Not sure whether this has quite nailed the leaner style… Wakefield St Andrew’s Chardonnay 2013, Clare Valley, Australia (£22 Denby Dale Wines, Oz Wines, Fareham Wine Cellar) Quite tight and closed to start with, but slowly uncurls to show rich cashew and melon set against more precise citrus freshness, with […]
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Liked this more than I expected to – and would say the same about The Ned Pinot Grigio too The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand (£10.99 Majestic) Smells as if it’s going to be on the fleshy side, but while there is quite exotic and punchy passionfruit, rhubarb […]
The Ned Sauvignon Blanc 2013, Marlborough, New Zealand
Château des Sarrins Côtes de Provence Rosé 2013, France (£15.99 Bibendum, TheDrinkShop.com) A previous bottle of this was extremely awkward and pongy, like it was having a really bad hair day (see here). This one – tasted just a fortnight later – was better. There’s still a light sulphury whiff […]
Three Rosés from Provence, Chile & Portugal
Bit of a bargain… Tagus Creek Shiraz/Trincadeira 2012, Alentejo, Portugal (£4.50 Asda Direct) I think of Trincadeira as being a bit like Carignan, and here, it gives similar peppery violet and blackcurrant notes to the sweet berry-roundness of Shiraz, with a note of vanilla making its presence felt too. B+
Tagus Creek Shiraz/Trincadeira 2012, Alentejo, Portugal
As of course you know, Caracal is another name for the desert lynx… Neethlingshof The Caracal 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£14.99 Majestic) Intense and fruity, with slightly stewed dark berry and blackcurrant flesh lifted by floral aromas and a herbal note. Some toasty/cedary oaky influence, but it’s in balance with […]
Neethlingshof The Caracal 2011, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Sturdy fare from a country whose wines we rarely see… Stobi Vranec Classic 2011, Tikves, Macedonia (£10-11 Cornelius Wines, Cork & Cask, Wine Rack, House of Townend, Turton Wines, North Coast Wine Co) Deep in colour, and stuffed with dark fleshy berry and kirsch flavours. Also packs in notes of […]