Pasión de Bobal 2009, Utiel-Requeña (£11.99 Virgin Wines) Reasonable fruit, juicy plum, cherry and dark berry just heading towards jammy, and with notes of chocolate and desiccated coconut, rounded, warm and spicy, but too simple. B- Torres Celeste Crianza 2008, Ribera del Duero (£12.49 Ann et Vin, Auriol Wines, Cambridge […]
Syrah/Shiraz
Nicolas Perrin Syrah Vin de France 2010 (£13.99 Wine Rack) Vibrant, juicy oak-free Syrah, bouncy and fragrant, with a savoury edge to the smoky berry fruit, delicious and refreshing red wine. S(-) Château d’Anglès La Clape Rouge Classique 2008, Languedoc, France (£11.99 Wine Rack) On the mellow side, with the […]
Wine Tasting Video: Syrah/Shiraz from France, Australia & South Africa
Bordière Nord Syrah/Grenache IGP Pays d’Oc 2010, France (£6.99 Majestic) Reasonable sweet plummy fruit with some darker berry flesh and a touch of spice, but there’s also a rubbery (reduction) character that spoils the party. C+ Paul Mas Estate Carignan Pays de l‘Hérault 2010, Languedoc (£8.99 Majestic) Another one with […]
Wine Tasting Video: Six Languedoc reds
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 2008, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£13.99 Oddbins, Wine Rack, nzhouseofwine.co.uk) Fragrant and elegant to start with, showing touches of pepper (white & black), berry and plum, but then a slightly thoddy vanilla edge intrudes, and there’s just this feeling of incompleteness, as if it would […]
Wine Tasting Video: Shiraz from Australia, New Zealand & Argentina ...
Codorníu Reina Maria Cristina Cava Blanc de Noirs 2008 (£14.99 Majestic) Made mostly from Pinot Noir, this manages to pack in bumptious fruit flavours – apple, citrus, raspberry – but retain the Cava freshness and earthiness. Rich (although not too rich) rather than elegant, but a darned good drink. S- […]
Wine Tasting Video: Cava Part 2 – Red, White & ...
Alain Grignon Cuvée Chasseur 2010, Vin de France (£4.29 Waitrose) Smells decent, like a slightly leafy Bordeaux propped up with a draught of the warm south, but while the blackcurrant and blackberry flavours are reasonable, it would be far better without that touch of sweetness. C+ Parducci Zinfandel 2009, Mendocino […]