Wine of the month

It’s amazing how often people say they are not keen on sweet wines yet whenever I include one in a tasting it generally gets well received. This wine was a favourite at a recent tasting and shows you don’t have to pay Sauternes prices to get a good one. A tasting note with aromas of…

This vineyard was a new one for me, and a new grape variety, discovered on a recent trip to Somerset. I agree with their description of the wine: Crisp, fresh, elegant, balanced.  Aromatic and fruity. English rose-garden scent, dry Riesling style. Great with seafood, salads and spicy dishes. 100% Kernling grape. Kernling is a Riesling crossing…

Congratulations to the following Sussex shops which were all in the top 25 of Harpers Top UK Independent Wine Merchants 2020: Butlers Wine Cellar South Downs Cellars Hennings Wine Merchants

A straightforward wine to drink as an aperitif or to accompany a simple meal. A clear light straw-yellow colour with aromas of citrus fruit, pear, fennel and white flowers with a refreshing aftertaste. 10% of the blend goes in oak to give some flavour without overpowering the freshness. Grapes are Grenache Blanc and Bourboulenc. I…

I wouldn’t have said Vinho Verde was one of my favourites but this one is a great summer wine and my partner really liked it. It’s made from 50% Arinto, 35% Azal and 15% Trajadura, so grapes with which many people will not be familiar. The grape crop is picked manually into small boxes. The…

The perfect wine for a summer wedding – it looks great and has lovely fresh strawberry and raspberry flavours without being overly acidic. It’s from the greatest wine region in the world, Sussex (yes, I am biased) and is a blend of classic grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a dash of Meunier. At the time…

Portuguese wine often represents great value for money and this is a prime example. A lovely rich black fruit flavour, it originates from the Dao region blending typical grapes from that area – Touriga Nacional, Alfrocheiro and Tinta-Roriz. £10.99 from Hennings

This was my favourite from the recent New Zealand Wine tasting in London. An interesting blend of Pinotage, Arneis and Merlot. It had ripe strawberry and redcurrant fruit, fresh but not too acidic. Drink on its own or with some salmon. This winery also showcased a very good Sauvignon Blanc from Nelson, a nice Albarino…

I tried a number of ports in the run up to Christmas and this is my personal favourite. It’s sweet and rich with intense plum and damson fruit and some chocolate and raisin. Try with Stilton or just sip it on its own. £13.99 from Virgin Wines.

A lovely Alsace Pinot Gris, a bright lemon green colour with aromas of primrose, lemon, pear and peach. Will be great with seafood. Harvested by hand from vineyards on clay and limestone soil. 2017 was a difficult year for growers in Alsace but this shows what could be achieved despite that. At just £7.50 for…