Yearly Archives: 2014


Modra Frankinja is also known as Blaufränkisch. And Lemberger. And Kékfrankos. And Jubiläumsrebe. And even Sirokolidtnyj… Pullus Modra Frankinja 2011, Stajerska, Slovenia (£9.95 Winety) Refreshing red wine, juicy and sappy, with a slightly earthy undercurrent to the fresh cherry and blackberry flavours, and a slightly leathery, rustic note on the […]

Pullus Modra Frankinja 2011, Slovenia


Interesting fact: the Fernão Pires grape changes sex and becomes Maria Gomes as you travel further north in Portugal… (In fact many Portuguese grapes have dual identities – Sousão/Vinhão, Aragonez/Tinta Roriz, Trincadeira/Tinta Amarela etc) Tagus Creek Chardonnay/Fernão Pires 2013, Tejo, Portugal (£6.49 Asda) Simple but honest and tasty wine, with […]

Tagus Creek Chardonnay/Fernão Pires 2013


Some Priorat can be a bit bloated and plodding: not this one… Torres Salmos Priorat 2011, Spain (£18.99 Waitrose, vintagemarque.com) A lovely combination of exuberance and freshness, packed with plush berry, plum and damson, with an ever-so-slightly rustic raisinny note too, but there’s also an earthy coolness, presumably a product […]

Torres Salmos Priorat 2011



The second of a couple of 2013 rosés from Yves Grassa’s Domaine du Tariquet – the, first, Rosé de Pressée, is HERE Domaine du Tariquet Marselan Rosé Côtes de Gascogne 2013, South West France (£9.40 Wineservice, Old Butcher’s Wine Cellar) Gentle red berry aromas with a touch of spice – cinnamon? […]

Domaine du Tariquet Marselan Rosé Côtes de Gascogne 2013


Perfect sausage-friendly mid-week glug Le Petit Chat Malin Rouge Pays d’Oc 2012, France (£5.99 Waitrose, Booths, Nisa, Budgens, Londis, Bargain Booze, Rhythm & Booze) It’s a bit jammy – jammy dodger biscuits to be precise – but alongside the berry and briar jam flavours, there’s some earthy freshness and even […]

Le Petit Chat Malin Rouge Pays d’Oc 2012


Sappy, refreshing wine made for Harvey Nicks by the Kilikanoon winery. Harvey Nichols Australian Riesling 2012, Clare Valley (£16 Harvey Nichols) Still a babe, but the taut mineral restraint of youth is starting to loosen its grip, allowing the tangy citrus and ripe green apple flavours and hint of blossom […]

Harvey Nichols Australian Riesling 2012