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…
Tag: Australia
Most Wanted Chardonnay 2019
Clem Yates is a Master of Wine (MW) – one of only about 300 or so, and is also a graduate chemist – so she is well qualified to be a winemaker! The MW label must allude to that qualification! She used to work for Sainsbury’s wine and Tescos before leaving to branch out. She…
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…
Yalumba Organic Chardonnay 2018
Enjoyable wine and proudly organic – not always easy to achieve with viticulture due to the risks involved – but bonus points from me. At £10 a bottle this is good wine. Tasting notes: Medium intensity, pale lemon colour. Primary apple and citrus notes. No secondary or tertiary notes. Balanced acidity; dry. Medium finish. Flavours…
Coorong Sounds Chardonnay 2018 – Virgin Wines
This is another of Virgin’s generic range of cheaper wines. I’ve rated it 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…
Botham Wines Chardonnay 2018 'The All Rounder'
Botham wines call this ‘The All Rounder’ because Ian Botham was and this wine is. It’s decent wine and would be suitable for most occasions and would go with a lot of food. It’s also from all around Australia – from the South East to the Margaret River in Western Australia – the opposite side…
Wolf Blass Red Label Chardonnay Semillon 2017
Wolf Blass Wines is one of Australia’s greatest success stories. From a humble tin shed in the legendary Barossa Valley in 1966, Wolf Blass has grown to become one of Australia’s most successful and awarded winemakers. I have a lot of affection for this brand – but had read recently that the winery was on the…
Most Wanted Chardonnay
Clem Yates is a Master of Wine (MW) – one of only about 300 or so, and is also a graduate chemist – so she is well qualified to be a winemaker! She used to work for Sainsbury’s wine before leaving to branch out. She is Australian too, so this wine is in good hands!…
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…
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 –…
Grant Burge Reserve Chardonnay
New on the shelves with a funky, monochrome label is this Aussie chardonnay. I thought it was good, if not memorable. My wife really didn’t like it and forced me to open her a bottle of Gavi… Good value at £4.50 (if you’re quick) especially as the 2015 vintage retails at £9.49 in Waitrose. Tasting…
Wolf Blass Yellow Label Chardonnay
I have a lot of affection for this brand – 20 years ago this was my favourite wine and I used to try to persuade people that, for the money, it was better than chablis… I’m not so sure whether I’d agree with myself now. Times change. I hadn’t had this wine for about 10…
A Time for Wine 