WINE OF THE WEEK 12th Oct 2009

Co-op Chablis £7.29
Drinker rating 81

Beautiful lemon yellow, full bodied with aromas of straw and lime, fruit character of apple, lime zest and great acidity balances well with a characteristically Chablis full body. Really great value, there are some unpleasant over-priced Chablis out there which simply trade on the name, this is terrific for a touch over seven quid.

PREVIOUS WINES OF THE WEEK - from Oct 09 to Dec 09

WINE OF THE WEEK 19th Oct 2009
St Hallett Gamekeeper's Reserve 2008   £7.99 - Waitrose (also at Co-op and Thresher)                    Drinker rating 86
Blend of shiraz, grenache and touriga
A rich deep intense wine, full powerful peppery and blackberry aromas, a woody, gamey, vanilla and blackcurrant palate. Lots of fruit flavour, integrated tannins and high alcohol. This is one for when the clocks go back. Complex, spicy and great value.

WINE OF THE WEEK 26th Oct 2009

Bluff Hill Brut NV £8.99 - Marks and Spencer                    Drinker rating 77
This New Zealand fizz is great value. Over ripe apple on the nose, full on refreshing acidity and a good length. Not massively complex but not straightforward either. Very satisfying.

      

WINE OF THE WEEK 2^nd Nov 2009           Drinker rating 83

Weinert Merlot 2004 £8.99 (£7.99 each for two Majestic)
A full, peppery, fruity merlot, one for Robert Parker. Generous rich plum with well integrated tannins give the wine good structure and it’s showing its age well. This was my Christmas house wine last year and may well be this year too.

WINE OF THE WEEK 9th Nov 2009          

Chateau Clement-Pichon Haut Medoc Cru Bourgois
Adnams Cellar and Kitchen £17.50                Drinker rating 87

This 1998 Bordeaux is drinking really well now, this is a proper Christmas day wine, full flavoured, mature, complex. Rich dark berry fruit with some development leading to really pleasing hints of forest floor and game. This wine will need decanting and even at £17.50 is great value for money.

WINE OF THE WEEK 23rd Nov 2009          

2006 Marques de Casa Concha Merlot - Rapel
Sainsbury (and others) £9.99                         Drinker rating 82

A top wine, full flavour, rich, spicy, fruity, good levels of soft tannins. Good restrained use of oak. One of the massive Concha Y Toro range, this proves that big brand wine can be interesting, complex and good value.

WINE OF THE WEEK 16th Nov 2009          

2008 Primus Pinot Grigio, Pfalz, Germany                      
Waitrose £5.99 (£4.79 from 02/12 to 05/01)
Drinker rating 87

At last a pinot grigio that tastes of something, it's German and in fact pinot gris in style. A really well made wine, good intense fruit character, balancing acidity and depth through a bit of malolactic fermentation.

This is going to be my Christmas guzzler, wine of character at a terrific price, stock up from 2nd Dec.

WINE OF THE WEEK 30th Nov 2009          

Oudinot Brut NV£19.99 - Marks and Spencer
Drinker rating 81


In the run up to Christmas you may be thinking of some fizz. Here is a cracker to get you going. A big nosed, well balanced Champagne, malolactic fermentation gives body and creaminess, lovely green apple palate and a long persistent mousse.

WINE OF THE WEEK 6th Dec 2009

Ebeneezer and Steppeltsfield Shiraz 2008
Marks and Spencer £9.99
Drinker rating 84

A big full flavoured and high alcohol wine. Forward fruit dominated by blackcurrant and good use of oak providing some vanilla notes. A real winter wine, close the curtains and curl up in front of the fire.

WINE OF THE WEEK 14th Dec 2009

1749 Rose d'Anjou Pierre Chanier 2007
Virgin Wines £9.99
Drinker rating 85

Here's a great party wine. Zingy and fruity, it had an element of hops to me. It's slightly off dry, but put your prejudice aside and give it a go. A real beauty for the party season.