Due in Lidl stores Nov 24th 2016 Sassi del Mare Beneventano Falanghina 2015, Campania, Italy (£7.99 Lidl) Lovely floral-tinged nectarine, ripe orange and fennel flavours, and a light almondy note, but just as impressive are the lightly gritty texture – gritty as in the texture of a just-ripe pear – […]
Merlot
Kaiken Terroir Series Cabernet Sauvignon/Malbec/Petit Verdot 2014, Mendoza, Argentina (£9.99 Wholefoods, Fenwicks, Cornelius Beer & Wine) Rich, juicy and ripe, with dark plummy baked berry flavours and notes of, vanilla and marzipan. There’s also a smoky note, maybe from the Petit Verdot, that stays just about the right side of […]
Two Cabernet Sauvignon-based blends from Argentina
Marques de Casa Concha Merlot 2012, Peumo (Rapel), Chile (~£12 for current vintage) Impressive style, balancing plummy berry richness with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins, plus just the right amount of toasty oak and notes of mint and chocolate to add further layers. Very tasty now, but still bags of […]
Two Marques de Casa Concha Chilean reds
After yesterday’s white duo, here are five red gems from southern France – does anywhere in the world offer better value? Domaine Bertrand-Bergé Fitou ‘Origines’ 2013, Languedoc, France (£7.95 The Wine Society) Gentle herby ripe berry and plum, tangy and lifted flavours, very easy to drink, but with some earthy […]
Five delicious Southern French reds
If only all sub-£10 Bordeaux was as good as this… Château Moulin des Richards Côtes de Bourg Cuvée Prestige 2011, Bordeaux, France (£8.45 From Vineyards Direct) Showing some plum jam maturity, but still very much alive, with rich, curranty berry and plum flavours, and an honest earthy finish. Yes, there’s […]
Château Moulin des Richards Côtes de Bourg Cuvée Prestige 2011
Thought long and hard before giving these low silver medals rather than high bronzes, but since they deliver so much pleasure and I’m in a good mood… Campriano Chianti Colli Senesi 2013, Tuscany, Italy (£11.45/£10.17 by the case Haynes Hanson & Clark) A friendly, juicy gush of dark cherry, red berry […]