Tag Archives: 2014

Anthony Joseph Vidal, Legacy, Syrah, 2014, New Zealand

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Anthony Joseph Vidal can make wine, good wine but at £30 a bottle it needs to be really good.

This Legacy, Syrah from the Hawks Bay area has some fine qualities. There are aromas of plum and raspberry with notes of spice, for the flavours get more darker fruits Oak and some very fine tannings which are slightly out of balance with the fruit flavour.  On the plus side I got no hangover after having an entire bottle of this wine one evening, which shows this is pretty good, it’s just not £10 good.

 

Anthony Joseph Vidal, Legacy, Syrah, 2014, New Zealand

Anthony Joseph Vidal, Legacy, Syrah, 2014, New Zealand

Coteaux du Vendômois, Cuvée Prestige, 2014, Loire, France

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Coteaux du Vendômois, Cuvée Prestige, 2014, Loire, France

Coteaux du Vendômois, Cuvée Prestige, 2014, Loire, France

This Cuvée Prestige from Coteaux du Vendômois is an interesting red. It’s made from Pineau d Aunis, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc and has soft flavours of red fruits such as raspberry and redcurrant and is pretty dry but the tannins are soft and this makes it a very easy wine to drink, no food needed with this red. Try with lamb, duck or tomato sauce based pasta if having with food.

It’s only Eur6 a bottle which makes it great value.

 

Minghu, monluxe II, 2014, China

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  • China has come a long way in recent years in many areas including wine and this red from Minghu is not bad. It’s not get either but drinkable, I think! There’s lots of red fruit on the nose and it’s a deep red colour that looks quite wonderful. The taste is where things gone screwy. Jammy red fruit, concentrated like ribena on steroids. A bit heavy and thick but it won’t kill you!
Minghu, monluxe II, 2014, China

Minghu, monluxe II, 2014, China

 

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

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Clos des Cazaux is a well establish and well regarded vineyards in Gigondas in the Rhone Valley. Made with Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre from vines averaging 50 years old. This is a bold, dry red wine with strong tannins, black fruits, leather, pepper and oak notes on the nose with red cherry, smokeyness, cigar flavours and an earth undertone when tasted.

Pair with game, grilled meats and strong cheeses otherwise the wine will over power your food. At Eur35 a bottle is a bit pricey for what you get but its Eur20+ bottle certainly.

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

Le Clos des Cazaux, La Tour Sarrazine, 2014, Gigondas, Rhone Valley, France

Paddy Borthwick, Pinot Noir, 2014, New Zealand

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This Paddy Borthwick Pinot Noir is from Wairarapa on the south part of the north island of New Zealand. Light, smooth, dry and fabulous is how I can best describe this wine.

There are aromas of leather, cherry, redcurrant and strawberry with a oaky earthy notes in there. There are additional flavours of mushroom, plum, tobacco which are all in balance with each other, nothing too much poking through. This is a very enjoyable and very drinkable wine, recommend all year round with or without food. Cracking.

At £18 a bottle its good value for an excellent New Zealand Pinot Noir.

Paddy Borthwick, Pinot Noir, 2014, New Zealand

Paddy Borthwick, Pinot Noir, 2014, New Zealand

Altos R Pigeage, Graciano, 2014, Rioja, Spain

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Made with the Graciano grape rather than the usual Temperillo grape , this Rioja is pretty good, excellent I would say.

There a black fruit, chocolate and coffee aroma mix that is added to in the taste department with red fruit and oak notes. Its a full bodied, smooth with firm, but well intergrate tannins and is excellently pair with red meat or in front of the fire just being sipped.

At over £25 a bottle is not cheap but I think it is justified.

Altos R Pigeage, Graciano, 2014, Rioja, Spain

Altos R Pigeage, Graciano, 2014, Rioja, Spain

Tarapaca +, Organic Red Blend, 2014, Chile

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Organic wine is seen as a bit “niche”, not main stream and a bit wacky but this red blend from Chile shows what fantastic, amazing and bloody great value wine you can get organically. The blend is usually made with a combination of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carmenere, Merlot and Petit Verdot. It has great balance of fruit flavour with acidity, ripe black fruit aromas with spice notes that are added to with red fruit flavours, tobacco and low tannins. Its smooth, so smooth, wonderful.

At under £10 a bottle this is brilliant value and a fabulous wine.

Tarapaca +, Organical Red Blend, 2014, Chile

Tarapaca +, Organic Red Blend, 2014, Chile