Mysterious Carmenere

If wine has a grape-shaped equivalent of Lord Lucan, Amelia Earhart or George Mallory, it's Carmenere. This grape was a familiar and well renowned part of the landscape in Bordeaux for centuries until phylloxera struck in the 19th century. Growers weren't keen to replant it because it...

Colinas de Uruguay Albariño 2016

Colinas de Uruguay Albariño 2016, 13%, Uruguay (£8, Sainsbury's or in the Netherlands and Canada via Wine Searcher) We often find ourselves searching for whites that have plenty of oomph but aren't super extrovert in their flavour profile. This happens especially when we're picking wines to go with food: whites can need...

Arboleda Pinot Noir 2016

Arboleda Pinot Noir 2016, 13.5%, Chile (£18-20 for the 2015, Loki, Surrey Wine Cellar, Bonafide Wines or globally via Wine Searcher) Arboleda is the sister brand to the better known Errázuriz label, which are both based out of the Aconcagua Valley north of Chilean capital Santiago. And, just...

Château Angélus 2012

Château Angélus 2012, 14%, Saint-Émilion, France (c £270+ per bottle in bond, BI and other sellers, see Wine Searcher) Angélus is not a wine to shy from the limelight. It commands superstar prices. It features in James Bond movies. Its grandly renovated chateau in Saint-Émilion boasts a...

Château Pontet-Canet 2007

Château Pontet-Canet 2007, 13%, France (c. £600 per case of 12 in bond, BI – but widely available, see also Wine Searcher) The 2007 vintage in Bordeaux wasn’t particularly memorable. As we noted when we last tasted the vintage in November 2011 (Bordeaux 2007 in stereo), the challenging...

Broglia Gavi di Gavi 2015

Broglia Gavi di Gavi 2015, Italy (from £9 down from £14.99 until 21.2.2017, Waitrose - or via WineSearcher) At the discounted price, this Gavi is a bit of a bargain. What's more, it's a beautiful food wine to put with food, which is why I paired it with Marianne...

Honeycomb Chardonnay 2016

Journey's End Honeycomb Chardonnay 2016, South Africa (£10, Marks & Spencer)   Poor old Chardonnay. I was told of someone recently who refuses to even allow it into the room, such is the virulent distaste they have for it. I'd argue this is to throw the baby out with the...

Meerlust Pinot Noir 2016

Meerlust Pinot Noir 2016, South Africa (£17-22, 2015 vintage currently at The Wine Society, Four Walls, Hedonism or via WineSearcher)  I remember my first visit to Meerlust, back in 2003. Over a very convivial lunch with gravel-voiced owner Hannes Myburgh, a fair old quantity of his fine Pinot Noir...

Muga Rioja blanco 2015

Muga Rioja Blanco 2015, Spain (£9.99, Majestic or via Wine Searcher)  This Muga white Rioja is a rare example of an elegantly oaked white under a tenner on the UK high street (and indeed elsewhere, if you care to check the Wine Searcher link). It made a seamless pairing...