Duca di Salaparuta Calanica, Syrah, 2020, Southern Italy
This southern this southern Italian red wine is really rather good. It’s dry, bold but smooth. There’s plenty of red and black fruit flavours and works well on its own znd with food such as pasta or red meat dishes. At £13 a bottle it’s not bad value.
The Guv’nor, Majestic Wine, Spain
The Guv’nor from Majestic Wine is wine from Spain that really surprises for it’s an amazing white wine blend. It is fresh and crisp with lots of citrus with hints of pineapple. Great acidity, balanced and at £6 a bottle it’s amazing value too.
Sparkling wine from South Africa has come along way in the last 15 years. This Jacques Bruere, Brut Reserve, 2013 shows how good it can be. There’s a freshness znd ziggyness to it, lots of fruit, peach, grapefruit, lemon and balanced acidity. Pair it with seafood or just enjoy with friends. At £15 a bottle it’s great value.
Calvet, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, 2020, Southern Rhone, France
It’s hard to get a bad Châteauneuf-du-Pape and this one from Calvet is no exception. This good aromas and flavours of black fruits, oak, vanilla, with notes of licorice and coffee. At £10 a bottle it’s a good and well worth trying. Sure there are better ones but at £10 is very good value.
Bodegas Murviedro, Pasion, Monastrell Garnacha, Spain
Dry, firm tannins with dark fruits, spice, oak and hints of eucalyptus make this Bodegas Murviedro, Pasion, Monastrell Garnacha from Spain. It’d rather good and at about £12 decent value.
Bodegas & Viñedos Polo, Herencia La Palabra, Malbec, Argentina
This is a very good, excellent malbec from Mendoza in Argentina. A pretty bold, dry red which is smooth and has good integration of tannins that makes this a joy to drink. Long length of the flavours of red and black fruits, oak, chocolate, tobacco.
It’s a wine to be enjoyed with a steak or a burger. Drink and enjoy and you’ll feel those flavours come through.
Cattier, Premier Cru, Champagne, France
Not all Champagnes are created equal Nd this Cattier, Premier Cru shows Champagne at its best. It’s not a yeasty or bready Champagne but it’s more fruit driven with freshness and softness which reminds me of a cremant, not a bad thing at all.
At £30 a bottle it’s a good price for such a lovely wine.
Ronc Soreli,
Schioppettino, Italy
A half decent red wine from northern Italy made with Schioppettino it’s a good wine. Its got decent flavours of red fruit, with hints of spice but it’s a little light on the length and body for me. It’s not bad but not one that you would get a case in.
Made in the traditional, just like Champagne this New Hall, Brut Rose is a classic easy drinking sparkling wine from central Essex. There’s hints of strawberries and raspberry. It’s got a good hit of acidity and pretty dry but very drinkable. At a bit over £20 its decent value.
Croft Quinta da Roeda, Vintage Port, 2004, Portugal
I love port and vintage port is the best. This single quinta vintage by Croft is pretty good. Vintage port is softer and much more delicate than your average Ruby Port. Its soft, with flavours of blackcurrant and plum, chocolate, vanilla, raisins and excellent integration.
At £20 a bottle it’s great value and a great choice for winter evenings.