Fabre Montmayou Reservado Cabernet Franc 2015, Mendoza, Argentina (£15.99 Laithwaites) I don’t mind the cocoa-dusted dark berry and blackcurrant flavours and light leafy character, but it’s a little too controlled for my liking, with not enough of the Cab Franc fragrance. I thought it might open up with time but […]
Simon
Miguel Torres Santa Digna Unoaked Chardonnay 2016, Valle Central, Chile (£10.49 Grape to Glass Wine Co, Discover Wine, Portland Wine Company, Roberts and Speight, Polygon Wines, Hailsham Cellars) Quite rich, almost oily-textured, with juicy peach and tinned fruit cocktail syrup flavours and a nutty edge to the finish. No shortage […]
Chardonnays from California & Chile
April 17th is Malbec World Day (yes, that’s what the organisers call it, no idea why, imagine if we had Book World Day). So to get the party started, a varietal Malbec, plus a Malbec-heavy blend. Doña Paula ‘Paula’ Malbec 2017, Luján de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina (£9.99 Spirited Wines, strictlywine.co.uk) […]
In celebration of Malbec World Day 2018…
Two Kiwis to being with Seresin Estate Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand (£17.99 The NZ Cellar, Wholefoods, Davy’s Wine Merchants, House of New Zealand Wines, Noble Green, Bon Coeur, Handford Wines, Hay Wines, Cheers Wine Merchants) 2015 Almost more Loire-like than New Zealand in style with quite precise herby stony […]
An assortment of white wines
…beginning in Portugal Quinta Nova Reserva Terroir Blend 2015, Douro, Portugal (£16.48 Portugal Vineyards) Smells like a port winery at vintage time, the air thick with heady aromas of berries, cassis, violet and herbs, buoyant, spicy dark fruit flavours in abundance and a backbone of citrus freshness and ripe tannin […]
A mixed bag of reds from around the world…
…beginning with sherry Barbadillo Manzanilla Pasada Pastora En Rama (2017 bottling), Spain (£9.99 per half Amazon, Cambridge Wine Merchants, Taurus Wines, Roberts and Speight, The Dorset Wine Co, Mumbles Fine Wine) Has the classic bracing briny edge of Manzanilla, but this is deeper in colour, and weightier, with pungest yeasty […]