Reviews

  • Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria

    Passo del Cardinale Primitivo di Manduria

    I recently had the pleasure of trying a Primitivo that has been given an award by Gambero Rosso magazine, a global authority on Italian food, wine and travel. With a rating of 4.1 on Vivino and an impressive 4.3 for its latest 2022 vintage, this wine piqued my interest. Upon tasting, I found it to…

  • Montagne Saint Emilion

    Montagne Saint Emilion

    Montagne Saint Emilion, produced by Armand Chaperon, has garnered attention with its impressive awards, including the IWSC Bronze Medal, IWC Bronze Medal and Decanter World Wine Awards Bronze in 2023. With such high expectations, it’s easy to see why I was keen to give it a try. The wine was even compared to the much-admired…

  • Bosman Nero

    Bosman Nero

    In 2021, South Africa introduced Bosman Nero, its first Nero d’Avola, a collaboration with actor and filmmaker Thapelo Mokoena, who is a shareholder in the project. Crafted by winemaker Corlea Fourie, this wine is made from Nero d’Avola, a vine chosen for thriving in sun-rich, water-scarce African soil. With a commendable 3.9 score on Vivino…

  • Morandé ‘One to One’ Gewürztraminer

    Morandé ‘One to One’ Gewürztraminer

    Morandé was the first winery in the Chile Casablanca Valley and were the first to receive sustainable certification in Chile. Their One to One Gewürztraminer is different in that each bottle originates from a single vine, thus explaining the product’s name. The word ‘Gewürz’ means ‘spice’ in German, reflecting the wine’s unique flavour profile, which…

  • ASDA Extra Special Carménère

    ASDA Extra Special Carménère

    Carménère, originally cultivated in the Médoc region of Bordeaux, France, is part of the Cabernet family. It derives its name from the French term for crimson, “carmin”. Despite its French origins, it’s not frequently found in France today, with Chile boasting the world’s largest plantations of this grape variety. The 2020 vintage of ASDA Extra…

  • ASDA Extra Special Soave Classico

    ASDA Extra Special Soave Classico

    This nutty, white wine is from Italy’s Veneto region. Soave is renowned for its delicate smoothness and freshness and it is made primarily with Garganega grapes forming a minimum of 70% of the blend. There are two Soave classifications – Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG). The DOC…

  • Dr L Riesling

    Dr L Riesling

    Originating from the Mosel region of Germany, this fruity Riesling has a refreshingly crisp flavour despite its low alcohol content of 8.5%. The honey-like sweetness is balanced by the acidity that together provide a lengthy finish. This medium-to-sweet wine ranks amongst the top 25 German Rieslings in the UK on Vivino, with an impressive score…

  • Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

    Masciarelli Montepulciano d’Abruzzo

    With a medium body, this wine has flavours of ripe cherries, accompanied by sweet spices and an enticing whisper of smoke. Under Italian wine regulations, a Montepulciano d’Abruzzo wine must contain at least 85% Montepulciano with Sangiovese permitted to make up to 15% of the remaining blend. The wine is required to be aged for…

  • Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

    Yealands Reserve Sauvignon Blanc

    The Yealands reserve collection showcases the premium fruit from Yealand’s ‘Seaview’ site in the Awatere Valley. It offers a more pronounced passionfruit and citrus flavour profile compared to the standard Yealands Sauvignon Blanc. I found this to be a great wine, one that I plan to purchase again, though my preference still leans towards the…

  • Sainsbury’s Brut Non Vintage Champagne

    Sainsbury’s Brut Non Vintage Champagne

    This champagne, crafted by Louis Kremer Champagne House, uses 20% reserve wines in its blend. “Salty, nutty notes are joined by intense green apple fruit on the nose. A green cooking apple character on the palate sits alongside roasted nuts and a lively acid backbone. It has a wonderful vibrancy that makes this a useful…

  • Palacio Di Vivero Rueda

    Palacio Di Vivero Rueda

    ASDA Extra Special Rueda, a wine crafted from Verdejo grapes sourced from Spain’s Rueda region, is a hidden gem due to its relative obscurity. This dry, sharp and citrusy wine offers great value for money and a pleasing depth of flavour. Its qualities have been recognised in the IWSC 2022 with a bronze award, and…

  • Vinha Do Fava Touriga Nacional

    Vinha Do Fava Touriga Nacional

    Casa Ermelinda Freitas is a 5th generation Portuguese winery dating back to 1920 and is one of the biggest Portuguese producers. This wine has a great depth of flavour, complemented by smooth tannins, alongside a smooth, velvety feel. Aromas of spiced bramble, cassis, plum and blackcurrant. Touriga Nacional is one of the top grape varieties…

  • Alamos Malbec, Uco Valley

    Alamos Malbec, Uco Valley

    This Malbec gained worldwide recognition as the most awarded of its kind in 2018 and 2019. Furthermore, the 2021 vintage won an International Wine Challenge (IWC) award in 2022. According to Vivino, the 2022 vintage outperformed all previous years, scoring an impressive 3.9. I discovered this at a Majestic a very long time ago when…

  • La Masseria Del Borgo Primitivo Manduria

    La Masseria Del Borgo Primitivo Manduria

    This wine, 2021 vintage, originates from Puglia, Italy and tastes of ripe dark berry fruits, including blackcurrants and black cherries, culminating in a long, satisfying finish. The Primitivo grape expresses itself differently based on the region in which it’s cultivated, with noticeable variations across the key Primitivo DOC areas of Manduria, Gioia del Colle and…

  • Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon

    Diablo Black Cabernet Sauvignon

    Originating from Maule, Chile and made by wine maker Héctor Urzúa Pistas, this wine offers a blend of black wood, tobacco and a hint of vanilla. It’s a rich, dark, silky smooth and pleasurable drink that fulfils the marketing descriptions. It’s produced by Concha Y Toro, the well-known mass producer of wine. However, don’t let…

  • Yealands Sauvignon Blanc

    Yealands Sauvignon Blanc

    Yealands Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand is advertised as having a bright character, with a notes of stone fruit and guava, underlined by tropical flavours and a long, clean mineral finish. This wine is created using grapes from the Awatere and Wairau Valley vineyards. Over a period of eighteen days, the fruit is harvested,…