Hawkers Hill, Solaris, 2022, Norfolk, UK
Solaris is a great understated grape which this white wine from Hawkers Hill in Norfolk, UK shows. Off dry, rounded with a full fat milk thickness this wine coats the mouth with nectar. Well maybe not nectar but there is richness and a concentration of ripe citrus, pineapple, with a hint of sherbet or cream soda that pokes through. It’s a sipping wine, but that’s not bad. A definite silver medal in my view.
Veuve Ambal, Cremant de Bourgogne, Grande Cuvee NV, Burgundy, France
I like crémants because they tend to be fresh and vibrant, more fruit driven rather than toasty notes driven. This one from Veuve Ambal, Burgundy in a good example. Clean and fresh with citrus and just a hint of grapefruit it’s lovely to sip in the sun, watching the world drift by. At £30 a bottle it’s not cheap, more silver than gold, but worth trying.
Torreon de Paredes, Carmenère, 2020, Chile
Chile makes great Carmenère but this Torreon de Paredes from 2020 is outstanding. Soft and silky the tannins are subtle just doing their thing in the background. Aromas and flavours of plum, blackcurrant and hints of chocolate and tobacco with a little oak and smoke rounding it off. At £26 a bottle it’s not cheap but worth it.
Another great Canadian Pinot Noir, juicy but light, this Pinot Noir is silky and smooth. With Blackberry and chocolate coming to the fore there is a note of truffe and spice that pokes though. At about CAD50 a bottle its not bad value and one to buy again.
Wildekrans, Cape Blend, Barrel Select Reserve, 2013, Bot River, South Africa
Wildekrans vineyard in the Bot River, Westerncape, South Africa is a must visit place. Their wines are amazing across the range and this blend is no exception. Made with 48% Pinotage, 36% Shiraz, 8% each of Cab Sav and Pinot Noir a lot of thought has gone into this. Rich and silky on the platte its dry with flavours of plum, blackberry and licorice. Hints of chocolate and oak with a little leather and nod to the soil of the estate its truly a great wine and at £25 a bottle amazing value. One of the best wines I’ve ever tasted.
Fondo Antico, Nenè Nero d’Avola, Sicilia, Italy
Dry and bold but pretty smooth best describes this southern Italian red wine, or great red to just enjoy. With Red cherry and redcurrent flavours and notes of oak and leather with a very slight smokiness and chocolate poking though its very easy drinking and doesn’t need food to be enjoyed, just what I like. Pasta and red meat would still go very well with this. At about EUR12 a bottle its a wine to buy by the case.
Reininger, Syrah, 2017, Walla Walla Valley, Washington State, USA
This 2017 Syrah from Reininger got a silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards with 90 points which may have been a little stingy because its really rather good. Its a dry red wine with a silky texture and well integrated tannins. Aromas and flavours of plum, blueberries with licorice and hints of pepper. At USD50 a bottle its not cheap but rather good. Serve with steak and or sip slowly and just enjoy.
J. de Villebois, Sancerre Rosé, 2021, France
Can you get a bad bottle of Sancerre? well this rosé from J. de Villebois is not going to let the side down. Dry, crisp but nice and light it has refreshing flavours and aroma of strawberries and hints of raspberry and citrus with a minerality which pins it all together.
The downside is its price which at £25 a bottle is rather steep. its good but not £25 a bottle good
Kostantino Winery, Selections, Sauvignon Blanc 2022, Greece
You can get some excellent greek wine, unfortunately this is not world class. There are a number issues with this wine. It has a slight aroma of nail vanish which is off putting. Its to acidic and to non descript. there is very little taste and no characteristics of the grape. At Eur17 a bottle its a no on all fronts from me.
Ghost Creek, Showcase, Riesling, 2017, Canada
I do like Canadian wine, they don’t make much of it but what they do make is generally very good. This Riesling from Ghost Creek is excellent. Dry with a distinct petroleum note to the nose there’s flavours of citrus and stone fruit with a little peach and hints of honey. The biggest thing I get is just how clean and fresh this is 7 years on. Excellent, truly excellent.
At £20 a bottle it’s decent value too.