Spain is strong when it comes to the budget friendly red category, but it can’t always deliver. From the ones I tried recently I disliked two, but also found one which is unbelievable for its price… Continue reading
best value
Standout kékfrankos rose: Eger Cottage 2022 by Bukolyi Marcell
100% kékfrankos (a.k.a. blaufrankisch) rose is often somewhat one dimensional and rustic (angular, sharp), but not this one. What a pleasant surprise!
Great Rhone Cru: Domaine Brusset Les Travers Cairanne 2020
It’s not the first time when a Brusset red amazes me. A top producer in the Southern Rhone for sure.
Vylyan did it again: Macska Portugieser 2021
I thought it was probably just a vintage thing for Vylyan, they nailed it in 2020 and made a standout Portugieser, but the new vintage is just as lovely, if not even better.
Supermarket wines: Pierre Chanau Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux 2018
Best value – Pierre Chanau Macon 2019
A superb supermarket Burgundy from Auchan. Isn’t it enough to say that I went back to buy more after tasted it? Continue reading
Little beauty: Frescobaldi Pater Sangiovese 2019
The little brother of the Nipozzano turned out to be a superior wine. A benchmark for mid-range Sangiovese.
Exemplary Kadarka and great value: Eszterbauer Sógor 2019
I could not name a Kadarka from the last few years which was affordable and as good and well made as this entry level Eszterbauer. It even surpasses most of the expensive ones, as they are faulty to some extent, more often than not (main reason is that the variety is extremely susceptible to rot/Botrytis, harvesting healthy crop is rare, just ask Hungarian grape growers). Continue reading
Another solid supermarket Chianti – Tesco’s 2015
Just what I expect from a Tesco Finest wine: restrained and elegant, like the other wines in the range. If I’m not mistaken Master of Wines do the selection for Tesco, and they always pick the balanced, pure wines, not the over-oaked, over-ripe examples.