Krondorf, Riesling, 2019, Eden Valley, Australia
Krondorf’s Riesling from the Eden Valley in Australia is a rather decent dry Riesling. There’s a freshness, a slight petroleum aroma, it’s the fruit concentration comes through on the nose and the flavours. You get lemon and citrus first with a little peach, minerality underlines it all with reason length.
At AUD16 a bottle it’s decent value and for me a good day to day white wine.
Domaine De Lavoie, Blanc Mousseux Brut, 2022, Quebec, Canada
Domaine De Lavoie is east of Montreal in the eastern townships. Its big producer by Canadian standards producing 100,000+ bottles. Their sparkling Brut is made in the same method as Prosecco. With a greeny lime colour its dry, highly acidic. Flavours of green apple and lime features heavy with an aromatic twist. It’s different but for me this is positive.
The down side is availability outside of the local area and the price tag of CAD20+ a bottle. Its a shame they don’t export to the UK although the cost would be a problem as it would compete with Prosecco.
Dr Loosen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2022, Mosel, Germany
I tried the 2016 version of this Slate Hill Riesling in 2020 and im happy to say its still great wine line. Aromas of lychee and citrus with hints of petroleum in there. The taste is refreshing with fresh citrus and lime under note with minerality poking though. The length is excellent and the underlying sweetness is beautifully integrated making this a great wine. At £10 a bottle it’s amazing value.
Videla Aranda, Malbec, 2021, Mendoza, Argentina
Videla Aranda, Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina is a pretty good red wine. Its typical of the style snd quality of of a mass produced malbdc from Mendoza and that’s not a bad thing. Dry, smooth, reasonable tannins with decent length. There’s blackcurrant, redcurrant and notes of oak, and vanilla. It’s a wine to just drink and enjoy and not think to much about. At £7.50 on a mix 6 bottle offer at Majestic Wines It’s very good value and worth a few bottles in the wine store.
Nardello, Turbian, Soave, 2019, Italy
Yep another italian white wine! Which for about £10 is pretty good value. It’s a typical Soave, dry and reasonably light with a soft and roundness feel. There’s flavours of peach, citrus, apple and hints of pear and honey. It won’t set the wine world alight, but it’s rather good and worth trying.
Patriarche Pere et Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay
Love it or hate Chardonnay, Burgundy does seem to produce better Chardonnay than most other places. This is a competent dry white wine with plenty of acidity and depth of flavour although a little one dimensional. Citrus and apple are in there but it’s a little sharp for me. At £16 a bottle there are better Burgundy Chardonnay’s out there.
Adega Ponte de Lima, Rosé, Portugal
It’s hard to get a bad bottle of Portuguese wine in the UK and while this is acceptable its not inspiring. Sure at £10 a bottle it’s decent enough value. Dry, crisp with some red fruit flavours it’s a drinking wine in the summer at the BBQ. Don’t over think it and you’ll be back for another glass.
Bindi Sergardi, La Ghirlanda, 2018, Chianti Classico, ItalyBindi Sergardi in their La Ghirlanda have produced a wonderful Chianti Classico. Dry, full bodied with well integrated tannins and masses of black and red fruits. There’s spice and oak undertones knitting in perfectly. The down side is the £28 price tag, although I have seen it at a very reasonable £18 for the 2016 variety. Very much worth trying even at the higher price, but better at the lower price of course 😉
Martín Códax, Albariño, 2022, Spain
This Albarino from Spain is a great example of the grape, dry, light with a good dope of acidity. You get lemon, citrus and hints of peach on the flavours side. This would go very well with sea food, pasta in a white source or a zesty salad. At £13 a bottle it’s decent value.
Wine made with the Solaris grape is usually found in England as its a grape that grows very well here. In England it produces a crisper wine with green apples, grass and hints of gooseberry. This wine from high in the Dollomites in Italy produces something different. Its dry, crisp with citrus and stone fruit flavours and a hint of gooseberry and very clean.
At £8 a bottle at Majestic Wines It’s got to be the best value white wine of the year, absolutely cracking.
Concilio, Vigneti delle Dolomiti, Solaris, 2021, Italy