Borda Sabate, Torb 1190m organic, 2014, Andorra.
Borda Sabate is over 1000m above sea level, so sea level rises are unlikely to concern them. This Torb is at 1190m and organic. I’ve not had Andorra wines before but this was add good wire with dark fruits plum and bramble notes with a bit of tobacco and oak in there. A little earthy maybe but we had it with food so worked well.
The only gripe I really have to get used to is the cost at around £40 is quite a lot of money for this wine.
Clos de l’Anhel, Les Dimanches, 2009, Corbieres, France
Clos de l’Anhelmake excellent wines and it’s often the case that you should drink wine in a particular period after its been made and this Les Dimanches, 2009 shows why.
Coming from the Corbieres region in France wines are generally left to age little and and although this is still old wine it has decent amounts of black fruit, plum, blackcurrant with chocolate and a smoke and earthy undertone, after 13 years it’s still have been drunk earlier.
The turnings for starting to Fe and the dryness was a little bit too much. Possibly 3 or 4 years ago the fruit would a balanced out better.
Definitely want to have his food but try not to have anything with a heavy sauce if you’re going to drink something at this age.
Domaine de Mourchon, seguret Grand Reserve 2011, Rhone villages
Domaine de Mourchon know how to make good wine and this Seguret Grand Reserve 2011 is a good. Although this probably should have been drunk 3 or 4 years ago it still had a full body, with smooth tannins that were punchy with flavours of raspberry, redcurrants and plum with liquorice and pepper in the background. Younger vintages are selling for around £20, which is a little expensive but that said it is a very good wine. Certainly one to have with food, preferably cheese and biscuits or a good steak.
Timo Dienhart, Spätburgunder Trocken, 2016, Mosel, Germany
Light, smooth and dry are 3 words to describe this Timo Dienhart, Spätburgunder from the Mosel.
There’s flavours of cherry, raspberry, with earthy notes and hints of pine and oak and a little coffee poking through. It went well with veggie home made pizza but its light enough to have with meaty fish or white meat.
Zantho, St Laurent, 2015, Burgenland, Austria
Austrian wine has had a bit of a come back in recent years and this St Laurent from Zantho in Burgenland shows why.
There is some much going on, aromas and flavours of cherry, plum, blackcurrant, tobacco, licorice, hints of chocolate and oak. It’s dry, medium bodied with soft but “present” tannins. The length of these are good and integration is excellent.
One of the best wines I have tried in years and at approximately £15 a bottle it’s great value.
Tsiakkas Winery, Porfyros, Cyprus
Cyprus makes some decent wine and this read from Tsiakkas Winery is pretty good. It’s made with Grenache, Merlot and Agiorgitiko. Show me best with food because although you’ve got cherry and blackcurrant and plum flavours with a background of oak, coffee and chocolate, it’s a little unrefined. It’s not so much criticism but it’s a wine for place and time and that’s with food. It went well with a burger! It’s an everyday drinking wine that you can just, well drink and don’t think too much about, enjoy it.
Cantina Negrar, Vigneti Di Roccolo, Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico, Italy
There are many Amarone’s out there and this Vigneti Di Roccolo from Cantina Negrar is one of the best Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico wines I have tasted in many years
There is just so much going on, sure it’s bold, it’s also quite smooth. It’s not overly dry and there’s definite softness on the texture. You’ve got cherry, raspberry, redcurrant, you got some plum, BlackBerry, there’s chocolate and tobacco. Hints of coffee and there’s some smokiness and in a bit of earthiness in there as well, which just complement each other superbly.
The only sad thing is that with spring upon us there will be probably be less opportunity to drink Amarone, you really want to drink this in front of the fire or with a hearty stew. We did have it with homemade pizza which which was probably quite decadent. At £25 a bottle it’s actually good value for Amarone, sure it’s £25, but it’s Amarone.
Herdade, Grand Reserva, 2006, Portugal
Made with a blend of Touriga National and Syrah this Grand Reserva from Herdade is Pretty good, sure at £25 a bottle is not cheap but there is quality. It’s a bold wine with plenty of tannins, very dry with massive flavours of plum, blackcurrant, vanilla, oak and chocolate coming through. There are hints of leather and smokiness that are all really well integrated and after 16 years it’s incredibly drinkable.
Franchini, Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sedèse, 2017, Italy
Oohh this a great example of Valpolicella Classico from Italy. There are red and black fruit aromas with a dry, medium tannins and good length in the flavours. It’s a firm but soft red wine that lends itself to red meat meals or cheese and biscuits in front of a wood fire.
At £20 a bottle it’s not cheap but for a Decanter Silver medal winner it’s a fair price.
Gamba, Campedel, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, Italy
There are Amarone’s and there are Amarone’s and this one from Gamba is a great Amarone wine. Made with the Corvina, Rondinella, Croatina and Corvinone grapes, its a dry red that has great length and is smooth with well integrated tannins. There are plenty of flavours of red and black fruits, notes of tobacco, leather and chocolate, a bit of earthiness brings this back from being in heaven to a reality that this is just wine but great wine at that. Its a Bentley of the wine world.
The down side to this is the price of £30 a bottle, but thats Amarone for you.
