With its ‘Classics’ range M&S set out to produce wines which are the epitome of a grape, blend or region. I like this idea very much; at wine tastings – especially blind ones – I don’t really want quirky surprises. At a blind tasting before lockdown I had several ‘atypical’ wines and got them wrong….
Tag: Chardonnay
Pouilly-Fuissé – Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference 2018
Whilst not cheap this wine is relatively good value. Pouilly-Fuisse is often confused with Pouilly-Fume. This is Chardonnay from a small area of Burgundy in the ‘Macon’ region, south of Chablis. I have had so many disappointingly ‘meh’ Chablis that I avoid buying it, unless I’m in France. This producer (Rodet) is based in Mercurey…
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,…
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….
“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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…
Casillero del Diablo Chardonnay 2019 – update
Concha y Toro are one of the world’s biggest and most recognisable wine brands. Connoisseurs may turn up their noses at this – but they produce a great range of good quality, good value wines. The story behind Casillero del Diablo began over 120 years ago. The founder of Concha y Toro, Don Melchor stored batches…
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…
