A frequent topic about Southern Rhone reds is ageability. I’m with those who say do not age them. At all. There are exceptions, of course, but the majority is at their best when released. Ripe, round and seductive, they don’t need years to soften; they only lose freshness. Continue reading
garnacha
Supermarket wines: Hacienda Uvanis Garnacha Old Vines Navarra 2022 from Lidl
Solid garnacha from Lidl. Old vine material for €4? It rather tastes like just cheap, €4 red wine, but a very good one.
Supermarket wines: Barcelino 2020 from Lidl
Cheap Spanish wine is getting nicer these days. It’s less common now to bump into fake ones tasting like oak chips or sweet and ripe New World wannabes. Less is often more when it comes to wine and it seems that even big volume brands recognise this, luckily. A case in point could be the Barcelino 2020 – I expected an overdone red but it’s rather pure. Continue reading
Supermarket wines: Pierre Chanau Plan de Dieu 2021, a solid Rhone red
I had a bad experience with the 2017 of Auchans Plan de Dieu, but this 2021 is quite the opposite. Rock solid for the price. Continue reading
C.V.N.E. Rioja Ecologico 2020
I hoped that I would find a great value here, but there is one detail which makes it less enjoyable – at least for now. Continue reading
Supermarket wines: Tesco Finest Campo di Borja garnacha vs tempranillo
The only difference between these two bottles from Tesco is the grape variety – tempranillo versus garnacha. The latter is one of my favourites, I consume more of it than anything else, but I must admit I never was really interested in the former. However, this time I clearly prefer the tempranillo, to my big surprise… Continue reading
Pure pleasure: Ferraton Père & Fils La Tournée Rouge 2020
Just a €7 syrah-grenache from the Languedoc, but so enjoyable that I’m tempted to call it the wine of the month.
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.
Retaste: Cote Mas Syrah Grenache 2020
I loved the previous bottle in last August and hence had some expectations when opened another recently. The months passed did not do a favour to this wine, it closed up – I often experience this with young Southern Rhone reds, so probably it should not come as a surprise…
Cote Mas Syrah Grenache 2020
I loved the 2019 version of Cote Mas Syrah-Grenache, and while a bit surprising, the 2020 is again a nice bargain.