February 2008Previous months' recommendations:
June/July
2006 |August 2006 | September/October
2006 | November 2006| December
2006 | Jan/Feb 2007 | March
2007 | June 2007 | July
2007 | August/September 2007 | October/November
2007 | December 2007 | January
2008
Alain
Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2005 Northern Rhône, France
100% Syrah from 50+ year old vines. This is the essence of northern Rhône
Syrah. Deep coloured, it has a classic Graillot nose with intense dark
fruit and a meaty olivey character. Very savoury and intense. The palate
is meaty and spicy with olivey dark fruits. Savoury and intense, this is a
lovely wine. 93/100 (£17.99 Waitrose)
Domaine Huet Le Mont
Sec Vouvray 2005 Loire, France
Biodynamically grown Chenin Blanc from deep clay over limestone soil.
Fresh herb and cheese nose. Quite classic with real purity, and although
the Chenin funk is there, it’s in check. The palate is rich with herbs,
straw and toast with some vanilla and a lovely texture. A brilliant wine.
92/100 (£14.99 Waitrose)
Domaine
Jo Pithon Anjou Blanc Sec ‘Les Pepinières’ 2005 Loire, France
An organic Loire Chenin, matured in 400 litre oak barrels. Hand
picked, this is one of the new style ‘golden’ dry Chenins, where the
grapes are picked ripe but botrytis is avoided. Minimal sulphur dioxide
use. Lovely nose: tangy with hints of straw, nuts and cheese. The palate
has lovely broad straw and nut flavours. It’s quite rich with a bit of
herbiness. An interesting wine. 90/100 (£9.99 Tesco)
McWilliams Lovedale
Semillon 2005 Hunter Valley, Australia
An Aussie classic: this Lovedale vineyard was planted in 1946 by the
legendary Maurice O’Shea. Tight, bright, focused nose of herbs and
lemons. Very fresh. The palate is focused and vivid with good acidity.
Quite lean and tight at the moment, but this should develop into something
special with a decade in the bottle. 90/100 (£25 Tesco)
Mount Langhi Ghiran
‘Blue Label’ Shiraz 2004 Grampians, Victoria
Dark, smooth sweet fruity nose. The palate shows lovely freshness and
definition to the primary, spicy, savoury fruit. Very well defined with
great purity of fruit. Nice stuff. 93/100 (£25 Majestic)
El
Malbec de Ricardo Santos 2006 Mendoza, Argentina
Deep coloured. Lovely
rich floral, aromatic nose of sweet dark fruits. The palate is supple and
elegant with lovely vivid fruit and a nice savoury twist. Quite delicious.
91/100 (£8.49 Majestic)
Stamford
Brook Shiraz Viognier 2006 South Australia
Made for Sainsbury by Angoves. Lovely fresh sweet dark fruits nose with a
bit of pepper and some meaty richness. Really focused and appealing. The
palate is pure, peppery and bright with great balance. It’s not at all
confected or soupy. For the price, this is really good: as well as sweet
fruit, there’s a fantastic savouriness and a bit of old world peppery
Syrah character that I really like. Delicious. 88/100 (£5.99
Sainsbury’s)
Ulysse
Cazabonne Pauillac 2005 Bordeaux
This
negociant wine is declassified from a top Pauillac property, and it's
quite a serious effort. It's dark, minerally, savoury and gravelly with a
tight structure and good acidity. The focused dark fruits and firm tannic
depth make this quite challenging without food, but I really like it - it
tastes like left bank Bordeaux should taste, and while it will probably
age nicely over the next five years, I'm enjoying it now. 90/100 (£15.49
Averys)
My rating
system explained. Use www.wine-searcher.com
to locate a stockist in your area and my directory
of UK wine merchants for details of those listed here. See also: the wineanorak's
shopping list - recommended wines from each of the main UK retail
outlets. These recommendations are truly independent: I don't accept
payment or other favours for inclusions, nor do I sell wine.
E-mail me with your recommendations or suggestions
at jamie@wineanorak.co.uk
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