Mourvedre

Private Beach Rosé 2017, Vin de France (£9.99 Laithwaites) Some vague peach and raspberry flavours here but not much else, OK and I’d finish a glass, but overall a bit meh. C- Château Terrebonne Côtes de Provence Rosé 2017, France (£12.99 Laithwaites) Manages to be fresher and crisper than the […]

Four Rosés from France & Italy

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Sendiäna Grand Vin 2014, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon (N/A in the UK) There’s an exotic spicy note alongside the rich, rounded, plummy berry character, but there’s also a smoky/charred vanilla edge plus a touch of raw tannin – overtoasting of not the very best oak maybe? Good in parts… B-

Sendiäna Grand Vin 2014, Bekaa Valley, Lebanon

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Guigal Gigondas 2011, Rhône, France (£24.26 Chordale Wine Merchants, Bubbles And Wine Ltd, Roberts and Speight Ltd, Portland Wine Company, Fenwick Ltd, R Campbell & Sons Ltd, Clifton Cellars, Hailsham Cellars, Liquorice) Dumb initially, this opens up over the course of a couple of hours to reveal its core of […]

Assorted reds from France, South Africa & Portugal

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Château d’Esclans Garrus Côtes de Provence Rosé 2014, France (£70-£80 check Wine-Searcher for stockists) Delicate but persistent style, shows the slightly salty tang, along with touches of spice, smoky oak and vanilla to start with but these fade with time allowing the peachy but precise flavours tinged with herbs to […]

A selection of wines from Château d’Esclans in Provence

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Barossa Valley Estate GSM 2014, Barossa Valley, Australia (£13.49 Wine Rack, Sainsbury’s) Juicy, gentle style, very supple – you could lightly chill this in summer – with clove and liquorice notes adding character to the gentle red berry fruit. Good honest glug, stays the right side of jammy. B+ McGuigan […]

Two Australian GSM Blends

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