Errázuriz Estate Merlot 2010, Aconcagua, Chile (£8.99 Tesco, Sainsbury’s Asda, Majestic, Wine Rack, Taurus Wines, Booths, Matthew Clark, wine-studio.co.uk) Reasonable strawberry and blackberry with a touch of chocolate, but some of the fruit verges on the baked and raisinny, and it lacks freshness. C(+) Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon […]
Merlot
El Patito Feo Graciano Roble 2009, Navarra, Spain (£8.99 Virgin Wines) Slightly boisterous youngster at the present, but calms down to show pure, plush blueberry and blackberry flesh, a fresher raspberry edge, notes of clove and new leather, and a warm dusty finish. B+ Tesco Finest* Viña Mara Rioja Reserva, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Spanish reds from Rioja, Navarra & Penedes
Casillero del Diablo Merlot 2010, Rapel, Chile (£6-£8 widely available) Quite a flashy, fleshy style, with rich ripe blackcurrant and blackberry plus touches of vanilla, but there’s also a more restrained leafy, cedary edge to add some freshness. B+ Groote Post Merlot 2010, Darling, South Africa (£11-13 Francis Fine Wines, […]
Wine Tasting Video: Merlot & Malbec from the southern hemisphere
Prestige de Calvet Bordeaux Rouge Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 (£10-50-£11 Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons) Quite simple, but has a friendly roundness, with juicy crunchy plum, blackcurrant and blueberry flesh and a touch of toffee. But a daft price. C+ Château Brassac Bordeaux Supérieur 2009 (£11.99 selected Co-operative stores) A year older, but […]
Wine Tasting Video: Merlot-based reds from Bulgaria & Bordeaux
Piccini ‘Orange Label’ Chianti 2010, Tuscany (£6.99 Sainsbury’s) Fruity youngster that wouldn’t object to 20 minutes in the fridge before serving, with vibrant plum and cherry freshness, a touch of almond, some spice & herbs, and just the right amount of tannic bite to the finish. B(+) Umberto Cesari Yemula […]
Wine Tasting Video: Sangiovese from Tuscany & Emilia Romagna
Château Léoube Rosé de Léoube Côtes de Provence 2010, France (£12-50-£14.95 Daylesford Organic, Corney & Barrow, Haynes Hanson & Clark, rose-wine.com, James Nicholson Wine) Very pale, but packed with character, has fresh peach and sappy citrus flavours with a touch of raspberry, light in body, but with warmth and intensity. […]