Albanta Albariño 2013, Rías Baixas, Spain (£12 Asda) Showing the exotic side of Albariño, this has a rich, almost Viognier-like nut kernel character plus notes of peach, passionfruit and lychee, but just when it was in danger of going a bit wobbly, a stony citrus side chips in to provide […]
Wine Education
Lovely wine to waft in the faces of those whose Spanish wine explorations begin and end with Rioja El Pajaro Rojo Bierzo 2013, Spain (£10.97 Asda) Needs a little time to shake of the slightly rubbery edge of reduction – or in English, slosh it round a jug, it’ll taste […]
El Pajaro Rojo Bierzo 2013, Spain
Good pair of wines, perfect intro for those who aren’t familiar with Portuguese whites Tons de Duorum Douro White 2013, Portugal (£8.50 Tanners) Comes across like a Bordeaux Sauvignon that’s had a dollop of Gewürztraminer added, with its crisp tinned pear flavours pepped up with more exotic ginger and lychee […]
Two Portuguese whites
A couple of Piedmont reds made with less-than-familiar grapes Tenuta La Pergola Freisa d’Asti 2012, Piedmont, Italy (£12.99 Red Squirrel Wine) Lovely vanilla-tinged strawberry (fresh and just-cooked) and summer pudding flavours backed up by a note of iron and a whack of earthy tannin. Reminds me of Portugal’s Baga, and definitely […]
Two Reds from Piedmont
Rieslings from opposite sides of the world – same grape, very different flavours, but I like them both… WMD ‘The Spectre’ Riesling 2013, Mosel, Germany (£30 Red Squirrel Wine) Has the classic sweet-and-sour minerally Mosel edge, with earthy citrus, plum and beeswax flavours given richness by a sprinkling of sweetness, […]
Rieslings from the Mosel, Germany, and Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand
On the strength of this, don’t hold your breath for a Global Bobal revolution… Vox Populi Bobal 2011, Utiel Requena, Spain (£10.99 Majestic) Reasonable blackcurrant and blackberry flavours, with touches of brown sugar and a hint of cabbage (neither a positive nor a negative!), but there’s also a dry tannic […]