France produces lots of Syrah. Therefore to stand out and be remembered a wine needs that extra something that a person remembers, otherwise its a “nice wine” whats next. This does stand out.
Its elegant with aromas of blackcurrant and liquorice and flavours of dark fruits, spice and floral notes of violet, subtle rose hints and vanilla with oak in the background. its good and at about £18 a bottle its not over priced.
Les Jamelles – Vallee de la bretonne, 2017 Syrah from Corbières in France
This is a full Syrah, with lots of black fruit, spice, cocoa and pepper. This is a mature wine with great structure, flavours, aromas and tannins. Its what you expect from a quality dry red wine. This got a trophy at the International Wine Challenge in 2015.
At under £15 a bottle this is a really grown up wine.
Maray Limited Edition Syrah, 2012, Chile
Its 100% Merlot made partly in new Oak barrels. SO the rest is pretty standard. Its full bodied with firm but soft tannins. The aromas are more relaxed that the flavours, red fruits abound with some black plum thrown in. The length of flavour is good but I would have this with food. I think because the oaking and tannins are a little too much for me. Its either that or try this in a few years. Given its 8 years old already I’m going with too much oaking. It was great with steak though.
At about £25 a bottle its not cheap, its good but just not £25 good.
Domaine du Grand Mayne – Revolution 2011, Bordeaux, France
A blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache and Carignan this is a southern french blend, plain and simple. Black fruit, spice, medium tannins and pretty dry. Actually really dry and firm tannins when you take the second glug of this wine. You get a smokyness on the palette but its subtle, there’s some red fruit that then comes in after. These second flavours get lost when this is drunk with food but I think I prefer it with food, usual steak and chips type of food.
At £10 a bottle this is pretty good value.
Chateau Cabezac, Petit Arthur 2017, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon, France
Typical Argentinian Malbec, bloody good one though.
First decant this wine, give it a little air and wait an hour or three to open up. It makes a difference.There’s aromas of plum, licorice and blackcurrant with spice notes, these follow on the taste and there are firm tannins that stick to the mouth. Its a concentrated wine with good length and at £30 a bottle its on the mark for quality and value.
Solocontigo – Reserva Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina
Oastbrook Pinot Gris 2018, East Sussex, UK
Shilda Mukuzani 2016 dry red wine from Georgia
Villa Baulien, Cuvee Berengere Blanc 2014, Cateaux d’Aix en Provence, France.
Macon Blanc Villages Terres Secretes is a value white burgundy wine. It’s a clear, clean looking wine. As with most dry white wine from the area it has aromas and flavours of citrus and yellow fruits and a little sweetness. It’s a good balanced wine that at £12 is fairly price for a white burgundy.
Macon Blanc Villages Terres Secretes 2017, Burgundy, France
We visited Eguisheim in Alsace a few years ago and tried wines from about 20 producers that had shops in the village.This was one of the highlights of the trip.
Paul Schneider Pinot Gris, Alsace, France