WHITES
2008 Josmeyer Le
Fromenteau Pinot Gris, Alsace, France
If I was marooned on a desert island with only this to drink, I wouldn’t
complain. Elegant, expressive, terrific definition, with rich, smoky, floral,
peach and pepper notes; textured and long. 13.5% abv. Just in case you’re ever
wondering what to drink with laverbread, this does the job very well – coping
with the savoury, salty, almost fishy taste and the smooth texture. Even better
with proscuitto.
£20.05, Haynes Hanson & Clark.
2012 Tinpot Hut
Turner Vineyard Riesling, Marlborough, New Zealand
Light-bodied, dazzlingly fresh and intensely flavoured with lime juice
fruit and a whisper of minerality. Sweetness – 16g/l residual sugar – perfectly
off-set by acidity, so the overall effect is just off-dry. 10% abv. Enough
intensity and acidity to take on lots of salady things.
£12.99 RannochScott Wines
2012 Stoneburn
Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand
Great value, medium weight NZ Sauvignon made from Jane Hunter’s own
vineyards. Really zesty, lemon grass and nettle flavours with a tangy, saline
edge. 13% abv.
£7.25, The Wine Society
2012 Viñas del Vero
Coleccion Gewürztraminer, Pago El Enebro, Somontano, Spain
Textbook gewurz from Spain’s Pyrenean foothills – vividly aromatic with
rose petal, lychee and sweet orange flavours balanced by fresh, bright acidity.
13% abv. The 2011 is still tasting good if you don’t want to wait until April.
£9.99/£7.99, in Majestic from April 2 (£7.99 is the 2 or more price)
2012 Viñas del Vero
La Miranda de Secastilla Garnacha Blanca, Somontano, Spain
Couldn’t be more different from the gewurz above. Fresh, smoky and
mineral on the nose; full, rounded palate with intense lime and quince fruit, a
hint of mango and smoked paprika, then a long, fresh, minerally finish. 14%
abv.
£12.50, Jeroboams
REDS
2011 Volpetto Sangiovese, Toscana, Italy
Modern Tuscan red that would
be overpriced at £11.99, the price from which Ocado says it’s reduced, but well
worth the current £6. Medium-bodied, round and juicy with spicy, smoky and
meaty notes, a little toasted vanilla and a twist of tartness to the ripe
cherry fruit. 12.5% abv.
£5.99, Ocado
2008 Château Argadens Bordeaux Supérieur, France.
The authentic graphite and
cedar flavours of Bordeaux with supple, well rounded blackcurrant-cum-blueberry
fruit; medium-bodied, dry, fresh. 13% abv.
£8.95, The Wine Society
2010 Duorum Colheita,
Douro, Portugal
Still showing some youthful tannin, but already very drinkable with
ripe, fresh blackberry and blueberry fruit, savoury black pepper notes and a
subtle oak backdrop. A typical Douro blend of touriga nacional, touriga franca
and tinta roriz. 13.5% abv.
£11.40, Tanners
2010 Shaw & Smith
Pinot Noir, Adelaide Hills, South Australia
Michael Hill-Smith says that the 2010 is
the best pinot he and his cousin have produced to date (I can believe it) but that the 2012 is better. I can't wait. The 2010 has an exotic, perfumy nose and a pure and pretty palate with floral,
cherry and raspberry fruit and delicate, spicy coffee and smoky bacon notes.
£26.95, Slurp
