Cinco Manos Pinot Noir 2014, Colchagua, Chile (£15.99 Laithwaites) Smells good, with generous and gentle juicy warm berry and plum allure, but then when you taste it, the imprint of toasty vanilla oak and the slightly rubbery reduction spoil the party. Decent, but could have been better. B-
Yearly Archives: 2016
Tons de Duorum Red 2014, Douro, Portugal (£8.90 Tanners) Young, juicy style, fleshy berry to the fore, notes of liquorice, vanilla and herby in the background. Should appeal to Argie Malbec fans. B+ Ramos Reserva 2014, VR Alentejano, Portugal (£6.99 Majestic) A plusher, plummier wine than the above, still spicy, […]
Two reds from Portugal
Vilarnau Cava Brut Reserva NV, Catalonia, Spain (£11.99 Ocado, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Oxford Wine Company, Jolly Vintner, Bona Fide, Wine Direct, Cheers) Smells ripe and quite fleshy, with toasty notes giving some mature authority, then rich flavours of lemons (fresh and cooked) and more of that toasty element, quite broad-shouldered […]
Vilarnau Cava Brut Reserva NV, Catalonia, Spain
Matetic Corralillo Gewurztraminer 2014, San Antonio, Chile (£12.95-£13.55 Armit Wines, Wine Direct) Classic lime/lemon jelly, rose water, lychee aromas, with crystallised orange and ginger notes making their presence felt. Powerful and punchy, but quite dry, so the spice comes more to the fore. Fascinating but not for everyone. S- Morrisons […]
Gewurztraminer from Chile and Alsace
Il Cascinone Rive Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2013, Piedmont, Italy (£10-£14 Highbury Vintners, The Secret Cellar, Rannoch Scott, Hennings, Taurus Wines, Amps Fine Wine, Flagship Wines) Sweet, rounded and plummy style, but despite the wealth of fruit, there’s a backbone of tannin, and a bitter cherry bite to keep it from […]
Il Cascinone Rive Barbera d’Asti Superiore 2013, Piedmont, Italy
Marimar Estate Acero Chardonnay 2014, Russian River Valley, California (~£22 winedirect.co.uk) Young fresh, honest style, with plump nectarine and tinned peach flavours, decent but a touch simple. B Miguel Torres Cordillera Chardonnay 2013, Limarí, Chile (£12.99 Hoults, Partridges of Sloane Street, Portland Wine Company, Mitchells Vintners, Swift Wines, Blyth Valley […]