Camel Valley, Bacchus, 2013, Cornwall, England
Camel Valley know how to make great wine but this Bacchus from 2013 is something else. Drink Bacchus young has been the saying but at 11 years old thus is still great. Dry, balanced acidity with crisp citrus and a slight hint of grapefruit is a wine to enjoy watching a sunset. At about £15 a bottle for current vintages it’s one to just buy.
Domaine Charles Joguet, Chinon Les Varennes Grand Cru, 2013, Loire, France
The Loire Valley has amazing red wines and this Domaine Charles Joguet, Chinon Les Varennes Grand Cru, is a cug above thd best, truly wonderful. Its dry, well integrated tannins and plenty of red and black fruit aromas and flavours. The length is long and there are notes and hints of tobacco, oak, chocolate, leather and a little earthiness th
Sparkling wine from South Africa has come along way in the last 15 years. This Jacques Bruere, Brut Reserve, 2013 shows how good it can be. There’s a freshness znd ziggyness to it, lots of fruit, peach, grapefruit, lemon and balanced acidity. Pair it with seafood or just enjoy with friends. At £15 a bottle it’s great value.
Château Tamagne, Brut, 2013, Russia
Russian wine makers are not the Russian government and with that in mind they shouldn’t be tarnished as is the government is. This sparkling wine is dry with good length and flavours of apple, pear, citrus and hints of pineapple. It’s a good sparkling that is very easy to drink.
Cakebread Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013, Napa Valley, USA
I always get a warm fuzzy feeling when I try a Cakebread Cabernet Sauvignon and this 2013 vintage is no exception. Dry, bold, smooth and with plenty of aromas and flavours of plum, blackberry, tobacco and oak with a hint of earthiness and vanilla. The only down side to this is the price of about £60 a bottle
Tenuta Carretta, Canorei Romero Arneis, 2013, Italy
It’s my first time having this Tenuta Carretta, Canorei Romero Arneis, 2013 from Italy and it was quite wonderful. It’s quite a boldwine, dry with reasonably acidity.
There are massive amount of flavours in here with a melon, apple, citrus – limes and lemons with an open vanilla, buttery undertone and frankly it’s magic.
It’s £15 to £20 for bottle but it’s worth it it really is.
Chapel Down, Kits Coty, Chardonnay, 2013, UK
If you think you can’t keep English wine for years before drinking it you’re wrong and this is exactly the bottle to try. Chapel Down make a lot of wine and a million bottles on a year but this kits coty is one of their premier lines.
Even after 8-years it is stunning wine to taste and although it costs over £25 a bottle it’s a must to try anyone that likes white wine. A worthy gold medal winner.
Theres still complexity in this wine with aromas of peach and apple, apricot with flinty under notes and subtle oak and a very long finish.
With summer and sitting out in the garden eating salads and barbecues, talking with friends this is got to be one to put on the menu.
Cliff Lede, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013, Stag’s leap District, Napa Valley, USA
Stag’s leap District is well-known in Napa Valley and around the world for producing fantastic red wine. This red wine from cliff lede is really outstanding. It’s full of red and black fruits and is full-bodied but very well-balanced with well-integrated tannins and acidity. It’s fantastic with steak, in our case we had venison stew.
The only downside is it’s price which at £55 is quite a significant amount. It’s a shame as it will put people off trying it.
Albert Mann, Prinot Gris, 2013, Alsace, France
Albert Mann is a quality producer, getting a bad bottle is very unlikely and this standard Prinot Gris is no exception. There’s a slight kerosine undertone with lots of pear coming through on the nose. Its medium, on boldness, acidity and dryness. You get a creaminess, honey and fresh citrus flavours which make this easy to drink with a salad, white meats yet perfect to just sip throughout the evening in the garden on a summers day.
At about £20 its a little pricey but great quality.
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.