Tag Archives: wine review

The sun continues: So what about wine al fresco?

Posted on by

Vina Real Barrel Fermented Blanco 2014

The sun continues- So what about wine al fresco?

Picnics are booming with this late summer sunshine, so why not take this Vina Real in the picnic box with you. I have a firm liking for oak aged wines. I discovered them in the Margaret River area of Western Australia years ago now. This Vina Real Blanco has, or should I say, had (it’s all gone) a hint of a toasty and biscuity flavour from the oak and the lees, with pure floral and citrus aromas. There’s such a smooth rich palate that it slips down rather too easily. Fantastic with poultry.

Made from 100% Viura this wine really should be tried. But much like the Monople (below) it must be served at a cool temperature.

RRP £11.10

Stockists: Grayshott Wines, D.Byrne and Co, Famous Wines, The Clifton Cellars, The Seriously Good Wine Company

Monopole Rioja Blanco 2015

winereview

Another for the picnic, or for anytime actually. I enjoy Rioja, and this Monopole Blanco didn’t disappoint. The moment the cap came off the scent leapt out of the bottle. Rather a subdued bottle, I have to say, for a rather lovely wine.

It is fine and elegant and  is the perfect summer drink with its white flower and tropical fruit aromas. Mango and ripe citrus flavours dominate t and a balanced refreshing acidity makes this a great wine to enjoy in the sun. It must go into the fridge, and be taken on the picnic in a cool bag, please.Essential it is  served at the right temperature.

RRP £10.00

Stockists: Wine Rack, Vino Wines, The Whalley Wine Shop, Noble Green Wines, Hoults Wine Merchants, Hailsham Cellars, Partridges of Sloane Street, Islington Wine

 

 

 

New Zealand is a Place I Should Visit. Why? Wine

Posted on by

Three very good reasons:

 

Villa Maria Private Bin Dry Riesling 2015, 

New Zealand is a place I should visit. Why? Wine1

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Sauvignon Gris 2015, 

villamariawinereview2

Villa Maria Private Bin Lighter Sauvignon Blanc 2015

sauvignonblancvillamariawine3

These are three New Zealand wines created by Villa Maria.

 

Let me just give you more of a run down:

 

Villa Maria Private Bin Dry Riesling. 

 

This is a bright perfumed wine, with a sense of lemon and lime. Perhaps even a hint of apricot. It is so light and crisp that it is perfect for summer, and perfect for fish, pizzas, salads, even picnics. I am off to Opera on the Green on 3rd  September, in Chesham. What could be better?

 

RRP: £10.55

Stockists: Waitress.com, Majestic.co.uk, Wine Rack, Booths, Ellies Cellar, The New Zealand House of Wine, Fountainhall Wines, The Strand Wine Company, Bin 21 Limited, The Devine Wine Company (Kent) Ltd, Hailsham Cellars, The Seriously Good Wine Company

 

 

Cellar Selection Sauvignon Gris, 2015.
The grapes are hand picked from the Fletcher Vineyard in the Wairau Valley and the wine has a sense of nectarine and pineapple which dominate. I think it works well with cheeses, as well as the usual suspects, fish, and salads.

 

RRP: £14.95

Stockists: The Co-op, Vino Wines, Partridges of Sloane Street, The Shenfield Wine Company, Brooksby Wines, Famous Wines, The Whalley Wine Shop.

 

 

The lighter Villa Maria Private Bin Lighter Sauvignon Blanc 2015.
This is again perfect with all the above foods, but has the advantage (for some) of being lighter in alcohol at (9% aby). It is full of fruit flavours and freshness

 

RRP: £11.30

Stockists: Vino Wines, Islington Wine, The Seriously Good Wine Company, Ellie’s Cellar, Famous Wines

 

All three wonderful reasons for visiting New Zealand, but failing that, buy these wines, and bring summer into your lives.

 

 

Summer Rosé Wine Review Special

Posted on by

There are few better pleasures in life than a glass of rosé on a summers day. Here are some picks from us. We have been hard at work testing three different bottles of rosé. Don’t say we don’t love you.
Jean-Luc Colombo Pins Couches Rosé 2015Jean-Luc Colombo Pins Couches Rosé 2015

This is one of the best rosés on the market. Subtle and refreshing, this wine is clear and light. This gorgeous, abundant wine transports you to the Italian sunshine. A huge winner. .

Available from: BargainBooze.com, Vino Wines, Wino’s, Harrods.com, Ellie’s Cellar, Partridges of Sloane Street, Les Caves du Patron, Kingsgate Wines

RRP: £11.10

A light, refreshing and dry Rosé with abundant yet subtle red fruit characters. On the palate, notes of fresh fruits and herbs evoke the terroir of the Mediterranean coast, transporting you to sunny climates all summer long.

Joseph Mellot Sancerre Le Rabault Rosé 2014

 Joseph Mellot Sancerre Le Rabault Rosé 2014

Perfect for picnics and barbecues. Delicate and floral. A not-too-sweet wine that is both delicate and fruity. It is a beautiful salmon colour and has a fruity freshness.

Available from: Aitken Wines, Fountainhall Wines, The Whalley Wine Shop, The Leamington Wine Company, Eagle Wines

RRP: £18.80

With a delicate floral nose and fresh raspberries on the palate this wine is the perfect partner to any summer BBQ.

Villa Maria Private Bin Rosé 2015

Villa Maria Private Bin Rosé 2015

Refreshing and dry, the ripe berry fruit makes this wine another perfect summer addition. It’s sweetness makes it a perfect apéritif.

Available from: Tesco.com, Majestic.co.uk, Temple Wines, Beers Wines & Spirits, Village Wines, Hailsham Cellars

RRP: £10.30

This New Zeland Rosé has bright floral aromas with flavours of strawberry, red fruits and spice and a delicious smooth finish which will go down perfectly at all summer soirées.

 

Premier Estates Wine Review Special

Posted on by

Today we have a Premier Estates Wine special. They are winning awards galore so we thought we would see what all of the fuss was about. We tried the following award-winning wines. 

Premier Estates Wine Review Special cava

Cava Brut – Silver
CAVA BRUT SPARKLING WINE

11.5% vol. 75cl

This was a delicious sparkling wine. Not all Cava is equal, but this one was fruity and refreshing. It is nice and light with a good amount of sweetness. This Cava is a double award-winner and it was my favourite out of the six we reviewed (Followed by the rosé). It has citrus and apple flavours. Perfect for parties, dessert, fish, pasta, risottos or white meat.

Premier Estates Wine Review Special californianchardonnay

CALIFORNIAN CHARDONNAY.

12.5% vol. 75cl

This one is a triple award-winner. Complex, but also refreshing, with flavours of orange and melon. It also has a very light hint of butterscotch. It is smooth and easy. Perfect for delicate food such as shellfish and fish. Would also go well with pasta or chicken.

Premier Estates Wine Review Special cheninblanc

 South Africa Chenin Blanc – Bronze

SOUTH AFRICAN CHENIN BLANC

12.5% vol. 75cl

This is a fresh wine with a good, crisp finish. The citrus aromas and flavour of lychee makes this wine interesting, but also a good all-rounder. This wine doesn’t seem to want to be placed, it leaves you taking another sip as it is complex. it is not too sweet (nor too sour), making it perfect for white meat such as pork or Asian food.

2016-05-15_sb_australian-shiraz_1024x1024

Australia Shiraz – Commended

AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ.

13.5% vol. 75cl

This is a medium-bodied red wine. It is not one of those headache-inducing heavy red wines. It is soft and easy-to-drink. It has an abundance of spiced plum. Red wine tends to go well with red meat, like steak and lamb.

Premier Estates Wine Review Special shirazrose

 South Africa Shiraz Rosé – Commended

SOUTH AFRICAN SHIRAZ ROSÉ.

12.5% vol. 75cl

I love rosé. Although we always end up having a debate about it in the office. Some of us prefer a paler, less sweet rosé, while others like a deeper redish colour, which is generally more sweet. While I am susceptible to a Pinot Grigio Blush, I also love the darker sweet stuff. This shiraz rosé is perfect for summer. It is deep and full of berries. A refreshing wine which will go well with salmon, pasta and creamy cheese.

2016-05-15_sb_Australian-Chardonnay_1024x1024Premier Estates Wine Review Special

 Australia Chardonnay – Commended

AUSTRALIAN CHARDONNAY.

12.5% vol. 75cl

A smooth chardonnay with a long finish. Soft, smooth and tropical. This fruity wine is perfect for summer. Enjoy with fish or turkey.

 

Premier Estates Wine is an independent British company aiming to deliver fantastic quality wine at everyday prices. They have a free delivery service and take the fuss out of the wine buying process. There is no minimum spend for the free delivery. They have won numerous award from the world’s finest and most fastidiously judged drinks competitions. Including the International Wine & Spirits Challenge (IWSC) and the Decanter World Wine Award (DWWA).  Prices are reasonable and the wine is good. They sell through independent grocers, wholesalers, and directly to customers through their ever-popular online store where there is no minimum spend and all orders benefit from free delivery. Give them a try.

 

 

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2013 Review

Posted on by

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2013 Review.jpg

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2013 is a rich, textured wine with subtle spice flavours and red cherry notes. This is a sensual wine, elegant and intensely flavoured. It gives a red fruit burst and is medium bodied with a clean and long finish. Cranberry and spice make it perfect for winter.

Winemaker Notes

The 2013 Cellar Selection Pinot Noir displays a fragrant bouquet of dried herbs, red cherries and subtle smoky notes. On the palate the wine is concentrated with juicy red berry fruit flavours, integrated acidity and fine grainy tannins.

Vineyards

The fruit for this wine originates from a diverse range of vineyard sites in both the Awatere and Wairau valleys in Marlborough. Soil types range from clay loams, adding depth and concentration to the wine, whereas the stony limestone soils contribute perfumed aromatics and texture.

Winemaking

The wine is made with true respect for the fruit with gentle handling through the winery.The fruit was chilled, destemmed and cold soaked for 10 days before being fermented using a mixture of indigenous and cultured yeast. The ferments peaked at 32°c to extract the desired colour and tannins. The wine was then post macerated for a further 3-5 days to soften tannin profile before gently pressing. It was matured for 10 months in new and seasoned french oak barriques, resulting in a silky refined and layered Marlborough Pinot Noir.

Vintage

The 2013 vintage was warm and dry, although quite mild temperatures throughout the summer months resulting in pronounced aromatics and ripe tannins.

Food match

Enjoy with:

• Grilled & Roasted Red Meats • Grilled & Roasted White Meats • Pizza/Pasta
• Mild Creamy Cheeses

 

Grapes: Pinot Noir 100.0%

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13.5%

pH: 3.55

Total Acidity: 6.20 g/l

Residual Sugar: 0.00 g/l

Drink now…2 to 5 years 

 

 

Anyone for Pinot Noir? By Margaret Graham

Posted on by

Frost has had the great pleasure of tasting three bottles of Errazuriz’s Pinot Noir (Chile) recently, and it made us very relaxed and cheerful, let me tell you.

Pinot Noir Estate Series

Errazuriz’s Pinot Noir1

The grapes for the Estate Series Pino Noir have been rigorously selected from the Errazuriz vineyards in the Aconcagua Valley and the Mediterranean climate in this area of Chile which features warm days and fresh evening breezes. This temperature oscillation in the weeks leading up to the harvest triggers an intensification of the colour of the wines.

The Estate Pinot Noir 2014’s aroma promised all that was to come, the wine felt fresh on the palate, but wholesome, and full of the flavour of red fruits.  It suited the chicken dish we had, but would work as well with pasta, grilled fish, and any sort of seafood.

Errazuriz Estate Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £10.25, Majestic

Aconcagua Costa Pino Noir

Errazuriz’s Pinot Noir2

There’s something special about living within easy reach of the sea, and the grapes for Aconcagua Costa Pino Noir endorse this, coming as they do from the Manzanar vineyard.

It is located barely 7.5. miles from the Pacific Ocean.  The 2013-2014 weather was moderately warm, followed by a dry spring. Budbreak was delayed due to a cold spell but the cool growing conditions had the effect of a slow ripening of the grapes, leading to an intense aroma, and taste.

The grapes were hand picked, double sorted, and the final blend was aged for 12 months in French oak barrels. Gorgeous. It reminded me of the best of the Margaret River wines (Western Australia). We enjoyed this wine, very much.

Errazuriz Aconcagua Costa Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £16.15, Stone Vine & Sun, Cheers Wine Merchant, Hoults, Eagle wines, Noel Young, R Campbell and Sons

Wild Ferment Pinot Noir

Errazuriz’s Pinot Noir3The grapes for this Pino Noir come from the La Escultura vineyard, located in the Casablanca Valley 32 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean. Warm summer days, morning fog and fresh evening breezes that blow in from the coast allow for a gradual ripening process. This helps to preserve the grapes aroma, flavour and acidity.

This wine was my husband’s favourite. Aromas of wild strawberries, cranberries, savory dried herbs, rosemary made it pretty sublime.

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir 2014 RRP £14.35, Majestic, Booths and Grape Sense

 

 

 

Piccini 1882 Spumante & Piccini Orange Label Chianti Review

Posted on by
PICCINI 1882We have some awful news: apparently the supply of prosecco is running low. We are just drinking too much of the stuff. Fear not though, Piccini have brought out an alternative: Piccini‘s 1882 Spumante. 1882 has been innovatively produced with a blend of 75% prosecco (glera) grapes and 25% Chardonnay grapes to offer an equally delicious taste profile to the popular Italian sparkling variety. It is fresh, crisp and delicious. A fruity wine that is just as good as ‘normal’ prosecco. Zesty citrus and tropical fruit flavours make this a truly wonderful fizzy wine.  We can highly recommend it. 
 PICCINI ORANGE LABEL CHIANTI

Also perfect for Christmas is the Piccini Orange Label Chianti Review. This red blend from Tuscany is smooth and delicious. This is a very popular red wine and it is very easy to see why. Instantly recognisable, this wine is at the heart of what Piccini does: a classic Chianti made to a very traditional recipe. What’s the secret to this wine’s juicy, easy-drinking style? A traditional Tuscan technique called Governo all’uso which sees a small amount of the Sangiovese grape – which is used for all Chianti – added as withered fruit. The effect of this is to induce a very slight secondary fermentation which in turn gives delicious, bright, red fruit flavours to the final wine.

Piccini Orange Label is fabulous on its own or with practically any food you can think of – from pasta and tomato sauce whipped up after a busy day at work, to mature cheeses eaten by the fire with friends. You can find the Piccini Orange Label Chianti in Sainsbury’s at an RRP of £6.20. Sainsburys.co.uk

Renowned Italian wine brand Piccini have the perfect drinks for this season including their much-loved Orange Label Chianti. A red blend from Tuscany that is talked about more than any other wine in Italian history, it’s the perfect wintery red wine to be enjoyed at home with classics such as pizza, lasagne and lamb.

As well as the perfect wintery red, Piccini have also got the perfect party season drink – Piccini‘s 1882 Spumante. This sparkling wine is a great alternative to prosecco and is on offer at Sainsbury’s at two bottles for £14.00. A deal not to be missed ahead of the winter party season. Much-loved Italian wine brand, Piccini, launches its new 1882 Spumante sparkling wine to offer the UK an affordable alternative to Prosecco.
As demand for Prosecco continues to soar and rumors of a potential ‘Prosecco shortage’ continue, 1882 has been innovatively produced with a blend of 75% prosecco (glera) grapes and 25% Chardonnay grapes to offer an equally delicious taste profile to the popular Italian sparkling variety.

 

Cultivated in the cool climate and sea-fossil soils of Triveneto, including the traditional prosecco regions of Veneto and Fruili, Piccini retains its authentic Italian roots in winemaking by using the traditional Charmat production method to give 1882 its uniquely delicate fizz.

 

Undeniably fruity, with zesty citrus and tropical fruit flavors, 1882 is the perfect accompaniment for dishes such as succulent seared scallops, grilled fish and chicken salads.

 

Named after the year the Piccini family first began wine production, the launch of 1882 continues to establish Piccini as an innovative, exciting Italian brand that combines authenticity and heritage with industry innovation.

 

Available from Sainsburys.co.uk with an ongoing RRP of £9.00.

 

1882 OFFERS (available exclusively at Sainsbury’s):

From the 28th of October for 3 weeks, 1882 will be on offer, 2 bottles for £14.00.

From the 9th of December for another 3 weeks, 1882 will be on offer, 2 bottles for £14.00.

 

 

 

Louis Jadot – the very essence of Burgundy: Domaine Ferret Pouilly Fuisse 2013

Posted on by

Wine Review by Margaret Graham

Louis Jadot – the very essence of Burgundy:

Domaine Ferret Pouilly Fuisse 2013

There are those days which absolutely require a fine wine. Such a day occurred not long ago when one of Milly Adams’ books did rather well in the bestseller list. As a close friend of Milly’s how could we not celebrate.
Louis Jadot – the very essence of Burgundy- Domaine Ferret Pouilly Fuisse 2013

Nothing’s easy is it? Bourgogne winemakers had a tough year in 2013 when nature decided to have a tantrum. First, a long winter; with hail damage and lord knows what else, then a gloomy spring, which eventually moved on into summer. In October the grapes could be picked. In spite of the difficulties – what a wine.

There is the taste of subtle fruit on the palate, acacia flowers, with a hint of buttery spiced nuts, along with an intense finish, and superb with shellfish, risotto, grilled or friend fish, goats cheese and creamy cows milk cheeses.

We ate goats cheese and salad, and drank to Milly’s book, Above us the Sky. Perfect.

RRP £26.90, Fountainhall Wines, Aberdeen;  North and South Wines Ltd, London;  Penistone Court Wine Cellars, Sheffield; Planet of the Grapes, London;  Vino Wines,  Edinburgh;  Taurus Wines Ltd, Guildford;  The Oxford Wine Company Ltd; Aitken Wines, Dundee;  Coruss Retail Ltd, Luton; Southwick Court Fine Wines Ltd, London; Edencroft Fine Wines, Cheshire; Partridges Of Sloane St Ltd; Peake Wine Associates, Fareham, Hampshire; Wine Chambers, Newcastle;  Last Drop Wines, London; Constantine Stores Ltd, Falmouth;  The Red Bottle Company Ltd, Thame,  Stop & Save , Tonbridge Wells.