Brothers in Arms, Shiraz, 2019, South Australia
Another Australian heavy red wine yes but it’s rather good. Its bold and dry with decent tannins and plenty of fruit. There’s red and black fruit, oak, spice and hints of chocolate and leather.
It’s a red for food, a lump of red meat or a big red sauce pasta dish. At £12 a bottle it’s reasonable value.
Scriani, Valpolicella Classico Superiore Ripasso, 2019, Italy
As you would expect from a Valpolicella classic this is very good red wine from Scriani. Its on the dry side, bold but smooth with plenty of red and black fruit flavours. It’s got excellent length of the flavours and even went well with salad but better suited with pasta dish or a lump of red meat.
At £18 a bottle it’s not cheap by red wine standards but decent for the quality of a Valpolicella.
Winbirri, Solaris, 2019, Norfolk, UK
A few years ago Winbirri won a Decanter world wine award trophy which is some achievement. That was for their Bacchus but their Solaris is very good, it’s dry and crisp but with a softness that is very palatable. Lemon, blossom and stone fruit flavours with a slight tartness on the end makes this perfect for fish, salad or as an aperitif.
At 13 a bottle it’s what English wine usually costs, it’s a shame as it puts people off trying English wine.
Jordan Vineyard, Nine Yards, Chardonnay, 2019, South Africa
South Africa’s Western Cape is an amazing place that does fantastic wines at all levels and although this Nine yards vintage is on the pricier side it’s flaming brilliant.
It’s dry but bold with good acidity and flavours and aromas of peach, citrus, honey with vanilla and oak with hints of green apple and a softness that makes it absolutely delicious.
I would definitely have this with fish or a summer salad with a fresh zingy dressing and enjoy this in the sun. About £30 a bottle is not cheap but you should try this.
Fat Cat, Cat amongst the pigeons, 2019, Eden Valley, Australia
Fat Cat, Cat amongst the pigeons from Eden Valley in Australia has a striking name and a striking taste. Dry and crisp, it’s got plenty of flavours and aromas. Grapefruit, lime, lemon, green apple, ripe pineapple with a kerosene high light binding them together.
It’s refreshing and perfect sitting in the garden on a summer’s evening with a big plate of salad, a lump of fresh fish. Quite frankly speaking it’s wonderful.
Bouchard Finlayson, Blanc de Mer, 2019, Western Cape South Africa
South African wine can be some of the finest in the world and this blend of Riesling, Viognier and chardonnay is really excellent.
There are flavours and aromas of citrus – lime lemon with stone fruits – peach and apricot in there with floral, minerals, honey and wetstone poking it’s way through. It has great depth and it’s fresh.
Great with a salad in the garden on a summer’s day. At £12 a bottle its not going to break the bank either.
Simpsons, Derringstone, Pinot Meunier, 2019, UK
Simpsons, Derringstone, Pinot Meunier from the UK it’s the first pinot meunier that I’ve tasted. Normally this is a great that’s so mixed in sparkling such a champagne, it’s rare to have it on its own and I sort of see why, but I can’t say I disliked it.
There’s lots of pear and apple in this with notes of citrus, grapefruit but also yeasty notes, a creaminess but this a very interesting wine. Slightly thicker in texture and and not much acidity, so I would drink this on its own or with light food. We had it this with a full roast and it probably had a job on its hands keep up with the food, but this is one I would definitely recommend trying.
It’s a shame it’s going to be by about £18 a bottle as this will put a lot of people off.
Ernst Loosen, Pinot Noir, 2019, Germany
I do like German wine and this Pinot Noir from Ernst Loosen really shows why. It’s reasonably light got lots of redfruit which is vibrant with decent acidity and smooth tannins which makes this a very easy red wine to drink.
It’s on at £10 from Majestic Wines which makes this really quite cheap and worth buying a few bottles.
Trivento, Reserve Malbec, 2019, Mendoza, Argentina
Argentina does Malbec pretty well and this one from Trivento is a good example.
Yes its a cheap red wine that’s reasonable bold, pretty smooth and dry yet theres more to it. With aromas and flavours of red and black fruit, raspberry, cherry, plum, blackberry with hints of vanilla and chocolate and there’s good decent length to round it off.
This is a red wine for the masses and that’s not a bad thing. Excellent stuff.
Incanta, Pinot Noir, 2019, Romania
Buy it, you can read the below if you want but this Incanta Pinot Noir from Romania is amazing value and pretty good to boot.
Its a fresh, light and easy drinking red with fruit driven flavours of raspberry, cherry, hints of strawberries and a slight eathiness that makes you think of French Pinot Noir but at £6.50 a bottle from Majestic on a mix 6 bottles its a bargain.