Author Archives: richardgore1200

Schloss Johannisberg, Silberlack, Riesling, Trocken, 2016, Germany

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Buy it. That could be the quickest review ever! Schloss Johannisbery is a top producer and this Silberlack Riesling is wonderful, from the mid golden colour to the aromas of apricot, peach, pear and floral notes on the nose that have hints of smokeyness. There are flavours peach, lemon, a little green apple with honey and a bit of spice. Its concentrated with a clean mineral taste that is long lasting and refreshing.

At £35 a bottle its not cheap but worth every penny.

Schloss Johannisberg, Silberlack, Riesling, Trocken, 2016, Germany

Schloss Johannisberg, Silberlack, Riesling, Trocken, 2016, Germany

 

 

Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione, 2010, Italy

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There’s a fair bit of wine that comes out of Brunello, some good and some great, like this offering from Il Poggione. This is a rich Sangiovese wine but the aromas are quite subtle, some red fruit and spice but the flavours is where you get mountains of red fruits, cherry and violets. You get spice, meaty flavours with an earthy tone all in balance.

At £45 a bottle its not cheap and although excellent I would find it hard to recommend someone buying this when there are cheaper wines that deliver 90% of this wine.

Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione, 2010, Italy

Brunello di Montalcino, Il Poggione, 2010, Italy

Mission Hill, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, Okanagan Valley, Canada

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Mission Hill in the Okanagan Valley, Canada is a premium winery by any standard and this Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is a classy wine. Its not a full on, ball breaking Cab Sauv though.

At 9 years old this has aged well, the aromas and flavours a restrained, more than subtle, like a rock climber scaling a cliff face and each hand or foot exactly where it should be. There’s pepper, herbal, blackcurrant and an underlying smokey note on the nose and additional sour cherry, plum and black olive with hints of an earthy undertone. Its a mid bodied wine, pretty smooth but with tannins in there and very dry. Its best drunk now as I can see the flavours and aromas weaken over time.

At £15 a bottle its good value

Mission Hill, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Mission Hill, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, 2011, Okanagan Valley, Canada

Calmel & Joseph, Ams Tram Gram, Ceres, Rose, Languedoc, France

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Calmel & Joseph, Ams Tram Gram, Ceres, Rose, Languedoc, France

I love Languedoc rose wine, easy drinking and perfect for the summer and this is what this Calmel & Joseph, Ams Tram Gram, Ceres rose wine is like.

Made with 40% Mourvèdre, 30% Cinsault, 30% Grenache noir this is a wonderful pale pink in colour with light fruity notes of wild strawberry and pink grapefruit. Its a fresh, crisp wine with light flavours of grapefruit and raspberry with a hint lemon. Its acidic and dry but the freshness brings these into line.

Pair this with a chicken or prawn salad for the perfect summer lunch and at about Eur7 a bottle it won’t break the bank.

Case D’ Alto, Eclissi Fiano di Avellino, DOCG, Campania, Italy

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Case D’ Alto is an organic vineyard in Campania, Italy and makes DOCG wine. This guarantee level of quality is not always what its meant to be.

Its made with the Fiano grape and has decent straw coloured with floral notes on the nose and a fresh clean taste, slight minerality on the taste with flavours of pineapple, melon and grapefruit.

Its a decent wine but the silver medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards I think is a little generous.

Case D' Alto, Eclissi Fiano di Avellino, DOCG, Campania, Italy

Case D’ Alto, Eclissi Fiano di Avellino, DOCG, Campania, Italy

Pazo de San Mauro, 2018, Albarino, Galicia, Spain

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A silver medal winner at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 this Albarino from Pazo de San Mauro, Galicia in Spain is a great example of the grape and region.

You get apple and pear aromas with lemon, pineapple and hints of orange on the taste with a zesty, concentrated finish. Oh at £10 a bottle its very good value for money, naff said.

Pazo San Mauro, 2018 Albariño, Galicia, Spain

Pazo de San Mauro 2018 Albariño, Galicia, Spain

 

 

Minkov Brothers, Oak Tree, 2013, Bulgaria

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Bulgaria makes some very wines, lets get that straight and this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc is not bad at all, not outstanding though. There are aromas of black fruit and smokeyness with spice as you would expect. Its a reasonable purple colour, very dry and flavours of black fruit, spice and pretty smooth. there are tannins but they don’t suck your mouth dry. The problem I have with it is it should have been drunk a few years ago, everything finishes too early or its too light in the smell or flavour. My fault in reality.

At Eur15 a bottle its not cheap either, better 7 year old reds out there for that money.

Minkov Brothers, Oak Tree, 2013, Bulgaria

Minkov Brothers, Oak Tree, 2013, Bulgaria

 

Chet and Waveney, Regent, dry rosé, 2017, England

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England produces alot rosé and some are light with little taste and some are full of flavour like this one from Chet and Waveney in Norfolk. Made from the Regent grape, this 2017 vintage has smells of strawberries, redcurrant and hints of cream soda, it’s delightful. Theres a lot of flavour in this and good flavours. On taste front you get what you smell with a bit of raspberry. Well balanced and very smooth this is an outstanding rosé from any country. With or without food this is wonderful. The Redwing line is the latest Regent which I think retails at about £12 a bottle and is very good value, one of my top 5 rosé wines.

Chet and Waveney, Regent, dry rosé, 2017, England

Chet and Waveney, Regent, dry rosé, 2017, England

Lake Chalice, Falcon, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

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New Zealand has knack of doing SOME great Sauvignon Blanc and great Pinot Noir, but whats this “Falcon” Pinot Noir from Lake Chalice like?

Its light, dry and pretty smooth. You get aromas of cranberry and strawberry with redcurrant and vanilla. These feed into the taste with a little plum and cherry adding to it. All light and subtle with a beautiful smoothness that makes you want to savour this wine rather than gulp it. Its not that expensive at £15 a bottle, at the lower end of New Zealand pinot Noir and very good value.

Lake Chalice, Falcon, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Lake Chalice, Falcon, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

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Clos des Cazaux is a well establish and well regarded vineyards in Gigondas in the Rhone Valley. Made with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from vines averaging 50 years old. This is a bold, dry red wine with strong tannins, black fruits, leather, pepper and oak notes on the nose with red cherry, smokeyness, cigar flavours and an earth undertone when tasted.

Pair with game, grilled meats and strong cheeses otherwise the wine will over power your food. At Eur35 a bottle is a bit pricey for what you get but its Eur20+ bottle certainly.

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France