Almost a Californian take on Amarone… Edmeades Perli Vineyard Late Harvest Zinfandel 2006, Mendocino, California (£10.79 per half Hailsham Cellars, vintagemarque.com) This oozes decadent fruit flavours – kirsch, very ripe plums, sweet bramble jam – and there’s also a slightly medicinal herbal bite. A perfect winter warmer – and probably rather […]
Grapes
I detect something of the influence of Australian John Duval in this promising youngster. Viña Ventisquero Apalta Vineyard Grey Label Syrah 2011, Colchagua, Chile (£12.99 Slurp) There’s more polished warmth here than in many Chilean Syrahs. It’s rich but fresh, with a peppery sun-dried tomato tinge to the rich rounded […]
Viña Ventisquero Apalta Vineyard Grey Label Syrah 2011, Colchagua, Chile
This isn’t the latest release, but it’s still available and currently looking rather nice. Spier Creative Block 3 2009, Coastal Region, South Africa (£14.99 Hawkshead Wines) Rich, rounded & spicy, with a slightly rustic but rather attractive tomatoey edge to its fleshy plum and dark berry fruit, notes of herbs […]
Spier Creative Block 3 2009, Coastal Region, South Africa
Many young reds are all the better for a couple of hours breathing, but this was its best as soon as I’d opened it Errázuriz Estate Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Maipo, Chile (£9.99 Morrisons) Warm, plush and rounded style, with hearty berry and blackcurrant, the vanilla edge of oak, and […]
Errázuriz Estate Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, Maipo, Chile
You can almost dissect this wine and pick out the nuances of the different grape varieties… The Society’s Vin d’Alsace (Hugel) 2012, France (£8.50 The Wine Society) It’s the rich peachy nuttiness of Pinot Gris along with some of the exotic rose petal of Gewürztraminer that you can smell, but […]
The Society’s Vin d’Alsace 2012, France
Perfectly respectable wine at a keen price Morrisons Soave 2013, Veneto, Italy (£3.99 Morrisons) Doesn’t pretend to be anything great, but this simple, peachy white with its light nuttiness balanced by citrussy freshness is a decent everyday glugger. C+