M&S Bordeaux Merlot 2008, France (£6.29 Marks and Spencer – they’ve moved on a vintage since I tasted this) Simple, gentle wine with a leafy edge to its plum, berry and blackcurrant flavours and just a hint of mint humbug. C+ Château de Pitray Côtes de Castillon 2006 (£8.99 Majestic) […]
Wine Education
Hacienda Araucano Syrah Reserva 2009, Lolol Valley, Chile (N/A in UK) Delicious gluggable youngster, unhampered by oak, awash with bouncy bramble and berry, flesh, with a finish that combines notes of pepper, spice and herbs with a charred character. You could almost chill this. S- Mont Tauch Fitou Terroir d’Altitude […]
Zinfandel, Fitou and Southern Hemisphere Syrah/Shiraz
Second lot of Spanish whites (first is here), this time majoring on what could stake a claim (along with Rias Baixas & Valdeorras) to be Spain’s finest white wine region. Hermanos Lurton Rueda Verdejo 2009, Spain (~£8) Reminds me of Bordeaux Sauvignon with its slightly nutty citrus and tinned pear […]
Spanish whites part 2: Rueda
Most of these were from a mixed Spanish white case from the Wine Society – tasty stuff… Txomín Etxaníz Geratiako Txakolina 2009 (£12.50 The Wine Society) Interesting and lively wine with a touch of spritz, autumnal pear & apple crispness blanced with some zesty citrus fruit and an ever-so-slightly briny […]
Spanish whites Part 1: Chacoli, Valdeorras, Rioja & Costers del ...
Been in France for most of the last fortnight, but managed to find time last week to host a tasting of Henschke wines for the enterprising West London Wine School. Afterwards I sat down with proprietor and professional hat-wearer Jimmy Smith to talk about what we’d been tasting. First three […]
A range from Henschke with West London Wine School
Quinta do Pinto Vinhas do Lasso 2004, Alenquer, Portugal (N/A in UK) Old fashioned, rusty/horsey aromas, and no improvement in flavour. Some vague plum and strawberry but overall, dried out and charmless. 0 Quinta do Pinto Tinta Miúda 2003, Alenquer, Portugal (N/A in UK) An improvement, with some dusty plum […]