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 […]
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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 […]
Two Chardonnays from Torres
Marques de Casa Concha Merlot 2012, Peumo (Rapel), Chile (~£12 for current vintage) Impressive style, balancing plummy berry richness with fresh acidity and fine-grained tannins, plus just the right amount of toasty oak and notes of mint and chocolate to add further layers. Very tasty now, but still bags of […]
Two Marques de Casa Concha Chilean reds
Campo Viejo Rioja Viura-Tempranillo Blanco 2015, Spain (£9.35 Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Ocado) There’s a richer, fleshier edge balanced by citrussy freshness – a preserved lemons type of thing. It’s OK, but never fine. C+
Campo Viejo Rioja Viura-Tempranillo Blanco 2015, Spain
Boutinot ‘Les Cerisiers’ Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2015, France (£8.50 Hercules Wine Warehouse, Highbury Vintners) Juicy yet precise style, with rounded red berry, ripe red apple and rosehip flavours kept in check by crisp acidity. B+ Chapoutier ‘Belleruche’ Côtes du Rhône Rosé 2015, France (£12.50 Hanging Ditch, Wined Up Here) […]
Two Côtes du Rhône Rosés
Denbies Pinot Gris 2014, Surrey, England (£16 Marks and Spencer) A wine that wants to be light and delicate, but feels as if it’s been forced to bulk up, like a teenage body builder. It’s OK, with lightly smoky elderflower flavours and spicy ginger notes, but it just feels too […]