Yalumba, Galway vintage, Shiraz, 2022, Barossa Valley, Australia
The Barossa valley in Australia is known as a fantastic wine region and produces superior red wine. This dry red has strong tannins with depth and flavours of plum, blackcurrant, oak and hints of chocolate. It’s a good wine but nothing to make it stand out. At £15 a bottle I would like more subtle flavours and texture. Think of it as a Ford Focus car.
Domaine des Brosses, Alain Girard et Fils, Sauvignon Blanc, 2022, Loire, France
Ah, french sauvignon Blanc is far more subtle than the usual New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. While this is not the greatest wine to come out of France it is a well made, on the drier side with flavours of citrus and softness that makes you happy to have another glass. At over £15 a bottle its a bit pricey but rather nice.
Grande Rivers Vineyard, 2022, Colorado, USAI think this is the first wine from Colorado that I’ve tasted and I’m pleased to say its pretty good. It’s a good solid Merlot. Dry, decent Plum and red fruit flavours with reasonable length and medium tannins, it’s a drinking wine. Bit like a Ford Escot was in the 90’s, solid and decent.
Rhonea, Notre Dames Des Vignes, 2022, Cotes Du Rhone, France
This dry white blend from Rhonea from the Cotes Du Rhone Villages has Grenache, Viognier and Clairette. It’s a dry white with lemon, grapefruit and peach notes. I really liked the freshness and clarity. Zesty salad or fish would lift this wine further.
It’s like a Fiat Panda 4×4, unexpectedly better when tried than you thought before.
This Muscat from Domaine Schlumberger in the Alsace, France is very good, very good indeed. Off dry but with flavours of pineapple, peach, mangoes it’s fresh and vibrant. Great on its own or with fish and curries it’s quite delightful. At £15 it’s cheap for the quality. Its like getting a 2nd hand electric car and realising it’s rather good and now pretty cheap.
Maison Fortant, Minervois, 2022, Languedoc, France
This blend of Syrah and Grenche is full of Blackcurrent and spice flavours with a note of chocolate and long length. Dry with tannins that are well integrated and you have a great wine. At £15 a bottle it show cases Languedoc’s excellent red wine perfectly, it’s like a Mercedes E class at Ford Puma prices.
Tikves Winery, Babuna White
Made from Albariño, Chardonnay and Viognier this white blend from North Macedonia is rather good. Medium bodied with flavours of apple and pears with a floral notes and an aromatic undertone which ties it all together. At about £15 a bottle it’s like a Ford Fiesta with alot of upgrades.
Chartreuse de Bonpas, 2022, Cotes Du Rhone Villages, France
Chartreuse de Bonpas from the Cotes Du Rhone Villages area of France is a quality dry red wine that you won’t want to guzzle but sip. Long length with black and red fruit flavours, oak, tobacco and a little chocolate sit in the background. Firm but well integrated tannins and a softness that’s just rounds the package off. Delightful. At £12 a bottle it’s a bargain.
Oyster Bay, Merlot, 2022, Hawks Bay, New Zealand
A big producer, Oyster Bay is a supermarket staple in their wine aisle. They produce decent wine at a fair price and this Merlot is no exception. A dry red wine with decent red fruit flavours. A little one dimensional in its characteristic delivery but at under £10 a bottle what do you expect.
Another well made Canadian Pinot Noir. Yep the winery may have a slightly “unusual” name but they can make good Pinot Noir. Red current, strawberry and notes of vanilla, leather with a slight earthiness in the background. Well integrated, soft tannins make this a solid dry red wine to be sipped, rather than just guzzled.
The major upside is the price at about CAD20 a bottle. At that price its worth getting in by the case. Its like getting a top spec BMW and only being charged for the basic model.