LAITHWAITES WINTER 2010 TOP WINES IN PRICE CATEGORY
SUMMARY
The Christmas mixed cases are really good value in both the essentials and luxury versions. I would happily drink any of the wines in either of these cases. Laithwaites have excelled themselves in both the Spanish and Portugese categories, there are also some fantastic sparkling, fortified and spirits this winter.
Very strong in the £5 - £10 bracket and also at the very top end.
Wine of the day Ermita de San Lorenzo Garnacha Cabernet Gran Reserva.
KEY
The reds are written up in this colour
The whites in this colour
Pink in this colour
The fizz in this colour
Desert wines in this colour
WINE PRICE DRINKER RATING
>£5
Nazares Tempranillo 2009 £4.99 85
Ripe plum and blackberry crumble, soft vanilla, light tobacco, great value
>£10
Domaine des Cassagnoles, Cotes de Gascogne £7.49 85
Light and beautiful, hints of citrus and greengage, great value
Lenswood Hills Chardonnay 2009 £8.99 85
Restrained grassy chardonnay, hints of apple, good acidity, very good
Clare Hills Riesling 2009 £8.49 87
Stony nose, good fruit and minerality, great value
McPhearson C. Sauvignon Rose 2010 £7.49 84
Full flavour, dry strawberry, confected but restrained, a lovely winter rose
Altos de la Guardia Tempranillo, Rioja 2008 £8.99 86
Proper festive drop, ripe cherry, good body, soft tannins
Quinta das Mouras, Alentejo 2009 £6.99 90
Violet nose, soft warm fruit, elegant, approachable, smoky tobacco finish
Ermita de San Lorenzo Garnacha Cabernet Gran Reserva £8.99 92
This is what wine tastes like when it’s developing, leather, tobacco, beautiful
>£15
Waitiri reek Pinot Noir, Central Otago 2009 £14.99 87
Top Christmas wine, really nice forest floor character, complex and interesting
Pruno Ribera del Duero 2008 £12.99 88
Full rich ripe wine, lovely integrated tannins and a long complex finish
Domaine Martin Rasteau Cotes du Rhone Villages £11.99 85
Tobacco nose, good black fruit on palate, good Christmas day wine
Domaine de Longue Toque Gigondas 2007 £13.99 84
Pencil box on the nose, black pepper and tobacco palate, complex
<£15
Giant Steps Sexton Pinot Noir, Yarra Valley 2008 £15.99 90
Fags, smoky fags, really nice, developing well, good grippy tannins
Maison Roche de Bellene 1er Cru Les Referts2008 £38.00 92
Very very good, the right price for a top wine, complex, elegant, beautiful
