Wind Gap Syrah 2008, Sonoma County, California (£27.72 Vineyard Cellars) Combines a smoky bacon-fat note with gentle berry and plum fruit, wonderful herby freshness and streak of minerality. Would be hard pushed to spot this as a Californian red. S(+) Charles Smith Boom Boom! Syrah 2010, Columbia Valley, Washington State […]
Washington State
Washington Hills Merlot 2008, Columbia Valley (£6.49 The Co-op) Overripe with rather hard baked blackberry character, concentrated but overdone, should have been picked earlier and made with less force. C(-) Powers Merlot 2006, Columbia Valley (£10.99 – £11.49 Handford Wines, Wines of the World, Bottle Apostle, Hennings Wines, Rodney Densem, […]
Washington State reds with a nod to Bordeaux
O Fournier Urban Uco Torrontes 2009, Cafayate, Salta, Argentina (£7.50 Bowes Wines) Clean, fresh, zippy, the grapey edge of Muscat meets the more perfumed hand-cream and lychee edge of Gewürztraminer, not hugely complex but good perfumed quaffer. B(+) Snoqualmie Naked Riesling 2008, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines) […]
Rieslings from Germany & Washington State plus a tasty Torrontes
Snoqualmie Naked Merlot 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines) Starts with a pleasant leafy edge, a touch of tobacco and reasonable plummy fruit, but then goes rather dilute, with clunky oak coming through. C Snoqualmie Naked Cabernet Sauvignon 2007, Columbia Valley, Washington State, USA (~£11.50 Stratfords Wines) […]
Four Bordeaux-inspired reds from Chile & Washington State
Montes Sauvignon Blanc 2009, Curicó, Chile (£6.50 www.qpwines.com) Clean and fresh, slight lime and lemon jelly, zippy and zesty, with a touch of river pebble, a simple but honest style. C+ Montes Limited Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2008, Leyda, Chile (£9.40 www.qpwines.com) A mixture of lushness, warmer and rounder, a touch […]