Recent Posts


A brisk young Bordeaux white for fleshier shellfish dishes… Château de Bonhoste Bordeaux Blanc 2015, France (£8.85 Hourlier Wines) Currently being driven by the precise, bracing nettly grapefruit edge of Sauvignon, but there’s also the more floral aromatic edge of Muscadelle, and some weightier Sémillon, which will come more to the […]

Château de Bonhoste Bordeaux Blanc 2015, France


M&S Soave Classico 2015, Veneto, Italy (£8 Marks & Spencer) Gentle nutty peach and peachy, young and fresh, still uncurling, soft, friendly finish. B- Taste The Difference Soave Classico 2014, Veneto, Italy (£7 Sainsbury’s) Hints of pine and fennel alongside the slightly jelly-like citrus flavours, a touch of nuttiness, OK, […]

Two Supermarket Soaves


Penfolds Bin 8 Cabernet Shiraz 2013, South Australia (£19.99 Waitrose) Was looking forward to this, but it started off showing a slightly overripe sweetness, like jammie dodger biscuits. A little more time and a more serious earthy liquorice edge emerged, although the jammy side remained. The following day, it was […]

Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia, Chile, South Africa & Spain



Cape Heights Shiraz 2015, Western Cape, South Africa (£5.69-£6.95 Rannoch Scott, D&D Wine, Worth Brothers, Connollys) Dark earthy chocolate, gentle generous berry and plum, very much in that soft warm earthy South African feel, with a bit of the Cape bake and a savoury plum/tomato edge. Maybe the finish is […]

Spicy reds from Australia, France, South Africa & Spain


I didn’t taste these side by side, but I’ve ended up giving them all similar marks – would happily drink them all, but none had me jumping out of my seat and shouting ‘Whoopee!’ Vergelegen Premium Chardonnay 2013, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£12.49 Majestic, Roberts and Speight, Stewart Wines, Liquid Treasure, Noble Green […]

Chardonnays from France, South Africa & USA


Duo des Mers Sauvignon-Viognier 2015, Vin de France (£5.95 The Wine Society) A really nice crisp cheapie, has the zip and zest of Sauvignon bolstered by some fleshier Viognier which gives a hint (as opposed to a slosh) of nutty peachy character. Garlicky prawns please… B(+)

Duo des Mers Sauvignon-Viognier 2015