The idea was that most of these would be perfect wines for lingering over outside this evening, but as it's scarcely crept above 16ºC here in the Lot today, I shan't be hanging around outside for very long tonight. They'll be just as good indoors.
2012 Gérard Bertrand Gris Blanc, Pays d’Oc, France
Ultra-pale, Provence-style rosé
made from the pink-berried grenache gris. Strawberries and roses, then
red-apple and citrus freshness. Elegant and lots of fun. 13% abv. 88/100
£8.99, The Cave, thecavemos.co.uk
2006 Tyrrell’s Winemaker’s Selection Vat 1 Hunter Valley Semillon,
Australia
Could this be one of the best
ever vintages of this all-time Australian classic? Bracingly fresh, intensely
zesty and lemony, but just starting to show hints of the honey and toast of
bottle age. No oak, of course. Give it 10 years. Or 20. 10.5% abv. 94/100
£27.50–£30, The Wine Society, The
Halifax Wine Company, and others
2011 Errazuriz Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Aconcagua Costa
,Chile
From the Manzanar vineyard, a new vineyard, 12km from the oceanPiercing
freshness on the nose, but pretty, rather than pungent aromas – grass, nettles,
floral. Gooseberry, herb, lemongrass and delicate saltiness on the palate.
Elegant and fine. 13.5% abv. 91/100.
£11.99, Waitrose, and others
2012
Jackson Estate Stich Sauvignon Blanc, Wairau River, Marlborough, New Zealand
Intense lemon and elderflower fragrance, but
with a spicy, smoky element. Succulent, fresh palate; long and rich, with lemon,
spice and mineral flavours. 13% abv. 91/100
£12.49–£12.79, Majestic, Waitrose, and others
2011 Mâcon-Villages,
Domaine Mallory et Benjamin Talmard, Bourgogne, France
Creamy,
supple and fleshy with lovely freshness and a honeyed, yet effortlessly zesty finish.
From
hillside vineyards in Chardonnay and Uchizy. 13% abv. Very good value. 88/100
£8.95,
The Wine Society
2011 Mâcon
aux Bois D'Allier, Domaine Cordier, 2011
Rich and fresh nose, nutty, savoury, crème
fraiche flavours with deep, lemony fruit. Tightly packed, textured and rounded, with good acidity. 13.5% abv. 90/100.
£11.95, The Wine Society
2011 Saint-Véran
En Creches, Domaine Jacques et Nathalie Saumaize
£11.50
bottle £138 dozen
Unoaked
for maximum purity. Medium-bodied and gently mouthfilling with real zest. Delicate
grassy freshness, peach and apple fruit and a briny, mineral note on the
finish. Unoaked for maximum purity. 13% abv. 89/100.
The
Wine Society is now out of stock of this (£11.50), but you can add it to your wish list
2011 Casa Silva Reserva Viognier, Colchagua Valley, Chile
In previous vintages I’ve thought
that Casa Silva’s Reserva Viognier has carried too much oak. The smoky, toasty
oak is here again, even though only 10% is aged in oak (French) and only for 3
months, but it works, adding a layer of complexity to the intensity of the
fruit (citrus, mango, apricot), clarity of the acidity and the alround polish.
14.5% abv. 90/100
£10.10, Addison Wines,
addisonwines.com, and others
2009 Casa Silva Quinta Generación, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Off-puttingly heavy bottle, but very
good wine: a selection of the estate’s best sites and barrels; 57% cabernet sauvignon, 34% carmenère, 6%
syrah, 3% petit verdot, with malo and 12 months’ ageing in French oak barrels. Big,
concentrated, smoky, toasty and chocolaty, but at the same time very pure and
fresh, with fine tannins and
flavours of blackcurrant, eucalyptus, coffee and soy sauce. 14.5% abv. 92/100
rrp £15.95. I haven’t found any
stockists of the 2009 yet, so let me know if you sell it (anywhere).
