Domaine Cazes, Rivesaltes, Ambre, 1997, France

Posted on by
Reply
Domaine Cazes, Rivesaltes, Ambre, 1997, France

Domaine Cazes, Rivesaltes, Ambre, 1997, France

Domaine Cazes knows about desert wines and their Rivesaltes, Ambre, 1997 shows just how brilliant they are at making wine and that’s an understatement. It’s like the Bentley of the wine world. Classy in so many ways.

You get aromas of orange, citrus, chocolate with a smokie undertone and a chunk of raisin. There’s flavours of dried fruit with honey, stone fruits, citrus and a caramelised oaky note that is quite frankly amazing.

Sure at £20 a bottle it’s not cheap but it’s brilliant.

Gamba, Campedel, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy

Posted on by
Reply
Gamba, Campedel, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy

Gamba, Campedel, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy

There are Amarone’s and there are Amarone’s and this one from Gamba is a great Amarone wine. Made with the Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Corvinone grapes, its a dry red that has great length and is smooth with well integrated tannins. There are plenty of flavours of red and black fruits, notes of tobacco, leather and chocolate, a bit of earthiness brings this back from being in heaven to a reality that this is just wine but great wine at that. Its a Bentley of the wine world.

The down side to this is the price of £30 a bottle, but thats Amarone for you.

Oakville Estate, Franciscan, Zinfandel, Napa Valley, 1993, USA

Posted on by
Reply
Oakville Estate, Franciscan, Zinfandel, Napa Valley, 1993, USA

Oakville Estate, Franciscan, Zinfandel, Napa Valley, 1993, USA

To say that this 29 year old Oakville Estate, Franciscan, Zinfandel from Napa Valley was a surprise its an understatement. Found in the depths of the wine store we expected it to be “dead”, lifeless and only good for the sink but how wrong we were.

Flavours and aromas were still there, with plenty of plum, blackcurrant, a hint of mint and eucalyptus to note. Its dry and very smooth and even decanted it had good length and that lasted all evening as we went back to try it as it was so unexpected.

At £30 a bottle its not cheap but it was truly excellent.

Dows, Late Bottled Vintage Port, 1997, Portugal

Posted on by
Reply
Dows, Late Bottled Vintage Port, 1997, Portugal

Dows, Late Bottled Vintage Port, 1997, Portugal

A bottle of Dows, Late Bottled Vintage Port, from Portugal is probably standard in many British households at Christmas and this year we opened a 1997 bottle. I know that a late bottled vintage port is not the same as leaving a vintage port, this basically got left behind.

That said it tastes exactly what it should taste like i. It was smooth, it had some really good plum, red, black fruit flavours, nice sweetness in there and it really well with the cheese and biscuits course, so much so that the whole bottle went. And the best thing is at about £8 a bottle at the supermarkets a Dows port is good value

Simpsons, Derringstone, Pinot Meunier, 2019, UK

Quote

Posted on by
Reply
Simpsons, Derringstone, Pinot Meunier, 2019, UK

Simpsons, Derringstone, Pinot Meunier, 2019, UK

Simpsons, Derringstone, Pinot Meunier from the UK it’s the first pinot meunier that I’ve tasted. Normally this is a great that’s so mixed in sparkling such a champagne, it’s rare to have it on its own and I sort of see why, but I can’t say I disliked it.

There’s lots of pear and apple in this with notes of citrus, grapefruit but also yeasty notes, a creaminess but this a very interesting wine. Slightly thicker in texture and and not much acidity, so I would drink this on its own or with light food. We had it this with a full roast and it probably had a job on its hands keep up with the food, but this is one I would definitely recommend trying.

It’s a shame it’s going to be by about £18 a bottle as this will put a lot of people off.

 

NK MIP cellars, Red Meritage, 2016, Canada

Posted on by
Reply
NK MIP cellars, Red Meritage, 2016, Canada

NK MIP cellars, Red Meritage, 2016, Canada

I really do like a Canadian red wine, you never get a bad also that’s whats brilliant. This is made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Malbec which gives red fruit and vanilla notes on the nose and full blackberry and plum flavors with a bit of spice and dark chocolate. The tenants of the structure is good and with a long finish this went well with venison stew.

At £25 a bottle is not cheap, that is part of the Canadian wine issue, great wine but expensive.

Provins, Les Titans, Pinot Noir, 2012, Switzerland

Posted on by
Reply
Provins, Les Titans, Pinot Noir, 2012, Switzerland

Provins, Les Titans, Pinot Noir, 2012, Switzerland

This Pinot Noir from Provins winery in Switzerland is quite an interesting wine especially for 9 years old. It’s a light very smooth and dry red wine party as you expect from being a Pinot Noir. You got quite a lot of raspberry cranberry with a bit of earthiness. I found it really quite drinkable although others the try it weren’t that convinced, however the next day it fell off a cliff. Most of flavour had gone and it was very bland, probably best to drink up, at this age in one night.

Swiss wines are expensive anyway and it’s £40 a bottle it’s not cheap. Interesting and I would like to try a younger wine from this winery.

Cliff Lede, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013, Stag’s leap District, Napa Valley, USA

Posted on by
Reply
Cliff Lede, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013, Stag's leap District, Napa Valley, USA

Cliff Lede, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013, Stag’s leap District, Napa Valley, USA

Stag’s leap District is well-known in Napa Valley and around the world for producing fantastic red wine. This red wine from cliff lede is really outstanding. It’s full of red and black fruits and is full-bodied but very well-balanced with well-integrated tannins and acidity. It’s fantastic with steak, in our case we had venison stew.

The only downside is it’s price which at £55 is quite a significant amount. It’s a shame as it will put people off trying it.

Chateau Du Meursault, 1st Cru, 2002, Burgundy, France

Posted on by
Reply
Chateau Du Meursault, 1st Cru, 2002, Burgundy, France

Chateau Du Meursault, 1st Cru, 2002, Burgundy, France

Bold, Dry with great balance of acidity this Chateau Du Meursault, 1st Cru, 2002 from Burgundy is excellent. Smells of honey and butter with stone fruit that comes through in the flavour with pear hints. A little thicker in texture than many white wines it’s a grown up wine for a dinner party.

At £40 a bottle it’s pricey but blimey it’s good.

Forstreiter, Gruber Veltliner, Austria

Posted on by
Reply
Forstreiter, Gruber Veltliner Reserve, Austria

Forstreiter, Gruber Veltliner Reserve, Austria

I’m a fan of Gruner Veltliner in this example is pretty good you have lemon, lime, citrus notes with mineral and hints of Oak coming through. There’s a little bit more body than you might expect from a normal white wine and this is a refreshing characteristic.

Around £25 a bottle it’s a little bit steep and this is the only reason why would a market down.