Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (£11.99 Majestic, Tesco, Rhythm & Booze) Has a reasonable gooseberry pie flavour, but let down by an overripe tinned pea and asparagus character, and a finish that is too sweet. Crowd pleaser but not subtle. B- Blind River Sauvignon Blanc 2010 (£13.99 Oddbins) […]
Wine Tasting
Ramos Pinto Duas Quintas Douro Red 2008 (£10.99 Whole Foods Market, Roberson, Partridges, Philglas & Swiggot, Planet of the Grapes, Wines of the World) Young boisterous wine, awash with juicy fruit – black fruits on the nose, but strawberries and redcurrants in the mouth – pepped up with notes of […]
Wine Tasting Video: Four Douro reds
Château Le Barrail Médoc 2009 (£7.11 Tesco) Firm, fruity young wine, with plenty of blackcurrant and damson favour, and a slightly briny edge, but structure of smoky oak and hard tannins just a bit OTT. B(-) Château Prieuré Les Tours Graves 2006 (£9.99 Majestic) More of that savoury/briny character, benefiting […]
Wine Tasting Video: Five Left Bank Bordeaux reds
Champagne Canard-Duchêne Charles VII Brut NV (£30 Majestic) Quite a mature style, with crystallised pineapple and nut brittle flavours, rich but simple, and ever-so-slightly cheesy, bit of a crowd pleaser. B Champagne Canard Duchêne Vintage 2004 (£25-£30 Majestic, Lockett Brothers) A more forward, zesty style than the Charles VII, cleaner […]
Wine Tasting Video: Champagne Assortment, including a lovely demi-sec
Champagne Thiénot Brut NV (from £25 Bedales, Constantine Stores, Corks Out , Cornelius Wines, Eagle Wines, Evington Wines, Four Walls Wines, L’Eau a Bouche, Lockett Bros, Olde World Wines, Richard Granger, The Veritable Wine Co, The Wine Library, Thorold Wines, Upton-Upon-Severn Wines, Weavers of Nottingham, Wine Schoppen) Starts off with […]
Wine Tasting Video: Five NV Champagnes
The world’s finest Rosé? Can’t think of anything better… Château d’Esclans ‘Whispering Angel’ Côtes de Provence Rosé 2009 (£13.49 Bibendum, Philglas & Swiggot, Whole Foods) Young and quite vigorous, with some poke and punch to the apple, blackberry and blackcurrant flavours, plus a sandy earthy side, rich but still fresh. […]