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 […]
Spain
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
Most Grenache/Garnacha is red, but it also comes in pink-skinned (Grenache Gris in France, Garnacha Roja or Garnacha Dorada in Spain) and white (Blanc/Blanca) guises. Viñas del Vero Garnacha Blanca La Miranda de Secastilla 2012, Somontano, Spain (£8.95 Saddleworth Wine Vault, Gonzalez Byass UK) Rich, fleshy and quite voluptuous, with […]
Viñas del Vero Garnacha Blanca La Miranda de Secastilla 2012, ...
Made for Tesco by Baron de Ley, this 100% Tempranillo Rioja is pretty decent grog Viña Mara Rioja Reserva 2008, Spain (£9.49 Tesco) Calm, mellow and relaxed Rioja, with classic velvety vanilla sheen and coconutty allure adding extra layers to the gentle red berry and orange peel flavours. Mature, but still […]
Viña Mara Rioja Reserva 2008, Spain
Some Priorat can be a bit bloated and plodding: not this one… Torres Salmos Priorat 2011, Spain (£18.99 Waitrose, vintagemarque.com) A lovely combination of exuberance and freshness, packed with plush berry, plum and damson, with an ever-so-slightly rustic raisinny note too, but there’s also an earthy coolness, presumably a product […]