Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Posted on January 14, 2021 by richardgore1200

I’ve tried a few mexican wines and they have generally been good bt I can’t figure out if I like this Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah or not. Its a bit like the chinese wines I’ve tried, a little one dimensional but not necessarily in a bad way, just different to what you may get in a french Syrah.

This is fruit driven, loads of blackcurrant with a little blueberry and herbaceous notes. Its like an adults Ribena with a little twist. Its dry and in your face but with a lump of red meat its OK.

Just because it comes from an area that you may not associate with wine making is not reason to write a wine off, this is a good example. Not great but not bad either. At £45 a bottle its way over priced though.

Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

Posted on January 4, 2021 by richardgore1200

What is wrong with wine from Mexico? nothing or that should be the case as there are areas in the country that suited to making wine. This Syrah is red wine! its dry and fruity, lots of plum, cherry and thats for the first 3 seconds before – nothing. Its like half a polo mint, decent hit of flavour, then you get to the hole where it disappears and then still nothing. Its not like there’s another chance.

its not bad its just not around long enough, I’ve never had a wine like this before, so for me its interesting.

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

Chateau De Berne, Rouge 2014, Provence, France

Posted on July 12, 2020 by richardgore1200

We went to Chateau De Berne and carried this Rouge 2014 back from Provence.

Wine in a square bottle is a De Berne thing, thankfully it doesn’t adversely effect the wine. Made with mostly with Syrah and chunk of Cabernet Sauvignon this is a dry, medium red colour and reasonably light wine. You get a hit of black cherry and plum on the noise with a hint of herbacious in there. This follows through in the taste with medium tannings and a pretty smooth texture. This is a fruit driven wine more than big tannins that grip your mouth.

At about Eur20 a bottle its not cheap, its good but a little overpriced.

Chateau De Berne, Rouge 2014, Provence, France

Château de Cazeneuve, Le Roc des Mates 2013 from Pic Saint Loup, France

Posted on April 28, 2020 by richardgore1200

This dry, Syrah based red wine is quite something. You get a bit of blackfruit on the nose but its when you taste it that you think this is actually really rather good.

The flavours are soft and subtle but all there. Plum, black cherry, blackberry with pepper and hints of vanilla from the oak its been left in. It feels grown up with good integrated tannins and is a delight to savour at the end of the day. We had this partly on its own and partly with roast lamb. excellent on both occasions.

At about £12 a bottle its very good value and worth trying again.

Château de Cazeneuve, Le Roc des Mates 2013 from Pic Saint Loup, France

Château Villerambert Julien, Incarnat 2017, Languedoc, France

Posted on November 26, 2019 by richardgore1200

I like Languedoc red wines, and at Eur13 a bottle this is an amazing cheap wine.

Does anyone need to know more? Made with Syrah, Grenache and Carignan there are aromas of jammy black fruits, pepper with full flavours and a great dryness and acidity balance.

Château Villerambert Julien Incarnat 2017, Languedoc, France

Chateau Cabezac, Petit Arthur 2017, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon, France

Posted on October 1, 2019 by richardgore1200

A blend of Mourvedre, Syrah, Grenache and Carignan this is a southern french blend, plain and simple. Black fruit, spice, medium tannins and pretty dry. Actually really dry and firm tannins when you take the second glug of this wine. You get a smokyness on the palette but its subtle, there’s some red fruit that then comes in after. These second flavours get lost when this is drunk with food but I think I prefer it with food, usual steak and chips type of food.

At £10 a bottle this is pretty good value.

Chateau Cabezac, Petit Arthur 2017, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon, France

Château de Villemajou, Grand Vin 2017, Corbieres, France

Posted on September 15, 2019 by richardgore1200

This is a blend of Carignan , Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache. There are aromas of liquorice and cloves, stewed fruit, spices and coffee. These come through in the flavours.

There are firm rounded tannins that hang around the mouth. It’s a fairly traditional style of wine from the Corbieres area.

At about Eur20 a bottle it’s a bit pricey for me. Good but not that good.

Château de Villemajou, Grand Vin 2017, Corbieres, France

Costes Cirgues Bois du Roi Languedoc, France

Posted on August 19, 2019 by richardgore1200

This is a Languedoc big red wine made with a mix of 3 grapes, Syrah 40%, Grenache 30%, Mourvèdre 30%. It’s an organic, vegan friendly wine where they let the whole bunch grape sit for 20 days, punching down the bunches each day so to extract all their flavours. You get a aromas of strawberry and cherry with hints of mint. The tannins are there but they balance well with the fruit flavours. You get what you smell with subtle flavours of violets and herbs added in. I drank this over 3 nights as I really enjoyed it on its own, just sipping away.

At about £18 is not cheap but really quite excellent.

Costes Cirgues Bois du Roi, Languedoc, France

Chateau Bonhomme mademoiselles, Languedoc red wine

Posted on August 5, 2019 by richardgore1200

Chateau Bonhomme mademoiselles comes from the south of France, in the Languedoc area. This is a Syrah Grenache blend and is a good example of a red wine from the region. There are aromas of black fruit and tobacco and flavours of red and black fruits, spice notes and medium tannins. I think the blend with grenache really helps add a big hit of fruit that makes this easier to drink on its own than just having Syrah and the tannins and structure that Syrah brings to wine.

At about £10 a bottle it’s a good solid Languedoc red wine

Chateau Bonhomme mademoiselles

Cap Insula – Languedoc red wine

Posted on August 1, 2019 by richardgore1200

This is a blend of three possibly four grapes depending on where you look the vineyards website or fact sheet. Sarah, Grenache and possibly Caignan or Mourvèdre. There are aromas of black fruit and some spice and pepper notes. On the taste there are firm tannins, flavours of black fruit, spice and Oak.

Like many Syrah and Grenache based wines it does benefit from being opened 20 or 30 minutes and allowed to breathe. The slave is my volume is ready to open up. At about £12 a bottle it’s fair value.

Cap Insula – Languedoc red wine

The accidental drinker

Wine talk and reviews by an accidental drinker

Tag Archives: syrah

Abolengo de Don Juan, Syrah, 2016, Mexico

Guaname, Syrah, 2018, Guanajuato, Mexico

Chateau De Berne, Rouge 2014, Provence, France

Château de Cazeneuve, Le Roc des Mates 2013 from Pic Saint Loup, France

Château Villerambert Julien, Incarnat 2017, Languedoc, France

Chateau Cabezac, Petit Arthur 2017, Minervois, Languedoc Roussillon, France

Château de Villemajou, Grand Vin 2017, Corbieres, France

Costes Cirgues Bois du Roi Languedoc, France

Chateau Bonhomme mademoiselles, Languedoc red wine

Cap Insula – Languedoc red wine