A silver medal winner at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2019 this Albarino from Pazo de San Mauro, Galicia in Spain is a great example of the grape and region.
You get apple and pear aromas with lemon, pineapple and hints of orange on the taste with a zesty, concentrated finish. Oh at £10 a bottle its very good value for money, naff said.
Pazo de San Mauro 2018 Albariño, Galicia, Spain
4 years ago we came across a little producer south of Saumur. Antoine Butet from Domaine De La Bruyere. Last time we met his father, this time we met the son, Antoine who is the. winemaker The wines were crisp, clear with lovely taste of green fruit and pear flavours for the whites and subtle red fruit tastes, low tannins and easy drinking for the reds. We call him the shed guy because he literally works out of a shed, what looks like an old converted cow shed.
This may not be gold medal winning decanter wine, but it’s fantastic value at Eur4 or Eur5 a bottle and it will not embarrass you if you serve to friends, exactly what wine should be. Ps he also does 10 litre wine in a bag.
The shed guy
Domaine De la Bruyere
Even the bulk producers are making premium ranges that are far removed from their normal offerings these days. This is not one of them. “Special Cuvee Chenin Blanc made with bush wines” means hot day with a glass or 2 of white wine. There are subtle aromas and flavours of citrus and peach but not much compared to other Chenin Blanc’s. That said at under £6 a bottle what do you expect!
First Cape Chenin Blanc
Copdock Hall from Suffolk is a small producer but their wines are of a good standard. This has hints of grass and lychee with a little gooseberry. it’s lighter than the usual British bacchus and it makes a refreshing change. It’s a great summer drinking wine for the garden and it’s reasonable value at about 13 pounds bottle.
Copford Hall Bacchus 2017
Looking through the wine fridge we came across this unoaked Chardonnay from Plantagenet, Western Australia. Nine years on and it’s still excellent. There are aromas of vanilla and a taste of oak, yet this is an unoaked Chardonnay! It could be an age thing or maybe a combination of the pear and citrus, answers on a postcard.
This is delicious, rounded, soft, smooth with subtle butter hints. You could make an xxx film on this wine and get an Oscar for it. At about £14 a bottle and a little waiting it’s worth buying and waiting.
Plantagenet 2014 unoaked Chardonnay