CoOp, Cava, Brut, NV, Spain
Cava is so under eated in the uk. It’s a great alternative to cheaper Champagnes and thus one from the CoOp is a great example. Clean, crisp and dry with fresh apple and pears flavours that last a long time. It’s a very solid silver medal Cava to me and at £6 a bottle fantastic value.
Maison Roche de Bellene, Vieilles Vignes, Volnay, Burgundy, France
Good French Pinot Noir is very hard to beat and this one from Maison Roche de Bellene in the Volnay region is excellent. Dry, soft with excellent balance and flavours of cherry and raspberry with notes of oak and slight hints of earthiness. At £40 bottle its rather pricey but worth a try. Its like buying a second hand Rolls Royce, on my wish list 😉
Graham Beck, Brut, Western Cape, South Africa
I do like sparkling wine and this one from Graham Beck is not bad. Its a little sharp and blunt for my liking. Citrus flavours with a bit of creaminess. The problem is the lack of finesse and at £15 a bottle its over priced. Its like paying VW Golf price for a Ford KA. Best to pay £10 and go for Bouvet Sparkling.
Domaine des Brosses, Alain Girard et Fils, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Loire, France
Ah, french sauvignon Blanc is far more subtle than the usual New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. While this is not the greatest wine to come out of France it is a well made, on the drier side with flavours of citrus and softness that makes you happy to have another glass. At over £15 a bottle its a bit pricey but rather nice.
Waitrose, Prosecco, Italy
Its a Procecco under the Waitrose supermarket brand in the UK is the best description I can gave. Its very nice, flavour is pear, its light in a good way and not overly sweet. Its one of the better Prosecco’s I’ve tasted and at £8 worth trading up to from the £5-6 bottles you see in many supermarkets. Its like the new wave of Chinese electric cars coming to the UK, much better than many European cars especially at the cheaper end.
Noble Ridge, Reserve Meritage, 2012, Okanagan Valley, Canada
The Okanagan Valley in Canada produces some stunning wines and this dry red blend Reserve Meritage, 2012 from Noble Ridge is no exception.
At 13 years old the tannins are well integrated and soft. Flavours of plum, blackberry with a light smokiness and tobacco and oak notes in the back ground make this a rather good wine, esp at 13 years old. Its like buying a second hand VW and thinking, well everything is still working, excellent. At about CAD35 its good value too.
Alvento, Cabernet Franc, Icewine, 2021, Ontario, Canada
I have never had a bad bottle of ice wine, whether from Canada or else where and Alvento from Ontario in Canada has kept that run going. This is a great example of an ice wine. Its slightly on the lighter side which has the benefit of the flavours being shown off rather than the sugar seducing you. notes of strawberry and spice come through beautifully and the balance of flavours and structure make this a delight to sample. And sample you should, savour this wine rather than just neck it. At CAD80 a half bottle its a bit pricey but thats ice wine in general.
Grande Rivers Vineyard, 2022, Colorado, USAI think this is the first wine from Colorado that I’ve tasted and I’m pleased to say its pretty good. It’s a good solid Merlot. Dry, decent Plum and red fruit flavours with reasonable length and medium tannins, it’s a drinking wine. Bit like a Ford Escot was in the 90’s, solid and decent.
Leftfield, Albarino, 2023, Gisborne, New Zealand
This was the first Albarino from Gisborne in New Zealand that I have tasted and I’m blown away by the quality. Soft and rounded with lemon, peach, melon and a hint of herbs. It’s balanced and delicious and at under £15 a bottle great value. Forget food, just enjoy it on its own and loss yourself in the flavours.
Rhonea, Notre Dames Des Vignes, 2022, Cotes Du Rhone, France
This dry white blend from Rhonea from the Cotes Du Rhone Villages has Grenache, Viognier and Clairette. It’s a dry white with lemon, grapefruit and peach notes. I really liked the freshness and clarity. Zesty salad or fish would lift this wine further.
It’s like a Fiat Panda 4×4, unexpectedly better when tried than you thought before.