Taste The Difference Bordeaux Rosé 2016, France (£7 Sainsbury’s) Not the most complex of wines, but the juicy red berry flavours and crisp, lightly tangy finish are quite appealing. B- Château d’Esclans Whispering Angel Côtes de Provence Rosé 2016, France (~£17.50 see wine-searcher for stockists) Subtle, slinky pink, slightly peachy […]
Merlot
Romaeus Rosso 2014, Lazio, Italy (£10.99 Laithwaites) There’s a light floral perfume and gentle dark fruit, but there’s also an OTT vanilla character which gives an impression of sweetness and overall it’s just too simple for class. C Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo d’Alba 2014, Piedmont, Italy (£18.49 Italian Continental Stores, […]
Three Italian Reds
The Society’s Exhibition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (Frog’s Leap), California (£18 The Wine Society) On the subtle side for Napa, but still with no shortage of blackberry and blackcurrant flavours, with some vanilla and spice to back it up. Tasty now, but there’s freshness and ripe tannin here, so […]
A trio of Cabernet Sauvignon-influenced reds
…both good adverts for the region Château d’Auzanet Cuvée des Abeilles Bordeaux 2015, France (£7.99 The Co-op) Refreshing, juicy almost crisp young claret, there is some tannin and a toasty edge to add backbone, but the main event is the sappy, earthy blackcurrant plum flavour. Not huge concentration, but the […]
Two Bordeaux reds…
Paumanok Prestige Cuvée 2012, North Fork of Long Island, New York State, USA (£18.49 Laithwaites) This smells like 10-year-old, mid-price red Bordeaux, with its gentle, slightly leafy blackcurrant and berry flavours. It tastes a bit younger, with a sweet, almost cola-like edge to the fruit, a lightly briny note, and […]
Paumanok Prestige Cuvée 2012, North Fork of Long Island, New ...
Castèllo Solicchìata 2011, Sicilia, Italy (£22 Laithwaites) Slightly rustic volatile aroma initially but this diminishes with time to show Morello cherry and blackcurrant flavours pepped up with hints of tar and leafy tobacco. Fresh finish, but there’s a slightly dry, raisinny feel, as if some of the grape were a […]