Domaine de la Croix Salain, Macon Villages, 2022, France
Domaine de la Croix Salain in the Macon Villages area makes some lovely Chardonnay. Clean, crisp, fresh with lemon and citrus notes. A little stone fruit pops through with a little creaminess. At £16 a bottle from Majestic Wine it’s good value. Great with seafood or try with cheese.
Terra Argillosa, Syrah, 2019, Marche, Italy
Yep another italian red wine, granted its rather good, in some ways quite excellent. Reasonable dry, solid tannins but not overly so with a “presence” that’s comforting. With red and black fruit flavours and smoke and oak notes it’s all well integrated It’s no Gold medal winning wine but that’s where I think it scores. It’s a wine that red drinkers will like, not have to think about and be happy to open a second bottle. 😊
At about £18 a bottle it’s a bit pricey and that’s the down side.
Herdade De Comporta, Rosé, 2021, Portugal
It had to happen one day, a Portuguese wine that failed to impress. Unfortunately this rose from Herdade De Comporta is non descript on all fronts. Aromas and flavours are lacking, there’s a tartness and acidity but nothing to recommend it. Sorry, it’s a shame as the colour is pleasant. At eur24 a bootle is a definite no from me.
47 Degrees, Chardonnay, Moldova
47 Degrees, Chardonnay from Moldova is a pretty good example of a decent white wine from Moldova. It’s an off dry Chardonnay that’s soft on the palette with immediate aromas of honey and flavours of pineapple, lemon, honey and an underlying oak layer. It’s the oak I wasn’t a big fan off but saying that I did like it.
At £7 a bottle from Majestic Wines It’s pretty good value.
Robert Oatley, Cabernet Sauvignon, Signature Series, 2019, Margaret River, Australia
This Cabernet Sauvignon from Robert Oatley is a big red wine showing off the heat of Australia. Dry, solid tannins but pretty smooth. I think a few more years laying down would help to soften it a bit more. The flavours are intense with blackberry and hedgerow berries, leather, oak are in there but that intensity is a bit over the top.
A rich beef strew or bbq would pair with this wine very well. At £13 a bottle it’s reasonably price but not my first choice.
Buenaventura
Descarriados Gran Malbec
Now this is a great Malbec from Mendoza and worthy of a few bottles in anyone’s Cellar, cupboard or under the stairs. Dry, bold but smooth with grippy tannins. Black plum, blackcurrant, oak and earthy hints make its a wine to sip and ideally have with a stew or strong cheeses it’s quite wonderful.
At about £10 a bottle it’s excellent value
Creation, Pinot Noir, Walker Bay, 2020, South Africa
I’ve had Creation, Pinot Noir, from previous vintages before and remembered it being better. Its dry, reasonably light but it’s also light on flavours. There’s lots of red cherry a hint of vanilla and oak that occasionally comes through but it’s just light, one dimensional. The wife loved it and her palette is much better than mine so I will bow to her judgement that it’s got more going on than I could taste.
Orsogna, Nican, Montepulciano, 2009, Italy
Ooohhh, it’s good. Orsogna realy know how to make quality wine. Dry with soft integrated tannins this is a quality red wine. Aromas and flavours of blackberry, plum, chocolate and oak with notes of leather and slight herby undertone poking through.
At about £30 a bottle it’s not cheap but rather good and you are unlikely to disappoint any you serve, unless they are tea total 😀
Villa Maria, Private Bin, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, New Zealand
I do like a good Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, a Grey Wackie for example but this one from Villa Maria has a slightly different take on the traditional style. It’s dry, has good body and acidity. There are aromas and flavours of pineapple and grapefruit with a little lemon. The usual gooseberry hit is low on the list, it’s there but you need to concentrate to find it. One I’ll happy drink again. At £10 a bottle it’s good value
Freixenet, zero alcohol, Rosé sparkling, Spain
Low and none alcohol wines, beers and spirits have come a long way in recent years. Personally I prefer non alcohol beers. This on the other hand is not something I would drink again. On thd sweet side it has bubbles and a taste of something but nothing anyone could pin down. The best I could think of was the taste of sparking water, the taste of the carbonated process. Save the cash and go for a traditional fancy lemonade.