Les Clos de la Seigneurie, Cabernet Franc, Loire, France

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The Loire valley produce some of the world’s greatest Cabernet Franc and this Les Clos de la Seigneurie, Cabernet Franc is half decent. Not amazing but worth drinking. It’s very dry and there’s aromas of cherry and redcurrant with flavours of sour cherry that seem to take over from the other red fruit that’s there, it’s just there other flavours are too subtle. It’s cheap Cabernet Franc that’s drinkable and easy going with food, in our case steak and ale pie with veg in front of the Christmas tree.

Les Clos de la Seigneurie, Cabernet Franc, Loire, France

Les Clos de la Seigneurie, Cabernet Franc, Loire, France

 

Morris, Black Label, Muscat, Rutherglen, Australia

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Rutherglen produce some great desert wines and many are different to the sticky white wines.

This is the shortest review I’ve done – this is a dark, sweet, rich, with raisin abound flavours and utterly delicious. Great with cheese and rich deserts. Oh Christmas is a great time to try this!

At £20 for 500ml, its great value and quite fabulous, but it did evaporate in the glass!

Morris, Black Label, Muscat, Rutherglen, Australia

Morris, Black Label, Muscat, Rutherglen, Australia

Minghu, monluxe II, 2014, China

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  • China has come a long way in recent years in many areas including wine and this red from Minghu is not bad. It’s not get either but drinkable, I think! There’s lots of red fruit on the nose and it’s a deep red colour that looks quite wonderful. The taste is where things gone screwy. Jammy red fruit, concentrated like ribena on steroids. A bit heavy and thick but it won’t kill you!
Minghu, monluxe II, 2014, China

Minghu, monluxe II, 2014, China

 

Stoneleigh, Repaura Series, Chardonnay, 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand

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New Zealand does great Pinot Noir and pretty good Sauvignon Blanc. It can do Chardonnay but this one from Stoneleigh, Repaura Series, Chardonnay is not one to drink. The aromas are oak followed by oak followed by oak. There are notes of condensed lemon in the nose but not a great initial feeling. It doesn’t get any better when you taste it, far too much oak. The wife thinks it should have been laid down for a few more years and that should allow the flavours to come out.

At £10 a bottle is not expensive for NZ wine but for a drink now wine it doesn’t work.

Stoneleigh, Repairs Series, Chardonnay, 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand

Stoneleigh, Repaura Series, Chardonnay, 2018, Marlborough, New Zealand

Framingham, Sauvignon Blanc, 2018, New Zealand

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There are 2 types of Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, cheap and expensive and this one from Framingham is the later. At £15 a bottle its not Greywacke Wild Sauvignon price but a lot of people will see this at twice the price of what they would expect when they taste it. At £15 you are into the standard Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc which is far superior.

There are aromas of grapefruit and gooseberry which are joined by flavours of lemon and hints of green apple. Its all a bit harsh and acid based rather than elegant. Its more like a £6.99 bottle from Tesco. Its not terrible but get a bottle of Greywacke and see the light.

Framingham, Sauvignon Blanc, 2018, New Zealand

Framingham, Sauvignon Blanc, 2018, New Zealand

 

Dr Hermann, Urziger Wurzgarten, Riesling, Spatlese, 2007, Germany

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Germany makes great Riesling and this Riesling Spatlese from Dr Hermann is a great example. 13 years on and its wonderful, amazing, fabulous. Its good in other words.

There are aromas and flavours of honey, blossom, ripe tropical fruits and hints of spice and minerals. A rich yellow in colour and a little heavier in weight than many Rieslings this is a delicious, magical wine.

We tried to have this with a chinese meal but drank it far before the meal was ready. At £12 a bottle its amazing value too.

Dr Hermann, Urziger Wurzgarten, Riesling, Spatlese, 2007, Germany

Dr Hermann, Urziger Wurzgarten, Riesling, Spatlese, 2007, Germany

 

San Marzano, Vindoro Negroamaro, 2015, Italy

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Italian wine gets a lot of mixed press and this red from San Marzano shows why.

This is a bold, dry red wine which is smooth and fruity. There are aromas of plum, blackcurrant, tobacco and leather with jammy fruit flavours. Its here that the wine for fails for me. The flavours are overtaken by the jamminess and this masks what should be a complex and fine wine. As it is its an OK red for a party in an impressive bottle.

At £20 a bottle its over priced.

San Marzano, Vindoro Negroamaro, 2015, Italy

San Marzano, Vindoro Negroamaro, 2015, Italy

Matías Riccitelli, Malbec, 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

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I have a fondness for Malbec and Mendoza produces some of the best in the world and this one from Matías Riccitelli is flippin great.

A wonderfully deep purple in colour with aromas of cassis, blackcurrant, spice, leather and hints of violets it opens up with flavours of vanilla and caramel with a long lasting taste that is both elegant, pretty complex. This is a wine for a fillet steak or sipping in front of an open fire. Its grown up plonk, which at £30 is fortunate.

Matías Riccitelli, Malbec, 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

Matías Riccitelli, Malbec, 2015, Mendoza, Argentina

Marks and Spencer, Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer, Italy

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Marks and Spencer do some excellent wine and this Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer from northern Italy was a silver medalist at the Decanter World Wine Awards and I can see why. For £10 a bottle you get a dry white wine which is golden in colour and has aromas of lychee, tropical fruits with grapefruit and hints of floral undertones, a freshness and additional flavours of stone fruits and a little spice. Although dry where is sweetness in the body because of all the fruit flavours coming through.
We had this with an indian meal and its was great, really enjoyed the freshness and fruit. Quite excellent.
Marks and Spencer, Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer, Italy

Marks and Spencer, Alta Luna, Gewürztraminer, Italy