Berry Bros & Rudd (www.bbr.com)
Avila Côtes d’Avila
Grenache/Mourvedre/Syrah 2002 Santa Barbara County, California
This Rhône-style red from California has a lot going
for it. Lovely vivid, spicy raspberry fruit dominates. Good density and lovely
balance, relying on the fruit for its character. (£10.25 Berry Bros & Rudd,
Oddbins)
Domaine Larreyda Jurançon Sec 2003 Southwest France
Well, this is a bit of a weird white, but
it's fantastic. Jean-Marc Grussaute has 8 hectares of Gros Manseng and Petit
Manseng vines; this wine is a blend with a majority of the former. It has an
austere, straw-like herby nose which is full, savoury and intense. Lovely
characterful herby, savoury palate is excitingly dense and full. Lots of
character and depth here. (£9.25 Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com)
Oremus Tokaji Mandolas Dry Furmint 2002 Hungary
(£8.95 Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com) Three
interesting wines from Berry Bros, who have a wonderfully functional website and
an enormous range. First, something odd but lovely: a fascinating example of Tokaji
as a dry wine. It has an almost wild, open, expressive herb-tinged nose, which
leads to a palate that is softly textured, herby, nutty and open. Lovely waxy
herby fruit dominates. Very distinctive.
Robert Michel Cornas La Geynale 2001 Northern Rhône, France
From vines planted in 1910, this has a fantastic,
intense, liqueur-like meaty Syrah nose, with some olive-like character. The
palate is midweight and savoury with fresh high-acid intensity and good
definition to the raspberry-like fruit. Very expressive and savoury.
(£24.95 Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com)
Bodegas Alión 2000
Ribera del Duero, Spain
One of Spain’s best red
wines. This has tight, dark fruits on the nose with a subtle herby, spicy edge.
Complex and full. The palate is concentrated and expressive with powerful, spicy
dark fruits and a lovely liqueur-like sweetness, together with some spicy oak.
Dense, full and almost profound. (£29.95 Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com)
Domaine
Felines Jourdan 2003 Picpoul de Pinet, Languedoc, France
The
Languedoc is well known for its red wines, but Picpoul is a subregion that makes
lovely fresh, slightly herby whites with enough zippy acid to make wonderful
food wines. Crisp and refreshing. (£6.45 Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com)
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