8:40am Saturday 16th January 2010
By Mike Tipping
THE theme this week, is that there is no theme. It’s an odds-and-ends drawer of recommendations, a mixed bag plucked from my wine notes. For one reason or another, maybe due to lack of space or because they haven’t fitted a theme, these six bottles haven’t made it in to Tipping’s Tipples, but I think they are all worthy of mention.
Wines costing less than a fiver do not feature here often, but Morrisons has Mas O Menos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, which is cheerful and quaffable, if nothing else. This Chilean red has plenty of forward blackcurrant flavour with a hint of smoky oak and some tannins to give a little structure, too.
Head to California for Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2007, which isn’t lacking in flavour or power. It delivers juicy fruit flavours of blueberries and raspberries, spiced with clove, violet and liquorice. Perfect to go with homemade burgers.
Or splash out on a velvety, rich Bordeaux red from the famous 2005 vintage. Château Rocher Corbin St Emilion 2005 is a well balanced, elegant blend of merlot and cabernet, with flavours of cherry, plum, coffee and supple tannins. It would be good with the Sunday roast.
Quite concentrated and punching above its weight is a South African white, Fish Hoek Chenin Blanc 2009, which makes a refreshing change from your usual chardonnay and sauvignon. It touts the grape’s characteristic lemon and honey flavours, with some tropical fruit notes and a hint of spritz.
If you like subtlety in whites then try South Pirie Pinot Gris 2008. A million miles from cheap pinot grigio (same grape, different name), this wine, from the cool climate of Tasmania, is dry and fresh, with lush flavours of apple, white pepper and mineral notes, too. You could try this with a pork dish or drink it on its own.
Equally subtle and elegant is Saint-Véran “Merloix” 2007, available from online merchant FromVineyardsDirect. This is a good white Burgundy for the money. Creamy in the mouth, fresh and flinty, it has lingering citrus and tropical flavours and would be great with seafood and fish dishes.
• Mas O Menos Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, £3.99 at Morrisons 15/20
• Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2007, £7.99 at Tesco, Spar and Waitrose 18/20
• Château Rocher Corbin St Emilion 2005, £16.99 at Oddbins 17/20
• Fish Hoek Chenin Blanc 2009, £6.45 at Tesco 18/20
• South Pirie Pinot Gris 2008, £9.45 at Field and Fawcett 17/20
• Saint-Véran “Merloix” 2007, £9.95 online at fromvineyardsdirect.com 17/20
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