Domaines Schlumberger, Spiegel, Pinot Gris, Grand Cru, 2021, Alsace, France
Domaines Schlumberger are well known for excellent wines and this Spiegel, Pinot Gris, Grand Cru is very good, very good indeed. Dry with apricot and plum with blossom and honey, its texture is weighty with a creaminess that makes you just want another glass. At under £20 a bottle its very good value too.
Alvento, Cabernet Franc, Icewine, 2021, Ontario, Canada
I have never had a bad bottle of ice wine, whether from Canada or else where and Alvento from Ontario in Canada has kept that run going. This is a great example of an ice wine. Its slightly on the lighter side which has the benefit of the flavours being shown off rather than the sugar seducing you. notes of strawberry and spice come through beautifully and the balance of flavours and structure make this a delight to sample. And sample you should, savour this wine rather than just neck it. At CAD80 a half bottle its a bit pricey but thats ice wine in general.
Ramon Bilbao, Crianza, 2021, Rioja, Spain
Another Crianza fron Rioja, Spain and a decent one too with a Silver medal from the IWC. Dry, firm but well integrated tannins and plenty of length of dark fruits. It’s like VW Polo, decent all round and nothing bad. At £12 a bottle its good value, well done.
Famille Arnaud, Quart du Roi, 2021, Rhone, France
Made in the Rhone style, this Dry red wine from Famille Arnaud is a good quality red made to be just drunk. Sarah, Grenache and bit of Mourvedre and Counoise make up a classic blend with good length, grippy tannins and decent black and red fruit flavours. Its got a bronze at the Decanter World Wine awards 2024 which is a fair mark. Drink with a lump of red meat or tomato pasta.
Laurenz V, Charming Grüner Veltliner, 2021, Austria
This “Charming Grüner Veltlinez” from Laurenz V is like wrapping yourself in a fresh, cool duvet on a winters night. Soft and round this dry white wine makes you feel that its not only good to love Austrian wine but that you should be drinking it each week and that its actual a health drink because it make you feel so relaxed. Fresh with lemon and lime and a silky undertone this is probably best drunk on its own so you can feel the character on each component. Its not a serious gold medal winner but the Silver medalist that you should be trying because its easier to love. At under £20 a bottle its not bad value.
Crooked Mick, Shiraz, 2021, South Eastern Australia
Good quality Australian Shiraz is the best I can come up with for this Crooked Mick Shiraz. Its not bad, dry with reasonable amount of black fruit, spice and hints of leather and chocolate. At under £10 a bottle its a good wine at a good price. Think of a cheap Skoda car, solid.
Sainsburys, Taste the Difference, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2021, Coonawarra, Australia
Sainsburys like all supermarkets has some great wines under their own labels and this Cabernet Sauvignon under their Taste the Difference range is rather good. Its not gold medal winning but its a solid dry red wine. Plenty of red and black fruit, hints of tobacco and spice sitting the back ground. Its like a well spec’d Ford Fiesta car, not your first choice but worth a try for a meal or two. At £7.50 a bottle its great value.
Gérald Besse, Les Serpentines, 2021, Syrah, Martigny, Switzerland
The swiss can make some really good wine and this dry red syrah from Gérald Besse from the Martigny area of Switzerland shows it. Good length and full of red fruit flavours. With a little bit of smoke, leather and slight earthy note just poking through it’s very enjoyable red to watch a sunset with.
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Greek red wine can be excellent, world beating and it’s not to say that this red made from the Liatoko grape is bad. It lacks any real sense of depth or standout flavours. Its a lunch time, dry red wine to be drunk and enjoyed with a meal. Certainly at £20 a bottle there are better wines out there, but at least it’s a “not to be refused if you are offered a glass” category.
Vina Salort, Gran Reserva, Tannat, 2021, Canelones, Uruguay
I’ve not had much wine made from Tannat and after this bottle I know why. It’s not a grape that seems to really excel. It’s OK, dry, light with reasonable red fruit flavours, some tannins and simple on overall structure. Best to have food with it to help soften it.