Hartenberg Merlot 2007, Stellenbosch (£17.50 Waitrose, D Byrne, Lea & Sandeman, Noel Young, The Vineyard, Cooden Cellars) There’s some juicy blackberry and blackcurrant flesh, but more dominant is the classic South African baked-on berries and woodsmoke, OK but lacks bounce and freshness. B- Engelbrecht Els Proprietor’s Blend 2007, Stellenbosch (£20.99-£21.99 […]
Syrah/Shiraz
La Différence Carignan 2009, IGP Pays des Côtes Catalanes (£5.99 Tesco) Yum! A wine at an everyday price that packs in the personality. Has the classic peppery violet freshness of Carignan, but there’s more juicy flesh here than normal, bold berry flesh with that fragrant grape must smell of a […]
Roussillon reds, including the best value wine I’ve had all ...
Crossroads Syrah 2008, Hawkes Bay (£13.50 Mentzendorff) Has a fragrant, peppery roasted aroma, along with fresh blackcurrant, plum and raspberry fruit, but could use a little more body to live up to that fragrance. B Vidal Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2008, Hawkes Bay (£10.99 Waitrose, Halifax Wine Co, Trina’s Wines, www.nzhouseofwine.co.uk) […]
Six New Zealand Syrahs
Advertising maven John Hegarty – sorry – SIR John Hegarty needs no introduction for those in his field of influence. And the good news is that his field of influence is spreading ever wider- he’s due to do a presentation to the Institute of Masters of Wine about how wine […]
Quite lovely Languedoc reds from an advertising legend
McHenry Hohnen Cabernet/Merlot 2008, Margaret River (£9.99 Majestic) Surprisingly forward, rounded wine, showing just the right amount of leafy mint and eucalyptus character alongside juicy plummy fruit, hints of leather and tobacco and smooth ripe tannins. B+ Averys Pioneer Barossa Shiraz 2007 – made by Yalumba (£8.99 Averys) A lovely […]
Three Australian Shirazes + a Margaret River blend
Part 2 of my look at a selection of wines from Naked Wines – Part 1 is here. (any topic you’d like to see me covering in forthcoming videos? Do leave a comment below) Monowai Pinot Noir 2006, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£10.99 www.nakedwines.com) The berry fruit’s a little stewed, […]