Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, Pinotage, 2014, South Africa

Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, Pinotage, 2014, South Africa

Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, Pinotage, 2014, South Africa

 

This is the best Pinotage i have tasted, Wildekrans, Barrel Select Reserve, 2014 is stunning. Purchased during a trip to the vineyard in 2017 its a dry red with well integrated tannins, incredible smooth and luxurious in the month. Red and black fruit flavours with oak and vanilla notes, a little spice and overall softness made it a wine to sip over a few evenings, which is rare in our household.  At £25 a bottle in 2017 I wish I had brought more home.

The vineyard also did a honey and wine tasting,  a wonderful experience.

Amisfield, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2014, New Zealand

Amisfield, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2014, New Zealand

Amisfield, Pinot Noir, Central Otago, 2014, New Zealand

 

New Zealand Pinot Noir has a very good reputation and this 2014 from Amisfield shows why. There’s plenty of red and black fruit aromas and flavours with cherry being dominant but there are notes of chocolate, leather, coffee and an under lying earthiness to it all. Dry, smooth and quite light this is great on its own or with food, we had it with turkey and thought it paired very well.at £40 a bottle it’s not cheap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers, 2014, Loire, France

Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers, 2014, Loire, France

Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers, 2014, Loire, France

 

Another great red wine from the Loire this Domaine Rochou, Les Chateliers shows French wine at its best. It’s not particularly complex or out of this world but it’s very good all round with good length, plenty of black fruit, blackcurrant, plum and hints of blueberry. There’s oak, leather, earthiness and smoothness which makes this a red wine that you want to drink with or without food. At about £15 a bottle it’s excellent value.

Agrelo, Gran Enemigo, Cab Franc, 2014, Argentina

Agrelo, Gran Enemigo, Cab Franc, 2014, Argentina

Agrelo, Gran Enemigo, Cab Franc, 2014, Argentina

 

You don’t see as much Cabernet Franc as you should given how amazing this grape is and this Agrelo, Gran Enemigo from Argentina is flipping brilliant. Its dry, smooth, good tannins which are well integrated with plenty of red and black fruit flavours that last so long. There’s oak and earthiness that balance just so beautifully.

Its not cheap but for special occasions just perfect. We had it with slow cooked brisket which was amazing.

Chateau Fuisse, Pouilly Fuisse, Le Clos Monopole, 2014, France

    Chateau Fuisse, Pouilly Fuisse, Le Clos Monopole, 2014, FranceChateau Fuisse, Pouilly Fuisse, Le Clos Monopole, 2014, France

You know if you have good wine friends when they bring you a bottle of this Chateau Fuisse, Pouilly Fuisse, Le Clos Monopole, 2014 to dinner.

Some of the other people at the dinner table were very excited when they saw this wine, I was very excited when I drink this wine.

Coming from burgundy you do expect good wine but this was exceptional it was medium bodied reasonably dry with excellent balance of acidity and flavours. You had lime, peach, apple and honey flavours with mineral notes with an underlying creamy butter that had just the right level of oak underlying it all.

The worst thing is that at £60 a bottle most people will never get to try such an amazing mine.

Dr Deinhard, Grauer Burgunder, 2014, Pfalz, Germany

 Deinhard, Grauer Burgunder, 2014, Pfalz, Germany

Deinhard, Grauer Burgunder, 2014, Pfalz, Germany

German wines are generally very good but not necessarily the ones in the UK, you have to hunt them out and pay that little bit more like for this Dr Deinhard Grauer Burgunder.

Made with Pinot Gris this is a growing up wine with plenty of citrus flavour and subtle mineral notes coming through.

At about £20 a bottle it’s little bit on the pricey side but then again you do have to pay extra to get good German wine in the UK.

Coteaux du Vendomois, Chant Grives, 2014, Loire, France

Coteaux du vendomois, Chant Grives, 2014, Loire, France

Coteaux du vendomois, Chant Grives, 2014, Loire, France

The Loire in France makes some rather excellent wine and this Coteaux du vendomois, Chant Grives, 2014 good example of a reasonable priced everyday drinking wine that should just be enjoyed. Given its 8 years old there was plenty of right citrus fruits in there with honey notes it’s a semi sweet wine made with the Chenin grape.

 

Borda Sabate, Torb 1190m organic, 2014, Andorra.

Borda Sabate, Torb 1190m organic, 2014, Andorra.

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.

Tiansai, Skyline of Gobi, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, 2014, China

Tiansai, Skyline of Gobi, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, 2014, China

Tiansai, Skyline of Gobi, Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot, 2014, China

China can make some really good wines and this is a example of a really good drinking red wine. It’s stood the test of time quite well at 7 years it’s very drinkable, still it’s not particularly  powerful but you do get lots of fruity notes with a little chocolate and leather. It’s a sort of wine you would open it a dinner party, partly for the novelty value, that it’s from China but because it’s so drinkable. Give it another 10 years and I reckon China’s going to be producing some world-class wines for the everyday drinking.

Herdade Penedo Gordo, Monte Penedo Gordo, Reserva, 2014, Portugal

Herdade Penedo Gordo, Monte Penedo Gordo, Reserva, 2014, Portugal

Herdade Penedo Gordo, Monte Penedo Gordo, Reserva, 2014, Portugal

Bold, dry and reasonably smooth this is another good red wine from Portugal. You get lots of aroma, black fruit, oak, earthy with hints of leather. The flavour is pretty full on with spice and vanilla joining lots of fruit with a decent finish and good blance.

Ar Eur15 a bottle its on the mark for value. Its a good posh BBQ wine.