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 Education
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 […]
Wine Tastings Video: Sparkling English Wine from Chapel Down
Domaine Long-Depaquit Chablis 2011 (£13 Oddbins) Classic Chablis with rich flavours – blood orange, apple and even a touch of cranberry – and sleek minerally structure. Tasty now, but good for 3+ years. S Louis Latour Pouilly Vinzelles En Paradis 2010 (£12.99-£14.99 Majestic, Mill Hill Wines, Campbell Moore, Whole Foods […]
Wine Tasting Video: Four White Burgundies
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 […]
Wine Tasting Video: US Syrah from California & Washington State
Zoetendal Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Elim, South Africa (£9.99 The Real Wine Company) Very pungent and intense, but just too stark and green for pleasure, with a smoky not to the grassy, slightly armpit-like, green pepper, elderflower and citrus flavours. C+ Harvey Nichols Sauvignon Blanc 2011 (Auntsfield), Marlborough, New Zealand (£14.00 […]