This is 60% Malbec and 40% Tannat. There are aromas of oak, blackberry, blackcurrant and additional flavours black cherry but the tannins and dryness are too much and detract from any fruit that can be tasted. After trying the wine over a few days we came to the conclusion that this should have been left for another 3 or 4 years to allow it to soft up. At under £10 a bottle there are easier reds to try.
Cotes de Provence rose infinite 2016, France
Aromas of red and black fruits hints of cherry. Flavours of red fruit and very dry. Balanced acidity and tannins but at about £25 a bottle it’s too pricey, then again most Swiss wines while good share the same problem.
Les Titans 2014 Merlot, Switzerland LP
You normally associate Malbec with Argentina but it all started in France. This dry red has a deep ruby colour. There are aromas of spice and blackberry. There are smooth tannins and rich dark fruit flavours that last a long time. An excellent example of what a red should be and which is lovely to sip on its own in front of a fire or pair with meat, cheese or tomato based pasta dishes.
Chateau Famaey Malbec 2016, Cahors, France
Rioja is a wine most wine drinkers have had on many occasions. Its hard to get wrong, even the cheaper end of the market produces easy drinkable reds.
This is good, very good. Aromas of vanilla and black fruits as expected with vanilla from the aging in French oak. Its dry, bold, full of presence and with firm tannins and solid structure and richer flavours than many Rioja’s. We had this on its and with cheese. I probably prefer it on its own, mainly because the flavours are so well balanced.
At around £10 a bottle its one to buy.
Amador Medrano Terra Finca El Encinal, Rioja, Spain
There are many Primitivo’s on the market, Puglia produces more wine than almost any region in the world. Its good stuff, its hard to get a bad bottle of Primitivo.
This is one of the better ones, its very good, really good. made in the Appassimento way where some of the grapes are dried to concentrate the flavours. Its a dry red with aromas of spice, coffee and dark fruits. The taste is a mix of red fruits and dark fruits – red and blackcurrants, spice, chocolate, plum, so much going on.
At about £11 a bottle its great value and a wine that beats many that are twice the price.
Maxale – Appassimento Primitivo, Italy
France produces lots of Syrah. Therefore to stand out and be remembered a wine needs that extra something that a person remembers, otherwise its a “nice wine” whats next. This does stand out.
Its elegant with aromas of blackcurrant and liquorice and flavours of dark fruits, spice and floral notes of violet, subtle rose hints and vanilla with oak in the background. its good and at about £18 a bottle its not over priced.
Les Jamelles – Vallee de la bretonne, 2017 Syrah from Corbières in France
Its 100% Merlot made partly in new Oak barrels. SO the rest is pretty standard. Its full bodied with firm but soft tannins. The aromas are more relaxed that the flavours, red fruits abound with some black plum thrown in. The length of flavour is good but I would have this with food. I think because the oaking and tannins are a little too much for me. Its either that or try this in a few years. Given its 8 years old already I’m going with too much oaking. It was great with steak though.
At about £25 a bottle its not cheap, its good but just not £25 good.
Domaine du Grand Mayne – Revolution 2011, Bordeaux, France
A blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache and Carignan this is a southern french blend, plain and simple. Black fruit, spice, medium tannins and pretty dry. Actually really dry and firm tannins when you take the second glug of this wine. You get a smokyness on the palette but its subtle, there’s some red fruit that then comes in after. These second flavours get lost when this is drunk with food but I think I prefer it with food, usual steak and chips type of food.
At £10 a bottle this is pretty good value.
Chateau Cabezac, Petit Arthur 2017, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon, France
Before I get to the description, bloody fantastic, amazing, stonking, wonderful. I’m a fan of this wine.
Aromas of smoke, soft ripe black fruits. Taste following through with silky tannins, dry but not like others from the area, a little more rounded. There’s good acidity, tastes of cranberry, raspberry, tobacco and black fruits.
At about £10 a bottle it’s great value, amazing value. By this by the case.
Clos de I’anhel 2009, Corbieres, France
There are firm rounded tannins that hang around the mouth. It’s a fairly traditional style of wine from the Corbieres area.
At about Eur20 a bottle it’s a bit pricey for me. Good but not that good.
Château de Villemajou, Grand Vin 2017, Corbieres, France