Graham Beck Chardonnay & Pinot Noir Brut NV

From - Western Cape, South Africa
Grape - Chardonnay; Pinot Noir
Alcohol - 12% abv
Available from - Waitrose; Majestic
Price - £13.99

Appearance - Clear; golden; medium intensity

Nose - Clean; medium intensity; apples, lemon, autolysis

Palate - Dry; medium+ acid; medium+ mousse; medium intensity;  medium body; medium alcohol; medium to medium+ length; apples, pears, lemon, bread, stone fruit developing as the temperature raises.

Balance - 8  Length - 7 Intensity - 6.5  Complexity - 7

A gorgeous wine that is superb value for money.  When first pouring it I was met with that familiar traditional method aroma of bread, with citrus and green fruit.  The palate was also thrilling, with more zing and acid than I anticipated, and made it even more reminiscent of Champagne, but at a much lower price.  Creamy, and very delicious,  this is excellent. If you like your bubbly then do not hesitate to try it.  Happy New Year to everyone who has taken the time and trouble to visit my blog or share my blog posts. I hope your 2015 is balanced, long, intense (in a good way) and complex (also in a good way)!

Chateal La Pointe Pomerol 2011

From - Bordeaux, France
Grape - Merlot, Cabernet Franc
Alcohol - 13.5% abv
Available - www.corkr.com (from Suffolk!)
Price - £18-20

Appearance - Clear; medium+ intensity; garnet

Nose - Clean; medium+ intensity; developing; dark cherry, floral, truffles.

Palate - Dry; medium acid; medium+ tannin; medium+ alcohol; medium+ intensity; medium+ length; plums, raspberry, floral, cassis, cloves.

Balance - 8  Length - 8  Intensity - 8 Complexity - 7.5

A splendid Bordeaux blend that is very smooth but still plenty of ageing potential.

 

Valdo Oro Puro Prosecco Superiore

From - Valdobbiadene, Italy
Grape - Glera
Alcohol - 12% abv
Available from - Waitrose; Ocado
Price - £13.49 (currently one-third off this price)

Appearance - Clear; pale; lemon-green

Nose - Clean; medium- intensity; developed; pears and grapes

Palate - Dry; medium+ acidity; medium alcohol; medium- intensity medium mousse; medium body; medium length; Green fruit, lemon finish.

Balance - 8  Length - 6.5  Intensity - 4.5  Complexity - 4

This is a very nice, refreshing bottle of that wine that is all the rage currently.  It seems to be on fairly regular discount, as well, and has won a 'best sparkling' gong from Which? magazine.  A wine to drink as an aperitif, in my opinion, and  it has served this purpose as a pre-Christmas breakfast aperitif, today!

Escarpment The Edge Pinot Noir 2013

From - Martinborough, New Zealand
Grape - Pinot Noir
Alcohol - 14%
Available from - Waitrose, Ocado, thedrinkshop.com
Price - £14.99 (currently 25% off this price)

Appearance - Clear; medium intensity; ruby.

Nose - Clean; medium intensity; developing; black cherry, strawberry, redcurrant, a touch of savoury and minerality.

Palate - Dry; medium+ acid; medium alcohol; medium- tannin; medium+ length; medium body; Lots of black cherry, also strawberry and a touch of spice (nutmeg, I think) and a little earthy.

Balance - 7  Length - 8.5  Intensity - 6.5  Complexity - 7

It's about time I reviewed this one.  I love it - one of my favourites, and I'd encourage you to try it as soon as you can.  I am reviewing 2013 vintage which has had a little bottle ageing.

Loads of fruit but with a twist, it is silky-smooth and although it is a surprising 14% alcohol this is not at all overbearing, but takes its place in harmony with the other flavours.  Pinot Noir is an extremely versatile grape with food, and if you are going round someone's house for a bite to eat this would impress and match up with a wide range of main courses.  Martinborough is in the south of NZ's north island, and its moderate climate and mineral rich soil is a place for good old Pinot Noir to thrive.

This wine has great length, which regular readers will know I value highly.  Genuine ageing potential for a year or two to achieve those thrilling PN flavours.

Duval-Leroy Fleur de Champagne Premier Cru NV

From - Champagne, France
Grape - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay
Alcohol - 12% abv
Available from - Waitrose; Ocado; thechampagnecompany.com
Price - £29.99 (although £19.99 as I type)

Appearance - Clear; medium- intensity; lemon-gold

Nose - Clean; medium intensity; developing; apples, biscuits, lemons

Palate - Dry; high acid; medium alcohol; medium+ length; medium intensity; medium mousse; medium body.  Apples, lemon-lime, autolytic flavour (see previous post on Autolysis).

Balance - 8  Length - 7.5  Intensity - 6  Complexity - 7

A tasty Champagne featuring a blend of the three Champagne grapes.  Zingy and featuring very pleasant autolytic biscuity flavours, with a touch more mouth-filling body than I expected.  An absolute steal at the moment.  Duval-Leroy is one of the few remaining independent, family-owned Champagne houses, which counts for something in my book.  I served this lightly chilled so that the full flavour could be experienced.

Baron de Ley Reserva Rioja 2009

From - Rioja, Spain
Grape - Tempranillo
Alcohol - 13.5% abv
Available from - Waitrose, Ocado
Price - £12.49

Appearance - Clear, medium+ intensity; garnet

Nose - Clean; medium+ intensity; developing; black cherry, strawberry, lots of vanilla, nutmeg.

Palate - Dry; medium+ intensity; medium+ alcohol; medium length; medium+ body; medium+ intensity, medium tannin.  Black cherry; vanilla, cloves.

Balance - 9  Length - 6  Intensity - 8  Complexity - 7.5

Smooth tannins in the mouth, with an impressive nose of cherries and vanilla.  Quite intense, lots of body so a good food wine.

Cederberg Bukettraube 2013

From - Cederberg, South Africa
Grape - Bukettraube
Alcohol - 12.5%
Available from - Maruis (www.jouwwijnvriend.nl - pic of store below!) 12Euro; www.sawinesonline.co.uk £12

Appearance - Clear; medium- intensity; lemon-green

Nose - Clean; medum+ intensity; developing; pear and apple, stone fruit, floral.

Palate - Medium-dry; medium+ acid; medium alcohol; medium+ body; medium+ length;  medium intensity; medium alcohol.  Pear, peach, lime, spicy

Balance - 7 Length - 7.5  Intensity - 6.5 Complexity - 6

A new grape for me.  I picked up this wine on my last trip to Holland after a chat with a very helpful lady at Marius in Wassenaar.  Bukettraube is described as being similar to Muscat, and this seems true,  as this has the stone fruit flavours and floral boquet.  Medium-dry, with a decent level of acid, this was a great match for our balti following a delicious glass as an aperitif.  We loved it.

Calvet Pouilly-Fume 2013

From - Loire, France
Grape - Sauvignon Blanc
Alcohol - 12.5%
Available from - Waitrose, Ocado
Price - £15.49 (currently £9.99)

Appearance - Clear; lemon-gold; medium intensity

Nose - Clean; medium intensity; developing; herby, lime, apple, mineral.

Palate - Dry; medium+ acid; medium intensity; medium body; medium alcohol; medium+ length; lemon& lime, mineral, apple on the finish.

Balance - 7.5  Length - 8  Intensity - 6 Complexity - 7

Pouilly-Fume comes from the opposite bank of the Loire from Sancerre, made with the same grape.  This is all you would expect of a good quality French Sauvignon Blanc.  It doesn't have the big boquet that you get from Marlborough SB, but is more restrained and elegant.  It does have the high level of acid that you will always get with SB, and is a really lovely and interesting combination of flavours.  A great aperitif drink, but would combine well with the usual fare - salads, seafood etc.