Wine Tasting


Zephyr Riesling 2011, Marlborough (£13.49 The Bon Vivant’s Companion) Quite soft and surprisingly mature for 2011, has ripe, slightly bruised apple flavour, along with a dusting of icing sugar, I like the clean mineral streak on the finish, but this feels old before its time. B Craggy Range Te Muna […]

Wine Tasting Video: Eight New Zealand Rieslings


Duette Chardonnay 2011, Casablanca (£10.99 Highbury Vintners) Quite heady wine with rich pineapple chunk flavour and a dollop oak in there too. Good but a tad simple, with just slightly too much of an old-fashioned oily feel. B Lurton Hacienda Araucano Chardonnay Reserva 2011, Colchagua (£9.95 Tanners) Not the most […]

Wine Tasting Video: Chilean Chardonnay


Miguel Torres Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2012, Curicó, Chile (£7.99 Bablake Wines, Big Wines, Celtic Wines, Cotswold Vintners, Lewis and Cooper, Partridges, Portland Wines) Crisp, restrained but confident style, with grassy lemon, grapefruit and rhubarb flavours set against pithy river pebble minerality. S- The Society’s New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc 2012, […]

Wine Tasting Video: Sauvignon Blanc from Chile & New Zealand



Champagne Jacquart Brut Mosaïque NV (£25 Majestic, Great Western Wine) An attractive mix of richness and crispness, with tangy apple (fresh and cooked) flavours combining with toasty maturity. S- Champagne Canard-Duchêne Authentic Green NV (£30-£35 Oddbins) Feels rather heavy-footed, with sulphury overtones dampening the flavours. Not a success. C(-) Champagne […]

Wine Tasting Video: Three Non-Vintage Champagnes


Terra Nostra Nielluccio Corse Rouge 2011, Corsica, France (£7.25 The Wine Society) The bruised cherry edge and slightly tart, appley acidity seem more Italian than French, good fresh earthy style, but needs some fat and tomato to fight against. B+ Poggio del Sasso Sangiovese di Toscana 2011, Italy (£6.95 The […]

Wine Tasting Video: Sangiovese from Tuscany & Corsica


Adega de Monção Vinho Verde 2011 (£5.95 The Wine Society) Young and briny, with an Alka Seltzer/sherbetty spritz, and tangy pear and ripe red apple flesh. B+ Quinta da Romaneira Douro White 2011 (£16.99 Corks Out, Wine Utopia, Winearray, The Fine Wine Company, Exel Wines, The Wine Reserve, Liberty Wines) […]

Wine Tasting Video: Portuguese White, Rosé & Port