Have you tried this? Archives - Page 6 of 17

An elegant, refreshing Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from the Awatere Valley

Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2021, Awatere Valley (New Zealand)

If you enjoyed the Grove Mill Sauvignon Blanc 2021 I recently reviewed, you might like to try this Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2021. Although part of Foley Wines, the same group as Grove Mill, the Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc comes from the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, a smaller, cooler, windier and drier valley than the region’s main winegrowing valley, Wairau Valley.

The Sauvignon Blanc wines from the Awatere Valley tend to have higher acidity, with more herbaceous characteristics, and lack the tropical fruit flavours which are often found in wines from the Wairau Valley.

This Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is an elegant, refreshing wine with notes of citrus and peach on the nose leading to stone fruit flavours and a pleasant minerality on the palate. It is a wine with a lively acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and a long finish, which is perfect as an aperitif, or with a seafood or white meat dish. It also goes well with goat cheese.

Available from Co-op (£11)

A delightfully smooth and elegant organic red from Catalonia

Agricola Fuster ‘Dardell’ Organic Red 2020, Terra Alta (Catalonia)

This Dardell organic red wine is a delightful blend of old vine Garnacha Tinta (Grenache) and Syrah from the Terra Alta region of southern Catalonia. Produced from grapes grown on the rolling hills near Tarragona, this is a smooth, refined wine with medium acidity, medium tannins and a lengthy finish.

With aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant and cherry on the nose leading to flavours of ripe red and black fruits on the palate, and a hint of spice and smokiness on the finish.

This can be enjoyed by itself or with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or cheese.

Available from Majestic (£10.99, £8.99 Mix Six)

A very good value Vinho Regional Alentejano wine from south-eastern Portugal

Ramos Reserva 2019 Selected Blend, Vinho Regional Alentejano (Portugal)

This Vinho Regional Alentejano is a very good value wine from south-eastern Portugal. A blend of Trincadeira, Aragonês (Tempranillo) and Syrah grapes, it is a full-bodied, elegant wine with medium tannins and a lengthy finish.

Pronounced aromas of ripe black fruits and a delicate spiciness on the nose lead to intense blackberry, blackcurrant and plum flavours, with hints of vanilla and smokiness, on the palate.

Winner of the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Bronze Medal in 2021 for this 2019 vintage, this is a very well-balanced wine which can be enjoyed by itself or with a meat, pasta or roasted vegetable dish.

Available from Majestic (£8.99, £7.49 Mix Six)

If you’re partial to beer and wine, try this!

Renegade Urban Winery Bethnal Bubbles 3.1 Dry Hopped Sparkling Wine 2021 (Herefordshire/London)

Now this is an interesting wine! Produced by Renegade Urban Winery, an innovative winery in central London that loves to experiment, it’s a dry-hopped English sparkling wine, made from Pinot Noir grapes grown in Herefordshire. After the first fermentation, the base wine is dry hopped with Sabro, Citra and Mosaic hop flowers. Umm.

The result is a cloudy, hoppy wine that smells like beer with a hint of citrussy cider about it, but the refreshing bubbles give the game away! While the wine may not be to everyone’s taste, it is certainly an interesting drink and if you like to try something different, give it a go. You’ll probably be surprised at first but it does grow on you!

With unique hoppy aromas together with apple and lychee on the nose, leading to apple and citrus flavours on the palate, this unusual mix of grapes and hops is a great experiment, and works really well.

Available from Grape Britannia (£27.99)

A great value Viognier from Languedoc

Abbotts & Delaunay Viognier Les Fleurs Sauvages 2020 (France)

Stretching along the Mediterranean coast from Italy to Spain, the vineyards of southern France offer a huge diversity of wine styles, both red and white. Many of the wines of the Languedoc-Roussillon area of this region of France have the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) designation Pays d’Oc, as in the case of this Viognier 2020.

Though Viognier is best-known as a grape variety in the Northern Rhône, where the Condrieu wines are the celebrated appellation, there are significant plantations in Languedoc and this 2020 vintage from Abbotts & Delaunay won Silver in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Awards in 2022. And deservedly so.

With pronounced aromas of peach, apricot, nectarine and blossom on the nose, and ripe stone fruit flavours and a hint of honey and almond on the palate, this is a fresh, lively wine with balanced acidity. An elegant wine with a creamy mouthfeel and a lengthy finish, this is perfect as an aperitif, and will go well with fish, or a vegetable dish.

Available from Majestic (£9.99, Mix Six £7.99)

For something a little different, why not try Tannat, Uruguay’s signature grape

Finca Traversa Tannat Merlot 2021 (Uruguay)

Although less well-known as a wine-producing country than its neighbours Chile and Argentina, Uruguay is starting to make a name for itself, particularly for its signature red grape, Tannat. Originating in south-west France, Tannat is known for its dark, full-bodied, lush wines, not unlike Malbec from Argentina. And this Tannat from Finca Traversa, blended with Merlot, is a very good introduction to the grape.

This is a smooth, velvety wine with medium tannins, medium acidity and a lengthy finish. Aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and cherry on the nose lead to a burst of forest fruit flavours on the palate, with hints of vanilla, chocolate and coffee.

An ideal match for a hearty meat dish, or roasted vegetables.

Available from Co-op (£8)

An older English vintage which still has lots to offer

Hazel End Vineyard Bacchus Dry 2014 (Hertfordshire)

It’s unusual to find an English white wine that has aged a few years but this 2014 Bacchus Dry from Hazel End Vineyard in Hertfordshire is a real delight. 2014 was generally a good year for English wine. Eleven out of twelve months were warmer than average and there was also a reasonable amount of rain. The result was a bumper 2014 harvest with plenty of healthy, high-quality grapes. And several years on, this wine still has lots to offer.

With aromas of grapefruit, elderflower, lime and a touch of petrol on the nose, leading to a burst of lime and peach on the palate, this older Bacchus has a hint of Riesling about it. It is a smooth, refined wine with good acidity and a long finish, which can be enjoyed by itself, or with a seafood or chicken dish. Great value for a 2014 wine!

Available from Grape Britannia (£14.99)

A rich, intense Monastrell from south-east Spain

Carta Roja Pura Selección Privada 2019 (Jumilla)

Made from organically grown Monastrell grapes from the hot, rugged valleys of Jumilla in south-east Spain, and with no sulphur added, this wine demonstrates the dark berry characteristics typical of this grape variety.

This is a rich, intense, full-bodied wine, with medium acidity, medium tannins and a long finish. It is a smooth well-balanced wine that is easy to drink, despite the 14.5% alcohol.

Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and spice on the nose lead to black cherry, plum and liquorice and a hint of smokiness on the palate. This is a good match for a hearty, meat dish from grilled meat to a lamb stew to a traditional roast. It’s also a perfect pairing for manchego or a blue cheese.

Available from Morrisons (£7.50)

An Austrian wine with a little sparkle

Grüner Veltliner, Von den Terrassen, Winzer Krems, Niederösterreich 2020 (Austria)

Compared to other European wine regions, Austrian wines are often overlooked and underrated. That’s a pity because there are some real delights to be found. This Grüner Veltliner from Niederösterreich (Lower Austria) is a good example. A fresh, elegant wine produced from grapes grown on the loess terraces along the banks of the Danube in the Wachau Valley, it has all the characteristics of Austria’s signature white grape variety.

Pronounced aromas of blossom, apple and peach, and a touch of white pepper on the nose lead to a delicious burst of apple, lemon, peach and nectarine on the palate. A tinge of effervescence adds a little sparkle to the mix and the mineral notes and refreshing acidity make for a very well-balanced wine.

A dry wine with a lengthy finish, this is a perfectly pleasant wine to drink by itself, or as the ideal match for Wiener Schnitzel. We enjoyed it with Japanese tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) and it was just the ticket.

Available from Majestic £11.99, (Mix Six £9.99)