A familiar looking bottle – this wine is widely available. My local corner shop stocks it. There are several variations, featuring some kind of Cavalier – who has put me off for years. As an alternative to Campo Viejo, the market leading rioja I gave it a whirl. The standard was about the same and…
Month: November 2017
Burra Brook Chardonnay
An attractive looking bottle, this wine was ‘fine’. Nothing wrong with it. Quite nice. Damning with faint praise? Yep – I’d hoped for better; M&S wine can be really good. This was OK. Tasting notes: Straw colour. Not much on the nose. Initially some tropical notes, a little pineapple. Dry. Region of Origin – South…
Dark Horse Chardonnay
This wine comes from ‘California’ – which is a massive place and seems a bit vague… Not entirely sure what to make of this wine – I liked it and it’s one of only a handful of wines that have made me say ‘wow’ this year. Tasting notes: Straw colour. Wow! Butterscotch, caramel notes. Dry….
Finca Las Moras Malbec
The description on their website says that this wine is produced from grapes from San Juan & Cuyo and produced at their winery in Tulum. In other words it’s from a wide region of the Mendoza province – but for the price it’s good wine and goes very well with beef dishes. Tasting notes: Inky…
Limoux Chardonnay, Sainsburys Taste the Difference
One of six ‘Taste the Difference’ Chardonnays on offer from Sainsburys (four French, one Chilean and one Australian), ranging in price from £6 – £11. This Limoux Chardonnay comes from the well respected producer, Paul Mas. Tasting notes: Straw colour. Initially some creamy, toasted vanilla notes from oak barrel ageing. Dry. Region of Origin –…
Chardonnay, Barossa Riverland, Sainsburys Taste The Difference
Tasting notes: Straw colour. Initially some stone-fruit notes and finish with crisp apple. Some mineral notes. Dry. Very drinkable. Region of Origin – Barossa Wine Colour – White Price – £7 Where do I get it from? Sainsburys Current Vintage – 2016 Producer – Château Tanunda Grape – 100% Chardonnay Country – Australia Points –…
Ca’ Marrone Rosso Puglia
At the risk of going on about how much I love Italy – I’m especially fond of the country’s shapely heel. At a huge, three-hour Easter feast in a remote part of Puglia, my wife and I were sent over vino spumante by a large party of very well-dressed local farmers & their families, who…
Camino del Angel Chardonnay
I suspect that Sainsbury sells this wine in the full knowledge that it bears a striking resemblance to Concha y Toro’s ‘Casilliero de Diablo’ wine (reviewed here). Cheeky? Rude? ‘Banter’? It’s a fine line – and who knows if it’s intended to deceive? It’s quite good – but not as good as the ‘original’. Tasting…
Gavi – Tesco Finest
Tesco introduced this ‘Finest’ Gavi recently, from another big Italian producer Fratelli Martini Secondo Luigi SpA. ‘DOCG’ on bottles is perceived as being some kind of guarantee of quality – but this is not the case. I’ve been to Piemonte (Piedmont) a few times and I love Gavi and the Cortese grape. Tasting notes: Citrus, white…
Boschendal Chenin Blanc 2017
I reviewed a £4 bottle of chenin blanc recently – which was pretty good and washed down a takeaway well. At twice the price this Boschendal should have been twice as good, surely? Sadly not. I’ve had this wine many times and it’s usually good. With Tesco’s 25% off if you buy any 6 bottles…
A Time for Wine 