Merlot


Nearly a very good wine but… Château Lacombe Noaillac Médoc 2009, Bordeaux, France (contact Le Verre Gourmand, Supertravel Ski) Young, vigorous style, plenty of gutsy dark fruit, and quite a strong roasted character, but with that savoury note of brett found in so much Bordeaux drying out the finish. With […]

Château Lacombe Noaillac Médoc 2009, Bordeaux, France


The label may be jokey, but the wine is seriously good – why buy £10 Bordeaux when you can have this? Paul Mas Striking French! Merlot Pays d’Oc 2012, France (£9.99 Majestic) Still on the youthful side, with toasty oak quite prominent, but the main attraction is the wealth of […]

Paul Mas Striking French! Merlot Pays d’Oc 2012


The first of a couple of 2013 rosés from Yves Grassa’s pioneering Domaine du Tariquet – watch for the Marselan some time next week (UPDATE – it’s now live HERE) Domaine du Tariquet Rosé de Pressée Côtes de Gascogne 2013, South West France (£9.40 Wineservice) Smells of sweet, just-cooked strawberries, […]

Domaine du Tariquet Rosé de Pressée Côtes de Gascogne 2013



Vigneti Trebbio 2010, IGT Toscana, Italy (£21.50 Butlers Wine Cellar, Imbibros, Duncan Murray Wines) Warm-hearted wine that has shed its youthful perkiness and is now entering early middle age. There’s a warm, dusty, almost Spanish feel to the ripe cherry and berry flavours, along with a hint of vanilla, but […]

Wine Tasting Video: Reds from the Douro & Tuscany


Cournon Lafleur Malbec Pays d’Oc 2012, France (£7.99 Majestic) Simple fresh young wine, plenty of dark, violet-scented berry flavour, and the earthiness of southern France, but I’m not sure whether it’s improved by the vanilla-tinged oakiness. B Viña Cobos Felino Malbec 2012, Argentina (£9.99-£13.99 Amps Fine Wines, Hennings Wine, Alliance […]

Wine Tasting Video: Malbec from France and Argentina


Château Patache d’Aux Médoc 2006 (£12.95 The Wine Society) Starts off showing savoury notes (brett), but as the wine comes out of its shell, the juicy blackcurrant and berry fruit emerges, along with a slightly salty tang. The fruit flavours are mellowing, but this is still chunky chewy wine. B+ […]

Wine Tasting Video: Red Bordeaux 2004-2006