JULY UPDATE - SMASHING WHITE ON OFFER

Tesco Finest Tapiwey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc - £5.99
In case you missed some of the July Summer White wine  recommendations here’s a beautiful Chilean sauvignon Blanc at a bargain price. Coming from Tesco’s ‘Finest’ range this dry white has all the characteristics of a New World sauvignon blanc with gooseberry flavours but softened by a touch of tropical fruit. Not one to be missed and on offer until 13 August. (normal price £8.99)

JULY WINE BLOG – WONDERFUL WHITES

JULY WINE BLOG – WONDERFUL WHITES

Following on from last month’s recommendations of Macho Barbeque Reds you will need to balance your cellar by buying some white wines. Summer is a great time for some bubbly or a light dry white wine to get your weekend off to a great start. I have listed below a handful of great wines which won’t break the bank and you can enjoy all of them well chilled in the garden. Priced from £4.59 to £10.39 there is something for everyone.

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2012 – ASDA £6.00

*** Star Buy***
If you are looking for an Aussie wine with the sophistication of a full bodied burgundy then you will love this. This Reserve wine from Adelaide hills is a lighter style chardonnay with finesse and structure and a good finish. There is subtle oak flavours balanced with vibrant fresh fruit characteristics. This is a wine for drinking now or cellaring for another 5 years to create greater subtlety and complexity. An ideal accompaniment to cream based pasta dishes, fish and shellfish and of course chicken. The Adelaide Hills Reserve Chardonnay is on at a special price but you can also buy the classic Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay for just a fiver.

Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir – ASDA £7.00 - COOP £7.99

*** Star Bubbly Buy***
If you want to impress your friends and get your special evening off to great start you should try this bubbly. Showing consistent quality over many years this champagne blend made by the ‘Methode Traditionelle’ and is the next best thing to the genuine but expensive article. This wine is soft, crisp and clean with a fine gas bead and a persistent mousse. It has citrus fruit flavours which are enhanced with creamy nutty yeast characters which provide both richness and structure. You really can’t go wrong with this brilliant product which normally sells between £9.99 and £10.99 and is widely available. Add a few drops of Crème De cassis and enjoy a Kir Royale.

Viña Sol 2012 – Morrisons £4.59
Cast your mind back to that hot Spanish holiday and drinking a pleasant Spanish white wine on one of the Costas. Well it was probably Viña Sol from Torres from one of the country’s biggest winemakers. Made from the Parellada grape, it is fresh and fruity on the nose, with a smooth, crisp palate, with plenty of apples and pineapple fruit. A touch of acidity makes it a refreshingly crisp wine. Viña Sol is suitable for drinking anytime - pre or post siesta! Superb with rice, fish and shellfish. This is on sale at lots of outlets and normally sells anywhere between £6.49 and £7.99. As James Martin says on Saturday Kitchen, ‘A bit of a bargain at £4.59’

Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012- Morrisons £5.49

Regularly recommended by me, Nobilo is an excellent example of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc at a brilliant price. It is crisp and zesty with a refreshing finish and a distinctive bouquet of tropical and citrus fruit, gooseberry and passion fruit. The wine is well balanced between fruit and acidity and has a distinctive grapefruit flavour. It is good on its own but goes perfectly with fish, prawns and smoked salmon. Even at full price Nobilo is still great value and beats many of its’ competitors on both flavour and price.

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2011 – Majestic £10.39

COOP £10.79
If you are looking for a special white wine Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay is just fantastic. Rated by Oz Clarke as very good and awarded best in class at the 2011 International Wine & Spirit challenge this is a Chilean wine with an excellent pedigree. Naturally occurring yeasts on the grape skins are used instead of cultivated yeasts to give this dry white wine beautiful complexity and a good finish.  This wine is unbelievably well balanced, with subtle tropical stone fruit in the form of apricots and peaches mingling with subtle oak characters and a rich creaminess. Enjoy this wine over the next 2 years to allow further marrying of oak and fruit. This cracking wine is good enough to savour with warm Scottish langoustines, lobster or juicy roast chicken and is a step up in class

Morrisons Verdicchio Classico – Morrisons £4.99

Fancy something a bit different for a change. This own label Verdicchio Classico comes in an attractively shaped green bottle and is a smashing wine from Italy. It is chock full of mouth watering citrus flavours and there's lemon zest and a smidge of greengage and fig in this dry white. It's gorgeous as an aperitif, smashing with salads and any light starter.

Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG - Aldi £7.29

Prosecco di Conegliano - Valdobbiadene is the DOCG title given to the finest Prosecco wines made in the Veneto wine region of north-eastern Italy. This fine example of Prosecco won a silver medal at the 2012 International Wine & Spirit challenge. It is a light fruity wine with a gentle mousse and is very easy drinking. Perfect with a beautifully sweet Scottish strawberry or raspberry popped into a champagne flute. Why not mix this with equal quantities of chilled peach juice to make a classic Bellini.

Hardy’s Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2012 – Morrisons £5.66

Hardy’s Nottage Hill Chardonnay is one of the most reliable fruity white wines on the market. Its’ full bodied, tropical fruit style is always consistent and will not disappoint. If you want a bit more complexity and rounder flavour you can lay this wine down for a couple of years. Normally selling between £8.00 and £8.99 this excellent Aussie white wine is definitely one to have in your cellar for easy summer drinking on its’ own or with food.

JUNE WINE BLOG – SUMMER BARBEQUE REDS

JUNE WINE BLOG – SUMMER BARBEQUE REDS

Summer has definitely arrived, barbeques are being dusted down, cleaned and lit. Food is being prepared for grilling and charring and you need some good gutsy but smooth reds to wash down the burnt offerings and impress your friends on the warm summer evenings ahead. Here’s a few bottles which will guarantee a great evening and won’t hurt the pocket too much, as they start at £4.50.

ASDA Argentinean Malbec - ASDA £4.50

Looking for an up and coming wine which will go perfectly with a big juicy burger or chilli con carne then look no further than Argentinean Malbec from Asda. Coming from Mendoza, the country’s top wine region, this is a young fabulously easy drinking, rich & full bodied red with forest fruit flavours. This gorgeously rich Malbec packed with basketfuls of wild bramble flavour and is ideal for strong flavoured meats charred over a white hot barbeque.

Telegraph Station Cabernet Merlot 75Cl – Tesco £5.99

Highly recommended last weekend by a well respected Paisley wine connoisseur Telegraph Station Cabernet Merlot is a great find. This fruity red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes grown in South Eastern Australia with flavours of ripe blackberries and plums. This is definitely one to enjoy either at a barbeque or on any occasion. You can also try the Shiraz Cabernet also at £5.99, which is a bit more full bodied. For something lighter try the Telegraph Station Pinot Noir which is a beautiful example of a new world pinot, available from Tesco at £10.99 but is regularly on offer.

Zilzie Shiraz Viognier 2011 – ASDA £5.50

I enjoyed this beautifully rounded Aussie red at a friends house recently. It came as no surprise as the Australian wine guru James Halliday gives Zilzie 4 stars and wrote ‘The wines consistently far exceed expectations, given their prices.’ This wine from South Eastern Australia is a blend of Shiraz with a touch of Viogner grapes aged in oak for 6 months. The 2011 Zilzie Shiraz Viognier is vibrant and deliciously juicy. Layered with mulberry and dark cherry fruit, a hint of spicy vanillin oak and velvety tannins that linger. Easy to drink on its own or with food and guaranteed to impress.

Montes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – 2011 – MORRISONS £5.99

*** Star Buy***
Montes are one of the top winemakers from Chile and they know about value and  putting  quality wines into the bottle. There are plenty of Cabernet Sauvignons out there but for under six quid, it’s hard to beat this gem. It has great flavours of cherry and blackberry and hints of gentle spice. Apart from being big on fruit it has a lovely smooth finish. It’s completely yummy sip after sip after sip. Enjoy with a well grilled steak or keep it in your cellar for another year or two. Morrisons are holding this price for only another week before it returns to £9.99 per bottle.

Penfolds Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2010 – ASDA £6.48

Penfolds produce some of Australia’s best red wines including the legendary ‘Grange’. Penfolds entry level red wine is Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet which yields a mixture of ripe blackcurrant fruit and soft, spicy flavours. Combining the warmth and spice of Shiraz with the fruity richness of Cabernet Sauvignon and tempered with some soft merlot and is ideal to drink now. Previously recommend by me, and normally retailing between £8 and £10, this is on special offer again at Asda.

Piccini Chianti Reserva 2010 - Morrisons £5.49

If you are looking for something a bit lighter to go with grilled lamb chops then look no further than this Italian wine made from the Sangiovese grape. Piccini Reserva, thanks to its ageing in wood, is a well structured, elegant, rounded and velvety wine from Tuscany. There is a nice balance of fruit with strawberry overtones and hint of cedar wood.  Although only 3 years old it pairs particularly well pork, lamb and chicken and is brilliant with pasta dishes. On offer for the next week only.

Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz 75cl – Waitrose £9.99 

This wine is a rich, smooth and spicy Shiraz from one of the Barossa's top growers. It is a classic Barossa Shiraz which is smoky, smooth and succulent in youth. It will mature gracefully into a complex full bodied classy wine. This is a big wine with loads of rich fruit, complexity, buckets full of flavour and a great finish. It matures well and is particularly good at 4 or 5 years old. It goes well with anything from a barbeque and its powerful flavours compliment grilled sirloin, roast lamb or perfectly pink duck breast.

APRIL WINES– BRILLIANT BARGAIN REDS

APRIL WINES– BRILLIANT BARGAIN REDS

Following on from March’s bargain whites I want to give the red wine drinkers amongst you some easy drinking wines at affordable prices. Some of the wines have featured before and are reliable choices, others are new and come well recommended. The offer prices range from £4.25 to £6.48 and prices quoted in the blog are valid for at least the next week.

 

Penfolds Rawsons Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2010 – ASDA £6.48

*** Star Buy***
Penfolds produce some of Australia’s best red wines including the legendary ‘Grange’ which sells for £260 a bottle. Penfolds entry level red wine is Rawsons Retreat Shiraz Cabernet which yields a mixture of ripe blackcurrant fruit and soft, spicy flavours. Combining the warmth and spice of Shiraz with the fruity richness of Cabernet Sauvignon and tempered with some soft merlot, this early drinking wine is ideal to drink now. Normally retailing between £8 and £10 this is on special offer at Asda.

Piccini Chianti Reserva 2008 & 2009  - Morrisons £5.49

If you are looking for something light with a touch of the old world, then look no further than this Italian wine made from the Sangiovese grape. Piccini Riserva, thanks to its ageing, is a well structured, elegant, rounded and velvety wine from Tuscany. Already more than 4 years old it pairs particularly well pork and lamb and pasta with tomato sauce.

ASDA Sicilian Red – ASDA £4.25

Thinking of a summer barbeque or just a large glass of red to relax with at a rock bottom price. This award winning wine comes from the Mediterranean's largest island, Sicily and is a lovely medium bodied red, packed with berry flavour and bursting with Sicilian sunshine. It is easy drinking and is fabulous with roasts and bold pasta dishes. Recommended at the 2012 IWSC awards.

Campo Viejo Rioja Crianza 75cl – 2010 Tesco £5.00

This medium bodied wine is smooth and elegant by gentle sweet notes of vanilla and spices.
It has intense aromas of plums, cherries, hints of strawberries and toasty vanillin oak. Available in most supermarkets and recognised by its yellow label it is normally priced at about £8.50. Great bargain at £5.00. You could also trade up to the Reserva or Gran Reserva versions of Campo Viejo.

 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Limited Edition Shiraz Cabernet 2012 - Morrisons £4.99

This classic Aussie blend of Shiraz and cabernet Sauvignon is reputed to be a big bad Wolf of a wine which will blow you away with its deliciousness. Yet again Mr Blass has produced a stunner - swirling with red and black fruits, tons of spice and earthiness and just fabulous with big juicy steaks or home made burgers. Normally priced at £9.99 this limited edition is a top quality wine at a rock bottom price.

Lagunilla Rioja Reserva 2007 – Morrisons £4.99

This easily recognisable blue labelled wine is normally offered in supermarkets at a full price of £13 plus. Cherry red in colour with toasty aromas, smooth and round with wild forest fruits on the palate, soft tannins and notes of oak on the finish. For those readers who enjoyed the excellent 2006 the quality of the 2007 is not quite so well balanced and rich. Being sold at £4.99 it is definitely worth a try as you probably won’t see it again this price. Fantastic with lamb

MARCH 2013 - BARGAIN WHITES

MARCH 2013 - BARGAIN WHITES

If you are looking for a bargain white wine from the supermarket in the next week then look no further than Morrisons, Asda or the Co-op. All of the wines recommended are in the price range £4.49 to £7.48 and are on offer for the next week at least. Most  of the wines are available at other outlets at similar or higher prices.
I have included wines from Australia, New Zealand, Chile and South Africa made from 5 different grape varieties. Some of the wines are fab and others are of lesser quality, but still readily drinkable for the price. Go for a bit of a contrast by trying the Zilzie Viognier at £5.48 or the Hardy’s Nottage Hill at £5.49 both excellent but quite different styles.

If you are interested in any of these bargain whites then don’t delay.

ASDA

£5.00 - Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - Usually £8.99
Recommended by me on numerous occasions Nobilo is an excellent example of New Zealand sauvignon blanc at a brilliant price. It is crisp and zesty with a refreshing finish and a distinctive bouquet of tropical and citrus fruit, gooseberry and passion fruit. The wine is well balanced between fruit and acidity and has a distinctive grapefruit flavour. It is good on its own but goes perfectly with fish, prawns and smoked salmon. Even at full price Nobilo is still great value.

£5.48 - Zilzie Viognier 2012 Usually £6.99

This is an excellent Viognier from Australia, which is best drunk young. It has a typical floral nose  and is jam-packed with apricot and lime marmalade, ginger spice and luscious golden fruits. Originally coming from the Rhone valley in France the Viognier grape is definitely different from chardonnay, sauvignon blanc and insipid Pinot Grigio. Viognier can be drunk on its own or with fish or white meats and is beautiful when sipped well chilled on a summer’s evening.

£7.48 - Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2011 -  Usually £9.99

Koonunga Hill Chardonnay is a beautiful big round tropical flavoured wine from Australia. Penfolds is one of the top Ozzie winemakers and the quality shows in this wine. It has flavours of honeydew melon, white peach and lemon/lime citrus aromas. The influence of oak provides an added dimension of complexity to this impressive, balanced wine. Penfolds were established in 1844 and by applying a long held philosophy of blending select parcels of grapes from South Australia's wine regions, Penfolds winemakers are able to craft wines of distinction without ever compromising on quality.  Drink now or keep for a couple of years.

CO-OP

£4.99 - Lindeman’s Winemakers Release Chardonnay 2012 - Usually £7.49 to £11.99
This is a typical Australian chardonnay from a major producer at a rock bottom price in. It is soft and easy drinking and packed with vibrant white peach and pear aromas and flavours, with a lovely citrusy edge. A great party wine, with a wide appeal especially when well chilled. Delicious on its own or pair with fish pie, chicken in a creamy sauce and pork steaks.

£5.48 - Oxford Landing Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - Usually £7.49 to £9.99

From Australia this Sauvignon Blanc is crisp and fresh with classic gooseberry and grass aromas. Plenty of zingy, citrus acidity on the palate. Excellent as an apéritif, or as a complement to flaky white fish dishes. This Sauvignon Blanc is cool fermented in stainless steel to preserve the crisp, fresh fruit of this variety.

MORRISONS

Viña Maipo Reserva Especial Sauvignon Blanc 2012
£4.99 Usually 9.99
This is a Chilean wine that is often on special. It is dry, fruity and light with a touch of acidity. From the Maipo Valley it has light peach and grapefruit flavours and a flowery scent. Vina maipo is much fruitier than its New Zealand cousins which offer a much drier style. Very easy to drink on its own and goes well with prawns , langoustines and most white meats.

£5.49 - Hardy’s Nottage Hill Chardonnay  2012 - Usually £8.29 to £9.99

I love this award winning medium dry Australian chardonnay with it’s full flavoured tropical and melon fruits and a lovely touch of acidity plus a little bit of oaky complexity on the finish. It is well rounded with an elegant finish and a quality appeal that will age for a couple of years. I am drinking the 2010 just now and its excellent. Commended by both Decanter Magazine and the International Wine & Spirit Awards in 2012 it is highly recommended for price and for keeping.

£4.49 - Kumala Winemakers Release Chenin Colombard 2012

Usually £9.99
This is the cheapest recommendation for early March. Excellent value for money and you certainly get what you pay for at £4.49. Kumala Winemakers Release Chenin Colombard is a blend of chenin blanc and colombard grapes. Coming from South Africa where some of the best chenin blanc wines are made this is a simple, slightly acid, fruity white wine and is a popular choice at basement prices. Light and crisp with a citrusy edge this best drunk with food and is a no-brainer for chicken and fish dishes.

RIOJA – VINTAGE UPDATE

 Just a quick update to the February blog on Riojas. In good years Rioja produces wines that can be aged for 20 years or more. Looking to the first decade of 2000, the 2009 vintage is drinking well already and for something special try 2001, 2004 or 2006.

 2001  drink soon       Fantastic vintage if you can find it

Classic Rioja wines: robust and round with balancing acidity . Reckoned to be the best vintage of the decade.                     

2004  drink soon       Excellent vintage which is still readily available

Well balanced wines with high alcohol and concentrated colour and aromas ideal for ageing.  

2006 drink soon       VG vintage

Good to very good vintage, with a moderate harvest securing good quality fruit and fresh, supple and crisp wines. Look out for some big, long-lived Crianzas.

2007  Variable          Inconsistent vintage with variable quality

Low yielding vintage saved by technical expertise and a long, dry, sunny harvest. Most consistent quality from Rioja Baja, with crisp, well-balanced, elegant wines.

2008 keep                 Good elegant vintage

Ripe, balanced, medium-boded red wines, with bright acidity.                                    

 2009 drink now /keep   VG for Crianzas and Reservas    

Quality is generally high, but high yields meant some early harvesting. A 'useful' vintage from a hot summer, drinking well just now.

 

REGAL RIOJA – THE KING OF SPANISH WINES FEBRUARY 2013

I was recently given a bottle of Campo Viejo Gran Reserva Rioja by a generous friend and at a Burns Supper a Paisley Callants Rotarian mentioned that Rioja was always his first choice. So I thought that I would ring the changes and concentrate on one wine region this month – Rioja, which makes brilliant red wines and is regarded as the King of Spanish wines.

GENERAL INFO

Rioja is widely regarded as the premier wine region of Spain and has been making good quality wines for hundreds of years. It is located in the north of the country and produces medium and full flavoured reds with a hint of vanilla from aging in oak barriques. Most Riojas are made from Tempranillo or a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha grapes which deliver smooth, dry, medium weight wines with strawberry and raspberry fruits. Rioja goes well with most meats especially lamb. Some Reserva and Gran Reserva wines can provide a much heavier and full flavoured mouthful with a long silky finish. Rioja Alta and Alavesa produce most of the best Reserva and Gran Reserva wines.

Due to aging in both oak and bottle Riojas are best drunk when they are at least two years old to allow the inherent tannins to mellow. Best recent vintages at affordable prices are 2004, 2005, 2006 and coming soon 2010. Most Riojas will benefit from decanting at least one hour before drinking and should be served at room temperature.

LABELLING GUIDANCE

Spanish labelling and legal requirements are very helpful when choosing Rioja.

Joven - wines are very young with little barrel or bottle aging

Cosecha – simply means vintage and generally applies to newer and younger wines.
Crianza – a wine at least two years old. Crianza has generally spent a year in oak barrels and a further year in the bodega or bottle.
Reserva – a better quality wine which is a minimum of 3 years old with at least one year in oak barrels.
Gran Reserva – the best quality wine. Wines must be at least 5 years old and have spent at least 2 years in oak barrels.

POPULAR BRANDS

Some popular brands which provide a wide range of styles are: Campo Viejo, Marques de Riscal, Marques de Murrieta, Marques de Caceres, Lagunilla and some Berberana offerings.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 Berberana Rioja Gran Reserva 75cl – 2004 *** Star Buy***

This vintage is a classic example of a very fine Rioja. Berberana Rioja Reserva 2004 is rich and smooth with black cherry and bramble flavours and spicy vanilla oak. This soft, rounded garnet red Rioja has notes of cedar and cinnamon, so it's perfect for anyone cooking a lamb dish. It has a lovely delivery in the mouth, very complete and supple. It is smooth, elegant and refined for such a big wine. Decant in advance to make the most of the red-berry aromas and a lovely complex, smooth finish. Discounted by 50% at Tesco Online this is on offer at £7.50 and is a fab wine for the money.

Campo Viejo Rioja Crianza 75cl - 2007

This medium bodied wine is smooth and elegant. It has intense aromas of plums, cherries, hints of strawberries and toasty vanillin oak. Available in most supermarkets and recognised by its yellow label. Priced at about £8.50 is often found on special. Currently available in Sainsbury’s at £6.00, Tesco at £6.29, Waitrose at £6.63 and Morrisons at £8.29. For just over £6 this is a good every day Rioja but better to trade up to the Reserva or Gran Reserva versions of Campo Viejo.

Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva 75cl – 2007 *** Star Buy***

This Reserva is 5 years old and is the Crianza’s big brother. It is more elegant, with a smooth, rounded, medium bodied taste. Garnet ruby red in colour with brick coloured rim it exudes aromas of ripe berries and vanilla. Great balance between the fruit (cherries, black plums, ripe blackberries) and the clean nuances coming from the wood (clove, pepper, vanilla and coconut). Smooth and balanced on the palate with a full, elegant feel and a long, lingering finish. Open this wine and decant and you will be impressed by the smoothness. Don’t let the orange label put you off as this is a brilliant wine for the money. Normally priced at £12 to £14 this wine is on offer at Tesco for £6.99 and at Asda for £7.48

Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva 75cl – 2004

This Gran Reserva is 9 years old and is the sophisticated oldest brother of Campo Viejo Riojas. It is everything that the Reserva has and a bit more. Older, smoother and a quality wine. Worth spending a bit more for a special occasion. Sometimes on offer you can find it at Sainsbury’s for £15.59 and Tesco for £16.

Lagunilla Rioja Reserva – 2006

Lagunilla is mainly a supermarket brand which is regularly on a half price offer, especially at Morisons. This is a full bodied Rioja with meaty & aromatic flavours. Cherry red in colour with toasty aromas, smooth and round with wild forest fruits on the palate, soft tannins with notes of oak and a long lingering finish. Easy to recognise from its blue label it is normally offered in supermarkets at a full price of £13 and is in Morrison’s currently at £7.00. You won’t be disappointed with the 2006 reserva but the 2007 is not just as reliable. Its’ big brother Lagunilla Gran Reserva (with a black label) is an excellent wine and comes highly recommended at around £15

Faustino VII Rioja 75cl - 2010

This wine has a beautiful label for an unclassified Rioja. I haven’t tried this vintage as Faustino VII can be great in good years but fairly light bodied in others. Its a young wine Faustino describe this as having rich jammy fruits with slight hints of sweetness, vanilla and spice on the finish, evidence of the 10 months it has spent in new American oak. At Asda this is on offer at £5.00. This wine’s big brothers Faustino V Rioja Reserva and Faustino I are fantastic wines for around £11 to £13 come highly recommended.