Grand Crès, Cuvée Majeure, Corbières, France
This Cuvee Majeure from Grand Cres is a typical south french red wine. Its dry, bold with decent length of tannins. There’s plenty of red, black fruit flavours with oak and spice in there.
Its a good blend of syrah and grenache that won’t disappoint but there is something missing that I can’t quite pinpoint. At £15 a bottle it’s a little bit to expensive.
Rustenberg, John X Merriman, 2020, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Malbec snd left in the cask for 20 months makes this red blend from Rustenberg rather good. There’s plenty of red and black fruit flavours, spice, leather, oak notes with a slightly smokey under tone lifts this above the completion. At £14 a bottle it’s not cheap but it’s very nice.
California Republic, Pinot Noir, 2019, California, USA
American Pinot Noir is generally very good, not at least when we in the UK can get it. This one from California is no exception. Excellent red fruit flavours and aromas with decent length this is a dry, smooth that won’t fail to be enjoyed. Unless your a tea totaler of course 😀 . Have it with chicken or smoked foods and just enjoy.
Les legendes, Petite Arvine, 2020, Valais, Switzerland
Petite Arvine is a predominantly Swiss grape and this example from the Valais region shows it to be a good drinking grape. Its not a big style of white wine, dry with subtle aromas and flavours but there’s lemon and lime flavours with hints of peach and blossom. A wine just to drink and enjoy and not think to much on.
Brothers in Arms, Shiraz, 2019, South Australia
Another Australian heavy red wine yes but it’s rather good. Its bold and dry with decent tannins and plenty of fruit. There’s red and black fruit, oak, spice and hints of chocolate and leather.
It’s a red for food, a lump of red meat or a big red sauce pasta dish. At £12 a bottle it’s reasonable value.
It’s getting hard to buy a bad bottle of wine from Croatia and this Traminac from Bolfan Primus iz a very example. Theres ripe citrus on the nose and deep rich ripeness on the palette with pineapple coming to the fore. It’s a wine for a roast or on its own. At £20 a bottle it’s not cheap but it’s excellent.
Bolfan Primus, Traminac, Croatia
Colchester Cellar Club October 2022 spainish wine tasting
The Colchester Cellar Club is known for laying on a great tasting and this one was no exception. Below are my tasting notes on the main tasting wines listed on the sheet above.
1-2018-fresh, light but firm acidity, mineral under tone, lemon flavour but little aroma. Drink on its own
Pinot Gris, Hengst, 2011, Alsace, France
Ooohhh was the general comment when this was brought out to drink followed shortly afterwards by aaahhh. A Grand Cru is not to be rushed and one by Albert Mann should have extra care. Aromas and flavours of ripe citrus, pineapple, a solid body and a creamy undernote makes this a wine to sip and take pleasure in. Prices for earlier vintages start at £35 and are recommended, getting 2011 vintage is harder, buy later ones and age yourself is my recommendation.
At £28 a bottle it’s not cheap but this white wine made from the Xarel lo grape by Pares Balta I’d pretty good. Clean and clear it has aromas and flavours of almonds and citrus and grapefruit with soft creamy undertone. To be sipped and savoured.
Pares Balta, Amphora, 2021, Spain
Argamont, Reserva, 2016, Spain
This red eine from Argamont is a typical red that’s meant to be drunk and not thought too much about. It’s got decent aromas and flavours of cherry, plum, blackcurrant. It’s dry with good length and isn’t overwhelmed with tannins or it being to big and bold.
I’m not sure it it will any awards but it’s a very good wine and 6 years old it has plenty to offer.