CHAMPAGNE CHARLES MIGNON BRUT PREMIUM RESERVE NV MAGNUM
(£34.99, 1.5L) 12% ABV
Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay
Producer: Mignon
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Clean, green nose, but with something almost like paint, as well. Not as much grip as the “Exquisite” one, but how lovely to have a magnum. Fair price.
PROSECCO D.O.C. EXTRA DRY 2011 MAGNUM (£14.99, 1.5L) 11% ABV
Blend: 100% Glera
Region: D.O.C. Prosecco (Treviso), Italy
Producer: Provinco Italia SPA
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 06.12.12
Sweet and fruity nose. It’s just slightly sweet Prosecco, I can say nothing more. Oh, yes I can, the bottle is a very nice shape.
MOSCATO SPUMANTE 2011 (£4.79, 75cl) 6% ABV
Blend: 100% Moscato Bianco
Producer: Toso SPA, Cossano Belbo
Availability: Seasonal Special, on shelf nationwide 07.10.12
A hint of rosewater on the nose. Nicely rosy taste. Lightweight and the price is about right.
SANCERRE 2011 (£8.99, 75cl) 12.5% ABV
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Domaine la Gemière
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Clean, green nose. Dry and French. It lacks intensity and length. Slightly bitter.
POUILLY FUMÉ 2011 (£7.99, 75cl) 12.5% ABV
Blend: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
Producer: Benoit & Valérie Calvet
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Very little aroma. The taste is flabby and made me pull a face. It’s Pouilly Fumé Lite.
CHABLIS 2011 (£6.99, 75cl) 12% ABV
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Region: A.O.C. Chablis, France
Producer: François Martenot
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Very little aroma. Strange, nasty and bitter taste. Don’t touch this.
Yuk
CHABLIS PREMIER CRU 2011 (£8.99, 75cl) 12.5% ABV
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
Producer: François Martenot
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Some creaminess on the nose. It has structure. There’s definitely a lees character about it. The price is about right.
TAVEL ROSÉ 2011 (£7.99, 75cl) 13% ABV
Blend: 60% Grenache, 40% Syrah
Region: A.O.C. Tavel, Southern Rhône, France
Producer: Les Grandes Serres
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Dark pink. Appealing strawberry aroma. Quite bitter taste, but that’s Tavel for you. There’s some strawberry aftertaste.
AMARONE 2008 (£13.99, 75cl) 14.5% ABV
Blend: 33% Corvina, 33% Corvinone, 33% Rondinella
Producer: Vignaioli La Castellana S.A.S. (Schenk, Italy)
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 06.12.12
Quite a pale colour.
Very sweet, baked nose. Fiery alcohol, but you expect that. Just a touch of sweetness. Fairly typical.
BAROLO 2008 (£9.99, 75cl) 14% ABV
Blend: 100% Nebbiolo
Producer: Fratelli Martini
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 06.12.12
Typical pale brown colour. Typical and wonderful aroma. Light and fragrant palate. Recognisable, but lacking that thing that leaves me smiling and barely able to speak. A very fair price.
CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2011 (£9.99, 75cl) 13.5% ABV
Blend: 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 10% Mourvedre
Producer: Francois Martenot
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Dark, raspberry nose. Light and nicely refreshing. Actually, this is much nicer for me than the majority of CNDP which I find too hot.
CHATEAU DU MIGNON, ST EMILION GRAND CRU 2010 (£9.99, 75cl) 14.5% ABV
Blend: 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
Producer: Baron du Montfort (Benoit et Valérie Calvet)
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Lovely floral aroma. Great mouth feel. Juicy, with nice savoury oak. Refreshing, and a cracking price.
CHATEAU DASVIN BEL AIR, HAUT MEDOC CRU BOURGEOIS 2009 (£9.99, 75cl)
Blend: 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc 14% ABV
Producer: Château Dasvin Bel Air
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Savoury, stalky, slightly farmyardy nose. Ditto on the palate. This is 14% and I’m not sure it quite has the body to balance that. However, I rather like it.
TORO LOCO RESERVA 2008 (£4.99, 75cl) 13% ABV
Blend: 50% Tempranillo, 20% Bobal, 20% Garnacha, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
Region: D.O. Utiel-Requena, Spain
Producer: Covinas
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 29.11.12
Lovely woody nose. Light body but nice oaky flavour. The price is extraordinarily good.
RIOJA GRAN RESERVA 2005 (£9.99, 75cl) 13% ABV
Blend: 100% Tempranillo
Producer: Bodegas Senorio de Hueda
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 06.12.12
An animal and attractive nose. It’s light, as you’d expect a Gran Reserva to be. Perfumed and pleasant.
BEERENAUSLESE NV (£4.99, 37.5cl) 11% ABV
Blend: 33% Bouvier 22% Welschriesling, 15% Samling, 12% Weissburgunder, 11% Chardonnay, 7% Sauvignon Blanc
Region: Burgenland, Austria
Producer: Weinkellerei Lenz Moser
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 06.12.12
Pleasant floral nose. It’s very, very lightweight. Doesn’t have the intensity, the brightness, of a riesling beerenauslese, but if you need to serve a pudding wine and are on a budget, this is pretty lovely.
10 YEAR OLD TAWNY PORT NV (£9.99, 75cl) 20% ABV
Blend: 30% Tinta Roriz, 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Touriga Nacional, 20% Tinta Barocca
Producer: Barao de Vilar Vinhos
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 06.12.12
Spice, wood and chocolate nose – inviting. Barley sugar and chocolate taste with plenty of fire. A crazy price.
LATE BOTTLED VINTAGE PORT 2008 (£8.99, 75cl) 20% ABV
Blend: 30% Tinta Roriz, 30% Touriga Franca, 20% Touriga Nacional, 20% Tinta Barocca
Producer: Barao de Vilar Vinhos
Availability: Christmas Special, on shelf nationwide 06.12.12
Dark and rich nose. Fiery and sweet. It’s OK.