Chateau de l’Hyverniere, Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie, 2020, Loire, France
This white wine from the luave Valley from Chateau de l’Hyverniere is quite wonderful. It’s a dry white but quite light and frisky with high acidity which would make this perfect to go with seafood full stop there are flavors of citrus, lemon and grapefruit and green apple. There’s a mineral undertone which makes this quite a fabulous wine and at under £8 a bottle it’s great value.
Domaine Lafage, Centenaire, 2019, Languedoc, France
This white wine from Domaine Lafage in the Languedoc, France is made with Granache Gris and Granache Blanc and is quite good, even great in some ways. Bold, dry with plenty of length there are ripe citrus and honey flavours with a bit of minerality and green apple poking through. The bit I’m not some keen on is the grapefruit hints. Great wine for chicken, zesty salad or watching a sunset.
Bald Hills, Single Vineyard, Pinot Noir, 2015, Central Otago, New Zealand
New Zealand Pinot Noir is some of the best in the world and this one from Bald Hills really shows class. Refreshing, light, red wine that’s very smooth and dry with lots of cherry and raspberry flavours with hints of strawberry. There’s some oak and chocolate and vanilla in there and earthiness which is refreshing, not overpowering and shows subtlety.
Sure it’s £25 a bottle but it’s worth it.
Mascota, Unanime, Merlot, 2018, Mendoza, Argentina
Argentinian makes a fantastic wine and this Merlot from Mascota is quite divine. Dry with plenty of red fruit with blueberry as well, chocolate and black pepper under pin the flavours. I wouldn’t say it was particularly complex but there’s definitely good structure here and a very long finish which makes this a superb wine for approximately £15 a bottle.
Domaine du Tix, Cuvée des Grandes Pountes, Vaucluse, France
This Viognier from the Rhone is quite something, with a rich texture and lots of fruit, peach and apricot, green apple, citrus and a mineral afternote it’s on thd dry side but quite bold. With decent acidity underlying everything it’s a classic French wine that’s done well and at £10 a bottle, great value. It’s a shame that not more French white wine is of this quality and price.
Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Syrah, 2021, Rhone, France
This syrah from Paul Jaboulet Aîné, in the Rhone of France is a marmite wine, its love it or hate it red wine when its first opened. Its dry, medium bodied and very juicy with rich aromas and flavours of blackcurrant and hints of spice but with a tanker full of herbs thrown in. When I tried it the next day much of the overpowering herb flavours had disapated. It’s not bad with all the herby nores but not what I was expecting, but it is also more juice focused and one dimensional. Even at £6.99 at Majestic Wines on a mixed 6 offer i couldn’t give it more points, sorry not for me.
La Belle Angèle, Pinot Noir, 2021, Languedoc, France
A cheap pinot noir is always worth trying because to get a good one is hard and this one from La Belle Angèle from the Languedoc, France is cheap at £7.50. Dry, and easy drinking it’s OK but there’s too much sour cherry at the expense of structure and other flavours. Better when having with food, cheese in my case, it’s one to consider for a BBQ or party.
New Hall Estate, Single Estate, Pinot Noir, 2021, Essex, UK
New Hall Estate in Essex can produce so excellent Lines but this single Estate Pinot Noir is outstanding. It’s one of the best Rosé wines I’ve tasted in a long time. There is a classiness about it, it’s subtle with redcurrent, strawberry, hint of creaminess and minerality on the finish.
At £16 a bottle it’s not cheap but its fantastic wine.
New Hall Estate, Barons Lane, 2021, Essex, UK
This white wine made primarily with pinot Blanc grapes, is another classic English White from New Hall in Essex and it’s all the better for it.
It’s a dry fruity wine with flavours of citrus and hints of peach, it’s a great wine for the summer sitting in the garden enjoying life or have with sea food. At £13 its fair value.
Tuffon Hall, Beatrice, Rosé, 2022, Essex, UK
We know that Essex is one of the best places in England for why and this Rose from Tuffon Hall really does show some classic English, easy drinking Summer Wine. It’s very much like a Provence which isn’t a bad thing there are hints of strawberry and a touch of red fruit it’s got greater acidity and a firm crispness which is refreshing when sitting at the bottom of the garden watching the sunset. Unfortunately at £16 a bottle it is a little bit on the pricey side, but it is a quality wine.