Not as good as the Oloroso (also made by Barbadillo), but still a decent amount of flavour for the price Tesco Finest Special Reserve Amontillado Sherry NV, Spain (£6/50cl Tesco) Has all the classic Christmas cake character – walnut, caramel, fig, raisin, clove, cinnamon and so on – along with […]
Grapes
Very impressed by this wine from Moët’s Argentine stable – this wine is labelled ‘Reserva’ rather than ‘Selection’ in non-EU countries Terrazas de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon Selection 2010, Mendoza, Argentina (£14.95 Saddleworth Wine Vault) Still has plenty of ripe juicy fruit – blackcurrants and berries especially – but there’s […]
Terrazas de los Andes Cabernet Sauvignon Selection 2010, Mendoza, Argentina
Consistently reliable Albariño from Bodegas Martin Codax. Some stores now have the 2013 I think, but the 2012 still looks pretty good Pazo Torrequintans Rías Baixas Albariño 2012, Spain (£7.49 Tesco) Showing a little of the richness that comes with bottle age, but this is still fresh and citrussy, with […]
Pazo Torrequintans Rías Baixas Albariño 2012, Spain
Gutsy red from a winery that has benefited from the consultancy expertise of both Michel Rolland and Sam Harrop Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Rioja Crianza 2010, Spain (£7.95 The Wine Society) Still young and feisty, this has a wealth of vanilla-tinged briar and strawberry (fresh and tinned) flavour set in a […]
Bodegas Palacio Glorioso Rioja Crianza 2010, Spain
Is four years old too old for Argentine Chardonnay? Domaine Jean Bousquet Chardonnay 2010, Tupungato, Mendoza, Argentina (£7.95 Saddleworth Wine Vault) Quite an old-fashioned buttery style (or is this the age showing through?), slightly oily tinned peach flavours with a dollop of cream and a sprinkling of nuts, still some […]
Domaine Jean Bousquet Chardonnay 2010, Mendoza, Argentina
A wine that shames several rather higher-priced Malbecs Trivento Malbec Reserve 2013, Mendoza, Argentina (£8.99 Tesco) Vibrant young wine, initially a bit shy, with the spicy vanilla-scented oak taking centre stage, but with time, the deep dark fruit flavours – blackcurrant, black cherry, damson, and blackberry – come more to […]