Grapes


Bouchard Père & Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay La Vignée 2014, Burgundy, France (£13 Penistone Wine Cellars, Just in Cases, Hailsham Cellars, Sandhams Wine Merchant, Wine Direct, Amazon) A bit shy initially but then slinks out of the glass with bracing lemony edge and ripe green apple crispness balanced by an almost […]

Chardonnays from Burgundy and Australia


Seresin Estate Leah Pinot Noir 2014, Marlborough, New Zealand (£21.99 The NZ Cellar, The Wine Society, Wholefoods, Davy’s Wine Merchants, New Zealand House of Wine, Noble Green, Handford Wines, Hay Wines, Cheers Wine Merchants) Lovely lithe, relaxed and confident wine, wonderfully aromatic with red berry & cherry fruit (fresh and […]

Two Pinot Noirs from New Zealand & California


Fabre Montmayou Reservado Cabernet Franc 2015, Mendoza, Argentina (£15.99 Laithwaites) I don’t mind the cocoa-dusted dark berry and blackcurrant flavours and light leafy character, but it’s a little too controlled for my liking, with not enough of the Cab Franc fragrance. I thought it might open up with time but […]

Two Argentinean Cabernets



Miguel Torres Santa Digna Unoaked Chardonnay 2016, Valle Central, Chile (£10.49 Grape to Glass Wine Co, Discover Wine, Portland Wine Company, Roberts and Speight, Polygon Wines, Hailsham Cellars) Quite rich, almost oily-textured, with juicy peach and tinned fruit cocktail syrup flavours and a nutty edge to the finish. No shortage […]

Chardonnays from California & Chile


April 17th is Malbec World Day (yes, that’s what the organisers call it, no idea why, imagine if we had Book World Day). So to get the party started, a varietal Malbec, plus a Malbec-heavy blend. Doña Paula ‘Paula’ Malbec 2017, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (£9.99 Spirited Wines, strictlywine.co.uk) […]

In celebration of Malbec World Day 2018…


Two Kiwis to being with Seresin Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand (£17.99 The NZ Cellar, Wholefoods, Davy’s Wine Merchants, House of New Zealand Wines, Noble Green, Bon Coeur, Handford Wines, Hay Wines, Cheers Wine Merchants) 2015 Almost more Loire-like than New Zealand in style with quite precise herby stony […]

An assortment of white wines