…even though neither of them is labelled St Chinian. And they say Domaine de Viranel rather than Château Viranel on the label… Domaine de Viranel Trilogie Cessenon Rouge 2014, Languedoc, France (£10.05 Bancroft Wines, Cambridge Wine Merchants) Bouncy young red, with jolly, juicy blackberry, plum and blackcurrant flavours tinged with […]
Syrah/Shiraz
An opinion divider… Apothic Red Winemaker’s Blend 2012, California (£9.99 widely available) Rich, juicy and round, sweet but not excessively so, with a slightly confected blackberry jam/blackcurrant pastille character alongside the creamy vanilla, coffee and chocolate cherry liqueur flavours. C+ (tried this later that evening with a local wine group […]
Apothic Red Winemaker’s Blend 2012, California
Wood have been better if… McGuigan Reserve Shiraz 2012, South Australia (£9.99 Sainsbury’s, Morrisons) Starts off well with aromas of berry fruit, leather and liquorice, but there’s also a whiff of smoky bacon-tinged oak. And then when you come to taste it, that oak and its drying tannins is just […]
McGuigan Reserve Shiraz 2012, South Australia
Two different French takes on Syrah Vidal-Fleury Crozes-Hermitage Rouge 2012, Rhône, France (£16.95-£17.95 The Square Wine Company, Hailsham Cellars, Whole Foods Market) With its ripe berry (red and dark) character and hints of vanilla, there’s almost a New World feel here, but then the peppery finesse kicks in, along with […]
French Syrah from the Rhône and Languedoc
Groszer Wein Blaufränkisch 2012, Südburgenland, Austria (£15.90 per litre Newcomer Wines) Lots of juicy ripe plummy berry and blackcurrant here, with earthy, meaty notes adding a savoury wildness, and herbs coming through in the finish. Tasty and slightly naughty. S(-) Groszer Wein Blaufränkisch ‘Vom Riegl’ 2012, Südburgenland, Austria (£22.90 per […]
Three Blaufränkisch-based reds from Groszer Wein in Südburgenland, Austria
Encino Bierzo 2013, Spain (£13.99 Naked Wines) Starts off a bit stinky (something I’d say about rather a lot of Bierzo) but after a while and some judicious swirling, a juicy wild and spicy wine emerges, with soft berry and plum fruit pepped up with a hint of gingerbread. Good […]