Ontinium, Capitan Julian, Tempranillo 2015, Spain

Posted on April 16, 2020 by richardgore1200

Capitan Julian, Tempranillo is dry, bold with a dollop of oak. You could sum up this wine like that, but there’s more.

There’s black fruit on the nose and oaky notes. Its smooth on the palate with blackberry, vanilla, spice and hints of tobacco with firm, but not overly powerful tannins. Steak went very well with this wine and even a few days later it was easy drinking on its own.

Its the price that’s the issue here. At £6 a bottle its ridiculously cheap. how, why they are selling it this cheap is a mystery. Brilliant for the drinker though.

Ontinium, Capitan Julian, Tempranillo 2015, Spain

Gran Lorca Poetice, Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

Posted on April 13, 2020 by richardgore1200

To sip an aged Malbec that has matured is a fine experience I was once told. An old wine is like silk rather than velvet. True, but it seems 11 years old is not old enough for a new world £15 Malbec. This is as fresh as when it was bottled, bold, dry, grippy tannins and flavours of sour cherry, spice and oak. It tastes better than it smells, not much going on the nose really, there’s a oaky cherry aroma but its all a bit one dimensional on all fronts. Maybe its been left too long or not long enough!

Its not bad but its pushing the price bracket, its a £10 or less bottle really.

Gran Lorca Poetice, Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

Cuatro Rayas, Cantarranas Verdejo 2018, Spain

Posted on April 7, 2020 by richardgore1200

From central Spain this is a light, dry white. With flavours of apple and citrus, esp lemon and lime its quite refreshing. Simple in many ways but that’s OK because you will want to drink this as a summer quencher. Best with chicken or pork dishes if you have having this with food, personally I would drink it on its own.

This 2018 vintage got a bonze at the Decanter World Wine Awards but only got a Commended at the International Wine Challenge, which may be a little stingy, but as a summer BBQ wine at £6 a bottle you won’t really care.

Cuatro Rayas, Cantarranas Verdejo 2018, Spain

Berton, Botrytis Semillon, Murrumbidgee River, Australia.

Posted on April 4, 2020 by richardgore1200

Flaming heck this is good. Sure I bias towards desert wine, love it. There are poor ones and stonkingly fabulous ones, but what is this like?

Aromas of butterscotch and apricots with honey notes you get a sense that this is a fine desert wine. Additional flavours of pineapple, citrus and freshness follow. Its not sticky but there is a presence, quite balanced with sweetness, flavour and acidity.

International Wine and Spirits Challenge gave Bertons a gold medal and they are spot on, truly excellent. Aldi have got this wine spot on at £6 a half bottle, excellent value.

Berton, Botrytis Semillon, Murrumbidgee River, Australia

H J Kreuzberg, Sonnenberg 2016, Spatburgunder, Ahr, Germany

Posted on April 1, 2020 by richardgore1200

Light, dry, smooth, good fruit levels with a decent hit of acidity is what describes this wine. There are tannins, these are well integrated and there’s red fruit aromas of sour cherry and redcurrant on the nose and in the mouth. You get extra flavours of plum, spice, herbs and oak which add up to a great experience.

Germany wine is so under rated outside of Germany. Yes in the past and still now, we in the UK don’t always get the best in the supermarkets, but go to a wine merchant and you can get some crackers with very few duff ones. This got a silver at the Decanter World Wine Awards and it well deserves it.

H J Kreuzberg, Sonnenberg 2016, Spatburgunder, Ahr, Germany

Rustenberg, Chenin Blanc 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Posted on March 31, 2020 by richardgore1200

South African Chenin Blanc has a decent reputation of being consistently good quality and good value. This is no exception.

This is the second vintage of Chenin Blanc produced by Rustenberg and they are doing things right. There are aromas of pear and pineapple with wood on the nose with follow through in the taste but are added to with lemon, lime and lychee. This is a crisp, dry white that at £10 a bottle is good on taste and value.

Rustenberg, Chenin Blanc 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Vik, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Chile

Posted on March 30, 2020 by richardgore1200

This Vik wine is made for Majestic and at £15 a bottle when you buy a mix 6 (any 6 bottles) you expect something pretty good. Is it good?

Well its got big flavours and aromas of blackcurrant, coffee and cassis with hints of vanilla and firm tannins that grip the mouth. Its a wine that I would want food with. Meat or strong cheese to allow it to cut through the foods fat and bring balance.

Its a little pricey for me, its good but £15 a bottle its a bit much.

Vik, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Chile

Lo Abarca, Riesling 2018, Chile

Posted on March 25, 2020 by richardgore1200

A half decent dry Riesling is one of the best white wines in my book. This was quite a surprise for me. I can’t remember having a Chilean Riesling before or least it wasn’t memorable. This is subtle, aromas and flavours of lemon and lime and its light which is refreshing. The acidity is very well balance with the flavours and i found this was great on its own. Put it was shellfish and you have a winner.

At about £12 a bottle its right on the ball for summer drinking,

Lo Abarca, Riesling 2018, Chile

Klein Street, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, South Africa

Posted on March 22, 2020 by richardgore1200

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is easy to spot, loads of gooseberry and in your face.

French Sauvignon Blanc is more subtle and this is where this one from South Africa sits. There’s citrus notes with hints of gooseberry on the nose. When you taste it there’s flavours of green apple, citrus, floral hints and a crispness. The acidity is high and there is a cleanliness on the finish that makes this pretty good. The finish is a little short which is a shame.

I liked this wine and at about £7 a bottle its good value. For the summer this will be a great BBQ wine, open, pour and drink.

Klein Street, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, South Africa more

Morande, Reserva One to One, Pais 2016 from Chile

Posted on March 21, 2020 by richardgore1200

The Pais grape was one of the first grapes bought to Chile. The variety was once the most planted in Chile and used for table wine. Morande is big producer that has spent millions of dollars on their winery and production, so I had high hopes for this wine. This is a light, fresh fruity wine with lots of raspberry, cherry and strawberry on the nose but its light on those flavours when you taste it. This is no Pinot Noir or beaujolais wine but I liked it. This is a great summer wine.

At £8 a bottle this is a good value red wine for the summer.

Morande, Reserva One to One, Pais 2016 from Chile

The accidental drinker

Wine talk and reviews by an accidental drinker

Ontinium, Capitan Julian, Tempranillo 2015, Spain

Gran Lorca Poetice, Malbec 2009, Mendoza, Argentina

Cuatro Rayas, Cantarranas Verdejo 2018, Spain

Berton, Botrytis Semillon, Murrumbidgee River, Australia.

H J Kreuzberg, Sonnenberg 2016, Spatburgunder, Ahr, Germany

Rustenberg, Chenin Blanc 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Vik, Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Chile

Lo Abarca, Riesling 2018, Chile

Klein Street, Sauvignon Blanc 2018, South Africa

Morande, Reserva One to One, Pais 2016 from Chile