Recent Posts

Romaeus Rosso 2014, Lazio, Italy (£10.99 Laithwaites) There’s a light floral perfume and gentle dark fruit, but there’s also an OTT vanilla character which gives an impression of sweetness and overall it’s just too simple for class. C Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo d’Alba 2014, Piedmont, Italy (£18.49 Italian Continental Stores, […]

Three Italian Reds

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…including some biggish names that weren’t quite as good as I’d have hoped… Clotilde Davenne Bourgogne Blanc 2014, France (was £10.95 From Vineyards Direct) From vineyards close to Chablis, so the pert, minerally character and mix of crispness and creaminess come as no surprise. Lovely balanced style, excellent value, the […]

Four Chardonnays from four countries

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Domaine de la Ville de Colmar Clos Saint Jacques Riesling 2014, Alsace, France (£12.99 Majestic) Already quite developed for 2014, with none of the freshness you expect, and a gentle, bruised apple character. C(+) Kuehn Crémant d’Alsace Brut Cuvée Prestige NV, Alsace, France (£11.99 Virgin Wines) Slightly sherbetty, crowd pleasing […]

Three wines from Alsace

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Boya Pinot Noir 2015, Leyda, Chile (£11.99 Majestic) Why is so much Chilean Pinot Noir blighted by reduction? This seems to have reasonable if a touch jammy soft berry flavours, but that rubbery reduced character is front and centre, and is still the main event two days after opening. C- […]

Three Southern Hemisphere Pinot Noirs

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The Society’s Exhibition Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 (Frog’s Leap), California (£18 The Wine Society) On the subtle side for Napa, but still with no shortage of blackberry and blackcurrant flavours, with some vanilla and spice to back it up. Tasty now, but there’s freshness and ripe tannin here, so […]

A trio of Cabernet Sauvignon-influenced reds

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Casa do Capitão-mor Alvarinho 2015, Vinho Verde, Portugal (£12.90 Alfama Wines) Young and fresh, a bracing tang of sea air and mineral in among the lightly spicy (ginger?) just-ripe peach and citrus peel flavours. Very tasty, and quite full bodied. S(-) Anselmo Mendes Alvarinho 2015, Vinho Verde, Portugal (£11.99 Laithwaites) […]

Albariño meets Alvarinho

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