A consistent performer for forty years, and still going strong… Wirra Wirra Church Block 2012, McLaren Vale, Australia (£13.49 Waitrose, Ocado, Tesco, TheDrinkShop.com) Ripe fleshy cassis tinged with notes of smoky, earthy spice, some classic Aussie mint/eucalyptus notes, and a leathery note to the finish that will get stronger as […]
Syrah/Shiraz
A South African take on the Shiraz/Cab blend – and rather good it is too… Plaisir de Merle Petit Plaisir 2011, Western Cape, South Africa (£8.99 Marks & Spencer) Bounds out of the glass with spicy dark plummy blackcurrant flavours and a note of chocolate. There’s a little bit of […]
Plaisir de Merle Petit Plaisir 2011, Western Cape, South Africa
Don’t buy cheap Châteauneuf, this is far, far better Domaine La Haute Marone ‘Le Torrent du Trignon’ Sablet Côtes du Rhône Villages 2012, France (£11.99 D Byrne, The Vineyard, Highbury Vintners, Bacchanalia) There are lots of Rhône reds with similar warm plummy generosity and earthy spice, but this stands out […]
Domaine La Haute Marone ‘Le Torrent du Trignon’ Sablet Côtes ...
Nearly very good, but suffers from the same problem as many Priorats… Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Priorat 2011, Spain (£11 Sainsbury’s) I like the plump plummy berry notes here, and there’s also a fragrant herb-scented character breezing through the wine. However, some of the fruit seems to have been picked a […]
Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference Priorat 2011, Spain
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 […]