I bought Saint Cosme wines every year around 2010 and really loved the producer – I even visited them in 2013 which was a great experience. Then I somehow missed many vintages so I was happy to re-visit them again – and what a return! This basic cuvée was always great value but the current vintage is next level. I need to buy more!
syrah
Rhone reds from Lidl
I’m a big grenache fan and sadly there aren’t many available on the Hungarian market, so I was happy to see new Southern Rhone reds popping up in Lidl recently. I cannot say they impressed me, though.
Yalumba Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
I’m sure that many wine lovers will rate this Yalumba higher and indeed it has the depth of a serious wine, yet it failed to impress me.
Yalumba Y Series Shiraz & Viognier 2019
Penfolds Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2021
The cheapest Penfolds wine I think, and it’s usually quite good. I liked the 2019 more, but this 2021 is not far behind…
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.
Supermarket wines – Günzer Syrah 2020, Villány
The first syrah plantings in Villány date back to the early 2000s if I’m not mistaken, and the variety is still not widespread in the region. Yet there are quite cheap and affordable bottlings around, like this one, available at 5 Euros in Auchan.
New wave Hungarian red: Vylyan Vörös Variáció 2021
Villány is probably still the most famous red wine region in Hungary. It’s not the most innovative, one could add, though. But here is a red which I would label as new wave, and it’s quite nice.
Magnificent Australian shiraz: Tyrrell’s 8 Acres 2018
Tasted at the same event as the Wendouree shiraz, this is another amazing wine from Down Under. I bet this would not look out of class when placed next to the very best syrah from France… Continue reading