Tasting Notes: Vibrant, inky red. Full bodied, good tannins. Had a period in oak, which gives it a vanilla aroma. Met the winemaker, Maximiliano Ortiz in Mendoza, Argentina in November 2016. I tasted this, sold elsewhere in the world as Trivento Tribu, their entry level Malbec. I thought it was very good, my wife preferred…
Famille Castel Grande Reserve Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: This was a bit of a steal. I’ve seen this elsewhere for £16 and was worried that there was a reason why it wasn’t selling and was being offered so cheaply. However it was good chardonnay, and offered a good alternative to white burgundies which I often find overpriced, particularly Macon Blancs &…
Campo Viejo Rioja – Tempranillo
Tasting Notes: Campo Viejo means ‘Old Field’. Often retails at £6, and when Tesco run their 25% off for 6 promotion this comes down to £4.50. At this price it is fab; soft tannins, fruity, great with Sunday lunch. Despite being owned by Pernod Ricard, Campo Viejo are fiercely Spanish – and their 3…
Arbol de Vida Pinot Grigio
Tasting Notes: Arbol de Vida means ‘Tree of Life’. A while back I bought a Hungarian Pinot Grigio in Waitrose. By mistake. They had craftily sectreted in amongst the Italian wines. It looked Italian. It sounded Italian. It tasted awful. Since then the thought of anything other than Italian Pinot Grigio has been an anathema….
Hardy’s Varietal Range Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Actively unpleasant. Suitable for inducing a migraine. Picked up from a large wall of identical bottles in a rush. Boasts of having won lots of medals. Had an awful aftertaste and for £6 I could have done sooo much better. Buy literally any of the other wines reviewed here (except Cima Rosa Chardonnay…
Cimarosa Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: Revolting. This wine tasted of halitosis. The budget supermarkets have some very good, keenly priced wines. This was nasty. It had a cork closure – but it wasn’t corked; that makes a wine smell like a mildewed cagoule I once had. I read a few months ago that Jancis Robinson, in Mendoza for…
Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Soave Classico
Tasting Notes: Fresh, light and zesty. Hint of effervescence. Soave is easy drinking, everyday wine – but at £1 less you can get some nasty stuff. This, however is pretty good! Region of Origin Veneto, Italy Wine Colour White Price £6 Where do I get it from? Sainsburys Current Vintage 2016 Producer Type of Closure Screwcap…
Sainsbury’s Fairtrade Chenin Blanc
Tasting Notes: For me, if I want a good chenin blanc – it’s got to be South African. And if it’s South African, I prefer it to be fairtrade. Good length of finish. Bone dry. Citrus tang. Region of Origin Wellington Wine Colour White Price £6 Where do I get it from? Sainsburys Current…
Porta 6
Tasting Notes: James Martin raved about this red on Saturday kitchen last year and Majestic sold out. It’s back in stock, a bit more expensive and it’s got a good nose, balanced tannins, is full bodied and makes you salivate. Long finish. Costs 3.80Euros in Portugal; can be had online for as little as £3.30…
La Grand Nuit Chardonnay
Tasting Notes: A few years ago this was more than twice the price – but it’s not that good; however at £6.50 it’s good chardonnay and won a bronze at the IWSC. I thought it was fresh, not oaky, ‘green’ and a little herby. Region of Origin Languedoc-Roussillon Wine Colour White Price £6.50 Where do…
Ormarine Picpoul de Pinet
Tasting Notes: A flinty alternative to Muscadet or Gruner-Veltliner, or Pouilly Fume, Picpoul used to be cheap, and unusual to find outside France until a couple of years ago when it cropped up more frequently, particularly on gastro-pub wine lists. Prices rose as it became more popular until it neared £20 a bottle in places….
Isla Negra Chardonnay/Pedro Ximenez
Tasting Notes: Fresh and fruity, everyday white at a good price (£5 per bottle). The addition of a dose of Pedro Ximenez (sherry wine, often sweet) gives it depth and a little complexity – at £5 a bottle that’s good! Worked well with a fish dish, but would work with creamy pasta or chicken dishes….
A Time for Wine 