Il Grillo di Santa Tresa Vino Spumante Brut, Sicily, Italy (£12.75 Vintage Roots) A wine that grows on you, there’s some sprightly bitter lemon plus a richer honeyed nutty character, and as it opens up, a briny tang appears to add further character. B(+)
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Calmel & Joseph Les Terroirs Corbières 2014, Languedoc, France (£10-£11 Richard Granger, Martinez, Old Chapel Cellars, Ellie’s Cellar) A lovely combo of generous fruit flavours – Victoria plum , apple and blackberry pie, even pomegranate – with perfumed, herby notes and a cool fresh backbone of tannin and fresh acidity. […]
Two Languedoc reds from Calmel & Joseph
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-
Cinco Manos Pinot Noir 2014, Colchagua, Chile
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 […]