(2025) From Rheinhessen, this comes from a family winery and brothers Peter and Fritz May who have travelled widely: Peter having worked in Marlborough, Fritz with Geoffrey Grosset in Australia and in Austria. There's quite a luscious aspect to the nose honeyed with nectarine, even a hint of Botrytis. The palate is relatively simple, though enjoyable, the medium-sweet palate of very ripe apple and pear balanced by just enough acidity.
(2025) Named after Anges Seifried, this is always a treat of a moderately priced dessert wine, fully luscious and sweet with a candied fruit quality, and yet nimble with its slicing core of citrus acidity keeps things fresh on the palate. The honey and lime of the nose translates to a delicate, fully sweet but light palate, shimmering acidity prolonging the finish. Price for a half bottle.
(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.
(2025) This is a Californian cab in a pretty much 'fruit bomb' style, overflowing with cassis, plum and chocolate aromas and flavours. The fruit comes from Lodi, inland from the much more expensive Napa Valley area, and the wine is aged in American oak. I note that it does have a moderate 13.5% alcohol, though the richness might suggest higher, and while it might not suit the Claret-loving classicist, it offers great bangs per buck and put a smile on my face. Note that Allaboutwine has a very keen price just under £10, but only by the six-bottle case. Many independent merchants sell it by the bottle for around £11. Watch the video for more information.
(2025) Last time I tasted this de-alcoholised blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah was the 2020 vintage, and I think this is possi ky worth a point more than the 82 scored last time. That's down to a certain elderflower-like freshness joining the summer berry fruitiness. It is still very sweet and rather thin, but if you are in the market for a pleasant zero alcohol drink - though still with little resemblance to wine - it's worth a try.
(2024) A blend of fruit from the warmer soils of the Wairau Valley and cool, dense clay of the Southern Valley, this was fermented with wild yeast in French oak barriques and matured for eleven months. Oak seems restrained this vintage to very nice effect, just a sheen of buttered toast and oatmeal over pear and lime fruit. The palate has textural richness, hinting at exotic nectarine and mango, but that balanced by fresh, zippy lemon acidity. The majestic 'mixed six' price of £28.49 is the one to be on. Independent merchants also have it for £30 - £33. Watch the video for more information.
(2024) í
From the sub-zone O Rosal, this has a skin-contact suggestion of lime peel and peach skins, again a nice suggestion of saltiness in a leaner picture than the Torre la Moreira for example. A little bit leesy, the palate is driven by lemony, zesty fruit, the spark of sherbetty, salty acid nicely balancing the finish.
(2024) A particularly pure and elegant Albariño from Salnés, the oldest sub-zone of Rías Baixas that is also its coolest and wettest. From family vineyards, there's a cool and clear line of crisp orchard fruit on the nose, quite stony and mineral. In the mouth there's a pleasing juiciness, a squirt of orange and lime, a bit of creaminess to the texture before a fine and fresh finish.
(2024) Not Sherry, but a solera-aged Pedro Ximénez from a family that produced its first fortified PX wine in the 1940s. Perhaps slightly lighter in colour than a typical Spanish version - nut brown rather than mahogany brown - it pours with engine oil thickness and gloriously sweet and luscious aromas of fig, raisin and walnut, a delicate rancio character adding a layer of intrigue. In the mouth super-sweet and mouth-filling, really all about the sweet and unctuous flavour rather than massive complexity, but utterly delicious.
(2024) From Utiel-Requena in the southeast of Spain, this is a cheap as chips party glugger offering considerable bangs per buck. Don't come looking for complexity in this £4.99 blend of 60% Tempranillo with Bobal, but it delivers a fragrant nose of black cherry with floral aspects and a smooth as silk, moreish palate of black fruit. Most importantly, it finishes dry without being tricked-up with residual sugar as so many cheap brands. Definitely a crowd-pleaser. Watch my video review for more information.
