Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz 2013, South Australia (£19.99 Waitrose) Was looking forward to this, but it started off showing a slightly overripe sweetness, like jammie dodger biscuits. A little more time and a more serious earthy liquorice edge emerged, although the jammy side remained. The following day, it was […]
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Cape Heights Shiraz 2015, Western Cape, South Africa (£5.69-£6.95 Rannoch Scott, D&D Wine, Worth Brothers, Connollys) Dark earthy chocolate, gentle generous berry and plum, very much in that soft warm earthy South African feel, with a bit of the Cape bake and a savoury plum/tomato edge. Maybe the finish is […]
Spicy reds from Australia, France, South Africa & Spain
I didn’t taste these side by side, but I’ve ended up giving them all similar marks – would happily drink them all, but none had me jumping out of my seat and shouting ‘Whoopee!’ Vergelegen Premium Chardonnay 2013, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£12.49 Majestic, Roberts and Speight, Stewart Wines, Liquid Treasure, Noble Green […]
Chardonnays from France, South Africa & USA
Duo des Mers Sauvignon-Viognier 2015, Vin de France (£5.95 The Wine Society) A really nice crisp cheapie, has the zip and zest of Sauvignon bolstered by some fleshier Viognier which gives a hint (as opposed to a slosh) of nutty peachy character. Garlicky prawns please… B(+)
Duo des Mers Sauvignon-Viognier 2015
Tahbilk Marsanne 2014, Nagambie Lakes, Australia (£11 Armit Wines, Taurus Wines) With its floral apple crumble character, dry mineral zestiness and touch of honey, there’s plenty going on in this wine. Drinking well now, but from past experience of this wine, I know it’s going to give pleasure for several […]
Assorted Whites from Australia, England & Italy
Blind Spot Pinot Noir 2014, Yarra Valley, Australia (was £9.50 The Wine Society) Soft, gentle, quite mature and very moreish, this is made by the talented Mac Forbes, whose wines seem to have retained the freshness they’ve always had, but now seem to offer a little more joie de vivre. […]