Author Archives: richardgore1200

Wye Valley Sparkling Mead – honey and rhubarb from Wales

Posted on by
Reply

I came across this at the London international wine fair earlier in the year. I tried 3 flavours, honey with elderflower, honey with hops and then honey with rhubarb. I thought the elderflower was my favourite but after re-tasting this one sitting next to the Day Lillie’s I’m thinking I should have got more of these.

In all three flavours the honey and the other flavours come through but in a complimentary way. Light and refreshing with a different style to other drinks you normally come across this could be the new alco pop for the summer for young and old.

At £64 for a mixed case of 20, 330ml bottles it’s not cheap but it’s does make a lovely change to beer when you don’t want something too alcoholic.

Sparkling Mead - honey and rhubarb and the gardens Day Lillie's

Sparkling Mead – honey and rhubarb from Wales

Sparkling Mead - honey and rhubarb and the gardens Day Lillie's

Drinking it in the garden by  the gardens Day Lillie’s

Dom Brial – Mirade – Cotes du Roussillon Villages – Red Wine

Posted on by
Reply

A typical Cotes du roussillon villages red wine this is 60% Syrah, 30% Grenache and 10% Mourvedre. There are very subtle aromas of red fruit but the flavour helps redeem this with a better dollop of red and cooked fruits. This is no flagship wine, it’s a presentable, drinkable guzzling wine and at approximately £8 it’s reasonable.

 

Dom Brial - Mirade - Cotes du Roussillon Villages - Red Wine

Dom Brial – Mirade – Cotes du Roussillon Villages – Red Wine

Copford Hall Bacchus 2017

Posted on by
Reply

 

Copdock Hall from Suffolk is a small producer but their wines are of a good standard. This has hints of grass and lychee with a little gooseberry. it’s lighter than the usual British bacchus and it makes a refreshing change. It’s a great summer drinking wine for the garden and it’s reasonable value at about 13 pounds bottle.

Copford Hall Bacchus 2017

Copford Hall Bacchus 2017

Burnt Foot and Lavenham Brook Pinot Noir 2017

Posted on by
Reply
  • Burnt Foot and Lavenham Brook Pinot Noir 2017 are both from Suffolk. English Pinot Noir is not usually outstanding and this is the same with these two. That said they are good with aromas and flavours of strawberry and redcurrant. I tried the Pinot Noir from Bolney vineyard last week which was like raspberry squash, thin and watery and very overpriced at £20 a bottle. These are in in a completely different league. At about £13 a bottle they can’t compete with Provence’s or Australian rose’s but these are good solid, won’t let you down English rose wine.
Burnt foot and Lavenham Brook Pinot Noir 2017

Burnt Foot and Lavenham Brook Pinot Noir 2017

Marks and Spencer Burra Brook 2015 Australian Shiraz

Posted on by
Reply

Super market wines have come a long way in the last decade or so. This Shiraz is a typical Australian red, plum and cherry on the taste with a hint of cloves and herbs. I found it best to leave it as it improved by the next day. As part of a  meal for 2 package I can’t fault it, would I buy it? No Spencer Burra Brook 2015 Australian Shiraz

Marks and Spencer Burrs Brook 2015 Australian Shiraz

Marks and Spencer Australian Shiraz

 

Court Garden 2013 English sparkling wine

Posted on by
Reply

English sparkling wine has come along way in recent years and this is a classic example of a method traditional sparkling wine. There are aromas of wild strawberry, red currant and yeasty notes and this comes through in the tasting. Although it’s a 2013, so 6 years old, it’s as fresh and vibrant as when it was released with so much to commend it. As good as any champagne, although it does have a champagne price. I’m a big fan of this wine although I’m not sure that Joey the cat was into it.

Court Garden 2013 English sparkling wine

Court Garden 2013 English sparkling wine

Katsaros Valos 2014 Greek red

Posted on by
Reply

Greek wine may not have the reputation but there are good wines from the country, this was a Decanter world wine awards bronze medal winner. There are aromas of jammy cooked fruits and cloves with dark cherry. The taste is not as full as the smell.

It’s an easy drinking wine which doesn’t need food and actually works quite well, outside,  enjoying the evening sun.

Katsaros Valos 2014 xinomavro Greek red wine

Katsaros Valos 2014 xinomavro Greek red wine

 

 

 

Motzenbäcker Hoheburg Riesling 2014

Posted on by
Reply

German Riesling can be bloody marvelous. The issue in the UK is getting the good stuff. This one is one of the good stuff, although this was purchased in Germany in a vineyard association trip. There are aromas of pear, honey and subtle smell of petrol, refined not in your face. This is a dry Riesling but the finish is rounded, there’s plenty of acidity but the fruit flavours that you initially smell are what come to fore to make this a well balanced wine.

Drink it over a few evenings to really enjoy it.

Motzenbäcker Hoheburg Riesling 2014 from Germany

Motzenbäcker Hoheburg Riesling 2014 from Germany

 

 

 

 

Plantagenet Omhar 2010 unoaked Chardonnay

Posted on by
Reply

Looking through the wine fridge we came across this unoaked Chardonnay from Plantagenet, Western Australia. Nine years on and it’s still excellent. There are aromas of vanilla and a taste of oak, yet this is an unoaked Chardonnay! It could be an age thing or maybe a combination of the pear and citrus, answers on a postcard.

This is delicious, rounded, soft, smooth with subtle butter hints. You could make an xxx film on this wine and get an Oscar for it. At about £14 a bottle and a little waiting it’s worth buying and waiting.

Plantagenet 2014 unoaked Chardonnay

Plantagenet 2014 unoaked Chardonnay

Barnsole Kent classic 2014 white wine

Posted on by
Reply

In 2019 a 2014 English wine maybe a little bit on the old side for most people. They consider drinking English wine earlier rather than later.  However Barnsole is a quality producer and this goes to show that 5 years on this tastes absolutely delicious. It’s off dry with huge chunks of honey and honeysuckle aromas and flavours with peach blossom in the background, its aromatic and goes absolutely amazing with a veggie curry.

Veggie curry and Barnsole 2014 Kent classic white wine

Veggie curry and Barnsole 2014 Kent classic white wines

 

Barnsole 2014 Kent classic white wine

Barnsole 2014 Kent classic white wine