Category Archives: Alcohol Reviews

Campo Viejo Rioja Garnacha Wine Review

Posted on by

We have been reviewing a lot of red wine recently. The standard has been high and is not let down by Campo Viejo Rioja Garnacha. The distinctive yellow label of Campo Viejo has been brightening up people’s homes for 55 years and it’s first Garnacha is featured in a retro 1960s inspired bottle.

Campo Viejo Rioja Garnacha Wine Review

This is light-bodied and easy-to-drink. The wine is ruby-red in colour with flashes of purple and aged in French oak barrels for four months. It has a fruity nose of strawberry, raspberry, cherry and blackberry. It also has subtle, sweet spices and floral notes that enhance the wine further. It is soft yet intense and fresh. This is a very special wine with a truly wonderful taste. It has a lasting fresh, fruity finish.

This is made from 100% Garnacha grape and is another delicious wine from Campo Viejo, the UK’s most popular Spanish wine.

Enjoy with: lighter food, pasta dishes.

Available from Ocado, Sainsbury’s and ASDA. RRP £8.69.

Alcohol volume: 14%
Vintage: 2012

http://campviejo.com

Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2005 Wine Review

Posted on by

Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2005 is a medium-bodied and intense ruby-red wine. Imperial is one of the big names of Spain. It is a true classic in Rioja and was first produced in the twenties. Its name comes from a special bottling for the English market, in a measure called ‘Pinta Imperial’ or ‘Imperial Pint’ which is approximately half a litre. It has always been characterised by its very high and constant quality in every vintage.

It is rich with black and red berry fruit, along with liquorice notes. It is wonderfully generous in its fruitiness. Along with toasty oak and savoury balsamic. As well as plums and damsons. It has a long finish.

Rioja Gran Reserva Imperial 2005 Wine Review

It reminds me of autumn berry fruits and has tastes of coffee, caramel and cinnamon. A well structured palate adds to this brilliant wine. It is pricey, but worth it at £26.99. The price may make it one for a special occasion, just make sure the occasion happens.

Gran reserva is the top wine classification of the Rioja region. For the classification it has to have been aged for five years.

Enjoy with roast lamb, game, cheese and stew.

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 Wine Review

Posted on by

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, vibrant and high-quality wine. It is right in the middle between light and full. This blended wine of merlot and cabernet sauvignon has flavours of plum, red fruits and dried herbs. It has a delicious finish and soft tannins. Has aromas of black cherry and chocolate. It has a long and smooth finish. This is a wonderful wine that can be drunk at any time.

Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon

Drink now or enjoy for up to five years.

Enjoy with grilled and roasted red meats, grilled and roasted white meats, pizza, pasta, mature strong cheese, duck and pasta with lemon sauce.

Available from Waitrose, Tesco and Sainsbury’s

 

Cune Reserva 2009 Wine Review

Posted on by

Cune Reserva 2009 is very tasty with great depth and fruitiness. It is a soft, luxurious wine. It also has hints of warm spice and balsamic. It is an intense ruby red, bright and deep in colour.  It has nuances of caramel and coffee. It is a very complex but well balanced and has a lingering finish. It is smooth, medium bodied and easy to drink. This is a popular wine and it is easy to see why. It is rich with deep aromas of bramble and red Autumn fruit.

CUNE Reserva 2009 wine review

The first wine of this winery was named after its initials. At the beginning a red ‘clarete’ wine was made up as a fine wine in the style of the Bordeaux “Claret” produced by the great chateaux’s of the Medoc. The success of the Cune Crianza motivated the creation of Cune Reserva. And we are glad they did. This is a very good red wine.

 

Available from Ocado and Tesco.

 

 

Beaujolais Villages ‘Combe aux Jacques’ 2012 Review

Posted on by

This wine is a ruby/purple colour and it has delicious aromas of fruits and a delicate freshness. The wine is ripe, savoury and juicy. It has raspberry and cherry flavours. It is medium bodied, reasonably priced and delicious. It also has a hint of savoury liquorice. Because this wine comes from Gamay grapes it can be drunk slightly chilled.

red wine review.

This wine can be drunk young but it will also age well for the next two-three years.

Enjoy with: slow-cooked pork belly, grilled & roasted red meats, salads & picnic, also perfect with pate, charcuterie or crusty French bread. Also ideal as an aperitif.

Available from Tesco, Waitrose, Budgens,

 

Champagne Taittinger Brut Reserve NV Review

Posted on by

When it comes to champagne it is hard to beat Taittinger. This Brut Reserve is renowned for it’s golden yellow colour and has hints of fresh fruit, brioche and honey. It is a delicate, fresh and elegant wine. With good bubbles that are not too full on. It is consistent and fine but with great depth. This is a champagne that is excellent for the moment, but also could be drank everyday (if only). It also makes an excellent aperitif. A truly wonderful champagne.

taittinger-reserve-brutnvchampagnereview

Enjoy with: grilled & roasted white meats, fish/shellfish and perfect as an aperitif or with canapes.

Available from Ocado, Tesco, Amazon and Waitrose

 

Contino Reserva 2007 Wine Review

Posted on by

This is a very classic red wine, ruby red in colour and clean with a fruity intensity. It has hints of strawberry, blueberry, vanilla and balsamic.

Established in 1973, this was the first Rioja region wine to be made in a single vineyard. Contino Reserva 2007 has great depth and flavour. It is medium bodied and stays on the tongue long after in a nice way. It is light with fresh acidity and silky tannins. This is a delicious wine, perfect for even fussy wine drinkers. It is pricey, usually more than £20 per bottle but worth splashing out on for a special treat. Available from Tesco and Waitrose.

fresh acidity, red wine, wine review

Goes with: grilled & roasted red meats, casseroles/stews, mature strong cheese and roast suckling pig.

 

Errazuriz Pinot Noir Wild Ferment 2011 Review

Posted on by

Errazuriz Pinot Noir Wild Ferment 2011 ReviewThis Pinot Noir has the perfect balance between light and full, harvested in the first week of March in Aconcagua Costa. This wine comes from Errazuriz, which was founded by Don Maximiano Errazuriz in 1870. Over 140 years later, They are now one of Chile’s most important wine producers.

The wine has aromatic intensity and is fresh and elegant. It has good structure and typicity and the tannins have ripened well. It is a beautiful ruby-red colour and it has subtle notes of sour cherries, rosehips and wild strawberries. It also has a smokey side thanks to being aged for ten months in French oak barrels, only 13% of which were new.

This is a wonderful Pinot Noir: crisp, juicy and with depth. It tastes great and goes down well. Drink now or let it age over the next 4 years. Drink with roasted lamb, turkey or goose.