Protos Reserva 2009

Protos Reserva 2009

Ribera Del Duero

A gift from a friend who lives in Spain. He has always preferred it to the ubiquitous Rioja and brought me some to try. Very kindly he did not bring the €8 one he drinks but the €22 Reserva (he only told me this afterwards when I had said just how good the wine was).
This wine was lovely, rich and fruity and with a very distinct vanilla aroma but without the harsher tones of many Riojas. A great wine that was such a joy to drink and I will look out for the Ribera del Duero, if I can find it here in the UK retailers.

Dark cherry colour. Complex aromas of black fruits. Velvety and fleshy mouth, full-body, with fine and elegant tannins that build good structure. The perfect match of wood and wine leads to a strong marriage. It delivers a very long aftertaste inviting you to drink again a delightful soft palate found in Protos' great wines.

This wine may contain sediment and has not been treated in any physical or chemical. Be decanted.
Contiene sulfitos.
Ribero del Duero Reserva
Embotellado por protos bodega.
14.5% vol

Chateau Moulin Delille

Chateau Moulin Delille

Saint-Estephe  2007

Appellation Saint-Estephe Controlee

Grand Vin De Bordeaux.
Mis en bouteille au Chateaux (Gironde)
13% vol

From Lidl (£9.99?). A very enjoyable wine, a pleasure to drink with a meal and then savour during the evening.

Montefalco Sagrantino 2009

Montefalco ("meditation wine")

Sagrantino 2009

Torrito Del Falco

A wonderfully aromatic and enjoyable wine, with deep aromas and colour. A wine to be sniffed and slowly savoured. My beloved and I enjoyed a glass of this wine in the warmth of the garden (for the first time this year). It is dry on the mouth (described on the label as 'austere' on the palate) but a really good wine.

From the label:
The Montefalco Sagrantino "Torrito del Falco" wine is produced in the Montefalco city territory. Aged 36 months, 12 of which in French oak barrels, it is an extremely intense red ruby in colour with violet highlights. Its scent has a hint of blackberry, prune jam, liquorish, which fade into notes of vanilla left due to its ageing in the French oak barriques. To the palate it is austere and robust, with noticeable tannins which are full flavoured. The Montefalco Sagrantino "Torrito del Falco" accompanies important dishes of red meats and fowl, wild boar, mixed grilled meats and matured cheeses, but it may also be tasted as a meditation wine. It is recommended to decant the wine an hour before serving.

Chateau de Saye - Bordeaux Superior

Chateau de Saye

Bordeaux Superior 2010

Purchased from Marks & Spencer, this Bordeaux Superior was an good complex wine yet it lacked that real excitement that I enjoy in a good wine. It was £9.99 (minus 25% for bulk purchased) and I think I could have bought a much more interesting wine for the same money.

From the label:
About this wine... Winemaker Alain Laubie had made this wine from carefully selected, hand-picked grapes from 30 year old vines near St Ciers d'Abzac, 15km north of Libourne on the Bordeaux right bank. 90% merlot provides fleshy fruit and velvet texture while 10% Cabernet Franc gives a fresh aromatic lift.
At its best .... This kind of full-bodied and structured red works very well with robust red meat dishes, cheeses or even full-flavoured vegetarian dishes.
Marks & Spencer £9.99 (-25%)
Produced and bottled by Maison Sichel, AF 3360, Cenac France.

Roc de Lussac

Roc de Lussac

Lussac Saint-Enilion 2011

Appellation Lussac Saint Emillion ControleeAn elegant and structured wine, good fruit and controlled tannins. Good to drink, an easy wine for a Saturday evening meal. I purchased this wine of £7.99 from Sainsburys, (in theory it had a previous price of £11.99) but I thought it was worth the money.

From the label;
Over-looking the Dordogne river on the famous Roc de Lussac in Bordeaux, the Lussac Saint-Emillion vineyards are well-known for producing wines of great colour and structure. The 2011 vintage is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet France and Cabernet Sauvignon and has been carefully selected by the winemaker for its concentration of black fruit flavours and supple tannins. Rich and full bodied, this wine makes the perfect accompaniment to rare roast beef, hearty stews or full flavoured cheeses. Ready to enjoy now or will last for up to 3 years from vintage date if carefully stored.

Mis en bouteille a la propriete
13%
Grand Vin De Bordeaux

Soligamar Reserva

Soligamar Reserva

Rioja Reserva 2008

A good Rioja, but without the full richness and complexity of some better wines. I cannot remember how much I paid for this wine, but it does not compare with the standard of Campo Viejo Rioja, which I so enjoyed recently.

From the label;
Soligamar is a new, exclusive and distinguished wine but its origin can be traced back to 1896 when Don Quintin Ortega planted his first vines in the unique area close to the small village of Tudelilla in the Rioja Baja. In 1999 his grandson Carmelo Ortega started this new project.
Winemaker Carmelo Ortega was born in 1963. He has dedicated his entire professional life to Rioja wine. In 1988 he decided to re-open his Grandfather's property in order to take advantage of the uniqueness of La Pedriza and to create his own interpretation of Rioja wine. The utmost care it taken to ensure the sustainable development of the local environment.
14%

Domaine Du Rouge Gorge - Faugeres

Domaine Du Rouge Gorge

Reserve 2011
Faugeres - Appellation Faugeres Controlee

Another deep and intense wine from the South of France, this time from Faugeres. Full flavours of black, rich fruits but also with depth and complexity. A big but really enjoyable wine.

From the label;
This is a deeply coloured and intense red wine with flavours of black fruits, cedar and spice. From the Faugeres region of southern France where the renowned schist soils give low yields and wines with great intensity and character. Made from a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mouvedre, this lovely southern French red is well balanced and lengthy with soft round tannins. A delicious match with Boeuf Bourguignon or roast lamb with rosemary. Try it also with hard cheese such as Comte or mature Gruyere.
To preserve quality, this wine has been minimally treated and may throw a harmless sediment, which will not impair quality.

Mis en bouteille au domaine.
13.5%
Marks & Spencer £8.99 (-25% multiple buy)