Hugues Valrasque, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2017, Rhone Valley, France

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General the rule of Chateauneuf du Pape is that you spend a lot more than usual to get a good one and £18 a bottle for this Hugues Valrasque one is not quite enough. Its decent but what if you spent another £5 or £7, could you get a better one? probably.

Very dry, bold and reasonable smooth with a chuck of red and black fruits, cherry (lots of cherry on the nose), blackberry, fig, spice with an earthy, oaky undertone. The issue I have is that’s a little unbalanced and not quite “there”. It fails to elevate itself to a great Rhone red, decent but spend more.

Hugues Valrasque, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2017, Rhone Valley, France

Hugues Valrasque, Chateauneuf du Pape, 2017, Rhone Valley, France

 

Lunadoro, Prugnanello, Rosso di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy

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made with 100% Sangiovese from Tuscany this red from Lunadoro is a pretty tannic and bold. Reasonable amount of red fruit, redcurrant and cherry and medium in body and finish, its well suited to a BBQ. Its easy drinking and not the big red you might think of from Tuscany.

At £15 a bottle is a bit overpriced. £10 or less is the right price for this, at £15 I would want more on all levels.

gnanello, Rosso di Montepulcian, Tuscany, Italy

Lunadoro, Prugnanello, Rosso di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy

Mazzei, Poggio Badiola, Toscana, 2015, Tuscany, Italy

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Tuscany chucks out hundreds of different great quality wines and a lot more good wines each year and this Poggio Badiola, Toscana is the latter. Its a blend of 70% Sangiovese, and 30% Merlot and it gives you aromas of black fruit such as blackberries, black cherries with spice and tobacco. These follow into the flavours but there’s also a toasty under tone in there I think. The finish a bit short and not quite as fully flavoured as I would like, even at £14 a bottle. This medium body, dry red is better with food, pizza, meat dishes or hard cheese.

Mazzei, Poggio Badiola, Toscana, 2015, Tuscany, Italy

Mazzei, Poggio Badiola, Toscana, 2015, Tuscany, Italy

Soumah, Chardonnay, 2017, Yarra Valley, Australia.

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Soumah does make a great cool climate dry Chardonnay. The grapes are picked earlier than other vineyards and this gives you aromas of green apple and grass that lead into flavors of grapefruit, stone fruit, citrus and herbal notes that isn’t unpleasant. It has great length and freshness and worthy Decanter Silver medal winner. This is a wine that would go well with sea food or sipping it in the garden on a summers evening.

At £20 a bottle its not cheap but its worth spending a bit extra every now and again.

oumah, Chardonnay, 2017, Yarra Valley, Australia

oumah, Chardonnay, 2017, Yarra Valley, Australia

Albert Mann, Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer, Vieilles Vignes, 2011, Alsace, France

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Albert Mann is a top Alsace producer and this Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer Vieilles Vignes shows why. its a soft, bold, semi sweet wine. There are aromas of lychee, apricot, blossom and pear.

There are flavours of tropical fruits, ripe pineapple, honey, apple and stone fruits. its a weighty wine in some respects but not as much as you may expect. There’s an elegance to this wine that you can’t help be grateful for because this may make those that won’t normally touch a Gertz actually like it. Pair this with asian foods, pork dishes or mild cheeses and this shines even more. Fantastic.

Albert Mann, Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer, Vieilles Vignes, 2011, Alsace, France

Albert Mann, Grand Cru Furstentum Gewurztraminer, Vieilles Vignes, 2011, Alsace, France

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

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Piedmont in Italy does some excellent wine and this Montalbera Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, La Tradizione is a great example.

A lively red in colour with a smell of raspberries, violets and blackberries. Tasting this you get a sense of balance between the dryness, tannins and black fruit. This is a long lasting wine with the flavours lasting and you wanting to have a second glass.

At £20 a bottle its a bit pricey but very good.

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

Montalbera, Ruche di Castagnole Monferrato, 2015, Piedmont, Italy

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

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Felsina Berardenga is a great producer and makes amazing Chianti Classico wine. A younger Chianti would be deep ruby in colour with aromas of redberries, cherries and notes of spice. There would be flavours of these with dryness and medium tannins that should be well integrated. 14 years old and these are still here, a little softer maybe and a little less vibrant in colour but so good, wonderful, fabulous and worth every penny.

At £20+ a bottle for the younger versions, a can’t see 2006 available, its worth a few bottles and opening every few years to see the developments that may occur, or dont occur.

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

Felsina Berardenga, Chianti Classico, 2006, Italy

 

Dr Losen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2016, Mosel, Germany

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Dr Losen Is one Germany’s big but excellent producers, especially of Riesling. Even the off blue colour of the bottle and crisp label say class. I like to taste wine blind so you are not influenced by the label but in this case, who cares. Aromas of lychee and citrus with hints of petroleum. The taste is refreshing with fresh mineral notes coming through and lime popping out. The length is excellent and the underlying sweetness is beautifully integrated.

Dr Losen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2016, Mosel, Germany

Dr Losen, Slate Hill, Riesling, 2016, Mosel, Germany

 

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

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Reichsrat von Buhl know a bit about making Riesling, they made enough of it over the years and rather well. This 2018 bone dry rosé is pretty good, made with Pinot Noir it’s dry. Amazing colour draws you in and there are aromas of strawberries, redcurrant and a creaminess in there, a bit of cream soda. The dryness gets you on the flavour, masking the redfruits which are pushed back, they are there but not pronounced enough. Finish is a bit short but it’s a refreshing wine which I wanted a second glass of and then a third glass.

At about £14 a bottle it’s s little pricey but enjoyable.

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

Reichsrat von Buhl, Bone Dry Rosé, 2018, Pflaz, Germany

 

Marks & Spencer, Daniel’s Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa

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South Africa produces a lot of Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay and this Daniel’s Drift from Marks & Spencer is pretty typical. At £7 a bottle (£5 on offer) or part of the M&S meal deal this is an easy drinking white wine.

Its light in colour, fresh and crisp on the nose with smells of ripe melon, apple and hints of citrus. There’s more in the flavour with grass, gooseberry and more lemon coming through. It’s a dry wine table wine with goes well with a supermarket meal or on a summer afternoon sitting in the garden.

Decanter gave it a bronze medal at the 2019 awards with 87 points which on reflection and most of the bottle is spot on and great if you can get it at £5 a bottle.

Marks & Spencer, Daniel's Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa

Marks & Spencer, Daniel’s Drift, Chenin Blanc, Chardonnay, 2018, South Africa