Reviews
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Stellenrust Stellenbosch Manor
Not to be accused of only posting positive reviews, here’s an exception that left me rather disappointed. This particular bottle had previously received a high score of 95 from Decanter, a DDWA gold medal and also a 3.7 rating on Vivino. Made from the Cinsault grape, it’s meant to be a lighter wine, akin to…
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Expressions Negroamaro
This is an all new, 2022 vintage, organic and vegan wine from Marks and Spencer. Produced by the talented Alessandro Michelon of Orion Wines, this wine doesn’t yet have any reviews anywhere. It’s a medium to full-bodied wine, rich in flavour and character. Blackcurrant, liquorice and black pepper. Almost meaty with a long and lingering…
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Pazzia Primitivo di Manduria
This Primitivo di Manduria has gained a reputation, not just for its 4.2 rating on Vivino but also for being among Vivino’s the top 25 Southern Italy Primitivo wines in the United Kingdom at the time of writing this review. A previous 2019 vintage was a Bronze IWC winner. Decanter’s review of previous vintages, which…
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Pontarelli Toscana Rosso
This wine, IGT classified, is a blend of 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and a dominant 70% Sangiovese produced exclusively for Marks & Spencer. It undergoes a mixed fermentation process, utilising a combination of concrete, stainless steel tanks and large oak casks. This method is designed to enhance the wine’s fruit characters. Critics seem to…
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Special Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra, South Australia 2021
This wine from Marks & Spencer’s is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Merlot and 9% Syrah/Shiraz. It has mixed reviews on the M&S site but a relatively high score of 89 by Decanter and a more modest 3.4 on Vivino. Instead of traditional barrel aging, it’s matured with cheaper French oak staves for…
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Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel
Ravenswood, once a revered producer closely linked with the renowned winemaker and owner, Joel Peterson, has seen a series of transitions. Initially acquired by Constellation for $149 million, it was later bundled with other brands and sold to the large wine conglomerate, Gallo, in 2021 for $1.7 billion. It’s essential to note that while the…
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Diablo Crystal Sauvignon Blanc
When it comes to Chilean wines, Concha Y Toro is a mass producer that delivers wines that are both accessible and enjoyable. With a commendable score of 3.9 on Vivino and a ranking as the #2 top Chilean Sauvignon Blanc in the UK, expectations were high. As someone who enjoys the robust flavours of the…
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Sainsbury’s Cava Brut
Sainsbury’s Cava Brut is a great find for those who are looking for a middle ground, taste-wise, between Prosecco and Champagne. Fermented in the bottle using the traditional method, this Cava features a blend of Macabeo, Xarel-lo and Parellada grapes. While the reviews on Sainsbury’s website are a mixed bag, I suspect that some of…
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Greyfriars Non Vintage Cuvée
This English NV Sparkling Cuvée uses the three traditional Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Drawing from the 2014, 2015 and 2016 vintages, this sparkling wine has been aged in bottle for two years on its lees. It’s no surprise that it won the 2023 WineGB Gold Medal. The Cuvée is soft and…
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Espartero Reserva Rioja
This 2017 Reserva, from Bodegas Riovinsa, previously won a bronze medal from the International Wine Challenge, where it was described as having notes of herbs, tea leaves and red cherries. It was also a Bronze Winner at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards. Since its establishment in 1926, the winery has been operated by three…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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