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-

Leitz Eins Zwei Drei Rheingau Riesling Dry 2019, Germany

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

Mark: C+

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

Meinklang Pinot Noir 2019, Burgenland, Austria

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

Mark: C

Indomita Classic Chardonnay 2019, Central Valley, Chile

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

Mark: C

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

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+

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+

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-

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+

Vina Chocolan Origen Gran Reserva Cabernet Franc 2019, Maipo Valley, Chile

Blackcurrant, raspberry, green pepper, milk chocolate, grippy tannic finish. I was expecting this to be a bit more lush given the 14.5% alcohol.

Mark: C

Three Finger Jack East Side Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Lodi, California, USA

Blackberry and blackcurrant, some milk chocolate, grippy leather tannic finish.

Mark: C+

Château Puybarbe 2014, Côtes de Bourg, Bordeaux, France

Plums and blackcurrant, tobacco, an acidic leathery spicy finish.

Mark: C+

Lynx Barrel Fermented Chardonnay 2019, House of Big Wines, California, USA

Pear, apple, butter, oak.

Mark: C

Bodega Norton Temprano Chardonnay 2019, Mendoza, Argentina

Apple, lemon, pineapple, earthy and minerally on the finish. High acid which makes for a juicy fruity wine. Fruit fades as wine warms up though.

Mark: C