Chateau de Fesles, Cabernet Franc, 2016, Loire, France
This Chateau de Fesles Cabernet Franc is quite stunning. Theres plenty of ripe, soft, black fruit flavours. It’s dry, bold and not overly complex, meaning it’s an easy red to drink with or without food. Excellent with steak and a cheese board.. At £20 a bottle it’s very well priced.
Domaine La Suffrene, Bandol, 2018, Provence, France
Lashings if black fruit, rich, elegant, with earthiness and leather under tones and well integrated oak and vanilla hints make this province red a delicious treat. Granted at £25 a bottle it’s not cheap. Great with red meat or rich tomato pasta.
Enrique Foster, Ique, Cabernet Franc, 2017, Mendoza, Argentina
This Cab Franc from Enrique Foster, Mendoza, Argentina is a bit different to the usual Cabernet Franc wines I drink. There’s the typical black fruit flavours with hints of tobacco and leather but it’s also very oaky and austere. The flavour hits the front palette and stops. It’s got reasonable length but at £15 a bottle it’s pricy for what it is. The wife on the other was very pleased so that’s a benefit.
Elysium, Black Muscat, 2018, California, USA
Elysium, Black Muscat, 2018, California, USAA rather good desert wine is how best to describe this wine from Elysium. Made with black Muscat grapes there’s lots of plum with a dollop of chocolate in each glass’s. It’s sweet but it’s not sticky or sickly. We’ll balanced and very drinkable. At £14 a half bottle it’s decent value
Tenuta, San Giorgio, ‘Ugolforte’, Brunello di Montalcino, 2016, Tuscany, Italy
This could be described as the typical Tuscan quality red wine. At £35 a bottle it’s not outrageously expensive either. What it is though is too young. At 6 years old it needs another 3 to 6 years in the bottle to develop further. There’s nice black fruit flavours and notes of oak, blueberry vanilla and some freshness but it’s all a little lacking. All it needs is time and this will be great
NK’MIP cellars, Meritage, 2012, Okanagan, Canada
I’ve yet to have a bad bottle of Canadian wine and this Meritage blend from NK’MIP cellars in the Okanagan Valley iis no exception. This though is a fantastic red wine.
Theres not so much on the nose but the black and red fruit flavours are well represented. There’s leather, oak, blueberry undertones with a long length. It’s dry, bold and feels soft when you drink it but there’s good acidity to hold everything together.
At £70 a bottle it’s not cheap but this is quality wine.
Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers, 2014, Loire, France
Another great red wine from the Loire this Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers shows French wine at its best. It’s not particularly complex or out of this world but it’s very good all round with good length, plenty of black fruit, blackcurrant, plum and hints of blueberry. There’s oak, leather, earthiness and smoothness which makes this a red wine that you want to drink with or without food. At about £15 a bottle it’s excellent value.
Marks and Spencer, classics No 24, Zinfandel, California, USA
This is a really good red that u think Marks and Spencer can be proud of, A bold, soft wine ggat has plenty of black fruit flavours and aromas. There’s hints of vanilla and spice but the best is how easy it is to drink. Sure have it with stew or a strong curry but it goes well on its own. At under £10 a bottle it’s get value.
Finca La Celia, Heritage, Malbec, 2012, Argentina
This is another excellent Malbec from Mendoza in Argentina, Finca La Celia with their Heritage, Malbec shows that they’re top notch producer. There loads of long length flavours of black fruit with leather and chocolate notes and hints of a herby undertone. Dry, smooth and well integrated firm tannins its a great wine.
We had it with brisket thst was slow cooked for 10 hours and it went very well. At £30 a bottle it’s reasonable value given the quality
Agrelo, Gran Enemigo, Cab Franc, 2014, Argentina
You don’t see as much Cabernet Franc as you should given how amazing this grape is and this Agrelo, Gran Enemigo from Argentina is flipping brilliant. Its dry, smooth, good tannins which are well integrated with plenty of red and black fruit flavours that last so long. There’s oak and earthiness that balance just so beautifully.
Its not cheap but for special occasions just perfect. We had it with slow cooked brisket which was amazing.