Potash Field, Bacchus, 2023, Essex, UK
Potash Field vineyard is not a big player, a local place with a lot of passion and an experienced wine maker. This is an off dry bacchus with a soft feel, good acidity and chunk of gooseberry with hints of lime and lemon. Its a very easy drinking wine that would go well with a zesty salad or fish dish.
Delaire Graff, Chardonnay, Banghoek Reserve, 2021, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Rather good is this Chardonnay from Delaire Graff in Stellenbosch. Its a solid dry chardonnay with plenty of flavour’s. Balanced acidity shows off the components with citrus, lime, lemon, pear and melon all showing up. There’s a little creaminess/butter and subtle oak in the back ground.
The downside is the £30 price mark which is a little steep but is worth trying.
Domaine de la Bressande, 2019, Mercurey, France
The french do know a thing or 2 about Pinot Noir and this one from Domain de la Bressande is a classic. There’s plenty of red fruit with a hint of raspberry and the typical earthy undertone with oak and vanilla poking through. On the light side with smooth tannins and
La Vieille Ferme, Rose, 2023, France
La Vieille Ferme, Rose is a dry, light easy drink Rosé wine that will surpriseyou. A mixture of Cinsault, Syrah and Granache it’s not going to win any gold medals, but it has subtle flavours of strawberries and stone fruits and is a drinking with friends sort of wine. At £8 a bottle is reasonable value.
St Hugo, Chardonnay, 2022, Eden Valley, Australia
I am partial to a crisp buttery chardonnay and was looking forward to tasting this one from St Hugo’s but it wasn’t quite what I expected. Its a dry, crisp white wine with plenty of acidity. Lots of green apples and grass with a big hit of lemon and some grapefruit make it unbalanced to me. I was hoping for more buttery and vanilla notes and these make come through in the coming years if left.
At £20 a bottle its not cheap and I would like to try it again in 5 or 7 years to see how it matures.
Marcelo Pelleriti has produced a first class Malbec with this red wine from Mendoza. Its Dry, pretty bold with integrated tannins and a softness that’s welcome. There’s plenty of red and black fruit flavours with red cherry in the main followed by blackcurrant. Notes of oak, leather and spice sitting in the background with a hint of chocolate.
At £10 a bottle it’s great value and worth a few bottles in anyone’s Cellar.
Idiom, Sangiovese, 2015, Western Cape, South Africa
In 2017 we went to South Africa and did a little wine tasting at Idiom. Its quite a place with amazing views and excellent food in the restaurant they have at the vineyard.
Its a solid red wine, not to heavy with very soft balanced tannins and a hint of sweetness. Lots of red cherry and raspberry with notes of tobacco, oak, leather and vanilla with a little smokey undertone that pops through.
Pair with beef or a tomato pasta dish for a perfect match.
Greenhough, Road Block, Chardonnay, 2019, New Zealand
We use to drink a lot of the Greenhough Sauvignon Blanc at one stage, so I was eager to try the Road Block, Chardonnay. Unfortunately it’d not as good. This Chardonnay dry but is very green and acidic, lots of green apple, grass notes but the acidity is too much unless you have food. A tried it with a ripe brie cheese and it took the edge off quite well. At under £10 it’s just a no, on all levels from me
Bürgerspital, Würzburger, Silvaner, Kabinett 2008, Germany
Wow, after 15 years this German white wine from Burgerspital still tastes pretty good, excellent in fact. Dry with decent acidity. It’s still quite light though but the wine has matured and that’s reflected in the flavours. Ripe citrus and lemon with hints of grapefruit that cling to the mouth with great length.
This is a great wine to drink in front of the fire and just enjoy. For the record I have no idea where we got it from nor the price.
Vasse Felix ‘Filius’ Cabernet-Merlot, 2020, Margaret River, Australia
Another Australian red wine at £10 a bottle, another average red, well no. This is a step or 2 above most in the under £15 bracket. Dry and pretty bold but not sledge hammer bold. Black and red fruits with a bit of spice and rounded but firm tannins. Great with red meat or pasta. Alternatively in front of the fire watch TV.