Wine of the month

I had the pleasure of visiting the winery and meeting Marco, the winemaker.  Although they make really good Ripasso, Amarone and Recioto, it was the standard Classico that stood out from other wineries in the area.  A blend of Corvina, Rondinella and Corvinone, it is a light but satisfying wine with red cherry flavours, good…

My favourite of the English sparkling wines from the recent Wine GB tasting. They have added seyval blanc to the classic varieties of chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier. I got flavours of red apple, peach and grape with a good cream soda like finish. It’s organic and vegan.

Another fine English still wine using what is becoming this country’s signature grape. Apparently this example was hand-picked, whole bunch pressed and cool fermented in stainless steel. A good alternative to sauvignon blanc it has gooseberry and passionfruit flavours and a nice long finish.

One of the best still wines I tried at the recent Wine GB tasting. Ortega was a new variety for me – this early ripening grape variety, a hybrid of Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe, produces stone fruit aromas with four months oak ageing creating richness and complexity. I’m not normally a fan of oak but this…

I’ve been buying this wine ever since coming across it on a trip to Porto. It’s a great value, aromatic, refreshing wine with some complexity that pairs really well with fish. The grapes are an obscure blend of Douro varieties. Available from Majestic at £7 if you buy 6 bottles.

An interesting wine tasted at the “Big G” Wines of Germany tasting which got favourable comment from other attendees too. A rich, off dry wine with aromas of petrol, roses and honey. £14.45 from Peter Osborne Fine Wines.

I bought this after trying it at the Wines & Spirits Show. I’d never heard of the Insolia grape before but I was very impressed. Pale and light with a fresh apple zest aroma, will be great with fish. Looking forward to putting it on at a forthcoming tasting to see what others think. Available…

Bierzo is a region that deserves more attention.  100% Mencia grapes aged 18 months in American oak barrels. Parker described the 2012 as “An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. Opulent, rich and lengthy, it has the balance to drink well for 6-8 years. Lively, red ruby colour, on the nose persistent aromas of oak, mature…

Wine Australia held an excellent tasting on 22 January.  There was a huge choice so nobody could try them all but this was the pick of the bunch from those I tasted.  A classic Shiraz from the Barossa Valley – soft tannins, cherry fruit, dark chocolate and distinct black pepper.  Shown by Carson Wines.

I make no apologies for my second Turkish WOTM.  I served this at a recent tasting and everybody thought it was pinot noir.  It’s very light coloured with cherry and plum fruit and a slight smokiness on the finish, very soft tannins.  Available from several importers, All About Wine currently sell it for £11.89.