Category Archives: Red wine – Europe

Baigorri, Belus, 2013, Rioja, Spain

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Baigorri, Belus, 2013, Rioja, Spain

Baigorri, Belus, 2013, Rioja, Spain

Rioja is a regular wine in our house and this one from Baigorri shows why.

Dry, high in tannins and pretty bold all round this red wine has lots of aromas and flavours of oak, vanilla, spice, black fruits, plum and a smokey undertone. Its a good red wine although at £15 a bottle its a bit pricey, not only for a Rioja but for a red wine. It will go well with red meat and tomato based pasta and as the summer is coming up and BBQ’s are the order of the weekend, its one to try.

 

Domaine de Pouzac, Grand Jacquey, 2013, Languedoc, France

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Domaine de Pouzac, Grand Jacquey, 2013, Languedoc, France

Domaine de Pouzac, Grand Jacquey, 2013, Languedoc, France

Domaine de Pouzac and its Grand Jacquey is a solid red wine from the Languedoc.

Dry with firm but soft tannins and aromas of black fruit and and earthiness, that at first puts you off but taste it and its a different matter. That smoothness is what puts this part from the rest. I had this with a tapas meat selection and it was a great balance.

At £15 a bottle its not cheap but its pretty good.

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, 2010, Grès de Montpellier, France

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Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, 2010, Grès de Montpellier, France

Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue, 2010, Grès de Montpellier, France

Dry, bold and really smooth is first impression s on this red from Château Saint Martin de la Garrigue.

There’s aromas of oak and earthy notes with hints of black fruit. The taste is plummy with black fruit and spice with firm tannins. Its 14% but seems like more. Its not “in your face” big and bold but its got flavour and its well integrated which is really appreciated.

Later vintages are selling for Eur18 a bottle which is well priced, sure not cheap but good value. I loved this on its own but it will go well with red meat and the first BBQ of the year. Treat yourself.

 

Citra, Niro, Montepulciano, d’Abruzzo, Italy

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Citra, Niro, Montepulciano, d’Abruzzo, Italy

Citra, Niro, Montepulciano, d’Abruzzo, Italy

This red wine is made with the Montepulciano grape which gives it a wonderfully rich red colour. It has a full bodied feeling that lasts a long time. There are aromas and flavours of sour cherry, pepper and spices and its very smooth with well integrated tannins.

Its a solid italian red wine that won’t let you down. Pair it with a steak or a beef roast diner and you won’t regret opening a bottle.

Oh its also Eur 6 a bottle, so great value.

 

 

Little Odisseia, Tinto, 2016, Douro Valley, Portugal

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Little Odisseia, Tinto, 2016, Douro Valley, Portugal

Little Odisseia, Tinto, 2016, Douro Valley, Portugal

Little Odisseia from the Douro Valley, Portugal is another solid red wine from a country that doesn’t seem to produce any bad stuff.

There are notes of tobacco, black fruit and leather with hints of mushrooms. This is a dry, bold wine with firm tannins that give structure. Its not fancy or complex but you get is a wine that is not going to embarrass you, just drink it or have it with a steak.

Well done to the wine maker, a wine to order by the case because at £7 a bottle its excellent value.

Cottas, Vinho Tinto, Portugal

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Cottas, Vinho Tinto, Portugal

Cottas, Vinho Tinto, Portugal

Its hard to find a bad bottle of Portuguese red wine, they just keep delivering good value, drinkable red’s and this one from Cottas is no exception.

A deep red colour with aromas and flavours of black fruit, blackberries and blackcurrant. Its dry, reasonably smooth and got plenty of flavour. More important its very easy to drink and cheap. At £6 a bottle is great value.

 

La Méridionale, Merlot, Syrah, Languedoc, France

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La Méridionale, Merlot, Syrah, Languedoc, France

La Méridionale, Merlot, Syrah, Languedoc, France

The South of France produces lots of Merlot and Syrah red wines and this one from La Méridionale is typical.

Blackberry, plum and cherry and you primary flavours for this pretty simple but drinkable red. Its very Dry, has decent enough body and depth of flavour with tannins that are a little rough and pronounced. Its not bad but its a food wine. pair it with steak or a burger and it will go down very well. At £7 a bottle its decent value too.

 

Piccini, Collezione Oro, Chianti Superiore, 2018, Italy

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Piccini, Collezione Oro, Chianti Superiore, 2018, Italy

Piccini, Collezione Oro, Chianti Superiore, 2018, Italy

It was a while before I got Chianti, over price and over here was my view and luckily I tried others before this Collezione Oro from Piccini.

OK so its a dry, medium bodied and reasonably well balanced red wine. It has aromas of cherry, raspberry with flavours of blackberry and redcurrant and earthy notes in there. Its not bad but its not exciting, its note shouting at me to buy a case. Sure at about £10 its decent value but what if you spent a little more on something else?

 

Alpha Estate, SMX Red, 2017, Greece

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The red blend of Syrah, Merlot and Xinomavro from Alpha Estate in Greece is a rather decent red wine.

A dry, reasonable light red it has aromas of red and black fruit with earthy and spice hints. The flavours are defined, plum, blackcurrant and cherry with oak notes, strong but not overpowering.

People rubbish wine thats not from the traditional wine areas but this shows that many non main stream wine countries can produce very good wine. The only downside is the price, EUR20 a bottle is a bit pricey.

Alpha Estate, SMX Red, 2017, Greece

Alpha Estate, SMX Red, 2017, Greece

 

Chrisohoou, Gold Selection, Xinomavro, Greece

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Greece is not known with the great unwashed for great red wine and most people don’t know that they make wine but that is to the benefit of those that search a little and have open eyes.

Its a solid red colour, dry with decent tannins and shows that the greeks can make pretty good wine, aromas and flavours of red and black fruits, plums, redcurrant and blackberry with hints of herbs and spices with a smoothness that makes this a joy to drink.

Well done to the wine maker, our Christmas meal main wine was excellent.

Chrisohoou, Gold Selection, Xinomavro, Greece

Chrisohoou, Gold Selection, Xinomavro, Greece