Red
We Recommend...
Non Confunditur (2008) Argiano
Tuscany, Italy
£14.50 Buy
Estay (2008) Dominio Dostares
Castilla y Leon, Spain
£13.60 Buy
Argentina
'Urano' Cabernet Sauvignon (2007) Bodega Eral Bravo
Mendoza | (Cabernet Sauvignon) no comments | more >
Mendoza | (Cabernet Sauvignon) no comments | more >
£11.95 Buy
Another example of why Argentinian wines are so popular at the moment. Lovely ripe, fresh, pure fruit characteristics – lots of that Cabernet Sauvignon curranty, minty, juiciness but without the jammy notes that other ‘New World’ wines suffer with. Pure & moreish.£10.00 Buy
Poor old Merlot. Often thrown into blends to add a bit of weight - sometimes even not name checked on the bottle. As a single variety on its own it has also had a tough time after 'that' movie. Perhaps we should pop this open & remember the good old times, when Merlot was soft and voluptuous, easy drinking and fruity, a wine for savouring and taking time over. This one is for Merlot.£11.50 Buy
Malbec – the ‘grape de jour’, particularly in its Argentinian guise. This wine shows all the richness & weight one would expect from this grape, but with a lovely freshness of youth – a raciness, that compliments the body & intensity, all rounded off with a good firm, yet sensible use of oak ageing.£15.25 Buy
An intensely pure showing of Argentinian Malbec. Grown at over 3400 feet & limited production of 1 bottle per vine, this wine has been created without oak or filtration to best show the quality this varietal can achieve. Fragrant & rich juicy fruit on the nose, intense velvety richness on the palate – all without being heavy or over laden.Australia
£54.00 Buy
Dr John Kirk was a scientist whose curiosity led him to ask why wine wasn’t produced in this area of Australia. His studies led him to believe that certain varieties would do very well & nearly 30 years on his theories have been proven correct. This wine has recently been promoted to a ‘first growth’ status in Australia’s ranking system. This may say Ozzie Shiraz on the label but inside you find beautiful fruit, fragrant perfume of raspberries, violets, black tea & blackberries, summer herbs & the slightest hint of toastiness. It feels silky in the mouth, seductive almost in its youthfulness. So enjoyable now but if you can leave a couple of bottles for 5-10 years…
£19.40 Buy
Yummy!!! Quite simply yummy!!! Never thought we would get so excited about Shiraz.
This is just one of the slickest, silkiest, sexiest (ooh!), sumptuous, splendid Shiraz we've tried in a long time. Vibrant & intense - loaded with ripe, polished blackberry & spiced blackcurrant fruits - but it's that cool sensuous feel that is so exciting with firm, masterful tannins. Yes this will develop over time in the cellar into a glorious thing of beauty but seriously, we can't think who can keep their hands off it long enough to find out.
Time for a cold shower!!!£26.15 Buy
John Duval is a legendary name in the Australian wine industry, having been head wine-maker at Penfolds for 16 years, including being entrusted with making the iconic Grange. He set out on his own in 2002, sourcing fruit from some of the best growers in the Barossa (obviously he made some very useful friends during those Grange years!). Plexus is a Rhone-style blend of Shiraz, Grenache and Mourvedre but has a richer, more hedonistic style than it’s French cousins. With flavours of juicy red fruits, layered with chocolate and a twist of spice, it really is delicious now but will also improve if you could bear to leave it alone for a few years.£10.70 Buy
Delightful. Thoughts of blockbuster Aussie 'Sheeeraz' should be abandoned immediately. This fragrant fellow with soft, spicy damsons, gentle peppery nature - even some dark cherries really surprises. Lovely silky feel in the mouth with more of that spice & dark pepper coming through on the palate. Yes it has power but very understated.£9.70 Buy
Remarkably perfumed & aromatic for this style of wine, brambles, blackcurrant & mint on the nose which transfer to richer tobacco, spice & almost plum on the palate. A vibrant wine with great length & concentration along side some interesting earthy, leathery undertones. Great value.Chile
£7.80 Buy
Inspira is made by Vina Chocolan from younger vineyards (11 years old) than their other wines, using only free-run juice to keep the wine as light and juicy as possible. It’s full of bright, smooth cassis flavours with a very soft mouthfeel.£9.15 Buy
A really easy going wine. The soft leafy characteristics & deep, voluptuous plummy fruit soothe & ease the tempers. It's easy to see why this grape was confused as Merlot for so long & being from Chile you get so much for your money.
England
Camel Valley Red (2009) Camel Valley
Cornwall | (Rondo, Triomphe, Dornfelder & Pinot Noir) no comments | more >
Cornwall | (Rondo, Triomphe, Dornfelder & Pinot Noir) no comments | more >
£17.70 Buy
As English wines become not only more accepted but even celebrated the reds still find themselves being sneered at. How can the English summer possibly produce fruit ripe enough to make quality red wine? If you're looking for big, rich, heavy alcoholic palate beaters then you'll have to wait a very long time for global warming to have those kind of affects. If however you prefer fresher, lighter, juicier styles of wine then perhaps it's time to be surprised. Dark, leafy fruits & racy juicyness - hints of dark cherry & spicyness. Just lovely served slightly chilled. Slurp!
Pinot Noir Precoce (2009) Welcombe Hills Vineyard
Warwickshire | (Pinot Noir Precoce) 1 comment | more >
Warwickshire | (Pinot Noir Precoce) 1 comment | more >
£15.00 Buy
One of the consistant leading light of English red wines. Pinot Noir Precoce is actually a mutation of Pinot Noir, with smaller, earlier ripening berries. Expect to see PN's light strawberry notes & a little bit of leafyness, possibly even hemp herbaciousness (don't ask). But this feels lovely on the palate, very easy & fruity & light. A real joy.
France
£14.00 Buy
Catherine & Pierre are fast becoming recognised as leading lights in the Loire. Their wines are expressive & well crafted but most importantly each cuvee tells the tale of the vineyard from where they originate. This Bourgueil has all the soft currant, leafy character but the edges have been softened & shaped for ease of drinking. The name ‘Trinch’ is in fact an old Germanic word for drink or cheers.
£16.30 Buy
The true home of Malbec.
Many lovers of modern day Malbec would struggle with proper, traditional Cahors. The style here is much darker, richer & brooding than say the Argentine incarnations. This crosses the chasm between the two styles very nicely. A lovely dark seam of rich, pruney, spice black coal like minerality with a lighter more modern polished touch - a great introduction to the 'dark side' of Malbec.
£8.30 Buy
Corbieres sits in the deep end of the great wine lake that is the Languedoc, which is sad really as it's countryside has a really magical charm to it - lots & lots of vines but magical none the less. This wine typifies a Corbieres for me, soft & ripe spicy brambly fruits, hints of peppery lightness with a lovely warm almost sandy feel. Very easy going.
Saint-Chinian (2008) Chateau la Dournie
Languedoc | (Syrah, Carignan & Grenache) no comments | more >
Languedoc | (Syrah, Carignan & Grenache) no comments | more >
£9.70 Buy
It's easy to fall in love with Chateau la Dournie. Such a beautiful picuresque corner of the world, such wonderful characterful wines & yes I once had a 'school boy' crush on wine maker Veronique (& her sister Valerie!!!)...
Anyway, here's St Chinian at it's darkest, silkiest, most blueberried rich & chocolaty best. Rich yet giving & soft - such a lovely voluptuous wine...sigh.
£13.50 Buy
Good quality, everyday drinking claret is so hard to find at this price. With some of the glorious 2005 'petit chatueau' wines just hitting their stride (this has a bit more Merlot than one would expect - so a bit softer around the edges) it looks like everyday drinking just got a little bit easier to find. Lovely generous weight & berry rich, plummy fruit. Those tobacco, cedar classic characteristics are just beginning to show. A bit of upright tannin but so well balanced that it's hardly noticeable.
£18.90 Buy
Upon its release 2007 was given a bit of a rough ride by the critics. I think it's darker, fresher, more classical style has perhaps fallen out of favour of late. However, I quite like the darkness & juciness this brought to many of the wines. This wine - quite a surprise find - shows how this style can work very well. The Merlot has it's soft & rich structure which plays so nicely against the dark juicy nature of the vintage. Yes the tannins are a bit chunkier but with a good, rich steak or the like that should be taken care of nicely.
£21.50 Buy
Sometimes life rushes along & I forget where the years go. 2002 - nearly a decade has passed. Another of those vintages that sat in the shadow of a more 'showy' vintage. Upon reflection & with a bit of time in the bottle these are looking like really classy wines & are still reasonably priced (for Bordeaux). Text book St Emilion. Classy.
Faugeres (2009) Clos Fantine
Languedoc | (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsault) no comments | more >
Languedoc | (Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvedre, Cinsault) no comments | more >
£13.15 Buy
This Biodynamic estate makes vivid, lively wines which burst with the wild herbs, dark mineralic soils & sun kissed fruits of the Languedoc. The craft of this wine is in its lightness of touch, its silkyness whilst still retaing a warm spicy richness. A perfect companion for roasts & other red meat dishes.
£19.00 Buy
David is a quiet, gentle giant of a man - think young Burt Reynolds look a like, who makes some of the most intense & yet elegantly beautiful examples of Syrah we've tried. This wine worries me - in a good way. So dark, almost flavours of pitch black (can you taste pitch black?) yet glimmers of perfume & violets & forbidden fruits I daren't mention. This wine has a long long joyous life ahead of it. But, if you love things that go bump in the night, try it when it's young. Wow.
£9.90 Buy
This family Domaine produces wines of real character, far exceeding the quality you usually see at Villages level. The vines are at least 30 years old with some up to 100, and this, combined with careful attention to detail in the cellar, produces intense wines with a rare purity. Light, with an abundance of summer fruit aromas, this is absolutely delicious and the perfect partner to a plate of charcuterie.
Cotes du Rhone (2009) Domaine de l'Espigouette
Rhone | (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan) no comments | more >
Rhone | (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan) no comments | more >
£10.20 Buy
Ahha, Cotes du Rhone - the red wine of the 80's, the supermarket discount wine of the 90's, almost obscurity in the 00's? But now, time for a renaissance maybe? With wines as good as this it's well overdue. Expect to see all that lovely soft spicyness the Rhone does so well, with ripe, rich yet wonderfully balanced brambley fruit. A really relaxing, soothing wine.
£14.50 Buy
This hidden gem of a domaine has recently been taken over by young son Guillaume & my goodness what a talent this boy has. The wines throughout the range seem to capture all the nuances of their different 'terroir' with a beautifully elegant & light touch. This, the entry level if you like, is just classic Burgundy through & through. Light & easy pinot strawberry fruits, dark smokey Cotes de Nuits hints and with a structure that really feels top dollar. Delicious.
£29.50 Buy
I tried this wine shortly after young Guillaume took over wine making at the family estate - I believe the wine had just been bottled. The entire range made me sit up & seriously take note. Could this be... the holy grail of wine buying? A fresh young wine maker, some top vineyards & just beautiful beautiful wines.
The NSG was one of the highlights of that tasting - it just sings - dark, perfumed, pure seduction. Elegant sultry fruit & silky, smokey opulance. A treat - a real find.
£17.85 Buy
Jean Paul Brun is one of the true characters of Beaujolais - & one of it's most controversial. Determined that his wines should be a true reflection of the regions soils & climates he refuses to use any of the sugar based 'tricks' that many of his more commercial neighbours use. The end results are wines that are rich in character, often more resembling deep classical Burgundies than the light strawberry bubble gum efforts we may be used to. Proper wine from a proper place & time.
Cuvee Lais Rouge (2008) Olivier Pithon
Roussillon | Carignan, Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
Roussillon | Carignan, Grenache, Syrah & Mourvedre
£19.60 Buy
Chateauneuf-du Pape 'Les Olivets' (2008) Roger Sabon
Rhone | (Grenache/Syrah/Cinsault) no comments | more >
Rhone | (Grenache/Syrah/Cinsault) no comments | more >
£23.75 Buy
A good old fashioned Chateauneuf, the way Chateauneuf should be. Grenache is the main player in this wine so forget about the big blockbuster Syrah heavy style, this is pure, silky yet powerful red fruits & spicy brambles. Firm tannins, good acidity & build - definitely a foody wine but with many layers of spice & complexity. All finished off with a hue of chocolatey-ness.
Italy
£8.50 Buy
This was the wine that really put Primitivo on the wine-map; by concentrating on the quality of the fruit and using modern techniques in the winery, Californian winemaker Mark Shannon showed what Primitivo was capable of. Previously the wines from Puglia were often seen as rustic and aggressively tannic but here we have a softer, more polished version with bags of lovely raspberry fruit and a long, smooth finish.
£10.10 Buy
The Allegrini family have always been standard bearers for quality in Valpolicella, crafting wines of great balance and finesse in all the region’s styles. This is their light and fruity wine which is great when chilled slightly and goes perfectly with tomato-based pasta dishes. A simple wine it may be but delicious, balanced, simple wines are surprisingly hard to find.
£55.00 Buy
La Poja is the name of the vineyard on the top of Podere (hill) La Grola, which has a south-eastern exposure and chalky, limestone soils. Here, the Corvina grape gives wine of great complexity and depth; the flavours of cherry and blackberry mingle with a subtle spiciness and leads to a lovely long finish. A very classy wine and a great match for the finest red meat dishes.
Non Confunditur (2008) Argiano
Tuscany | (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah & Sangiovese) no comments | more >
Tuscany | (Cab Sauv, Merlot, Syrah & Sangiovese) no comments | more >
£14.50 Buy
This aristocratic and beautiful estate has been producing wine for over 500 years and is now in the hands of Countess Noemi Cinzano. They have earned quite a reputation for their Brunello but this wine shows that they can also produce a style of wine that is accessible and modern in the best sense of the word. The blend of Italian and French varieties really works here, giving the wine real personality; it is rich and generous style and one meant for early drinking but it still has the structure to stand up to rich beef dishes.
£10.50 Buy
If you’re only experience of Cabernet Franc is the chewy, green stalky, cheap wines that tend to appear on the supermarket shelves then please be brave & give this version from the Slovenian border a go. The cassis element of ‘Cab. Sauvs’ little brother is the driving force & whilst the tannins do show they are soft, ripe almost silky in feel. There’s some meat to these bones as well, so really quite a joyful expression of this much feared grape. An epiphany moment?
£11.90 Buy
Montepulciano is a beautiful walled, hillside town in Tuscany where the Sangiovese grape (called locally Prugnolo Gentile) makes wines that tend to be slightly richer than their Chianti neighbours. The Rosso is usually made for early drinking pleasure (as opposed to the more structured Vino Nobiles) and this is no exception; medium-bodied, this is full of juicy cherry and wild strawberry flavour with a lively lick of acidity which deals nicely with tomato and olive oil based dishes.
Curtefranca Rosso (2009) Fratelli Berlucchi
Lombardy | Cabernet, Merlot, Barbera & Nebbiolo 1 comment | more >
Lombardy | Cabernet, Merlot, Barbera & Nebbiolo 1 comment | more >
£10.50 Buy
One of our big favourites of the last year.
It's not often a wine comes along that not only captures all the character of some of the best northern Italian grape varieties but also has an ease of drinking & lighness of touch that many top wine makers would sell their big wooden cuvees for.
Every time we open this bottle we find a treasure trove of proper wine-ness & joy.
£8.70 Buy
Made from the Montepulciano grape, in Abruzzo this wine offers great value for money. The quality of grapes is of the upmost importance here as a lot of wines from here are overcropped, thin and rather bland. Here we have a modern, clean style of wine, but one with real character. There are aromas of cherry and chocolate on the nose and a lovely, smooth palate.Chianti Classico (2008) Isole e Olena
Tuscany | Sangiovese 80%, Canaiaolo 9%, Cabernet 8%, Syrah 3% no comments | more >
Tuscany | Sangiovese 80%, Canaiaolo 9%, Cabernet 8%, Syrah 3% no comments | more >
£19.30 Buy
The Isole e Olena estate is situated in the Western part of the Classico zone and has been owned by the Di Marchi family since the 1950’s. They have steadily built up their reputation and are now firmly established as one of Chianti’s leading producers. The house style is very restrained and elegant by modern Chianti standards, and all the better for it. The wine sees some oak ageing but it is the lovely cherry and violet aromas and silky red fruit flavours that dominate. Medium-bodied and the perfect accompaniment to roast lamb.
Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore (2008) Le Vigne di San Pietro
Veneto | (Corvina, Rondinell & Molinara) no comments | more >
Veneto | (Corvina, Rondinell & Molinara) no comments | more >
£18.20 Buy
Is this baby Amarone or grown up Valpolicella? Either way it's a cracking bottle of wine. Suggestions of the richness & intensity one might find in a full blown Amarone, but for those who like things a little lighter & fresher there's a lovely dark seam of juicy fruit & just the right amount of soft tannic grip. As Italian as a Ferrari.
£8.20 Buy
Californian winemaker Mark Shannon fell in love with Puglia over ten years ago and was the first to bring the region to wider recognition. This blend comes from an organically farmed vineyard that was designed by one of Spain’s leading landscape artists. The wine is smooth and rich but with a certain freshness that makes it very drinkable. Great value. Organic.£50.00 Buy
Paolo De Marchi, the owner of the famous Chianti estate Isole e Olena has set about reviving his family’s estate in the Lessona zone in Northern Piedmont. And so far the results are amazing. The grape variety here is Nebbiolo, the same as their southerly neighbours in Barolo and Barberesco but the slightly milder climate and sandier soils give slightly richer wines which have a softer structure. The perfumes and flavours are similar however and this is a truly aristocratic wine which deserves the best roast beef or venison dishes.
£10.40 Buy
The Vesevo vineyards are based high up in the hills of Campania and benefit from the cooling breezes from the bay of Naples. Aglianico can produce wines which are hugely tannic and need long ageing to soften but this is made in a modern, slightly softer style which is lovely right now. Still fairly rich, it would suit hearty fare such as stews and casseroles.
£22.00 Buy
Amazingly, there is evidence to show that there has been wine-making on this estate since 804AD and the wines just seem to keep getting better year on year. The Carmignano region is further south in Tuscany than Chianti and this tends to be reflected in the weight of the wines, with these having a richer, meatier feel to them. The Sangivese still gives the lovely perfumes of violets, but here there are darker notes of cassis and spice which matches well with beef and game dishes.
Lebanon
£10.50 Buy
The Massaya vineyards are situated 1000 metres above sea level in the ancient winemaking area, Bekaa Valley, which enjoys a unique and almost perfect microclimate, being protected by the Anti-Lebanon mountain range. The Classic Red is full of crunchy red fruit with a spicy Rhone-like quality. Organic.
New Zealand
£36.15 Buy
Home of probably the world’s only blind wine maker. A tiny estate nestled into the limestone hills producing intense & elegant wines. Fresh plums & cherries dominate here – it’s so intense (yes young & fresh) but so enjoyable for it. There are flavours of oriental spice floating about at the back with some kind of exotic – almost passion fruit intensity. Even for all its intensity (this is New Zealand Pinot at its best) it is still extremely well balanced.Portugal
£15.50 Buy
Look at that cheeky chap on the label... & what a cheeky little wine as well. Baga is not known for its easy drinking style or accessibility in its youth. But this wine, with 1% white Bical manages it so well. Lovely vibrant blackberries & red currants with a little spicy note that almost surprises. Want something a little bit different? Here it is. Cheeky!Drink Me (2009) Niepoort
Douro | (Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franco, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca)
Douro | (Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franco, Touriga Nacional, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca)
£11.10 Buy
South Africa
£9.70 Buy
This Pinotage from Charles Back is one of the best around, combining real drinkability with good depth and richness. The nose has aromas of chocolate and blackberry and on the palate there is good acidity to keep things lively.
£7.70 Buy
This label is owned by Charles Back of Fairview and relates to his other interest, that of Goat keeper and award winning Goat’s cheese maker. As the bad pun implies, this is a Cotes du Rhone style blend with Syrah, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Carignan and Grenache all going into the mix. The result is a smooth, fruity wine with a bit of spice on the palate. Easy drinking and really good value for money.£17.00 Buy
A deep intense example of Cabernet Sauvignon. Dark, rich cherry fruit laced with pencil lead & cigar smoke. It’s powerful & firm in structure but the unctuous dark fruit carries this off. A real food wine needing decanting but one for real Cab Sauv lovers.
Spain
£12.15 Buy
Proper rioja – 24 months in French & American oak followed by at least 12 months in bottle. Expected dried figs, spice & vanilla underpinned by currant fruit notes. Well integrated tannins give the wine a soft supple long finish with balsamic hints.
£22.60 Buy
100% Foot trodden Bobal - I can tell I'm loosing you on this one already!!!
This wine is so full of surpirises. It starts off all sweet strawberries, cherries - lovely fruity characteristics & then mid palate...
Bam - in comes a seam of dark, brooding spice - rich almost mineral iron like quality. It starts Beaujolais & ends as a Marcillac or Cahors.
Brilliant. Just sublime with food.£11.65 Buy
A modern, fruity, deep Spanish red. Herby, warming rich layers of fruit both on the nose & palate. Very rewarding.
£13.60 Buy
This wine is made from grapes from vines that are 90 years + in age & is a real treat. Plenty of complex, rich texture whilst retaining a fruity, aromatic character all tied up with a lovely fresh finish. A rarity.£18.10 Buy
This wine is quite an un-expected treat. Being a big Cabernet Franc fan it's a joy to see it tasting so good from somewhere other than the Loire. Its got its lovely juicy, fruity trousers on here with a hearty luscious depth. The soft Merlot seems to be poking its head above the Cab Franc every now & again but keep an eye on it over time. As Jancis puts it on www.jancisrobinson.com "Very sophisticated" - I agree.Emilio Valerio, Laderas de Montejurra (2009) Olivier Rivere
Navarra | Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo no comments | more >
Navarra | Garnacha, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Tempranillo no comments | more >
£10.10 Buy
Biodynamic.
This wine is made from fruit from as many as 50 different plots in noth west Navarra using grapes from young 10 year old vines at altitudes of up to 1000 meters.
A very vibrant colour will greet you from the glass - dark, but sparkling with the promise of what's to come. The nose bursts out with punchy, racy even, berried fruit with perfume notes tripping along the top. It has crunch, darkness again on the palate & some nice bitter notes as well. Good length - great food wine.
Vilosell (2008) Tomas Cusine
Costers del Segre | (Ull del lLebre, Syrah, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Samso & Garnacha!) no comments | more >
Costers del Segre | (Ull del lLebre, Syrah, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Samso & Garnacha!) no comments | more >
£13.60 Buy
Could this be the new face of Spanish wine? Please remove all thoughts of dried out, dull, hot old Rioja-esque wines from your mind, sit back & enjoy this very exciting wine. Yes, a lot of the grape varieties are the same old - same old, but that's where the similarities end. Grown in the cooler air at higher altitudes in the Catalonian hills this wine oozes freshness & vibrancy. Spicy, rich undertones give it good structure but those ripe yet soothing fruity notes literally hang off that framework. If this is the new wave of Spain - Brava Espana.
£21.50 Buy
Some may say that Priorat with its intensly rich & somewhat 'firey' alcoholic style does not fit into the modern world of wine, where freshness, delicay & elegance are so highly saught after. Perhaps this wine shows the way forward. A joint venture between 2 top Rhone producer & a crazy German from Provence, they capture the spicy rich warmth that Garnacha (grenache) carries so well, but also balance this with a lovely freshness & lightness of touch. This wine shows real class & in terms of weight sits happily amongst the Rhones & Bordeaux of our list.
£6.75 Buy
This wine is made from de-classified Rioja grapes and is an absolute steal at this price. A very fresh ‘Joven’ style, it’s bursting with damson and plum fruit and is also delicious chilled.£8.75 Buy
Corellana are based in the south of Navarra and make this lovely wine from the underrated and somewhat capricious Graciano grape (also seen in Rioja). This has a lovely freshness and savoury drinkability and offers great value for money.
US
£21.80 Buy
Jim Clendenen manges to blend Burgundian structure with Californian style here. The fruit is very ripe, very intense & almost raisiny in quality – lashings of sweet strawberry jam, yet the freshness & structure still some how manage to balance this wine out. One for the real new world enthusiasts but even those who aren’t will admire how well made & balanced this wine is.
£26.90 Buy
A homage to the great reds of Chateauneuf du Pape. These wines show real silky elegance – something not normally associated with Californian wines. Look for the brambles, smoky dried leaves, cigars & dried herb characters mixed in with earthy cocoa beans. A bit of tight muscle in the tannins but beautifully balanced. A fine pedigree runner.
£14.00 Buy
This is ideal country for growing Zinfandel, so you find text book vibrant strawberries & raspberries with black pepper sprinkled liberally all over. It’s ripe & very full bodied – but that’s the Zin way.
£34.00 Buy
“Old vines” is a familiar term on wine labels but often it has little real meaning; here the average age of the vines for this wine is an amazing 90 years and the depth and complexity they give is clearly evident. This is one of the most complete wines we’ve come across from California. An absolute Stunner.
£21.20 Buy
Seghesio is a family run winery in Sonoma County which has been making wine since 1895. The winemaking is now in the hands of Ted Seghieso, who runs the winery with his cousin Pete. In recent years, their reputation as top Zinfandel producers has really increased, winning awards left, right and centre. This, their ‘entry level’ Zin is brimming with rich, dark fruit, balanced by good acidity and tannin structure. This balance sets them apart from the crowd of huge, overblown fruitbombs. Very impressive.
£24.50 Buy
The red volcanic soils of the Dundee Hills provide a great base for these 30 year old Pinot Noir vines and the organic farming combined with meticulous work in the winery produce a wine of real purity and brilliance. The wine has a lovely perfumed nose and bright flavours of cherry, liquorice and mocha; it provides a lovely match to grilled salmon or roast pork. Organic.