savoury edge to its juicy, friendly finish. S(-) Wirra Wirra The Absconder Grenache 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia (~£40) […]
Two South Australian Grenaches
Barossa Valley Estate GSM 2014, Barossa Valley, Australia (£13.49 Wine Rack, Sainsbury’s) Juicy, gentle style, very supple – you could lightly chill this in summer – with clove and liquorice notes adding character to the gentle red berry fruit. Good honest glug, stays the right side of jammy. B+ McGuigan […]
Two Australian GSM Blends
Calmel & Joseph Les Terroirs Corbières 2014, Languedoc, France (£10-£11 Richard Granger, Martinez, Old Chapel Cellars, Ellie’s Cellar) A lovely combo of generous fruit flavours – Victoria plum , apple and blackberry pie, even pomegranate – with perfumed, herby notes and a cool fresh backbone of tannin and fresh acidity. […]
Two Languedoc reds from Calmel & Joseph
Boutinot ‘Les Cerisiers’ Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2015, France (£8.50 Hercules Wine Warehouse, Highbury Vintners) Juicy yet precise style, with rounded red berry, ripe red apple and rosehip flavours kept in check by crisp acidity. B+ Chapoutier ‘Belleruche’ Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2015, France (£12.50 Hanging Ditch, Wined Up Here) […]
Two Côtes du Rhône Rosés
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 […]