Author Archives: richardgore1200

San Pedro, Altair, 2017, Cachapoal, Chile

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San Pedro, Altair, 2017, Cachapoal, Chile

San Pedro, Altair, 2017, Cachapoal, Chile

San Pedro know how to make wine and this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with a smaller proportion of Cabernet Franc and Syrah is quite amazing. There lots of black and red fruit, tobacco and coffee notes which have great length and smoothness on the taste buds. Its like an electric car, quiet, smooth and making you wonder why you have not got a cellar full of it. Then the price rears its head – at £40 a bottle that’s why you don’t have a cellar full of it. But a bottle or 2?

Chet Valley, Jubilee Blanc de Blanc 2020, Norfolk, UK

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Chet Valley, Jubilee Blanc de Blanc 2020, Norfolk, UK

Chet Valley, Jubilee Blanc de Blanc 2020, Norfolk, UK

Chet Valley, Jubilee Blanc de Blanc 2020 from Norfolk was made with the Queen’s 70th jubilee celebrations in mind. It’s easy to dismiss this as all marketing, but this is truly an excellent sparkling wine. Made with 100% chardonnay it has many characteristics of champagne but is that little bit lighter with slightly less toasty notes and more fruit driven.

It’s got to be one of the best English sparkling wines I tried in a long time. It’s a shame that it’s £30 a bottle because it would put people off, but that’s the cost of champagne beating wine from the UK.

Chapel Down, Kits Coty, Chardonnay, 2013, UK

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Chapel Down, Kits Coty, Chardonnay, 2013, UK

Chapel Down, Kits Coty, Chardonnay, 2013, UK

If you think you can’t keep English wine for years before drinking it you’re wrong and this is exactly the bottle to try. Chapel Down make a lot of wine and a million bottles on a year but this kits coty is one of their premier lines.

Even after 8-years it is stunning wine to taste and although it costs over £25 a bottle it’s a must to try anyone that likes white wine. A worthy gold medal winner.

Theres still complexity in this wine with aromas of peach and apple, apricot with flinty under notes and subtle oak and a very long finish.

With summer and sitting out in the garden eating salads and barbecues, talking with friends this is got to be one to put on the menu.

Klet Krsko, Classic Zeleni Silvanec, 2017, Slovenia

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Klet Krsko, Classic Zeleni Silvanec, 2017, Slovenia

Klet Krsko, Classic Zeleni Silvanec, 2017, Slovenia

I like trying different wines and this Silvaner grape base white from Klet Krsko in Slovenia is quite good. Its very green and flinty with quite aromatic on the taste but quite neutral on the nose. It’s like a ford fiesta, to be used or in this case drunk but think of it too much.

Its a white wine that is best with food, fish would be good but as the summer is on us then a zesty salad would be a good choice. At under £10 its decent value.

Sugrue, English Sparkling Wine, South Downs, UK

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Sugrue, English Sparkling Wine, South Downs, UK

Sugrue, English Sparkling Wine, South Downs, UK

Its the first time that I have tried Sugrue’s english sparkling wine which is from the  South Downs in England and I was very surprised.

Dry, crisp with high acidity and tasting exactly like Champagne I was expecting more fruit driven flavours rather than deep yeasty notes. Its nice but I’m more a cremant person, its good but just not for me.

 

Zantho, St Laurent, 2015, Burgenland, Austria

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Zantho, St Laurent, 2015, Burgenland, Austria

Zantho, St Laurent, 2015, Burgenland, Austria

Austrian wine has had a bit of a come back in recent years and this St Laurent from Zantho in Burgenland shows why.

There is some much going on, aromas and flavours of cherry, plum, blackcurrant, tobacco, licorice, hints of chocolate and oak. It’s dry, medium bodied with soft but “present” tannins. The length of these are good and integration is excellent.

One of the best wines I have tried in years and at approximately £15 a bottle it’s great value.

 

 

Tsiakkas Winery, Porfyros, Cyprus

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Tsiakkas Winery, Porfyros, Cyprus

Tsiakkas Winery, Porfyros, Cyprus

Cyprus makes some decent wine and this read from Tsiakkas Winery is pretty good. It’s made with Grenache, Merlot and Agiorgitiko. Show me best with food because although you’ve got cherry and blackcurrant and plum flavours with a background of oak, coffee and chocolate, it’s a little unrefined. It’s not so much criticism but it’s a wine for place and time and that’s with food. It went well with a burger! It’s an everyday drinking wine that you can just, well drink and don’t think too much about, enjoy it.

 

Cantina Negrar, Vigneti Di Roccolo, Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico, Italy

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Cantina Negrar, Vigneti Di Roccolo, Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico, Italy

Cantina Negrar, Vigneti Di Roccolo, Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico, Italy

There are many Amarone’s out there and this Vigneti Di Roccolo from Cantina Negrar is one of the best Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico wines I have tasted in many years

There is just so much going on, sure it’s bold, it’s also quite smooth. It’s not overly dry and there’s definite softness on the texture. You’ve got cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, you got some plum, BlackBerry, there’s chocolate and tobacco. Hints of coffee and there’s some smokiness and in a bit of earthiness in there as well, which just complement each other superbly.

The only sad thing is that with spring upon us there will be probably be less opportunity to drink Amarone, you really want to drink this in front of the fire or with a hearty stew. We did have it with homemade pizza which which was probably quite decadent. At £25 a bottle it’s actually good value for Amarone, sure it’s £25, but it’s Amarone.

Herdade, Grand Reserva, 2006, Portugal

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Herdade, Grand Reserva, 2006, Portugal

Herdade, Grand Reserva, 2006, Portugal

Made with a blend of Touriga National and Syrah this Grand Reserva from Herdade is Pretty good, sure at £25 a bottle is not cheap but there is quality. It’s a bold wine with plenty of tannins, very dry with massive flavours of plum, blackcurrant, vanilla, oak and chocolate coming through. There are hints of leather and smokiness that are all really well integrated and after 16 years it’s incredibly drinkable.

Franchini, Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sedèse, 2017, Italy

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Franchini, Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sedèse, 2017, Italy

Franchini, Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sedèse, 2017, Italy

Oohh this a great example of Valpolicella Classico from Italy. There are red and black fruit aromas with a dry, medium tannins and good length in the flavours. It’s a firm but soft red wine that lends itself to red meat meals or cheese and biscuits in front of a wood fire.

At £20 a bottle it’s not cheap but for a Decanter Silver medal winner it’s a fair price.