Richou, L’ R Osé, Loire, France

Posted on June 7, 2020 by richardgore1200

Loire rose often comes second to Provence rose but it does it a disservice, Richou shows what a great rose region the Loire is. Its made with Gamay and Cabernet Sauvignon and you get a darker rose in colour because of these grapes used. This is a not a cheap rose but at £10 a bottle feels priced correctly. This is an off dry, fruit driven rose with just the right amount of acidity. You get strawberries on the nose with redcurrant under notes.

The smell is more noticeable than the taste, you get the flavours but they are down a notch on the smell. In many ways that’s a provence style wine, a bit more flavour would have been nice, buts its great summer wine.

Château Grand Billard, Bordeaux 2010, France

Posted on June 4, 2020 by richardgore1200

Made with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot its a good blend. 10 years old you may feel that this red is ready for drinking, esp as its a “Grand” Bordeaux. Its just part of the name, its not a grand vin. That said there is much to commend this wine.

Its still got a dark purple colour but the aromas and flavours are quite light for a Bordeaux. You get blackberries and cherries on the nose and in the taste, some oaky notes and smooth tannins but its the lightness that I’m liking. In reality it should have been drunk 2 or 3 years ago to get a bolder hit of flavours and aromas.

At about £10 a bottle its reasonable value for a lighter red but if you want a full Bordeaux you will be disappointed.

Château Grand Billard, Bordeaux 2010, France

Gérard Bertrand, Joa Rosé, Languedoc, France

Posted on June 2, 2020 by richardgore1200

Languedoc, France make some of the most wonderful Rose wine in the world and this Joa, from Gérard Bertrand shows off what you can expect. Its made with shiraz, Grenache and Cinsault grapes.

Its very dry, light, a little acidic, crisp and has subtle aromas and flavours of wild strawberry, redcurrant, melon and floral hints in there.

At £13 a bottle its a little overpriced, but it a bio wine and therefore expect to pay that little bit more.

Gérard Bertrand, JoaRosé, Languedoc, France

Domaines Vinsmoselle, Grand Premier Cru, Riesling 2011, Luxembourg

Posted on May 29, 2020 by richardgore1200

Luxembourg is not the place you may think of for quality wine but this Grand Premier Cru Riesling from Domaines Vinsmoselle shows what can be done.

At 9 years old there’s lots of green apple and petroleum notes on the nose. There’s freshness and balance on the taste with grass, lemon and lime flavours and that petroleum notes that linger.

Its quite gorgeous, if you like older Riesling. Fortunately I do but you may wish to drink this earlier rather than later.

At £15 a bottle is bang on the money for value, quality isn’t cheap but you don’t need to pay a fortune for it either.

Domaines Vinsmoselle, Grand Premier Cru, Riesling 2011, Luxembourg

Claudio Alario, Barbera d’Alba Valletta, 2017 from Piemonte, Italy

Posted on May 22, 2020 by richardgore1200

Claudio Alario makes some great wine. This “Valletta” is made with 100% Barbera grape from the Barbera d’Alba DOC in Piemonte, Italy.

You can read what comes next or you can just buy it, it’s absolutely beautiful, wonderful, magnificent.

Its a bold, dry with a big hit of balanced acidity that makes it so smooth. There aromas of cherry, smoke and plum thats joined with vanilla, pepper, sweet spices, nutty, cassis and dried fruit flavours, so much going on. Its the wonderful balance and smoothness that I love.

At £23 a bottle its not cheap but so worth it, Magic in a bottle.

Claudio Alario, Barbera d’Alba Valletta, 2017 from Piemonte, Italy

Maschio Cadoro, Valdobbiadene, Prosecco Superiore 2017, Italy

Posted on May 16, 2020 by richardgore1200

Prosecco gets a bad name as there is a lot of rubbish stuff out there but Maschio Cadoro produce some good stuff. Get a good one and it’s a viable alternative to Champagne. Many people don’t like the full on Champagnes with there bready, toast notes. Prosecco with its fruity and easy drinking can go down a treat.

This is one of the better ones out there, there’s peardrop on the nose which is joined with subtle hints of citrus and peach. Light and refined sum this Prosecco up.

Maschio Cadoro, Valdobbiadene, Prosecco Superiore 2017, Italy

Château de Camensac, La Closerie de Camensac 2009, Bordeaux, France

Posted on May 13, 2020 by richardgore1200

2009 Bordeaux from Chateau de Camensac is almost a typical Bordeaux.

Almost! its over 10 years old and this wine has fine characteristics. Its very dry, pretty bold, smoothish tannins, they are definitely there. On the nose you get vanilla, cherry, blackcurrant, a bit of tobacco comes through. these feed into the taste but you then get red fruits and spice notes popping up and hints of earth.

This should have been drunk 2 or 3 years ago but it is very nice, at £16 a bottle it would have been good value 2 or 3 years ago, now a little bit over and a bit overpriced, my fault not the producers.

Château de Camensac, La Closerie de Camensac 2009, Bordeaux, France

Glenlofty Estate, Marsanne, Roussanne 2015, Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia

Posted on May 10, 2020 by richardgore1200

This Marsanne, Roussanne blend from the Glenlofty Estate located in the Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia is very drinkable but is it fantastic? This 2015 got a bronze at the IWSC awards and bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards

This is a fresh, dry wine with lime and honey aromas which are joined in the flavour department with melon, pear, citrus and hints of flora. This is best to be left 5 or 10 minutes after pouring as the flavours are more pronounced once the wine is allowed to open up. Its a very good wine which I think should have got a silver medal.

It worked with fish and chips and also on its own.

Glenlofty Estate, Marsanne Roussanne 2015, Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia

Viniterra, Select Malbec 2017, Argentina

Posted on May 7, 2020 by richardgore1200

Bold, dry and pretty smooth is how this Viniterra, Select Malbec 2017 could be described.

Deep in colour with aromas and flavours of blackberry, spice, oak and chocolate. It got a bronze medal at the Decanter International Wine Awards which is about right, the length is decent and it has decent flavours but nothing that elevates this to exceptional levels. A decent enough Malbec at about £12 a bottle.

Viniterra, Select Malbec 2017, Argentina

Domaine de Rocheville, Le Prince, Saumur-Champigny, Loire, France

Posted on May 5, 2020 by richardgore1200

Made with Cabernet Franc this is a typical Loire red wine, pretty good too getting a bronze medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Its not got the most intense aromas, you get cherry, plum and undertones of pepper and tobacco. Its dry, a decent hit of acidity and firm but not overpowering tannins. You get red and black fruits flavours adding to the aromas.

We had it with and without food and found it equally good. At £16 a bottle its not cheap and a little over priced but its nice.

Domaine de Rocheville, Le Prince, Saumur-Champigny, Loire, France

The accidental drinker

Wine talk and reviews by an accidental drinker

Author Archives: richardgore1200

Richou, L’ R Osé, Loire, France

Château Grand Billard, Bordeaux 2010, France

Gérard Bertrand, Joa Rosé, Languedoc, France

Domaines Vinsmoselle, Grand Premier Cru, Riesling 2011, Luxembourg

Claudio Alario, Barbera d’Alba Valletta, 2017 from Piemonte, Italy

Maschio Cadoro, Valdobbiadene, Prosecco Superiore 2017, Italy

Château de Camensac, La Closerie de Camensac 2009, Bordeaux, France

Glenlofty Estate, Marsanne, Roussanne 2015, Pyrenees, Victoria, Australia

Viniterra, Select Malbec 2017, Argentina

Domaine de Rocheville, Le Prince, Saumur-Champigny, Loire, France