4 minute read
Highly commended wines
France red wines (continued)
Château Capion Le Chemin des Garennes, Terrasses du Larzac, Languedoc 2018 (19.95, Château Capion): Rich, dark, meaty. Very appealing and quite serious.
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Paul Mas Pure Shores Rouge, IGP Pays d’Oc 2021 (£9.99, Vinfinity): Lots of plummy fruit. A well made, easy-drinking wine with good length.
De Visu 223 Grenache, IGP Pays d’Oc 2021 (£9.99, Cachet Wine): Red fruits, marzipan. Juicy; full of red fruits. Lots for you money. Great entry level wine.
Domaines Paul Mas Cuvee Secrete No Sulphites Merlot/Cab Sauvignon, IGP Pays d’Oc 2022 (£11.49, Domaines Paul Mas): Fresh, perfumed, raspberry. Good weight, medium bodied.
Boutinot France Alo Jais Noir Carignan, Cotes Catalanes, Roussillon 2021 (£11.99, Boutinot): A lot going on for the price. Quite delicious – an easy sell.
M Chapoutier Côtes du Rhône Adunatio Rouge Collection Bio, Rhône 2020 (£16.10, Hatch Mansfield): Dried red fruit; thyme; juicy mid-palate.
Domaine Madeloc Serral Rouge, Collioure, Roussillon 2020 (£21.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Detailed, complex. Very enticing; good intensity; distinctive.
Château Grandis Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux 2011 (£18.50, Vindependents): Classic Bordeaux nose. Maturing, but in a very enjoyable place. Good honest claret.
Les Argelières Cabernet Franc, IGP Pays d’Oc 2021 (£9.99, Cachet Wine): Blackcurrant and raspberry leaf on the nose. Well made and priced.
Domaine de Roquemale Les Terrasses, Languedoc 2021 (£18.75, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Vivacious, full of fruit and spice; blackberries, pomegranate.
Plaimont Producteurs L’Empreinte Rouge, Saint-Mont 2019 (£14.95, Corney & Barrow): Full and rich but a lovely seam of freshness: very smart for this price.
Domaine Gayrard Rouge, Gaillac 2020 (£14.75, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Vivid blackcurrants and blackberries. A streak of iron; lovely juiciness.
Bouchard Père & Fils Monthélie Domaine, Monthélie, Burgundy 2018 (£29.49, Fells): Lovely crisp red fruit, nicely defined; very pretty red Burgundy.
Domaine Claude Maréchal Bourgogne Côte d’Or Rouge Cuvée Gravel, Burgundy 2021 (£28.50, Vindependents): Rose, violet; a blast of berries.
Terroirs & Talents Saint-Amour, Beaujolais 2020 (£19.40, Hatch Mansfield): Vibrant acidity on the really juicy palate. A substantial, serious Gamay.
Domaine Boussey Monthélie Les Hauts Brins, Burgundy 2019 (£35.79, Top Selection): Beautifully perfumed and silkily attractive Pinot. Class.
Juliénas Chaintré Juliénas Tradition du Bois de La Salle, Beaujolais 2022 (£15, Vindependents): Bright, juicy; chalky tannins, nice weight, very moreish.
Domaine de Lathevalle Morgon Les Charmes, Beaujolais 2019 (£19.99, Boutinot): Lovely shining, polished candied fruit; slick tannins; balanced acidity.
Vignobles Moreau La Clef de Voute St-Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux 2018 (£31, Top Selection): Lovely texture, finish and balance. Very well made indeed.
Domaine Remoriquet Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Bousselots, Burgundy 2021 (£58.50, Vindependents): Really gorgeous fruit in this classical Burgundy.
M Chapoutier Marius Avenue de la Gare Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2021 (£15.85, Hatch Mansfield): Nice dark character; spicy, good value.
Helfrich Family Domaine de Tholomies La Livinière, Minervois, Languedoc 2020 (£25.89, GCF Exclusive): Smoky black cherries and bramble fruit. Smart.
Domaine La Lôyane Cuvée Alpha, Vallée du Rhône Sud 2020 (£25, Vindependents): Lots of savoury flavour and dark fruit. Authentic and engaging.
Coquille de Terre Vielles Vignes Carignan, IGP Pays d’Oc 2021 (£8.99, Cachet Wines): A crowd-pleaser which delivers great enjoyment for the price.
Ogier SAS Clos de l’Oratoire des Papes, Châteauneufdu-Pape, Rhône 2021 (£35, Jascots): Needs a little time to open up but this is serious, savoury stuff.
Domaine Boutinot Les Six Cairanne, Rhône 2021 (£17.49, Boutinot): Attractive bright Grenache fruit with a nice floral complexity. Excellent value.
Domaine Remoriquet Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Allots, Burgundy 2021 (£45, Vindependents): Abundance of red fruits. Excellent length. Good ageing potential.
Plaimont Producteurs Le Faite Rouge, Saint-Mont 2018 (£21.50, Corney & Barrow): Robust, darkly interesting, but excellent depth and balancing acidity.
Helfrich Family Domaine Maurice Ecard Savigny-lèsBeaune 1er Cru Les Serpentières, Burgundy 2020 (£37.99, GCF Exclusive): High-quality, silky Pinosity.
Domaine Remoriquet Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Rue de Chaux, Burgundy 2021 (£58.50, Vindependents): Exquisitely put together. Fine wine.
Jean-Claude Mas Mon Grenache Noir Organic, IGP Pays d’Oc 2022 (£11.99, Domaines Paul Mas): Accessible but authentic soft, juicy Grenache.
Domaine Claude Maréchal Savigny-lès-Beaune Vielles Vignes, Burgundy 2021 (£38.50, Vindependents): Beguiling, excellent Pinot. Good value.
Domaine Minchin Pommerais La Tour Saint Martin, Menetou-Salon, Loire 2021 (£25.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Lovely Loire Pinot: fresh, bright, vivid.
Mas Gabinèle Faugères, Languedoc 2020 (£25.75, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Bags of authentic character but quite polished and rich. Layered.
Georgia red wines
Dugladze Mukuzani, Kakheti 2018 (£14.99, Transylvania Wine): Aniseed, liquorice spice, dark black fruits, crunchy tannins. Good typicity.
Germany red wines
Weingut Hanewald-Schwerdt Kalkriff Spätburgunder, Leistadt, Pfalz 2019 (£24.50, Vindependents): Delightful Pinot with beautiful red fruit and length.
Greece red wines
Gaia Wines Agiorgitiko, Nemea, Peloponnese 2021 (£18.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Structured but succulent; really enjoyable; well made.
Afianes Wines Raos, Ikaria, Aegean Islands 2020 (£30, Southern Wine Roads): Balsamic and mulberries; light and very individualistic.
Sant’or Krasis, Achaia, Peloponnese 2020 (£22, Southern Wine Roads): Super-distinctive: blackberries, subtle medicinal notes; well worth a try.
Grampsas Root of the Mountain, Zante, Ionian Islands 2020 (£25, Southern Wine Roads): Blackcurrant and tobacco, sweet aromas, silky feel, great acidity.
Ktima Gerovassiliou Estate Red, Epanomi, Macedonia 2019 (£25.49, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Super smooth texture; spice, chocolate, sweet black fruits.
Alpha Estate Single Vineyard Hedgehog, Amyndeon, Macedonia 2020 (£22.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Evocative: red berries, cloves, herbs. Lovely.
Diamantakis Winery Diamantopetra Red, Crete 2019 (£18.50, Vindependents): Lovely refreshingly tangy fruit; savoury, spicy, well-balanced tannins.
Italy red wines
Brezza Giacomo e Figli dal 1885 Vigna Santa Rosalia, Barbera d’Alba 2021 (£19.99, Hallgarten & Novum Wines): Intense fruit, silky texture, incisive acidity.
Capezzana Barco Reale di Carmignano, Carmignano, Tuscany 2020 (£19.99, Liberty Wines): Loads of authentic Tuscan Sangiovese flavour and texture.
Terre di Melazzano Gran Selezione, Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2017 (£37, Marcato Direct): Impressive classic cherry and savoury tannins – good length.
Renato Ratti Nebbiolo Langhe Ochetti, Langhe, Piedmont, 2021 (£23.99, Fells): Traditional Nebbiolo at an attractive price; enjoyably grippy.
Azienda Agricola Cortese Senia Nero d’Avola, Sicily 2017 (£21.99, North South Wines): A wine that feels very “indie”: some development, interesting flavours.
Feudo Antico Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Biologico DO, Abruzzo 2021 (£12.99, Alliance Wine): Bright and textured with mocha and juicy fruit.
Bodegas Altolandon Mil Historias Bobal, Manchuela 2019 (£12.99, Alliance Wine): Bright berries from nose to palate. Voluptuous, lively, clean – wonderful.
Terre di Melazzano Chianti Classico, Riscoperto DOCG, Tuscany 2021 (£18, Marcato Direct): Plum, leather, cherry: lots of character at good price.
Avignonesi Da-Di Rosso, Tuscany 2021 (£22.50, Vindependents): Arresting nose with medicinalherbal tones; savoury with cherry and red plum.
