A white and a red with a common thread, but from opposite sides of the world… Luis Cañas Rioja Blanco Viñas Viejas 2019, Spain(£11.99 Alliance Wine – use wine-searcher.com for stockists) Yalumba The Y Series Tempranillo 2019, South Australia(£9.49 Majestic)
Malvasia
Altano Douro White 2016, Portugal (£8.50-£9.99 Tanners, The Wine Society, winedirect.co.uk, Auriol Wines) Like a herb-strewn Sauvignon Blanc bolstered by some spicy, grapey notes and with hints of woodsmoke, vanilla and [pretentiousness alert] carbon steel, really interesting youngster. S- Esporão Reserva Branco 2015, Alentejo, Portugal (£13.99-£15.99 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Field […]
Two Portuguese Whites – Douro & Alentejo
It’s not as prominent as red port, but white port still merits attention. But should you drink it neat or with additions? Mixed messages from these two wines… PORT 1 Cálem White & Dry Port NV, Douro, Portugal (£12.90 Amathus Drinks) By itself: Quite weighty, with an alcoholic kick to the sweet […]
Do you like your white port blended or unblended?
All of these are just 12% alcohol, not what you expect from a warm region. And very tasty they are too… Sino da Romaneira White 2013, Douro, Portugal (~£18 contact Liberty Wines) Tangy, crunchy style, ripe pear is the thing you notice first (a bit like in Bordeaux Sauvignon), then […]
A trio of Douro Whites from Quinta da Romaneira
This grew on me… Izadi Rioja Blanco 2013, Spain (£14.99 Eton Vintners, New Forest Wines, Charlie Crown, Grape & Grind, The Cellar at Clevedon, Bentley’s Wine Merchants, Loki, Aitken Wines, Lockett Bros, The Fine Wine Company, Winedirect.co.uk, Thedrinkshop.com, Slurp.co.uk) A wine that’s as much about texture as flavour. There’s not […]
Izadi Rioja Blanco 2013, Spain
Golden Valley Grasevina 2011, Slavonija (£8.99 Marks & Spencer) Gewurz meets Riesling, floral and musky with lychee, grapefruit and lemon fruit, touches of herbs and ginger, and a zesty finish. B(+) Pilato Malvazija Istarska 2011, Istria (£12.49 Marks & Spencer) Majors on fleshy texture rather than out and out fruit […]