Yearly Archives: 2016

Smacked bottom time, Simon. Late last year, Kevin Judd sent me five vintages of his Wild Sauvignon Blanc from the Greywacke winery which he established in 2009. He produces a regular Sauvignon and a few other varieties too, but this is his attempt to show that there’s more to Marlborough […]

Going Wild and Wacky with Greywacke

by
Casa de Paços Superior 2015, VR Minho, Portugal (N/A in the UK) Bracing young wine, with a crisp lemony edge to the fresh apple and nut flavours, a salty briny bite and a backbone of steely minerality. B+ Quinta de Paços Morgado do Perdigão Alvarinho & Loureiro 2015, VR Minho, […]

A trio of Portuguese whites from Quinta de Paços

by
Dominio Basconcillos Ribera del Duero Roble 2013, Spain (£13.50 Vintage Roots) Greetings Basconcillos Ribera del Duero 2013, how are things? Things are dandy, I’ve just been released from my bottle and I’m feeling good. You certainly bound out of it, with boisterous vanilla, blackcurrant and blackberry flavours, what is it that […]

Interview with a wine: Basconcillos Ribera del Duero 2013, Spain

by
Hugel Gentil 2014, Alsace, France (£13.90 Cambridge Wine Merchants Ltd, The Oxford Wine Company Ltd, Salut Wines, Lewis & Cooper Ltd, Taurus Wines, Last Drop Wines Ltd, Liquorice, Italian Continental Stores Ltd) No shortage of flavour here, with peachy weight, a lightly perfumed edge and creamy buttery notes, but it’s […]

Aromatic white wines from France & Argentina

by
Yalumba Old Bush Vine Grenache 2014, Barossa, Australia (£11-14 Morrisons, Co-op, Tesco, Flagship Wines) Pale but interesting, with light mint and herb notes pepping up sprightly red berry flavours, and with a savoury edge to its juicy, friendly finish. S(-) Wirra Wirra The Absconder Grenache 2014, McLaren Vale, Australia (~£40) […]

Two South Australian Grenaches

by
Jean Leon 3055 Chardonnay 2014, Penedès, Spain (£13.99 Hailsham Cellars, Lancaster Wine Company, Dartmouth Wine Company) Rich and rounded, broad peach and pineapple chunk flavour, tinned fruit juice, smells fleshy but while there’s some lemony zip to bring some freshness, it’s not subtle – feels like yesterday’s wine… B- La […]

Chardonnays from Spain and California

by