Four wines, all made under the guidance of consultant winemaker Olivier Dauga. Based on this quartet, the Dauga style seems to be less flashy, less oaky, less ripe, less malo-in-barrel-y than that of Michel Rolland. This is neither a good thing nor a bad thing, merely a matter of personal […]
Video
McHenry Hohnen Cabernet/Merlot 2008, Margaret River (£9.99 Majestic) Surprisingly forward, rounded wine, showing just the right amount of leafy mint and eucalyptus character alongside juicy plummy fruit, hints of leather and tobacco and smooth ripe tannins. B+ Averys Pioneer Barossa Shiraz 2007 – made by Yalumba (£8.99 Averys) A lovely […]
Three Australian Shirazes + a Margaret River blend
There is a video down below somewhere but first, let’s talk brett. Brettanomyces to give it its full name is a strain of yeast that has been around for centuries, but which began to appear on the wine radar around 20 years ago, and has really sprung to prominence in […]
Spain, 4, Portugal, 1 – plus a bit about brett
Château de la Terrière Beaujolais Villages Vieilles Vignes 2008 (£8.99 Majestic) Light, simple aromas with a touch of bubblegum, OK raspberry flavour, but finishes rather thin & scrawny. C Domaine des Nugues Beaujolais Villages 2007 (£8.99 Majestic) More depth of flavour, some plump plumminess but has lost the crunchy freshness […]
Beaujolais – the proper stuff…
Cono Sur Pinot Noir 2009, Central Valley (£6.99 Oddbins, Majestic, Asda, Booths, Budgens, Londis, Morrisons, Sainsburys, Somerfield, Tesco, Waitrose) Refreshing, young, almost chillable Pinot, with plush plum, raspberry and cherry flavours and a soft, earthy finish. B(-) Cono Sur Pinot Noir Reserva 2008, Casablanca (£7.99 The Co-op, Tesco) Lighter but […]
Four Chilean Pinot Noirs plus a Burgundian interloper
You might not have heard of the UK wine company Thierry’s but chances are that you’ve drunk some of the stuff they import – Gerard Bertrand from the Languedoc, Markus Huber from Austria, Ken Forrester from South Africa are probably my 3 faves from the portfolio. And by all accounts, […]