A quick, brief round up of some of the more enjoyable wines drunk in the last month or so.
Alexandre Bain. La Levée 2015. Tracy sur Loire. France. Sauvignon Blanc but not as you may know it. About as far from the zingy New Zealand style, much loved by UK drinkers, as you can get. Fully biodynamic, the wines of Alexandre Bain are a serious attempt to create wines that are a true expression of terroir in the absence of chemicals and too much interference. La Levée is rich with aromas of peach, apricot, orange and a touch of honey. The palate is dry, stone fruit, lime and apple. The finish is long. This really is excellent wine.
Delheim. Chenin Blanc. 2014. Stellenbosch. South Africa. Fermentation with wild yeasts followed by ageing on the lees has produced a wine of real character. Golden yellow, clear and bright in appearance. Aromas of tropical fruit, peach, honey and a slight smokiness. The palate has lovely balance, creamy but with refreshing acidity. There is a nuttiness with tropical fruits and lime. Very good.
Vasse Felix. Filius. Chardonnay. 2016. Margaret River. Western Australia. Everything Aussie chardonnay should be. Aromas of tropical fruit, lemon and vanilla. The palate is well balanced with a gentle buttery creaminess. The finish is lingering flavours of lemon and oaky vanilla. this is very good at the price.
Casa Ermelinda Freitas. Dona Ermelinda. Pamela. 2015. Portugal. From the Setubal region south of Lisbon this is a wine of real character. A blend of chardonnay with arinto, antão Vaz and fernãs pires. The wine is golden with aromas of stone fruit and lemon with a hint of almond/marzipan. The palate is medium with stone fruit, lemon, buttery vanilla and lovely balancing acidity. This is very nice.
Gonzalez Byass. Leonor. Palo Cortado. Spain. I just love sherry and its relative unpopularity means that there are some great value wines out there. This is one such example. Amber/gold in appearance the nose is intense and inviting with nuttiness, toffee/caramel and leather. The palate is well balanced, smooth, intense and complex. A lovely lingering finish. Great stuff.
Domaine Serge et Bruno Sourdais. Le Logis de la Bouchardière. 2017. Chinon. Loire. France. A Loire valley red to enjoy. Youthful and vibrant in appearance and deep in colour. The nose is very fruity, raspberry, cherry and a touch of bramble. Palate is red fruits with earthy spice and a lovely lingering finish. Great value for money.
Altolandon. Mil Historias. Bobal. 2016. Manchuela. Spain. A certified organic wine. A blockbuster with ripe cherry fruit along with some blackcurrant, violets and a hint of spice. There is a freshness here that makes this very approachable. tannins are soft. Very drinkable and very nice.
Bodegas Muga. Prado Enea. Rioja Gran Reserva. 2005. Spain. Great depth of colour showing maturity at the rim. Aromas of black fruits, leather, herbs and vanilla. The palate is full, soft with black plummy fruit with hints of spice and pepper and vanilla. Tannins have integrated. Great balance and complexity. The finish is herby with warming peppery spice. Excellent.
Chateau de Fonbel. Saint Emilion Grand Cru. 2014. France. Good affordable claret can be a challenge to find but this is a nice example. Good depth of colour with a garnet rim. plummy black fruits, vanilla and hints of tobacco. The palate is medium bodied, soft, sweet plummy fruit with hints of spice and soft tannins. Not overly complex but drinking very well.
Castelnau de Suduiraut. Sauternes. 2010. France. The sweet wines of Sauternes can be excellent value for money and this example is no exception. The second wind of Chateau Suduiraut and made from younger vines it is a real show stopper. It’s rich and smoothed, packed with aromas and flavours of orange, apricot, honey and creme brulée. The sweetness is well balanced with acidity making this a wonderful wine and great value for money. Sauternes is not very fashionable at present, a great shame.