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Displaying results 0 - 10 of 345

(2025) Sangre de Toro 0.0 is an alcohol-free take on the original Sangre De Toro (sadly no sign of the small plastic bull attached). A blend of Garnacha and Syrah with partial aging in French oak before dealcoholisation, it joins the zero alcohol wines in the 'Natureo' range, of which Miguel Torres is a great believer. Indeed this is not bad - of its type - some smooth black cherry and chocolaty plum aromas leading on to a palate that has some texture. It's a bit sweet, but not too sweet, and again reminds me of black cherry. The complete absence of tannin and low acidity ensure you won't confuse this with 'the real thing', but not a bad effort.
(2024) Let's make one thing clear from the start: this wine earns its place for a very specific reason, and very specific purpose. Reviewed mid-summer 2024 when it's the height of barbecue season, many people are looking for a fruity, inexpensive red to drink in the sunshine. A priority is lower alcohol and carefree quaffability. Step up this £4 blend of Bobal and Tempranillo from the high altitude vineyards of Utiel-Requena, near Valencia in Spain. With 10% alcohol it fits the bill: chill it if you like, plop a few ice cubes into the glass if you fancy, and enjoy its tutti-frutti red berries, almost non existent tannins, and modest acidity. Not for the cognoscenti. Watch the video for more information.
(2024) Another 0% alcohol drink, the base fruit sourced from La Mancha in Spain, a blend of oaked Petit Verdot and Tempranillo. The wine was de-alcoholised using technology then blended with "a handful of natural ingredients." The colour is an inky, dark crimson, the aroma a little spicy and smoky, perhaps reminiscent of a dark fruited bread or chocolate-coated fruit cake. In the mouth quite a nice texture - some creaminess - and the flavour is of dark berry fruits and vanilla. I'd chill it.
(2024) The Shiraz in Oxford Landing's lighter range, 'Sunlight', has 35% less alcohol and calories than the standard Oxford Landing bottling. From 2021 and having seen some sort of oak exposure, this has a nicely lifted floral and sweet cherry aspect on the nose, underpinned by a little hint of vanilla pod. In the mouth it is really rather sweet; noticeably so, the confectionery character rather letting the side down as it is just too tutti frutti for me. Tannin is imperceptible, though acid is adequate. I prefer the Chardonnay in the range, largely because the sweetness sits a little more happily there.
(2023) A blend of 80% Negroamaro and 20% Primitivo from Salento in Puglia, the wine region that forms the heel of Italy's 'boot'. There's a soft rim to the deep ruby colour, then tobacco-spiced, autumnal notes that are briary and truffly. In the mouth the fruit is sweet and copious. Indeed, the sweetness overwhelms slightly, making this one for those who appreciate a dollop of residual sugar in their reds, which I really, really don't. £10.49 as part of a mixed dozen.
(2023) Wise Wolf is a new brand from Hardy's Banrock Station of Australia, but the wines made in the Languedoc, South of France. Packed in unusual, squat little bottles that stress their eco credentials, being made from recycled and recyclable glass. The stuff inside is a fairly chunky, ripe and smooth Cabernet, with plenty of sweet blackcurrant fruit if a slightly jammy edge. It won't set the heather on fire, but it is an interesting project and the packaging a talking point for sure. Also in Morrisons and Sainsbury's, though a pound or two dearer. There's a Chardonnay in the range which is a touch non-descript, and a rosé which I have not tasted. Watch the video for more information.
(2022) This South African Cabernet can be had as cheaply as £6 for Tesco Club Card holders, which does qualify it as a 'buy', even though its a wine with no real distinguishing features for me: fairly generic black fruit, made with French oak (though possibly staves rather than barrels?) it is juicy enough, a little bit raw feeling and whilst decent, just doesn't press my buttons. I slightly preferred the Chardonnay in the range at the same price from Tesco.
(2021) About 90% Shiraz with a dash of Malbec, this ruby-crimson wine has loads of smokiness on the nose, charred meat and bonfire ash to the fore. In the mouth a big, sweet and substantial mouthful, loaded with sweet black fruit and creamy in texture, that smokiness and slightly harsh acidity in the finish. I guess there's no denying it is a lot of wine for £6 in Tesco, on promotion November 15th to December 5th 2021.
(2021) Organically certified, this comes from a winery founded in 1840 and one of the oldest in the region. It was made in stainless steel, then aged only six months in French and Hungarian oak, a variety of barrel ages and sizes. The current winemaking member of the family trained in Burgundy. Ruby with a broad rim that is slightly faded. A very fragrant wine, with all sorts of exotically floral, incense-like notes, some herbaceous twigs and briar and pomegranate fruit. In the mouth there's a sweet, soft and enveloping pool of spicy fruit. It has medium length, crunchy tannins and good acidity, and is a distinctive wine indeed.
(2021) At five years of age the colour of this Xinomavro from Naoussa is broadly brick and tawny on the rim, and the wine does smell rather mature. It spent 12 months in French oak barrels (40% new) and a further 30 months in bottle, and there are tapenade and tinned Italian plum tomato notes on the nose that for me are not terribly attractive. The palate is dry - I would say drying - with vestiges of sweet, perhaps overripe fruit. Though I am not 100% convinced this particular sample was in A1 condition, I couldn't give this a whole-hearted recommendation.
Displaying results 0 - 10 of 345