TRIED & TESTED
Tringario Ludopata Marselan 2020
Domaine des Tourelles Vieilles Vignes White 2020
Jose and Trini Gonzalez established their winery in
Not just old vines, but ancient varieties too. Merweh,
edition Colchagua Marselan, fermented in concrete
unevenly. Obeidi, grown at altitude on pergolas, sounds
which makes up half of the blend, is a hardy grape that
2015 with the aim of demonstrating “what Chile is
likes the wild living on Lebanon’s mountains but ripens
capable of when the shackles are off”. This limited-
marginally less problematic. Together they make an
eggs, is fresh, light and juicy, with appealing raspberry-
exotic, herbacious wine with lots of appley notes.
like fruit and a cranberryish tang. RRP: £17.99
RRP: £16
ABV: 14.5%
ABV: 11%
Boutinot (0161 908 1300)
Propeller Wine propeller.wine
boutinot.com
Enate Chardonnay 234 2020
Giant Steps Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2020
Chardonnay is probably excluded from the list of white varieties grown in Spain that we’re supposed to get
It wasn’t a vintage everyone in Australia recalls with
exotic fruits (and a touch of banana Angel Delight) for
smaller and tighter, and you can taste that here, though
excited about, but this is an example to win over any
doubters. Mountain freshness and minerality vie with supremacy in a delicious and affordable wine that’s proving to be a consistent performer. RRP: £15.99
ABV: 14.5%
Daniel Lambert Wines (01656 661010)
much fondness but the Yarra got off more lightly than
most. Yields were down and Chardonnay bunches were that acidity and edge of sourness is leavened by a hint of tropical fruit and a gentle leesy cushioning. RRP: £22
ABV: 13%
Liberty Wines (020 7720 5350)
daniellambert.wine
libertywines.co.uk
Balfour Winery Blanc de Noirs 2018
TerraNoble Gran Reserva Carignan 2018
Winemaker Fergus Elias sees this as a yin and yang
The alluvial terraces of this part of Maule can only be
and oyster shell characteristics so often found in our
concrete eggs and untoasted foudres before bottle
wine. “Traditional ripe Blanc de Noirs flavours of red
apple and blackcurrant combine with the linear citrus vintage wines,” he says. It’s firm and arresting on the palate, but with a creaminess to round things off. RRP: £35
ABV: 12%
Balfour Winery (01622 832794)
cultivated by horses, and picked by hand. After open-
top maceration and soft extraction, the juice splits into ageing. The natural freshness and greener edges
contrast with the inky depths and ripe-fruit aromas. RRP: £15
ABV: 13.5%
Vintage Cellars (0207 630 6254)
balfourwinery.com
vintagecellars.co.uk
Esk Valley Artisanal Collection Merlot/Cabernet/Malbec 2019
Carminucci Belato Offida Pecorino 2020
The winery’s first Malbec-led wine from Gimblett
Carminucci started out in 1928 and is still run by the
in oak barrels for 18 months. It’s as juicy and intense
natural honeydew sweetness of the once-forgotten but
Gravels starts with its constituent varietals being
fermented in open-top concrete vats and then aged
as you’d imagine, with a herbal undertow. A perfect partner for the hearty stews we require in, er, July. RRP: £19.25
ABV: 14%
Hatch Mansfield (01344 871800) hatchmansfield.com
founder’s son, Piero, who has earned a great deal of
acclaim in Italy for his organically-farmed wines. The
now beloved Pecorino grape makes this a real crowdpleaser, but there’s a lovely orchardy tartness too. RRP: £13.75
ABV: 13%
Hallgarten & Novum Wines (01582 722538) hnwines.co.uk
THE WINE MERCHANT august 2021 10
