Tender Hope, Coral Syrah, 2018, Okanagan Valley, Canada
Canadian wine has come of age and the Okanagan Valley and Tender Hope vineyard is testimony to this. A smooth, dry red wine that feels at home in a high end restaurant. There’s black fruits galore with sweet spice, oak and firm tannins. We had this with a BBQ and it was a perfect fit. At CAD30 a bottle is good value too.
Bindi Sergardi, La Ghirlanda, 2018, Chianti Classico, ItalyBindi Sergardi in their La Ghirlanda have produced a wonderful Chianti Classico. Dry, full bodied with well integrated tannins and masses of black and red fruits. There’s spice and oak undertones knitting in perfectly. The down side is the £28 price tag, although I have seen it at a very reasonable £18 for the 2016 variety. Very much worth trying even at the higher price, but better at the lower price of course 😉
Mascota, Unanime, Merlot, 2018, Mendoza, Argentina
Argentinian makes a fantastic wine and this Merlot from Mascota is quite divine. Dry with plenty of red fruit with blueberry as well, chocolate and black pepper under pin the flavours. I wouldn’t say it was particularly complex but there’s definitely good structure here and a very long finish which makes this a superb wine for approximately £15 a bottle.
Brampton Estate, Roxton, 2018, South Africa
I visited Brampton vineyard many years ago and found it to have excellent wines and port. This red blend is no exception for me it’s a crackling red wine. Dry, with solid body and tannins and good length this has flavours of red and black fruits, leather, oak, vanilla and hints of chocolate and tobacco.
The down side is the price at £17 a bottle, not outrageous but not your everyday wine.
Tenuta di Angoris, Collio Bianco, Angoris Riserva Giulio Locatelli, 2018, Italy
Tenuta di Angoris, Collio Bianco, Angoris Riserva Giulio Locatelli, 2018, Italy
Tenuta di Angoris has been making wine for generations and this Angoris Riserva Giulio Locatelli shows that. It’s a dry bold white wine with flavours of green apple, grass, ripe citrus and hints of peach poking through. It’s a little austere but goes well with fish and white pasta sauce dishes.
At £18 a bottle it’s a little pricey but worth a try.
Domaine La Suffrene, Bandol, 2018, Provence, France
Lashings if black fruit, rich, elegant, with earthiness and leather under tones and well integrated oak and vanilla hints make this province red a delicious treat. Granted at £25 a bottle it’s not cheap. Great with red meat or rich tomato pasta.
Elysium, Black Muscat, 2018, California, USA
Elysium, Black Muscat, 2018, California, USAA rather good desert wine is how best to describe this wine from Elysium. Made with black Muscat grapes there’s lots of plum with a dollop of chocolate in each glass’s. It’s sweet but it’s not sticky or sickly. We’ll balanced and very drinkable. At £14 a half bottle it’s decent value
Rupert and Rothschild, Classique, 2018, Paarl, South Africa
Rupert and Rothschild, Classique, 2018 from Paarl, South Africa It’s a truly staggering wine for it’s got so much flavour and depth and balance that it will just blow your mind. There’s plenty of dark red and black fruits with hints of chocolate and tobacco with an undertone of oak with firm tannings to bind everything together. At about £30 a bottle it’s not cheap but then again this is fantastic wine
LaSelva, Prima Causa, Rosso Toscana, 2018, Italy
Made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot this blend from LaSelva in Itlay isn’t bad. Its a dry red with firm tannins and decent lengh. There’s the typical black fruit flavours with licorice and a little oak in the back ground. I can’t help feel that there’s something missing from this wine and I can’t think what. All the components are there but the pulling together is missing something.
A good wine but not one to go back to in a hurry.at about £10 a bottle it’s decent value.
Recanati, Special Reserve White, 2018, Israel
Israel is not known as a hot bed of wine making, but it can make decent wine which this Recanati, Special Reserve White shows. Made with Roussanne and Marsanne its a good blend producing a medium bodied, dry white with decent length. You get aromas and flavours of stone fruit, pineapple and citrus with a slightly nutty undertone.
At £40 a bottle not many will try it and that’s understandable because at that price you should get more than this offers.