Asda, Extra Special Fiano, 2020, Sicily
Supermarkets like Asda in the UK sell some really good wines and this Extra Special Fiano from Sicily is a good example. It’s made with the Fiano grape as per the name and this may be new to people and throw them off side. Theres a definite freshness with flavours of lemon and hints of peach but it’s pretty aromatic and this not always what people expect.
At £6 a bottle it’s hard to fault it and went well with mixed bean salad sitting in the garden.
Fat Cat, Cat amongst the pigeons, 2019, Eden Valley, Australia
Fat Cat, Cat amongst the pigeons from Eden Valley in Australia has a striking name and a striking taste. Dry and crisp, it’s got plenty of flavours and aromas. Grapefruit, lime, lemon, green apple, ripe pineapple with a kerosene high light binding them together.
It’s refreshing and perfect sitting in the garden on a summer’s evening with a big plate of salad, a lump of fresh fish. Quite frankly speaking it’s wonderful.
Marco Scolaris, Ribolla Gialla, 2018, Collio, Italy
With aromas and flavours of citrus, lemon and grapefruit, apple and melon with a richness in the mouth this is quite a white wine from Marco Scolaris. It’s a wine to sip or have with food rather than to be guzzled. Pair it with fish, soft cheeses or cured meats.
I’m not sure it’s worth the £15 or more per bottle, but then again it’s an interesting wine.
Villabella, Fracastoro Riserva, Amarone Della Valpolicella, Italy
I’m sure you can get bad Amarone but this one from Villabella is not one of them, quite the opposite. Decanter wine magazine save this 90 points and I can see why.
It’s a bold wine but pretty smooth and also not necessarily particularly dry, there’s softness and sweetness in this bottle too. You get flavours and aromas of plum and blackberry, blackcurrant, chocolate and tobacco. Theres oak and a smokiness in there.
Drink with food, BBQ in the garden is a good starting point. At £20 a bottle it’s reasonable value for what you are getting.
Harrow and Hope, Rosé NV, Buckinghamshire, England
Harrow and Hope, Rosé NV Harrow and Hope, Rosé NV, Buckinghamshire, England is a very good sparkling rose which after tasting the white NV was a relief. It’s not that the white was bad but this Rosé is so much better. It’s dry and crisp with subtle flavours of red fruit that poke through with a good long finish and at only £2 more than the white NV it’s much better value I think.
A great drink in the summer ehen sitting on the garden.
Harrow and Hope, NV Brut, Buckinghamshire, England
Harrow and Hope from Marlow, Buckinghamshire, England produces some fantastic sparking wine but unfortunately this NV falls a little short. It’s not as good as it was when i last tried the NV white in 2019. It’s a shame, it’s not bad but there is a definite fall off on the back palette and this becomes apparent when you try the other sparkling wines
It’s nice and crisp and dry and with decent citrus flavours, the length is OK but it’s outshone by the others in their range. At £30 a bottle you should get more for the money.
Bouchard Finlayson, Blanc de Mer, 2019, Western Cape South Africa
South African wine can be some of the finest in the world and this blend of Riesling, Viognier and chardonnay is really excellent.
There are flavours and aromas of citrus – lime lemon with stone fruits – peach and apricot in there with floral, minerals, honey and wetstone poking it’s way through. It has great depth and it’s fresh.
Great with a salad in the garden on a summer’s day. At £12 a bottle its not going to break the bank either.
Mate Marinaia, Toscana, Italy
Italian red wine is normally as a very high quality if you spend the money and £30 a bottle you expect something quite special and this Mate Marinaia, Toscana is just that.
Made with sangiovese grape medium bodied wine with good subtle tannings, quite dry and balanced acidity. You get lots of flavours ranging from sour cherry and cranberry to blackcurrant and plum with tobacco and Oak notes coming through which are all well-balanced.
Catherine Marshall, Peters Vision, 2017, South Africa
Made with cab franc and merlot this is good morning red from South Africa. So pretty bold wine reasonably smooth with Titanic’s and very dry. You have flavours and aromas of black fruit, oak and herbaceous notes but with a leather and earthy undertone.
It’s one to drink with food definitely a good steak or tomato based pasta and at £25 a bottle it’s a little bit on the pricey side that said it’s a very good bottle.
Dark Corner, Durif – Shiraz, 2021, Australia
Dark Corner, Durif Shiraz is a real Australian heavy red wine that that’s you back a decade or two. This is a dry big hitting red with plenty of black fruit aromas and flavours. There’s a chunk of spice thrown in for a wine that although smooth does shout meat and more of it. Its a wine that goes very well with steak or a hearty stew. A bit big on its own for me.
At £12 a bottle it’s OK value, you are unlikely to finish the bottle quickly.