The Cotes du Rhone appellation is one of the world’s largest wine-producing regions. The variety of grapes is amazing. Sainsbury’s updated ‘Taste The Difference’ range is doing a good job of teaming up with good producers and releasing own-label wines that are interesting and reasonably priced. Good wine. Tasting notes: From the ‘Cotes de Rhone’ region…
‘Cune’ Rioja Blanco, Barrel Fermented 2018
The viura grapes used for Cune white rioja originate from vines owned by the winery and also other estates found in the La Rioja region. Is the £10 Barrel fermented rioja much better than their £5 entry level Viura? This wine has benefited from fermentation in new American oak casks for a few weeks at cellar temperature (between…
Chevalier de Fauvert, Pays d’Oc, Chardonnay 2018
This Chardonnay is from Lidl. The last Chardonnay I reviewed from Lidl (https://atimeforwine.blog/2017/05/29/cimarosa-chardonnay/) was revolting and served as a deterrent from buying their wine for a couple of years. This one retails at £4.49 (cheap) but from time to time it is reduced to £2.99 when it is the ‘wine of the week’. This is unnaturally,…
Cabalié 2019, Pays d’Oc
My most recent delivery from Laithwaite’s had this recent vintage of Cabalie, another wine which receives rave reviews on Laithwaites website. It’s another wine which Laithwaites have sold for years now. It’s good wine. Tasting notes: Its appearance is deep purple in colour. Dark fruit, plum notes on the nose. Medium length. Medium body. A blend of…
Château Vartely Dealu Nucului Feteasca Regala & Sauvignon Blanc 2019
My most recent delivery from Laithwaite’s had this, nicely presented in a paper wrapping. It is from Moldova… It retails at £10.49 a bottle. The winery looks modern and impressive. This wine receives rave reviews on Laithwaites website. It is a typical Laithwaites wine – slightly aromatic. Tasting notes: Its appearance is pale straw in colour….
Trivento Reserve Malbec 2019 – UPDATE
Sales of Malbec are at an all time high in the UK – and deservedly so; it’s good wine and most of the available offerings are well priced (in the UK at least). The UK market leader is Trivento – owned by the mammoth Vina Concha Y Toro company from neighbouring Chile. Founded 23 years ago, Trivento…
Petit Chablis Moillard, 2018
Petit Chablis from a respected producer based in Mersault. Good value for money – better that the ‘bargain’ Chablis often sold by supermarkets. Good value. Tasting notes: Crisp Chardonnay with aromas of citrus, white peach, lychee. Bone dry. The same on the palate with some minerality. Balanced acidity. Medium finish. Some intensity and a little complexity….
Chablis 2019 – Lidl
An alternative to the more expensive white burgundies is this good chardonnay from Lidl, which goes well with fish . Lidl have a decent range of reasonably priced wine. Chablis still insist producers don’t name the grape variety (inexplicable to my mind – would love to challenge that rationale) and that they use cork closures…
Corte Vigna Chardonnay, Italy
I’ve rated this chardonnay as ‘acceptable’; this may seem like I’m damning with faint praise, however it is perfectly good everyday drinking. It doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor by any stretch of the imagination but at its price point it is fair value for money and is enjoyable enough. Tasting notes: Medium intensity, pale lemon colour….
Chevalier de Fauvert, Pays d’Oc, Sauvignon Blanc 2019
This Sauvignon Blanc is from Lidl. It regularly retails at £4.49 (cheap) but from time to time it is reduced to £2.99 when it is the ‘wine of the week’. This is unnaturally, suspiciously cheap… there must be a catch; it must be awful, right? Wrong; it’s perfectly acceptable plonk. Buy 6 for under £18 and…
“League of Three” Chardonnay 2020, Grant Burge
New on the shelves is a series of Aussie varietals. Grant Burge is quite a big producer and I liked his previous offering (reviewed here https://atimeforwine.blog/2017/10/30/grant-burge-reserve-chardonnay/). It was big, creamy, New World and not one for the ‘ABC’ brigade… This newcomer was, I’m afraid, actively nasty. It is the first wine in some time which…
Roca Murer Pinot Grigio 2019 – update
I receive a lot of hits for this wine. Let me know in the comments what you think of it because people generally read about a wine because they like it and want to know if others do too or because they are unsure whether to buy it or not… There are as many as…
