Sunday 28 February 2021

Van Volxem Saar Riesling 2019, Mosel, Germany

Lime, lemon, pear, elderflower notes, honey, minerals. I could glugg this all day.


Mark: B



Saturday 27 February 2021

Château Bonnet Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon 2020, Famille André Lurton, Entre-Deux-Mers, Bordeaux, France

Passionfruit, lemon, gooseberry, leafy, earthy and stony on the finish which wasn't particularly enjoyable unfortunately.


Mark: C




Thursday 25 February 2021

Château La Brande Cabernet Franc 2018, Famille Soulies, Fronsac, Bordeaux, France

Blueberry, raspberry, blackcurrant, herbs, hints of cedar and nice smooth tannins on the finish.


Mark: B



Monday 22 February 2021

Château du Cléray Muscadet Sèvre et Maine sur lie 2019, Loire Valley, France

Apple, melon, lemon, minerals, herbs and acidic. Boring on its own but maybe better with food.


Mark: C



Weingut Frank Zweigelt Kalk & Loess 2018, NiederÖsterreich, Austria

Raspberry, cherry, tobacco notes, a bit of liqourice on the finish. Fruity and easy drinking.


Mark: B-



Saturday 20 February 2021

Leitz Eins Zwei Drei Rheingau Riesling Dry 2019, Germany

Always a reliable bet this one. Pears, apples, lime and honey. 


Mark: C+




Friday 19 February 2021

Susana Balbo Signature White Blend 2020, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina

Blackcurrant leaf, passionfruit, lemon, peach. Fruity and acidic.


Mark: C+




Meinklang Graupert Grauburgunder 2019, Burgenland, Austria

Not bad for a natural orange wine. Apple, strawberry, peach, pepper, tannins but they give this wine a bit of character.


The alcohol content is 12%, the residual sugar is 1.3 grammes per litre so this is a dry wine, the total acidity is 5.3 grammes per litre. A part of this wine as aged in concrete eggs and a part in stainless steel tanks. The wine underwent spontaneous fermentation. It is vegan, unfiltered, and has had minimal sulfur additions. The wine had a ten day maceration on the grape skins.

Mark: B




Wednesday 17 February 2021

Meinklang Pinot Noir 2019, Burgenland, Austria

Bright cherries and cranberries, leather on finish. A bit on the simple side.


Mark: C



Monday 15 February 2021

Indomita Classic Chardonnay 2019, Central Valley, Chile

Lemon, oak, touch of gooseberry and blackcurrant leaf. A bizarre Chardonnay but drinkable.


Mark: C




Sunday 14 February 2021

I Castagni Bolgheri Superiori 2013, Michele Satta, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Blackcurrants, blueberry, oak, vanilla, spice, liqourice, and black pepper on the finish. Tannins still present but very drinkable now. Could leave for up to five years.


Mark:  A




Matanzas Creek Winery Chardonnay 2019, Sonoma County, California, USA

Oak, butter, butterscotch, pineapple, pear, lemon, creamy oily texture, mouth coating. Long finish.


Mark: B



Thursday 11 February 2021

Château Peybonhomme-les-Tours Energies Elevė en Amphore 2018, Famile Hubert, Blaye, Côtes de Bordeaux, France

Tastes like a fruity Bordeaux that has been marinated in concrete which is precisely what it is!. Blackcurrant and plums, red fruits, some cedar notes, concrete, drying medium tannins but no problem to drink now.


Mark: B



El Burro Malbec Natural 2020, Bodega Santa Julia, Mendoza, Argentina

This looks like a Malbec - bluey-red - but smells like a beaujolais nouveau!. This also tastes like the natural beaujolais nouveau I had in November but has more fruit. I would never guess this to be a malbec. Banana, blueberry, red fruits, some volatile acidity which means nail varnish, grainy structure.


Mark: B-



Loimer Ried Loiserberg 1 Grüner Veltliner 2019, Kamptal, Austria

Zingy acidic lemon, pear, pe ach, apple. Long minerally finish.


Mark: C+



Monday 8 February 2021

Tayu 1865 Pinot Noir 2019, Viña San Pedro, Bucahuehico, D.O. Malleco, Chile

Cherries, strawberries, spice and an earthy liqourice finish. Simple but couldn't stop drinking this.


Mark: C+





Sunday 7 February 2021

Lynx Black Label Reserve Petite Sirah 2019, House of Big Wines, California, USA

Reminds me of Bramble jelly jam, blackberry, blueberry, toast, and spice. Would be a nice uncomplicated slurp for a barbecue.


Mark: C+





Performs Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2020, Australia

Juicy and mouthwatering. Butter, lemon, pineapple, and mango.


Mark: B-



Friday 5 February 2021

Vell Mari 2018, Can Xanet, Balearerna, Mallorca, Spain

I quite like this surprisingly given the bad reviews. It's a bit like a Blaufränkisch but with a warmer finish. Strawberries and cherries, liqourice and spice, a bit of burnt rubber. Warm finish.


This is a blend of Merlot, Syrah, Gorgollasa, and Mantonegro.

Mark: C




Soalheiro Alvarinho 2019, Monção e Melgaco, Portugal

Pear, orange notes, apple, lemon, rich texture but still fresh. Long finish.


Mark: B+




Stoneleigh Chardonnay 2019, Marlborough, New Zealand

Butter and oak upfront. Mango, pear, and pineapple. Very smooth.


Mark: C+