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) […]
Monthly Archives: October 2016
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
Collalto Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut NV, Veneto, Italy On the not-extremely-dry end of dry, this is subtle, tasty wine with notes of apple sherbet and light poached pears, a light floral edge and rounded, yeasty finish. S- Collalto Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Extra Dry NV, Veneto, Italy A touch […]
Three Sparkling Italian Wines from Collalto
Trivento Shiraz Reserve 2015, Mendoza, Argentina (£8.00 Tesco) I like the freshness and the red berry character, and I don’t mind the imprint of toasty vanilla-ish oak, but I’d have preferred a little less jamminess. OK, but not fine. B- Elephant Hill Syrah 2013, Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand (£18.90 Field […]
Syrah – or is Shiraz? – from Argentina and New ...
Gozatu Txakolí de Álava 2014, Spain (£12.49 Laithwaites) Smells as if it’s going to be quite bracing, with pithy grapefruit and green apple prominent, but while those flavours are there when you taste it, there’s also richer, muskier guava and quince note, plus a touch of honey. More than a […]
Two Spanish Whites from Txakoli & Rueda
Barossa Valley Estate GSM 2014, Barossa Valley, Australia (£13.49 Wine Rack, Sainsbury’s) Juicy, gentle style, very supple – you could lightly chill this in summer – with clove and liquorice notes adding character to the gentle red berry fruit. Good honest glug, stays the right side of jammy. B+ McGuigan […]