Albanta Albariño 2013, Rías Baixas, Spain (£12 Asda) Showing the exotic side of Albariño, this has a rich, almost Viognier-like nut kernel character plus notes of peach, passionfruit and lychee, but just when it was in danger of going a bit wobbly, a stony citrus side chips in to provide […]
Grapes
Lovely wine to waft in the faces of those whose Spanish wine explorations begin and end with Rioja El Pajaro Rojo Bierzo 2013, Spain (£10.97 Asda) Needs a little time to shake of the slightly rubbery edge of reduction – or in English, slosh it round a jug, it’ll taste […]
El Pajaro Rojo Bierzo 2013, Spain
Good pair of wines, perfect intro for those who aren’t familiar with Portuguese whites Tons de Duorum Douro White 2013, Portugal (£8.50 Tanners) Comes across like a Bordeaux Sauvignon that’s had a dollop of Gewürztraminer added, with its crisp tinned pear flavours pepped up with more exotic ginger and lychee […]
Two Portuguese whites
Rieslings from opposite sides of the world – same grape, very different flavours, but I like them both… WMD ‘The Spectre’ Riesling 2013, Mosel, Germany (£30 Red Squirrel Wine) Has the classic sweet-and-sour minerally Mosel edge, with earthy citrus, plum and beeswax flavours given richness by a sprinkling of sweetness, […]
Rieslings from the Mosel, Germany, and Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
Final post from the week in which Australia Day falls, with the accent today on Pinot Noir. Louis Latour Maranges 2012, Burgundy, France (£23.54 Spirited Wines) There’s gentle raspberry fruit in here, but overall, it’s rather fey, with not enough flesh and flavour to back up the stalky notes, and […]
Pinot Noir from Australia, California & France
A fourth set of wines with an Aussie theme in celebration of the week in which Australia Day falls. Today, Cabernet. Ish… Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£12.99 Majestic, Morrisons, Globe Wines, Matthew Clark, nzhouseofwine.co.uk) Reasonable leafy fragrance, but there’s a slightly baked edge […]