Trivento Shiraz Reserve 2015, Mendoza, Argentina (£8.00 Tesco) I like the freshness and the red berry character, and I don’t mind the imprint of toasty vanilla-ish oak, but I’d have preferred a little less jamminess. OK, but not fine. B- Elephant Hill Syrah 2013, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (£18.90 Field […]
Grapes
Gozatu Txakolí de Álava 2014, Spain (£12.49 Laithwaites) Smells as if it’s going to be quite bracing, with pithy grapefruit and green apple prominent, but while those flavours are there when you taste it, there’s also richer, muskier guava and quince note, plus a touch of honey. More than a […]
Two Spanish Whites from Txakoli & Rueda
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
Château Tour de Mirambeau Bordeaux Blanc Réserve 2015, France (£10.95 Tanners) A bit of a sulphur whiff to begin with, but this blows off to reveal a zesty, zippy young wine with the crunchy greengage edge of Sauvignon balanced against the deeper limier tones of Semillon. B+ Château Roquefort Roquefortissime […]
Two Bordeaux Whites
Oenomancy Red Blend 2014, Paarl, South Africa (£12.99 Laithwaites) Warm and ripe with a dusty plummy character and a touch of chocolate wafer biscuit. There’s also a slight edge of volatility when you smell it, but while this blends in with the fruit flesh, the tannins are just a touch […]
Shiraz from South Africa and Australia
Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé Brut 2013, Cornwall, England (£28.95 Booths) Very appealing forward style, with juicy strawberry (fresh and lightly cooked) fruit, hints of cream and vanilla, and a brisk finish. S Wiston Estate Sparkling Rosé 2011, South Downs, England (£36.00 Booths) Paler than the Camel Valley, and not […]