The Argentine economy has been turbulent for years. We visited in Autumn 2016 and prices for hotels, food and wine were slightly more expensive than the UK. Not any more. The Peso is (at the time of writing in June 2020) worth a fifth of what it was three years ago. Great news if you…
Visionario, Bianco Trevenezie 2019 – Laithwaite’s
My most recent delivery from Laithwaite’s had this more recent vintage of ‘Visionario’ with a label change. Is this any different from the 2018 vintage? No. It’s still the aromatic, rather confected (it’s dry, but not bone dry, and has notes of childhood sweets) wine which Laithwaites have sold for years now. Tasting notes: Its…
Grüner Veltliner – Adler
This is one of three Grüner Veltliner stocked by Lidl – and this is unusual as it’s Italian, albeit from the mountainous north near Austria. It’s Lidl’s most expensive Grüner Veltliner – but is it their best? Sadly not… Tasting notes: Medium intensity, pale lemon colour. Primary apple and citrus notes. No secondary or tertiary…
Loris – Giordano
Giordano wines are a mixed bunch – this one was pretty good and well priced. It’s a shame that they devote so much time to selling you wine and then so little to delivering you the wine you bought. After ordering 50+ bottles, they regularly substitute 3 bottles in a case for something else (no…
Provobis Vino Frizzante Secco – Giordano
Giordano wines are a mixed bunch; the wines are variable in quality but are at the cheaper end of the spectrum. This wine was as usual very vague about details. Giordano took just under a month to deliver my last case. Laithwaites and Virgin take 2-3 days. This wine is decent enough and as part…
Maison de Cirque – Blanc de Blancs. Mas produced…?
Forgive the bad pun. When he started out in the late 1990s, Mas set out to make wines to export: “Selling wines to the French is like trying to sell hamburgers to the Americans.” Consequently, he exports, to 58 countries, 97 per cent of the 20 million bottles he produces annually. I think the problem…
Grüner Veltliner – Lidl
This is one of three Grüner Veltliner stocked by Lidl – and it ought to be good. I’m a fan of the grape & I liked it. Lidl’s range seems to change really rapidly, so don’t hang about! Tasting notes: Medium intensity, pale lemon colour, with green reflections. Primary apple and citrus notes. No secondary…
Grüner Veltliner 2018 – Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference
All the big super markets have at least one Grüner Veltliner. Sainsbury’s have stocked one since 2010 – well ahead of the game. There has been a recent growth in interest in this wine: why? Again global warming may play a part in making this ‘green’ wine more complex and attractive. Jancis Robinson may have…
Picpoul de Pinet 2019 – Baron de Guers – Update 2
This is an update to reflect that Sainsbury’s have changed the label on this wine. This is purely aesthetic – the contents are exactly the same. Is it a better label? Yes – the old one was dark and dull; this one signposts the wines suitability as an accompaniment to shellfish, particularly oysters. This is…
Blackfoot Daisy Pinot Grigio 2019 – Virgin Wines
Pinot Grigio is the World’s favourite white wine grape. Is this offering from Virgin Wine any good and in any way different from the vast array available on the UK market? Well, yes. I’ve tasted Pinot Grigios from Argentina and California (good) and from Hungary and Bulgaria (not great) and done comparative tastings with Pinot…
Trivento Reserve Chardonnay 2017 – UPDATE
Trivento is the global market leader in Argentinian wines. We visited the winery in November 2016 and tried their entire range. The UK offerings were mostly retailed in Tesco but they no longer stock this or the Parra Alta Chardonnay – which is a shame as these were excellent value. Tesco still sell their Malbecs,…
Viña Sol – Torres 2018 UPDATE
Founded in 1870, Torres have been producing this wine since the 1960s. It’s decent wine with a timeless quality to it and fairly good value. I buy it regularly in the summer and it remains popular in Spain. This wine comes in a thin, light bottle which is more environmentally friendly – more producers should…
