Yearly Archives: 2017

Half Cabernet, with Merlot and Tempranillo making up the balance Paso-Primero Tinto 2016, Somontano, Spain (£8.90 Tanners) No shortage of gutsy berry and damson flesh here, but the flavours veer towards the jammy and there’s a slightly drying edge of underripe tannin. Not so much that it’s unpleasant, but a […]

Paso-Primero Tinto 2016, Somontano, Spain

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Seven Springs Syrah 2013, Overberg, South Africa (~£15 contact North South Wines) Ripe and juicy, with an almost savoury, cooked tomato character alongside more conventional blackberry, blackcurrant and plum, showing some leathery maturity, but still has a backbone of spicy tannin. S- The Restless Wine Merchant Shiraz 2016, Wrattonbully, Australia […]

Two Southern Hemisphere Shirazes

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Viñalba Malbec Bonarda 2016, Mendoza, Argentina (£9.99/£7.99 mixed 6 Majestic) Alluring, savoury, fragrant style, almost with a Pinot Noir-like character, with its sweet plummy attack and wild hedgerow fruit, lovely texture with a light briny edge to the finish. Great value. S- Clos de los Siete 2013, Mendoza, Argentina (£15.75-£16 […]

Two Argentine red blends

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Lagar de Cervera Albariño 2016, Rías Baixas, Spain (£15 Armit) Classic bracing style, setting sappy green apple and citrus freshness against more exotic, fleshier peach/nectarine flavours, with floral aromas and a nutty, creamy character. Full in flavour, but medium bodied, with a clean, pungent finish. S- Casa do Capitão-Mor Alvarinho […]

Albariño meets Alvarinho

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Esporão Reserva Tinto 2014, Alentejo, Portugal (£19.99-£21.99 Cambridge Wine Merchants, Define Food and Wine, Tanners, Great Grog) It’s still a pup but this gentle giant has a very promising future. Rich, dark damson and berry fruit which veers towards the overripe but just stops in time, leaving bold flavours infused […]

Esporão Reserva Tinto 2014, Alentejo, Portugal

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