TtD Languedoc 2011 & Vinalba Reserva 2010

Grape: Grenache, Marsanne, Vermentino,
              Viogner
Price: £9
From: Sainsbury's
Country: France
Region: Languedoc
ABV: 13.5%

The two wines I have chosen for this review are both blends which can be argued as being the best grapes from their respective regions.  Even as a die hard fan of varietal wines, I hugely appreciate blending as a true artisan skill.  A miscalculation of a mere 5% of the wrong grape can overbalance the mix and turn the whole vat into something you wouldn't put on your chips.  A great waste of time and resources, not to mention lovely wine!

Sainsbury's have teamed up with Jean-Claude Mas of Domaines Paul Mas to help find the right blend for this Taste the Difference white.  I have been fortunate to have sampled a large selection of wines from this producer and have even reviewed one in the past.  One thing for sure is that I have yet to come across a Paul Mas wine that doesn't please.  I had high hopes before even opening the bottle but knew I was in safe hands (any rugby fans out there?)

On the nose this wine is very light-hearted with crisp lemon tinged with sweetness; almost like lemon meringue.  A very simple smell, accompanied with background floral aromatics which help to indicate further layers of structure to come, without overcomplicating.  To taste, the first attack is reasonably complex, with the awareness of a smooth texture coming across with walnut and warm butter.  Secondly, the lemon can be felt in overtones with a lining of sweetness coming from gentler citrus such as tangerine, but only in the background; this wine is very much of the dry variety.  Tertiary indications of flint or limestone can also be detected as the aftertaste develops however, it does decay a little right at the end.  Overall, a great refreshing drink with a surprising depth.  

I wouldn't hesitate giving it another try (sorry, couldn't help myself).

Grape:     Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, 
                  Merlot
Price:       £10
From:       Sainsbury's
Country:  Argentina
Region:   Mendoza
ABV:       14.5%

Vinalba and I have a bit of a history together.  It has been a companion of mine with many a meal or late night film.  The quality in this bottle came as no surprise to me when I tried it.  In fact, the only surprise came from realising that I haven't already reviewed wines from this producer; something that I intend to rectify in the next few years.

The grapes used are three french powerhouses which are given the new world treatment of oodles more sun and a higher elevation from sea level.  Oak ageing provides further body and muscle to what is a very robust and intense, earthy red wine that commands respect, and by the look of the award insignia in the top right corner, is getting it!

Cassis, dark cherry and raisins come across foremost in a strong fusion of red and dark fruits which are difficult to isolate and identify in their entirety as there appears to be many.  Almost in tandem is strong, resinous tones of wood, perhaps cedar or pine, followed by a fistful of earth which is quite easily detectable at the periphery.  To taste, it is full bodied with a rigid structure.  Strong and firm tannins grab for attention immediately before giving over to blackberry, black currant and other dark bramble fruits.  Ever present in the background is an earth or soil impression that further exacerbates the masculinity of the wine.  The aftertaste is powerful with dark chocolate becoming apparent and the firm structure and tannins holding well for 10-15 seconds after swallowing.

This wine is excellent quality and the fortitude immediately lends itself to being a wine that would go well with food.  Anything that walks on four legs would be a good place to start.

Sainsbury's have numerous stores throughout the UK and can also be found online at www.sainsburys.co.uk

TtD McLaren Vale 2012 Old Vine Grenache

Grape:       Grenache
Price:         c. £10
From:         Sainsbury's
Country:    Australia
Region:     Mclaren vale
ABV:          14.5%

Those of you that follow my blogs will know that I have a particular penchant for a varietal wine.  A drink that has come from a single grape variety is, to me, a great way to learn what to expect from a grape and provides an excellent knowledge base upon which to compare other similar wines, be they from a different year, price bracket, producer or country.  This has really helped me to recognise what particular grape varieties I like, where I like them from and the sort of price I am happy to pay.

Learning about varietal wines also helps to identify signature smells and tastes so when you decide to purchase a blend, you can have an idea of the kind of things to expect.  A recent discovery of my own is a Shiraz/Viogner blend.  Amazing!  A tiny portion of the white grape, Viogner, is added to Shiraz, a red, and helps it to add complexity and interest to the nose and palate, rather than taking over.  The reason I mention this now is because Grenache has long since been used in blends, the most common being a Shiraz (or Syrah), Mourvedre (or Monastrell and Mataro) and Grenache (or Garnacha and Cannonau) combination, often abbreviated to GSM.  Each wine in this blend donates their best characteristics and any flaws are covered by the strengths of the other grapes.  Grenache brings soft berry flavours and warmth from the alcohol.

This weeks wine is a Taste The Difference, pure Grenache from Australia where those berry flavours are intensified by the warm climate.   The 'Old Vine' on the label also indicates the produce is from mature, developed vines which are synonymous with higher quality grapes.

On the nose is warm strawberries, raspberries, plums and a hint of Christmas Pudding floating about in the background.  As expected, there is no obvious wood note but instead, gentle spices of the black pepper and clove variety are detectable.  The nose belongs very much to the fruit bowl though.  The first taste echoes the feeling of warmth and quickly follows with smooth, bramble fruit flavours and cassis.  Gentle tannins become more pronounced at the back end of drinking.  Medium to low acidity and the lack of tannins make this a disarmingly easy wine to drink.  The strength of the alcoholic content is apparent through the entire experience and is what provides that warm feeling. 

If this grape had a CV, it would probably say, "Works well in a team but is also able to work well by itself".  A tiresome quality on a human resume but an endearing feature for a fantastic grape.

Sainsbury's have numerous stores throughout the UK and can also be found online at www.sainsburys.co.uk

 

Wild Valley Taste The Difference Chenin Blanc 2011

Grape:       Chenin Blanc

Price:         £9 - £6

Store:         Sainsbury's

Country:    South Africa

Region:      Wellington

ABV:          13.5%

  

The time of change is upon us once again.  The temperature has taken a definite step downwards, the wind has picked up and the rain is more persistent.  The inevitable transformation of trees as they shed their summer coats coincides with my growing urge to leave crisp white wines behind and hunt out full bodied, spicy reds. 

Now, I do appreciate the beauty in this season's change and why for some people, Autumn is their favourite time of year, however, I am not one of those people.  I dislike the short notice we get between light and warm evenings, to dark and wet nights;  I know which one I'd rather walk the dog in.  The problem is, I do love Winter and you can't get there without passing through the dampest, most turbulent season first.  So, my plan to fend Autumn off as long as I can is to keep drinking like it is Summer until things become twinkly and crisp.

This week's, I'm determined to not quite let go of the Summer just yet, choice is a surprisingly good Chenin Blanc from Sainsbury's Taste the Difference range which also comes with Fairtrade accreditation. The Chenin Blanc grape is grown worldwide but is most notable in France, South Africa, New Zealand and USA.  It is very versatile and will respond to different climates by presenting very different flavours (much like Reisling or Chardonnay) and can be made in styles to fit the spectrum all the way from sweet to bone-dry.  This makes confidence in buying Chenin Blanc difficult because there can be confusion with what to expect;  a problem compounded by a market laden with cheap and nasty bottles which gives Chenin Blanc a bad name.

Medium lemon in colour, this wine smells gently of pineapple and soft citrus. Other blended tropical fruits can be detected in the background and the sensation of crispness also comes across. The first attack contains the aforementioned fruit with a pleasant portion of acidity present. It feels medium or even light in body, making it very easy to drink in these, 'late summer months'.  A surprise comes at the end with a slightly oily or buttery texture which adds a touch of depth before the short but well structured aftertaste.

If you aren't quite ready to admit defeat, this wine will make it easy to block out the rain hammering on the window or the growing pile of leaves at the front door.  I am also grudgingly prepared to admit that it tastes just as well in front of a roaring fire.

Sainsbury's have numerous stores throughout the UK and can also be found on line at www.sainsburys.co.uk.

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2011 (Taste the Difference)

Grape:         Verdicchio(90%)
                     Trebbiano(10%)
Price:           £6.99
Store:          Sainsbury's
Country:      Italy
Region:       Marche
ABV:            13%

What draws you into deciding on a particular bottle of wine?  Do you think the shape of the bottle or aesthetic appearance of the label has anything to do with your decision?  I'm sure you have heard that the shape of Coca-Cola bottles are supposed to mimic the female form, designed to stir primeval senses and influence your choice.  Whether this is entirely accurate, I leave for you to tell me, but I do know that if I am stuck between two bottles, I will start to judge on what I can see.  If the bottle shape is pleasing and the label looks like it has been put together with care, this will score extra brownie points and will most likely tip the balance. This would be wine choosing at it's most superficial as these features contribute nothing to the taste or quality of the wine inside. While a book should not be judged by it's cover, neither should a wine. 

Another new grape for the Everyman, Verdicchio is grown widely in central Italy and is named in part for the green hue it can give some of the wine it produces.  Verdicchio is the principal grape behind two Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) wines in the provinces of Ancona and Macerata, Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi and Verdicchio di Matelica.   The other featured grape is Trebbiano which is widely grown throughout the world and is used primarily for blending with other wines as it has a high producing yield but is largely indistinguishable on it's own, making good quality varietals rare.  Interestingly, it is instrumental in the making of cognac.

One of the first things I noted when smelling this wine was the distinct lack of fruit.  Usually, there is a tell-tale sign of something but this wine simply did not have anything there to report.  Instead, a fresh and clear nose which leans more towards grass of the lush, green, dew soaked variety as opposed to dry and dusty, or hay.  The overall sensation is one of subtlety and there is a tinge of sweetness, although too faint for my nose to identify.  Nicely smooth on tasting, the palate isn't offered any significant or dominating taste but rather a notion of neutrality.  Dry but not overtly acidic, the wine keeps within herbal influences and perhaps a tip of the hat towards quince and orange although very difficult to draw on.  The taste remains balanced but sustained right through to the medium length aftertaste where it fades away rather than decaying.  Overall, a balanced and consistent wine that would feel out of place as the centre of attention but would quite easily be a flexible eating partner.  The neutral structure would make it especially good with delicate foods.

On some level, I am sure we have all made a judgement from what we have seen on the surface.  My choice this week was won by the uncommon shape of the bottle.  Now what does that say about the wine inside? Or me for that matter!

Taste the Difference Gruner Veltliner 2011

After last week's great red and unexpected food pairing (see my Pasico Old Vine review), I decided to stay with Sainsbury's and for £8, delved into their 'Taste The Difference' range. My choice is the Austrian Gruner Veltliner.  

Because the decision making process I go through on a bottle of wine is a pleasurable agony, I generally avoid branding which takes the risk out of this process.  In the case of Sainsbury's, it is the iconic purple band of the 'Taste the Difference' range which is emblazoned on the products that Sainsbury's want you to know they've gone the extra mile on.

I appreciate however, that others do not care to spend the same amount of time agonising over what bottles to buy and would rather be in and out of the shop before the parking attendant has realised there isn't a parking ticket in the car, or the kids have worked out how to release the handbrake.  The purple band therefore becomes a beacon of what should be on the whole, a safe but enjoyable purchase.  Considering the hurried purchaser, I bought this bottle.

Gruner Veltliner is the synonymous grape variety associated with Austria and makes up almost half of their plantings.  Like most varieties, it is also grown in other countries, such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia and some other choice 'New Worlds'.  The past couple of decades have seen a real push in the quality and publicity of this grape with some varietals proving their worth by going head to head with comparable Chardonnays and Chenin Blancs, often coming out on top.   

On the nose, this wine faintly retains the characteristic aroma of white pepper with floral undertones.  Taking my time, I could also detect an earthen quality, possibly clay.  The taste is crisp and immediately acidic, bringing grapefruit to the first attack.  What follows is dry with reminiscences of apple and celery.  The aftertaste is short and leaves an acidic note on the tongue.  

A great alternative to try for those of you that love tangy, crisp dry wines.  And are in a hurry!