The experts might agree it’s great but that doesn’t guarantee you’ll like it.
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June’s wine is the Graham Beck The Rhona Rosè NV, South Africa (£10.00 from www.marksandspencer.com)
[Currently out of stock at M&S but still available for £14.85 from www.vinvm.co.uk].
Jancis Robinson says:
“For many years this has been a fine example of top traditional-method sparkling wine, made by master winemaker Pieter Ferreira. Refined, red-berry fruit on the nose, crisp acidity, fine mousse and good length on the palate mark this out as a very classy sparkling wine. Now, as part of M&S’s price ‘repositioning’, this is priced at £10. At which level it is stunning value. VVGV” (16/20)
May’s wine is the 2017 Domaine de la Madone, Beaujolais-Villages Le Perreon, France (£10.11 from www.vinatis.co.uk).
Robert Parker says:
“The 2017 Beaujolais-Villages Le Perreon is superb, wafting from the glass with aromas of crushed blackberries, mulberry and licorice. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and concentrated, with fine, melting tannins, juicy acids and a generous and expressive core of fruit. This is a terrific Beaujolais-Villages that would embarrass many crus.” (92/100)
April’s wine is the 2017 Masseria Pietrosa Verdeca, Italy (£8.25 from www.morrisons.com).
International Wine Challenge 2018 – Silver Medal Winner:
“Very fruity, with apricot and acacia notes on the nose. Palate is crisp with custard and rhubarb notes. Lovely!” (90/100)
March’s wine is the 2014 Bodega Senorio de Barahonda Campo Arriba Old Vines, Spain (£11.19 from www.vinatis.co.uk).
Robert Parker says:
“This winery, started in 1925 by the Candela family, has really hit pay day with this amazing value. Blackberries, blueberries, acacia flowers, and chalky minerality dominate the aromatics and flavors. It is full-bodied, the price is absurdly low for a wine of this quality, and I suspect it can age nicely for another 5-6 years, although its true value is its exuberance, fruit purity and density.” (93/100)
February’s wine is the 2017 Semeli Mantinia Nassiakos, Greece (£10.50 from www.thewinesociety.com).
Matthew Jukes says:
“I rarely find top-notch Greek wines under the tenner mark but this one is a joy. Made from the moschofilero grape, it’s loaded with exuberant fruit.”
International Wine Challenge 2018: Silver Medal Winner. (90/100)
January’s wine is the 2016 Ostoros Pinot Noir, Hungary (£6.75 from www.thewinesociety.com).
Jancis Robinson says:
“Pale ruby. Amazingly inexpensive for a Hungarian wine! Smells of Pannonian-warmed Pinot. Certainly not burgundy and fully mature. Very slightly syrupy but there is no flab. What a steal! Polished and sweet but still refreshing. VGV” (16/20)
December’s wine is the 2017 Waitrose, Grüner Veltliner, Austria (£7.99 from www.waitrose.com).
Decanter magazine says:
“DWWA 2018 Gold Medal: A fresh, vibrant, fruit driven expression with ripe citrus and yellow apple aromas. Hints of pepper and white flowers on the palate, with impressive complexity and a scented finish.” (96/100)
November’s wine is the 2016 Quinta Nova, Unoaked Touriga Nacional, Douro, Portugal 2016 (£9.25 from www.portugalvineyards.com).
Decanter magazine says:
“Dark, dense, promising black red in colour, with ample fresh elderberry and plum fruits qualified by the distinctive tea-leaf finesse which comes from Touriga Nacional and friends. On the palate, this is a wine of energetic, searching, almost dancing fruit backed by soft, sweet tannins and, for the time being, lent huge charm by its aromatic freshness and complexity.” (97/100)
October’s wine is the 2017 Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc, Awatere Valley, New Zealand (£9.99 from www.majestic.co.uk).
Decanter magazine says:
“There’s great restraint and purity here, with nothing obvious, sweaty or over-drawn. In the mouth, the wine is fresh, sappy, long and vivid, with those grass and sweet-pea notes balancing clean green apple fruit. The wine is roundly dry but without any cloying sweetness, harvested at (or blended to suggest) the perfect cusp of ripeness.” (97/100)
September’s wine is the 2015 Vidal-Fleury Cotes du Rhone (£9.99 from www.majestic.co.uk).
Jancis Robinson says:
“Grenache with Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan. Dark mid crimson with a pale rim. Herbs and balsam on the nose – savoury rather than sweet. And then there is masses of sweetness on the palate but a finish that is fresh and dry. Really great balance and nice neat finish. This is better than many commercial Châteauneufs. VGV” (16.5/20)
