2008 Tim Adams Semillon, Clare Valley
Latest vintage of this brilliant oak-aged Australian semillon. Mouthfilling, dry and fresh, with smoky, lemon-oil aromas and flavours, textured richness and brisk acidity. This will age well, like previous vintages, so if you find an earlier vintage on the shelves, don’t worry, just buy it to keep you going until the new one arrives. 13% abv. Tesco also has Tim Adams’ dry riesling, grenache-based The Fergus red and The Aberfeldy shiraz - all highly recommended.
£9.99, Tesco
2006 Clos Bortier, Hautes Côtes de Beaune
From Domaine Jean Noël Gagnard, no less, from vines planted by Caroline l’Estimé since she took over in 1989. Delightful red burgundy – pale but bright, with an expressive, fragrant nose, sweet, cherryish fruit on the palate, a supple texture and refined tannins. Pure and perfectly balanced. A very fair price. 13% abv.
£13.95, Berry Bros & Rudd.
2007 Silex Rouge, Côtes du Rhône Massif D’Uchaux, Brugalière/Viguier
Black pepper, raspberry and smoky bacon on the nose and a palate with intensity and unusual elegance (unusual for the southern Rhône). It’s made from more or less equal quantities of syrah, grenache and mourvèdre, old vines included, in the Massif d’Uchaux, which has recently been promoted to Côtes du Rhône Villages status. £13.5% abv.
£9.95, Berry Bros & Rudd.
