Red Rhino Merlot/Shiraz 2011, Western Cape, South Africa (£6.49 The Drink Shop) Simple style, ripe, but a touch baked and volatile. C- Viña Casa Silva Silva Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon/Carmenère 2011, Colchagua, Chile (£7-8.95 Averys, Wine Rack) Combines the blackcurrant pastille of Cabernet with the more exotic herbal berry and […]
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Domaine d’Escausses ‘La Vigne de l’Oubli’ Gaillac Blanc Sec 2010 (£14.39 Caves de Pyrene) Rich but floral (honeysuckle), has oak but it’s a framework rather than a dominant force – it’s the juicy citrus and pear fruit that takes centre stage, along with a nutty, just-cooked cake mix character. S(-) […]
Wine Tasting Video: Wines from South West France – Gaillac, ...
Viñalba Reserva Chardonnay 2012, Mendoza, Argentina (£10.99 Majestic) Weighs in at 14.5% but it carries it well, with perky peach and plumper melon flavours pepped up by a slightly nutty note. Like a rounder Mâcon wine. B(-) Panamera Chardonnay 2011, California (N/A in the UK) Slightly stolid style, with not […]
Wine Tasting Video: Chardonnay from Argentina, California, Chile, South Africa, ...
Tinpot Hut Steam Wharf Road Syrah 2008, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (£14.99 Tesco) As with many Hawkes Bay Syrahs, this starts well with lovely aromas of clove, pepper and vanilla, but then you wonder whether there is enough fruit to prop up the aromas. Here, there is – blackberries, plums […]
Wine Tasting Video: Five Syrah-based wines from New Zealand, Chile, ...
Semeli Nassiakos 2011, Mantinia (£10.95 The Wine Society) Fresh Muscatty style with sappy citrus and grape flavours, quite full in body but with and a delicate, refreshing finish. B+ Lyrarakis Plyto 2011, Crete (N/A in the UK) Not too much aroma to start with. However, when you taste it, there […]
Wine Tasting Video: Six Greek White Wines
Chapel Down Rosé Brut NV (£22.99 Majestic, chapeldown.com, simplywinesdirect.com, slurp.co.uk) Reasonable citrus, apple and red berry notes, but there’s a smoky elderflower note that speaks of underripeness, and a slightly burnt edge too. C+ Chapel Down Three Graces 2008 (£24.99 chapeldown.com) This is more like it, lovely balanced style, combining […]