Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Posted on January 14, 2021 by richardgore1200

I’ve tried a few mexican wines and they have generally been good bt I can’t figure out if I like this Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah or not. Its a bit like the chinese wines I’ve tried, a little one dimensional but not necessarily in a bad way, just different to what you may get in a french Syrah.

This is fruit driven, loads of blackcurrant with a little blueberry and herbaceous notes. Its like an adults Ribena with a little twist. Its dry and in your face but with a lump of red meat its OK.

Just because it comes from an area that you may not associate with wine making is not reason to write a wine off, this is a good example. Not great but not bad either. At £45 a bottle its way over priced though.

Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Crossroads, Milestone Series, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Posted on January 11, 2021 by richardgore1200

There’s lots of New Zealand Pinot Noir out there, some cheap and some expensive and this Crossroads, Milestone Series is a cheaper one, under £10 a bottle. It dry, pretty smooth, light with aromas of redcurrant, tobacco hints that are followed by flavours of strawberries and hints of plum and vanilla.

It’s what you would have mid week or as a second bottle at an evening dinner party. It’s nice but not excellent.

Crossroads, Milestone Series, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara, 2016, Georgia

Posted on January 8, 2021 by richardgore1200

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara from Georgia is an interesting red wine, its meant to be sweet but personally I think its medium red but what really hits you is the jaminess and red fruit, its got a massive amount of flavour, redcurrant, strawberry, cherry, its amazing the amount in there.

I had this over a few evenings and it did grow on me, apparently Stalin enjoyed this wine!

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara, 2016, Georgia

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

Posted on January 4, 2021 by richardgore1200

What is wrong with wine from Mexico? nothing or that should be the case as there are areas in the country that suited to making wine. This Syrah is red wine! its dry and fruity, lots of plum, cherry and thats for the first 3 seconds before – nothing. Its like half a polo mint, decent hit of flavour, then you get to the hole where it disappears and then still nothing. Its not like there’s another chance.

its not bad its just not around long enough, I’ve never had a wine like this before, so for me its interesting.

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

Posted on January 1, 2021 by richardgore1200

This Italian sparkling DOCG wine from La Montina is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.Its a very well crafted wine, very small bubbles, its dry and fresh with ripe fruit rather than a heavy dollop yeasty notes that you would get from Champagne.

We had it with Oysters and dressed crab, the acidity and flavour complimented the food and I did prefer it to Champagne. Well worth the £25 a bottle if you want something as good as the french can produce.

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

Denbies, Cubitt Reserve, 2010, UK

Posted on December 31, 2020 by richardgore1200

Denbies make a lot of wine, sparkling and still and do it well. This is made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, your traditional grapes for Champagne. Dry and crisp with medium acidity and clean tasting with aromas and flavours of lemon, green apple and vanilla. Yes there’s yeasty notes but there’s more to it and its refreshing, bringing you back for glass after glass, unless your wife says stop!

Its at a similar price at Champagne its a better bet for me.

Denbies, Cubitt Reserve, 2010, UK

Hartenberg, Occasional Riesling, 2016, South Africa

Posted on December 28, 2020 by richardgore1200

We went to Hartenberg on our last trip to the Western Cape, South Africa and its still as great as when we first tried. There’s a big hit of petroleum on the nose with hints of ripe tropical fruit. Its an off dry riesling that comes across sweeter on the taste with floral, pear, tropical fruits it there. The texture is fuller than many white wines but below that of a traditional german Riesling. Excellent with a vegetarian sweet and sour meal and at £13 a bottle, fair value.

Hartenberg, Occasional Riesling, 2016, South Africa

Luigi Bosca, Gala 2, Mendoza, Argentina

Posted on December 26, 2020 by richardgore1200

Luigi Bosca produce a range of reds and this Gala 2 is a Bordeaux blend. This is made up of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%), Cabernet Franc (10%) and Merlot (5%). It’s dry, smooth, really smooth with aromas of cherry and tobacco and flavours of plum, redcurrant, vanilla hints and a herby note in there. It’s elegant in many ways but it’s just do enjoyable.

At £24 a bottle it’s not cheap but it’s very good, excellent and worth the money. Something for a special occasion.

Luigi Bosca, Gala 2, Mendoza, Argentina

Crows Fountain, Shiraz, Merlot, 2018, South Africa

Posted on December 23, 2020 by richardgore1200

South Africa does some really good Merlot and Shiraz and this blend brings some good qualities. That’s not a huge amount of aromas on this blend but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. You do get flavours of raspberry and plum with more red fruit in there.

It’s a decent red just for drinking ?.

Crows Fountain, Shiraz, Merlot, 2018, South Africa

Fourth Wave Wine, Farm Hand, Organic, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019, NSW, Australia

Posted on December 21, 2020 by richardgore1200

I had never heard of Fourth Wave Wine or their Farm Hand, Organic, Cabernet Sauvignon but I certainly like it. You get a hit of blueberry and then blackberry on the nose with additional flavours of cherry and this is a very fruit driven, soft but very dry red wine. It’s not complicated, just well rounded and very easy drinking.

It only got a commended at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2020 which is stingy, bronze medal surely! At £9 a bottle it’s great value and worth a case any day.

Fourth Wave Wine, Farm Hand, Organic, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019, NSW, Australia

The accidental drinker

Wine talk and reviews by an accidental drinker

Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Crossroads, Milestone Series, Pinot Noir, 2016, New Zealand

Tbilvino, Khvanchkara, 2016, Georgia

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

La Montine, Millestimato Brut Sparkling, 2012, Franciaorta DOCG, Italy

Denbies, Cubitt Reserve, 2010, UK

Hartenberg, Occasional Riesling, 2016, South Africa

Luigi Bosca, Gala 2, Mendoza, Argentina

Crows Fountain, Shiraz, Merlot, 2018, South Africa

Fourth Wave Wine, Farm Hand, Organic, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019, NSW, Australia