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The Co-op is correct, but half the wines at WR were knocked off. I re-added them and they disappeared, so have asked the clever people what to do. Here they are, for info.
Goose, there are some SBs lower down.
Rustenberg John X Merriman 2008 Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, South Africa 12.49
51% Cab Sauv, 36% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Cab Franc and 2% Malbec, grown on lower slopes of the Simonsberg mountain in
Stellenbosch. Grapes harvested Feb - March 2008. 24 vineyard blocks vinified separately during which 9 aerative pumpovers were
employed. Primary ferment at 26°C and extended skin maceration. Drained and gravity fed to 35% new and 65% 2nd and 3rd fill 225l
French oak barrels for malo. Blended after 9 months and returned to barrel for a further 12 months maturation. Bottled May 2010 after
egg-white fining. Winemaker Randolph Christians. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 14.5%, TA 5.9g/l, pH 3.59, RS 2.9g/l. Special Offer: Save
20%, £12.49 - £9.99 from 20/07 to 16/08. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 240 branches.
Very inviting nose. Green peppery, blackcurrant leaf, etc. Ditto on the palate. The alcohol on this wine has been punishing in the past, but now seems to be under control. I like it and it’s definitely worth catching on offer. £9.99 is a steal.
Peter Lehmann Back to Back Grenache 2008 Barossa Valley, S Australia 6.99
86% Grenache and 14% Shiraz. Back to Back is the symbol of the bond forged over many decades between Peter Lehmann and his
friends, the growers. Since 1979, Peter Lehmann Wines have championed the relationship between grape grower, their vineyards and
the winemakers, to make wines of the highest Barossa quality. The vines are 40 - 80-years-old and planted on red brown earth over
limestone. The grapes were hand-picked and fermented with 10 days on skins with twice daily pumpovers. 7 day post-ferment
maceration and matured in combination of stainless steel and older oak 300l hogsheads. Winemaker Andrew Wigan. Suitable for
vegetarians and vegans. Alc 14.5%, TA 5.8g/l, pH 3.5, RS 2.8g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 196 branches.
Pale colour. Jammy, juicy, fruity nose. Very sweet taste. Seems older than 2008. Quite an evolved, breaking down taste. Not unpleasant.
Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 S Australia 8.99
70% Shiraz with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced from premium districts across Southern Australia with significant parcels from
Padthaway, Barossa Valley, Wrattonbully, Langhorne Creek, McLaren Vale and Coonawarra. The 2008 vintage was warm to hot, with a
prolonged heat wave in mid-March. However, grapes picked before the elevated temperatures were delivered to the winery in excellent
condition, resulting in good varietal definition and balanced flavours. Elements of this wine were matured for 12 months in small oak
casks, while other components were matured in stainless steel to retain a fresh fruit focus. Alc 13.5%, TA 6.3g/l, pH 3.52. Special Offer:
Save 25%, £8.99 - £6.74 from 20/07 to 16/08. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 239 branches.
Some fruit on the nose. Warm, oaky, quite baked fruit. It’s OK.
See Saw Shiraz/Mourvèdre 2009 Hunter/Barossa Valleys, S Australia 8.99
Buyer’s Highlight - Step outside of Aussie brands in the mid-price range and there are some startling discoveries!
95% Shiraz with 5% Mourvèdre. The Shiraz was sourced from the iconic Hunter Valley and grown on old vines planted in volcanic red clay.
Mourvèdre sourced from the historic old vines of Barossa. Shiraz was harvested mid-Feb, Mourvèdre harvested late-March. Fermented with
temperature control at 20 - 28°C in 100% stainless steel tanks for 10 days. Extensive pumpover and rack-and-return regime employed before
being pressed and transferred to barrel to undergo 100% malo. The individual parcels were then blended to taste and prepared for bottling
in Nov 2010. Winemakers Andrew Margan and Hamish MacGowan. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.7%, TA 6.70g/l, pH 3.48,
RS 0.4g/l. Special Offer: Save 25%, £8.99 - £6.74 from 20/07 to 16/08. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 159 branches.
On the label it says “S&M” which I’m not sure is what they mean. Baked, savoury nose. Lovely juicy taste. Fruity and with some warmth from the alcohol, but it’s a very nice flavour.
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Coonawarra, S Australia 14.99
100% Cabernet Sauvignon, produced from only the top 20 - 25% of Cabernet fruit available from Wynns Coonawarra Estate. A dry,
warm winter promoted good bud-burst followed by a spring with limited frost concerns, which meant overall vine health was excellent.
January was hot and dry, tempered by a cool February that steadied ripening. Warm weather at harvest ensured full flavour
development and harvest took place in April. The wine spent 16 months in a mixture of French and American oak (French oak 35% new,
29% 1-year-old and 15% 2 years and older ; American oak 8% new, 2% 1-year-old and 11% 2 years and older). Winemaker Sue Hodder.
Alc 14.0%, TA 6.55g/l, pH 3.49. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 2 branches.
Very minty nose, but also showing its age. Lovely taste. Savoury, oaky, very cabernet. Lovely.
Moss Wood Amy’s Blend 2009 Margaret River, Western Australia 14.99
56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Petit Verdot, 10% Malbec and 1% Merlot from 12-year-old north-facing vines planted on red-brown,
gravelly loams over clay at 2,000vines/ha, 30m above sea level with a strong maritime influence. The grapes were hand-harvested at
6 - 8tonnes/ha, destemmed into open top fermenters with hand-plunging or closed fermenters with pumpovers. Seeded with pure yeast
culture and fermented for 14 days at max. temp. of 28°C. Final blend was made and then matured for 12 months in French oak barrels.
Bottled Dec 2010. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 14.4%, TA 6.47g/l, pH 3.64, RS 0.6g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct
and 138 branches.
Mint, eucalyptus, green pepper, blackcurrant. Rich, sweet, green peppery taste. Exactly typical. VG.
Chapel Down Flint Dry 2010 Kent, England 8.99
28% Chardonnay, 24% Huxelrebe and 24% Bacchus plus others. All of the grapes were hand-harvested, and the majority were also
whole-bunch pressed. The clarified juice was fermented with selected yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. After
ferment the wines stayed on the yeast lees for 6 weeks before blending and preparing for bottling. Alc 11.5%, TA 8.8g/l, pH 3.22, RS 6.5g/l.
Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 253 branches.
Clean, green and attractive nose. Fresh and very acidic. Tart.
Chapel Down Bacchus 2010 Kent, England 10.49
100% Bacchus, grown in Essex and Kent in cool climate vineyards planted on clay. The 2010 vintage was relatively cool, giving wines with
moderate alcohol levels and good acid backbone. All of the grapes were hand-harvested. A portion was crushed, but the majority was
whole-bunch pressed and this wine was made from the free run fraction only. Settled and the clear juice was fermented in temperaturecontrolled
stainless steel tanks with selected yeasts. Post ferment, the wine stayed on the yeast lees for 6 weeks before blending and
bottling. Alc 12%, TA 7.4g/l, pH 3.14, RS 7g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 250 branches.
Catty nose, with a touch of spring onion. Tart and lovely taste. Really beautifully fresh.
Bordeaux
Calvet Limited Release Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Bordeaux, France 6.49
100% Sauvignon Blanc from various terroirs in the Bordeaux region - selected for high aromatic complexity. Fruit was gently handled and
the must cold-settled and racked before being fermented at 15 - 17°C under inert gas in order to preserve the aromatics. Matured in
stainless steel tanks on fine lees with stirring. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 12.0%, TA 3.85g/l, pH 3.73, RS 6.1g/l. Available from Waitrose
Wine Direct and 253 branches.
Very light on the nose. Quite a rich and full flavoured taste. Slightly textured. Flavour lasts quite well.
The Naked Grape Sauvignon Blanc 2010 IGP Charentes, France 7.69
100% Sauvignon Blanc from the Charentes, from the ‘Terres de Groies’ vineyard, planted on limestone soil with a layer of chalky clay and
strong maritime influence from the nearby Atlantic. Vines are 15 - 20 years old, with yields of 65hl/ha. 2010 was an early vintage and the
grapes were harvested 15th - 20th Sept. Gently pressed in a pneumatic press then cold-settled with no skin contact. Fermented at low
temperatures in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks for about 18 days, (10 - 12ºC at the start of ferment rising to 18ºC). Matured on fine
lees for 6 months. Winemakers Sophie Devers and Jean-Christoph Bourgeois. Alc 13.4%, TA 6.89g/l, pH 3.27, RS 0.7g/l. Available from
Waitrose Wine Direct and 222 branches.
Light, elder nose with a hint of pineapple. It says the RS is 0.7 g/l but it seems very sweet to me. Nastily so.
Loire
Champteloup Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Touraine, Loire, France 7.79
100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on clay with flint and chalk. Grapes, juice and then the new wine were protected throughout the
vinification process under a blanket of inert gas to preserve natural aromatics. Cold stabilised then temperature-controlled alcoholic
fermentation at 15°C and matured on fine lees in stainless steel tanks. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 12.20%, TA 4.0g/l, pH 3.28, RS 2.0g/l.
Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 253 branches.
Almost nothing on the nose. Nice catty, fresh tang in the mouth. Bright and lively.
Domaine Balland-Chapuis Montagnes Blanches 2010
Coteaux du Giennois, Loire, France 9.99
Buyer’s Highlight - Fresh, vibrant Sauvignon from this little-known Central Loire appellation: poor man’s Sancerre.
100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on 18has of clay and silica terraces just 30km north of Pouilly-sur-Loire. The Guyot Simple trained vines are
15-years-old, planted at a density of 6,500vines/ha. Grapes were machine-picked, this year later than usual in the 2nd week of Oct.
Gently pressed after 48 hours of static cold settling, then fermented for 20 days at a controlled temp. of approx. 18°C with selected yeast.
Aged on fine lees for 3 months, with no malo. Bottled March 2011. Winemaker Philippe Reculet. Alc 12.3%, TA 4.7g/l, pH 3.25, RS 0.03g/l.
Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 144 branches.
Little on the nose. Tangy sauvignon taste. Bright, sharp and lovely taste.
Calvet 2010 Sancerre, Loire, France 13.49
100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on archetypal chalk and flint pebble soils of Sancerre. The grapes were machine-harvested, gently
pressed before being fermented at 18 - 20°C in stainless steel tanks under inert gas to preserve the inherent aromatics. Quickly racked,
filtered and early bottled. Winemaker Serge Debucy. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 12.5%, TA 4.5g/l, pH 3.25, RS 1.2g/l. Special Offer:
Save 25%, £13.49 - £9.99 from 29/06 to 19/07. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 239 branches.
Quite light on the nose. Intense and bright taste. Refreshing. Somehow not quite there, but hard to see what it lacks, until you taste the Vacheron below.
Domaine Vacheron 2010 Sancerre, Loire, France 18.79
100% Sauvignon Blanc grown on soils comprised of 45% Jurassic limestone, 45% Eocene flint and 10% Cretaceous marl. Vines are 20+
years-old and are grown organically and biodynamically. Grapes were hand-picked with average yield of 45hl/ha. Rigorously sorted by
hand and low-pressure pressed, then gravity-fed into tanks and cold decanted. Fermented at less than 20°C for 4 weeks. Matured on
fine lees in stainless steel tanks with bâtonnage, then fined with bentonite, blended and bottled. No malolactic. Suitable for vegetarians
and vegans. Alc 12.4%, TA 5.0g/l, pH 3.25, RS 2.4g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 240 branches.
Light on the nose (to be fair, Waitrose have decided to cook peanut cookies in the next room – you can imagine the chaos it’s caused). Just a hint of lees on the nose. Tart, intense and nervy. Lovely. *
Domaine de la Taille aux Loups, Les Dix Arpents Chenin Blanc 2010
Montlouis, Loire, France 13.99
100% Chenin Blanc. Increasingly recognised as one of, if not the greatest producer of Vouvray and Montlouis, Jacky Blot has a clear
penchant for the precision and purity of totally dry Secs. Jacky’s search for quality starts in the vineyards of this 49ha estate, where he only
recently started to reintroduce organic fertilisers after a self-imposed ban of any fertiliser for 15 years. Combined with almost manically
short pruning, yields reached a mere 26hl/ha in 2010. Grapes were picked by hand in successive tries, with a further grape-by-grape
manual sorting prior to pressing. Fermented for 2 - 3 months in the naturally cool rock-hewn cellar in Bordeaux barriques (10% new per
year), then matured in oak until bottling in the spring. Winemaker Jacky Blot. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.0%, TA 5.0g/l,
pH 3.3, RS 3.0g/l. Available from July. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 5 branches.
Quite a rich colour. A hint of lemon and honey on the nose. Bright and exciting. Lemony acidity. Nice.
Burgundy
Waitrose Chablis 2010 Cave des Vignerons de Chablis, Burgundy, France 10.49
100% Chardonnay from 20 year old vines planted at a density of 5,500 - 6,000vines/ha on Kimmeridgian soil. Grapes were
mechanically harvested in Sept - Oct 2010 from selected vineyards. Cold settling before fermentation using carefully selected yeasts in
stainless steel tanks. Matured for 3 months on fine lees. No oak maturation and fined with bentonite. Winemaker Bertrand Cherel.
Suitable for both vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 4.0g/l, pH 3.2, RS 1.2g/l. Special Offer: £10.49 - £8.39, Save 20% from 25/05
to 21/06. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 253 branches.
Not a lot on the nose. Bright and lively taste. Searing acidity but with the fruit to make it lovely, rather than jagged. Nice.
Cave de Lugny Chardonnay 2010 Mâcon-Villages, Burgundy, France 6.99
100% Chardonnay. Vines are 30 years old and planted on chalk and clay with a south-southeast exposure. Grapes were machine and
hand-harvested Sept 2010. Drained and pressed with natural must clarification. Alcoholic and malolactic fermentation were
temperature-controlled and took place in stainless steel tanks. No oak ageing. Winemaker Gregoire Pissot. Alc 13%, TA 3.46g/l, RS 1.05g/l.
Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 253 branches.
Very little on the nose. A lot of texture and juicy, lemony acidity. It’s OK.
Joseph Drouhin 2009 Rully Premier Cru, Burgundy, France 14.49
100% Chardonnay from Guyot-pruned vines grown on limestone and harvested with an average yield of 51hl/ha. The fruit comes from
growers with very long-standing contracts. Very slowly pressed, then the wine went directly into barrels to mature, of which 20% were
new, for 8 - 10 months. Full malo and aged on lees. Alc 13.0%. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 239 branches.
Quite dark colour. Lemon pithy nose. Full-flavoured, a bit of oak, nicely creamy and fat. Good.
Domaine Jean-Jacques Girard Les Belles Filles 2009
Pernand-Vergelesses, Burgundy, France 16.99
Buyer’s Highlight - Although 2009 is better known as a red vintage in Burgundy, Jean-Jacques made some outstanding whites.
One of the real stars is this exotic fruited, mineral Pernand-Vergelesses .
100% Chardonnay from Jean-Jacques Girard. The Girards are one of Savigny-lès-Beaune’s oldest vigneron families, tracing a founding
Jean Girard back to 1529. The ‘Les Belles Filles’ vineyard has a steep, east-facing slope, on limestone soils, where the viticulture is lutte
raisonnée. Grapes were harvested by hand and machine in Sept 2009, with a yield of 50hl/ha. Fermentation began in stainless steel
tanks of 50hl before being transferred to oak barrels of 228l, 15% new, for 10 months. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.4%,
pH 3.23, RS <0.5g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 37 branches.
Very little on the nose. It’s a new bottle and so very cold. Pity. Heavy, a little oaky and a bit disappointing. Prefer the Drouhin Rully at half the price. Sorry..
Domaine Gérard Thomas 2009 Saint-Aubin, Premier Cru Les Combes,
Burgundy, France 19.99
100% Chardonnay from a small estate in Saint-Aubin, immediately behind Puligny and Chassagne-Montrachet. The grapes were
handpicked 10th Sept 2009, then gently pressed in a pneumatic press. Juice was then racked to a stainless steel tank before being
transferred to oak barrels for fermentation. Matured in 100% oak barrels of which 20% were new and frequent lees stirring from Nov to
March to give depth and roundness before the malolactic. Winemaker Gérard Thomas and his daughters Isabelle and Anne. Suitable for
vegetarians. Alc 13%, TA 3.8g/l, pH 3.25. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 230 branches.
Lime marmalade on toast aroma – one of my favourites. There’s oak, but it doesn’t encroach. Lovely pithy taste. Really delicious.
Louis Jadot 2008 Chassagne-Montrachet, Premier Cru, Burgundy, France 26.99
100% Chardonnay from vines planted on calcareous soils in high density plantings of 10,000vines/ha. This is a blend of several different
Premier Cru vineyards from around the village of Chassagne-Montrachet, including Morgeots, Grand Montagne and Chenevottes.
The grapes were hand-harvested and immediately whole-bunch pressed. The juice was fermented in French oak barrels (approximately
20% new) and then underwent a full malolactic and an 18 month ageing period. Lightly fined and filtered to bottle. Winemaker Jacques
Lardière. Alc 13.5%. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 9 branches.
Lime and vanilla – mmm. Beautiful taste. Creamy, but savoury, but fresh, lemony, it confuses with its complexity. I love it. What an excellent way to spend £26.99. *
Domaine Philippe Chavy 2008 Meursault, Premier Cru Les Charmes,
Burgundy, France 41.00
100% Chardonnay from the 0.41ha Les Charmes vineyard in Meursault, which is planted on clay and chalk soils. The vines are 70 years
old and were hand-harvested with a yield of 60hl/ha. Pneumatically pressed and then fermentation started in stainless steel tanks at
18°C, lower than it would be in barrel, to achieve a fresher style. A strict débourbage was carried out to produce clean, clear must and
the ferment completed in 228l Allier oak barrels (Philippe Chavy uses a maximum of 30% new oak on his 1er Cru wines). Matured in barrel
for 10 months and bottled without fining. Alc 13.5%. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 3 branches.
Ludicrously heavy bottle. Dark gold colour. Served very cold and so little aroma – pity. Heavy, rich, tropical, buttery, lovely. Just stunning. *
Château de la Maltroye 2008 Chassagne-Montrachet,
Premier Cru Morgeot Vigne Blanche, Burgundy, France 50.00
100% Chardonnay from 45-year-old vines grown on clay and limestone soils with a density of 9,000vines/ha.The fruit was handharvested
and initially fermented in stainless steel vats before being transferred to oak barrels to finish fermentation and maturation.
Bottling took place after 10 - 12 months in barrel, of which 30% were new. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.5%, TA 3.9g/l,
pH 3.3, RS 2.4g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 46 branches.
Creamy nose, with a hint of vanilla. Some texture from the oak. Quite a savoury taste. Almost salty.
South of France
Domaine de Sainte Rose Coquille d’Oc Blanc 2009 IGP Côtes du Thongue, France 6.99
40% Sauvignon Blanc, 40% Chardonnay, 15% Viognier and 5% Muscat, from vineyards on the banks of the River Thongue, stretching up
on to the gravelly plateau that leads towards Pezenas. Soil is argilo-calcaire with gravel. Grapes harvested August/Sept 2009, picked at
night to protect the juice from the extreme daytime temperatures. Each variety vinified separately. The juice was cold stabilised then
went through traditional fermentation in stainless steel, temperature-controlled tanks. Winemakers Charles and Ruth Simpson. Suitable
for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13%, TA 3.10g/l, RS 0.79g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 240 branches.
Refereshing pineapple nose. Ditto taste. Fresh and pleasant. Not particularly sauvignon-like until the very end.
La Vieille Ferme 2010 Luberon, France 7.49
30% Grenache Blanc, 30% Bourboulenc, 30% Ugni Blanc and 10% Roussanne. The production area is mainly within the Parc Regional du
Luberon, with a mixed geology of old alluvium and flat and rounded stones, together with chalk marl and clay. The grapes were
harvested relatively late, lightly crushed, then pressed in a pneumatic press, prior to clarification. Cool fermentation took place in vats
for 90% of the blend, with the other 10% fermented in new oak barrels and kept on the lees. Matured in stainless steel tanks until the
following January, when it was fined and bottled. Alc 13.0%, TA 3.27g/l, pH 3.41, RS <2.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and
240 branches.
Sweet, heavy and spicy nose. Very southern taste. Low acidity, very spicy and quite heavy. It needs something strongly-flavoured and a bit herbal. Couscous salad with roasted veg and loads of chopped herbs, perhaps?
Domaine Félines Picpoul de Pinet 2010 Languedoc, France 7.99
100% Picpoul from a family-owned domaine which has been in the hands of the Jourdan family since 1983. Vines are on the banks of
the lagoon of Thau, on clay and chalk soils. The area benefits from low rainfall and the Mediterranean Sea has a cooling influence,
resulting in mild temperature variations. Vines are 5 - 25 years old, planted at a density of 4,400vines/ha and tended with lutte
raisonnée. Grapes were machine-harvested 20th Sept - 5th Oct, producing a yield of 50hl/ha. Gentle pressing in a pneumatic press
then cool fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The wine spent 3 months on lees before filtration and bottling. Alc 13.5%, TA 4.0g/l,
pH 3.25, RS 3.5g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 213 branches.
Dark golden colour. Also smells southern. Spicy, heavy nose. Very, very tasty. I don’t know what you’d do with it. Very, very tasty.
Laurent Miquel L’Atelier Vermentino 2010 IGP Pays d’Oc, France 9.99
Buyer’s Highlight - Great producer with an innovative grape variety for the region - something different.
100% Vermentino from very stony soils in the Languedoc with a hot and dry Mediterranean climate. The vines are 11 years old, shortpruned
and were harvested by machine at night in late-Sept with an average yield of 70hl/ha. The grapes were gently pressed then
fermented with selected yeast for 4 weeks in stainless steel tanks at a cool 14 - 16°C. No malolactic and matured for 6 - 8 months in
stainless steel tanks. Winemaker Laurent Miquel. Bentonite fined so suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 12.5%, TA 3.45g/l, pH 3.57,
RS 0.26g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 239 branches.
Very tasteful taupe label. Spicy nose. Ripe taste. Lacking acidity, but pleasant enough.
Alsace
Domaine Paul Zinck Riesling 2007 Eichberg Grand Cru, Alsace, France 14.99
100% Riesling from a 30ha family estate in Eguisheim. Their Grand Cru Eichberg parcel is at 270m altitude with a south to south-east
exposure on chalk and clay. The grapes were hand-picked in early October, crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks with
temperature control for 2 months with selected yeasts. Malolactic is inhibited and the new wine left on fine lees until the following Spring.
Winemaker Philippe Zinck. Alc 12.5%, TA 7.9g/l, RS 3.1g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 2 branches.
Pithy nose. Dry, but not aggressively so. Quite pleasant.
Hartl Rotgipfler 2009 Thermenregion, Austria 16.49
Buyer’s Highlight - Who knew this unusual Austrian variety could taste this good? Another immensely drinkable effort from
rising star Heinrich Hartl.
100% Rotgipfler from hillside vineyards on the slopes of 4 villages surrounding Oberwaltersdorf, Thermenregion, 20km south of Vienna.
The vines are 20 or 40-years-old, planted on limestone soils. Very ripe grapes were hand-harvested late-Oct after a long, dry summer.
Skin contact for 8 hours followed by a gentle pressing in a pneumatic press. Fermented with part ambient and part selected yeast at 18
- 21°C with no aeration, with 5% in 4-year-old barrels with full malo and the rest in stainless steel tanks with 15% malo. Matured in 225l
barrels with 50% aged on lees for 6 months and bottled August 2010. Winemaker Heinrich Hartl III. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.
Alc 13%, TA 5.8g/l, pH 2.85, RS 7.8g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 2.
Well, this is new to me. Light, slightly honeyed nose. Fruity and just off-dry. Rather nice.
Dr. Wagner Riesling 2010 Mosel, Germany 8.99
100% Riesling hand-picked between the 20th and the 31st October 2010 in an Indian Summer. The yield of this famous vineyard (vines
are 40 years old) was 60hl/ha. The vineyard is extremely steep, planted on slate soils. Single pole training, typical for the Mosel area.
The grapes were fermented in traditional 45-year-old 1,000l oak barrels called Mosel Fuder with cultured yeast at 16°C lasting over 3
weeks. Winemakers Heinz Wagner and his daughter Christiane, who finished her studies at the famous German wine school in 2008.
Bottled March 16, 2011. Suitable for vegetarians. Alc 8.5%, TA 8.3g/l, RS 54g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 181 branches.
Just a little wild honey on the nose. Luscious and refreshing initially, but I’d like a little more acidity on the finish.
Dr. Loosen Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett 2010 Mosel, Germany 13.99
100% Riesling with all grapes from the estate vineyard Ürziger Würzgarten, planted on red volcanic soils on south-facing extremely steep
slopes. Sustainable viticulture with organic fertilizers, although not certified. Average age of vines is 70 years, with a planting density of
10,000vines/ha mostly on classic Mosel single pole training. Grapes were hand-harvested with a yield of 50hl/ha and strictly selected for
healthy fruit. Pneumatically pressed then fermented in stainless steel with a mixture of indigenous and cultured yeast at a cool 18ºC. Matured
in a mixture of 1,000l casks and stainless steel. Alc 7.6%, TA 10.2g/l, RS 67g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 240 branches.
Just a hint of honey on the nose. Lovely, lovely taste. Pretty sweet, but pithy and juicy. Yum.
Italy
Triade Fiano/Falanghina/Greco 2010 IGT Campania, Italy 8.99
33% Fiano, 33% Falanghina and 33% Greco from vineyards in the Avellino province of Campania. The vines are planted at an altitude of
200 - 400m on volcanic soils at a density of 4,000vines/ha and trained using Guyot. The grapes were hand-harvested late-Sept to early-
Oct with a yield of 2kg/vine. Destemmed and gently pressed, then the must was chilled to 12°C and left to rest for 18 hours. 80% of each
variety was fermented in stainless steel at 18°C, with the remaining 20% fermented and aged for 45 days in new French oak barriques.
Final blend was made in early December. Winemaker Alessandro Michelon. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.0%, TA 6.3g/l, pH
3.3, RS 4.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 182 branches.
Something interesting on the nose. Very ripe, sweet and spicy. Savoury, southern-tasting. Needs very tasty food. Quite good.
Mas d’en Gil Coma Alta Garnacha Blanca 2009 Priorat, Spain 22.99
70% Garnacha Blanca with 30% Viognier. Vines are planted on slate and argilo-calcareous soils at an altitude of 300m. They are 10 years
old and yield just 15 - 20hl/ha. The vineyard is heavily influenced by the Garbinada wind and has a very low rainfall. The grapes were handpicked
in mid-August to Sept 2009. 20% of the Garnacha Blanca was fermented in small oak barrels (18 - 22ºC for 8 days), whilst the
remaining 80% was fermented in large cask (16 - 18ºC for 10 days). 100% Viognier fermented in cask (16 - 18ºC, for 10 days). Matured in oak
for 3 - 4 months. Alc 15%, TA 5.3g/l, pH 3.15, RS 3.1g/l. Available from 11 July. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct.
Little on the nose. A very odd taste. Quite oxidative. Savoury and lacking freshness.
Not for me.
Valdesil Godello 2009 Valdeorras, Spain 15.99
100% Godello from a vineyard planted at 500m altitude in south-east Galicia on slatey, mineral-rich soils. Bodegas Valdesil is a familyowned
estate in Vilamartin de Valdeorras. The vines have an average age of at least 30 years and yield 22hl/ha. The grapes were handharvested
into 20kg boxes, rigorously sorted and then given a short skin maceration in stainless steel tanks with static racking followed
by fermentation with local yeast. Aged on lees in stainless steel tanks and no malolactic fermentation. Bottled in December 2010.
Winemaker Christina Matilla. Suitable for vegetarians and vegans. Alc 13.50%, TA 5.50g/l, pH 3.24, RS 2.4g/l. Available from Waitrose
Wine Direct and 46 branches.
Fresh, green and appealing nose. Oxidative, over-tasty and I wouldn’t want another mouthful, never mind glass. I just don’t get it.
New Zealand
Cowrie Bay Chardonnay 2010 Gisborne, New Zealand 5.99
Buyer’s Highlight - This joins the growing number of bulk-shipped and UK-bottled exclusives, and is part of the wine-making
opportunity opened up by Montana (sorry, Brancott) dropping its contracts on Gizzy Chardy vineyards. Fingers crossed its
attractive price point aligned with decent quality will kick-start a long-awaited consumer reminder of the delights of Kiwi
Chardonnay, from which they might be persuaded to trade up.
100% Chardonnay and a new stablemate to our phenomenally successful Cowrie Bay Sauvignon Blanc. From deep fertile soil and various
Gisborne sites, harvested in April. Cool-fermented in stainless steel. Partial malolactic fermentation and a judicious amount of oak (5%) was
used to add texture and maintain a fruit-driven style. Shipped in bulk to be bottled in the UK. Winemaker Mike Just. Alc 12.5%, TA 5.51g/l,
pH 3.41, RS 10.3g/l. Special Offer: 2 for £10, £5.99 - £5.00 from 20/07 to 16/08. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 253 branches.
Deep colour. Lemony nose. A little fizz. Price about right.
Saint Clair Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Wairau Valley,
Marlborough, New Zealand 9.99
Buyer’s Highlight - Long an admirer of both the Ibbotsons and Matt Thomson and their Block series wines - they are no slouches
when it comes to putting together larger blends either.
100% Sauvignon Blanc from free-draining alluvial Wairau Valley sites such as Rapaura, Brancott Valley and Lower Wairau. The grapes
were harvested 3rd - 22nd April 2010, pressed with minimal skin contact and cool fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeast
to retain freshness and ‘zing’. Winemaker Matt Thomson. Alc 13.5%, TA 7.4g/l, pH 3.38, RS 4.2g/l. Suitable for vegetarians. Available from
Waitrose Wine Direct and 212 branches.
Pithy, mineral, elder nose. Lovely taste. Just beautifully balanced. There’s fruit,but it isn’t sweet and OTT. It’s clearly acidic but just on the right side of sharp. Clean, pithy and long.
Chile
Torres Las Mulas Sauvignon Blanc 2011 Central Valley, Chile 8.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc, painstakingly crafted from the finest organic grapes, grown in the poorest soils, from vineyards in the Central
Valley. Planted on plots which had not been cultivated for many years, and so harbour a healthy biodiversity of beneficial insects. The
soil in this San Luis de Alico vineyard is very deep, so the roots grow undeterred, allowing the vines to achieve a balance in maturity
without irrigation. Vines are 10 years old, spur-pruned and planted at a density of 4,320vines/ha. Grapes were hand-picked 22nd - 30th
March 2011 with a yield of 10,000-12,000kg/ha. Skin contact took place for 4 hours at low temperature followed by a 21 day ferment at
18°C. Winemaker Fernando Almeda. Alc 13.0%, TA 6.2g/l, pH 2.9, RS 2.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 228 branches.
Catty and quite astringent nose. Varietally correct and with quite a long taste.
Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Walker Bay, South Africa 10.99
100% Sauvignon Blanc from vines which are high-density planted and yield a very low 36.3hl/ha. Yields are limited with a green harvest,
depending on the vintage. Soils are 54% Table Mountain sandstone with 46% clay-rich shale. The grapes were hand-harvested,
destemmed and soft-pressed. Reductive winemaking used to retain freshness. The juice was fermented in stainless steel tanks at 10 - 14°C
for 21 - 28 days. The new wine was then aged on lees for 3 months. Alc 13.0%, TA 7.5g/l, pH 3.12, RS 1.4g/l. Special Offer: £10.99 - £8.79,
Save 20% from 25/05 to 21/06. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 212 branches.
Restrained, elder and a more Old World nose. Pithy, acidic and clean.
Petaluma Riesling 2008 Hanlin Hill, Clare Valley, S Australia 10.99
100% Riesling from vines planted in Hanlin Hill Vineyard in 1968 on the eastern-most slopes of the Clare Valley. The grapes were hand-picked
in the first week of March, transported to the Petaluma winery in the Piccadilly Valley and immediately crushed. The free run juice was then
cold settled in stainless steel tanks at 0°C, clarifying without filtration. The juice was then racked into fermentation tanks and inoculated with
Petaluma’s chosen yeast. Cool fermented for 6 - 7 weeks to dryness and chilled to -2°C before a gentle filtration to bottle in June 2008.
Winemaker Andrew Hardy. Alc 13.0%, TA 6.8g/l, pH 3.06, RS 3.9g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 239 branches.
Golden colour. Beautiful, intense and honeyed Riesling. Ripe and yet bone dry. Very pithy and typical. Lovely. Only for Riesling nuts though. *
Argüeso San León Manzanilla Sherry 10.99
Buyer’s Highlight - Regarded as one of Sanlúcar’s very best Manzanillas.
100% Palomino Fino grown in the Herederos de Argüeso vineyard on classic albariza soils. Grapes were mechanically-harvested in midlate
Sept and fermented at 25°C. Racked from the solids and stored until November/December when the new wine was fortified to 15%
alcohol and decanted to 100 - 250-year-old 500l American oak casks. After 6 months, assessed and passed to the Manzanilla criaderas
and soleras. Alc 15.0%, TA 4.2g/l, RS 3.0g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 20 branches.
Wonderful aroma. Just as the tasting ends, ~I’m lifted up by the salty but floral aroma of this lovely wine. Floral taste but bone dry and salty. Not so much Marmite. More like ordinary dry wine, but so much better.
Waitrose Amontillado Sherry 6.49
100% Palomino in a new blend from Sanchez Romate, an independent, family-owned sherry house based in Jerez de la Frontera with
vineyards in the Balbaina district. The grapes produce a natural strength of approx. 12% alcohol. Following vinification at 22 - 24°C the
wine was fortified with grape spirit to a maximum of 15%. Aged under flor as a fino through the criaderas of a Fino solera. Subsequently
further fortified with grape spirit to approx. 18% and introduced to an Amontillado solera where it underwent an oxidative ageing process.
Then slightly sweetened by blending with natural sweet wines and concentrated grape must. Aged in American oak sherry casks and has
an average age of 5 years. Alc 18.5%, TA 4.75g/l, pH 3.45, RS 42.5g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 207 branches.
42 grms of RS – oh dear! Second rate and commercial. No vibrancy, little beauty.
Offley Rosé Port 9.99
40% Touriga Franca, 40% Tinta Barocca, and 20% Touriga Nacional grapes using the traditional winemaking method reserved for rosé
wines. Hand-picked red grapes were destemmed, crushed and pressed immediately to avoid prolonged contact with the skins to make
a rose-coloured must. Gently settled then cold-fermented until fermentation was stopped by the addition of distilled wine alcohol or
brandy. Alc 19.5%, TA 3.52g/l, pH 3.5, RS 105.5g/l. Available from Waitrose Wine Direct and 26 branches.
Cherry cough medicine nose. It’s exactly as you’d expect. Fiery, sweet and cherry-flavoured.
Henriques & Henriques Full Rich Madeira 11.99
100% Tinta Negra Mole, from an independent family-owned producer. Mixture of organic and biodynamic grapes sourced from Quinta
Grande and other small vineyards. Vines are planted on volcanic soils up to 500m altitude and are 5 - 10 years old with a density of 2,500
- 4,000vines/ha. Hand-harvested late August. Slow pressing, then maceration at 25°C with skin contact. Fermented with no yeast
addition in stainless steel tanks for 2 - 3 days. Then estufa process in stainless steel vats, heated by hot water circulation between the
double walls at 45 - 50°C for at least 3 months. Bottled to order. Alc 19.3%, TA 3.9g/l, pH 3.67, RS 208.5g/l. Available from Waitrose
Wine Direct and 199 branches.
Barleysugar nose. Caramel, muscovado flavour with some savoury notes.
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mel
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, I know I spotted a few good-uns in a large store in Broadstone, Dorset recently. As you say - Pointless going to a Convenience store though, unless it is situated to a very smart Town or large village with big chimney pots, where the manager / franchise operator is stocking for the locals.