Author Archives: richardgore1200

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

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Piedmont in Italy does some excellent wine and this Montalbera Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, La Tradizione is a great example.

A lively red in colour with a smell of raspberries, violets and blackberries. Tasting this you get a sense of balance between the dryness, tannins and black fruit. This is a long lasting wine with the flavours lasting and you wanting to have a second glass.

At £20 a bottle its a bit pricey but very good.

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

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Felsina Berardenga is a great producer and makes amazing Chianti Classico wine. A younger Chianti would be deep ruby in colour with aromas of redberries, cherries and notes of spice. There would be flavours of these with dryness and medium tannins that should be well integrated. 14 years old and these are still here, a little softer maybe and a little less vibrant in colour but so good, wonderful, fabulous and worth every penny.

At £20+ a bottle for the younger versions, a can’t see 2006 available, its worth a few bottles and opening every few years to see the developments that may occur, or dont occur.

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

 

Dr Losen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2016, Mosel, Germany

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Dr Losen Is one Germany’s big but excellent producers, especially of Riesling. Even the off blue colour of the bottle and crisp label say class. I like to taste wine blind so you are not influenced by the label but in this case, who cares. Aromas of lychee and citrus with hints of petroleum. The taste is refreshing with fresh mineral notes coming through and lime popping out. The length is excellent and the underlying sweetness is beautifully integrated.

Dr Losen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2016, Mosel, Germany

Dr Losen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2016, Mosel, Germany

 

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

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Reichsrat von Buhl know a bit about making Riesling, they made enough of it over the years and rather well. This 2018 bone dry rosé is pretty good, made with Pinot Noir it’s dry. Amazing colour draws you in and there are aromas of strawberries, redcurrant and a creaminess in there, a bit of cream soda. The dryness gets you on the flavour, masking the redfruits which are pushed back, they are there but not pronounced enough. Finish is a bit short but it’s a refreshing wine which I wanted a second glass of and then a third glass.

At about £14 a bottle it’s s little pricey but enjoyable.

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

 

Marks & Spencer, Daniel’s Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa

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South Africa produces a lot of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay and this Daniel’s Drift from Marks & Spencer is pretty typical. At £7 a bottle (£5 on offer) or part of the M&S meal deal this is an easy drinking white wine.

Its light in colour, fresh and crisp on the nose with smells of ripe melon, apple and hints of citrus. There’s more in the flavour with grass, gooseberry and more lemon coming through. It’s a dry wine table wine with goes well with a supermarket meal or on a summer afternoon sitting in the garden.

Decanter gave it a bronze medal at the 2019 awards with 87 points which on reflection and most of the bottle is spot on and great if you can get it at £5 a bottle.

Marks & Spencer, Daniel's Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa

Marks & Spencer, Daniel’s Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

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Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé it’s not what you might think of a German rose wine. It’s a beautiful dark rose colour with hints or orange, with slight aromas of strawberry and redcurrants and this follows through in the flavour with a little citrus undertone. It’s bone dry and it’s the finish makes this refreshing and slightly different to what you may expect.

At £15 a bottle it’s not cheap but very enjoyable.

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

Château La Sauvageonne, Rosé 2018, Côteaux du Languedoc, France

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From Gerard Bertrand, this Château La Sauvageonne rose from the Côteaux du Languedoc is a staple Majestic shop rose. I can see why, its a beautiful colour, bronze, orange hints, its nice and light with a dry crisp finish.

There’s not a great deal of aroma or taste for that matter, everything is subtle. Maybe that’s the strength of this wine?. There’s strawberry, rose petal and redcurrant with a bit of vanilla and I did like this wine very much, I think I had a faulty bottle as the level dropped very quickly in the bottle, could have been evaporation!. At £17 a single bottle is way over priced, at £11 a bottle on a mix 6 basis its expensive but no one who drinks it will complain.

Château La Sauvageonne, Rosé 2018, Côteaux du Languedoc, France

Château La Sauvageonne, Rosé 2018, Côteaux du Languedoc, France

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, Grès de Montpellier, 2012, France

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Sitting in the Languedoc Roussillon in the south of France this blend of Mourvedre, Syrah and Grenache Noir is typical of the area and Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue make a very good job of blending.

Dry, bold and a good chunk of tannins makes this like many other reds from the Languedoc. There’s a fair bit going on here, spice, leather, plum and black fruits on the nose with underlying tobacco and oak notes, these following in the taste with prunes, chocolate hints and herbs. The tannins are a little much for me, if you have it with food, such as beef than you won’t notice the tannins. At £12 a bottle it’s great value.

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, Grès de Montpellier, 2012, France

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, Grès de Montpellier, 2012, France

Château de Plaisance, Coteaux du Layon, Premier Cru Chaume, France

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Made from local Chenin grapes from the Coteaux du Layon, Chaume area, this Premier Cru from Château de Plaisance is excellent, read on if you want, but this is excellent.

A lightish, medium wine with a fantastic dark orange colour this has aromas and flavours of citrus pineapple, lime, mango, apricot and an underlying honey note that has hints of orange, not so much rich in flavour or texture but nicely balanced. I’m tempted to say drink on its own but it went well with fresh fruit and the cheese board at the end of the meal.

At £20 a bottle is on the nose for value and has a long shelf life, we probably drank ours 5 or 6 years to early but is was wonderful.

Château de Plaisance, Coteaux du Layon, Premier Cru Chaume, France

Château de Plaisance, Coteaux du Layon, Premier Cru Chaume, France

Domaine de la Prevote, Touraine, Brut, Loire Valley, France

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Purchase on holiday when we visit the Loire Valley, this Sparkling wine is made with 100% Chenin and in the traditional method. Thats the plus points.

Its far more acidic and green than I remember it on holiday, lots of citrus and green apple in there but it was too much on its own, with a bit of smoked salmon it was better. Its not undrinkable but compared to the Luxembourg Sparkling we had first it was no where near that in quality.

At Eur6 a bottle its best left or make it the 3rd or 4th bottle to open at a party.

la Prevote, Touraine, Brut, Loire Valley, France

la Prevote, Touraine, Brut, Loire Valley, France