Wine Tastings
| Style | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | Spain |
| Region | Rioja |
| Grape | Tempranillo |
Sold out
Montecillo Rioja Crianza
£14.50
Montecillo has a history dating back to 1847 and is now owned by the famous Osbourne family. Since they have taken over they have completely reinvigorated the estate with real attention to detail in the vineyard and a more modern(in a good way!) approach in the winery and cellars. This Crianza has everything you could want from a Crianza Rioja at a really good price; lovely strawberry fruit nose and a rich, smooth palate.
Obviously, this goes well with roast lamb, lamb chops, steak, BBQ etc but it’s pretty versatile and drinks really nicely on its own.
Out of stock
Additional information
Related products
Barbaresco, Produttori del Barbaresco, Piemonte
In 1958, the priest of the village of Barbaresco, recognizing that the only way the small properties could survive was by joining their efforts, gathered together nineteen small growers and founded the Produttori del Barbaresco. The first three vintages were made in the church basement, and then in the winery built across the square from where the Produttori is still located. United once again, the small growers continued the work started by Domizio Cavazza, producing only Barbaresco wine and enhancing both the reputation of the wine and the village.
The Produttori del Barbaresco now has 50 members and 100 hectares (250 acres) of Nebbiolo vineyards in the Barbaresco appellation, which amounts to almost a sixth of the vineyards of the area. The most important thing, however, is that quality is always the highest priority and in Aldo Vacca, they have one of the World's most respected winemakers.
We buy this wine every year and it never disappoints; every vintage is different, reflecting the year itself, but has the hallmark of class and quality. The thing I like most about this is the amazing perfume; great Nebbiolo has a unique nose that is hard to beat! These wines age gracefully for decades and really represent great value in the context of Piemonte's top producers.
A great wine for the cheeseboard but also, venison and duck; when young the tannins are firm, so the food does need some richness and fat. As they age, the tannins soften but strong, hard cheeses (Old Winchester, Double Barrel, Cornish Kern...) are still my favourite match.
Trinity Hill Hawkes Bay Syrah
Founded in 1993 by winemaker John Hancock together with Robert and Robyn Wilson, owners of The Bleeding Heart and The Don in London, Trinity Hill has become a byword for quality and consistency. Winemaker Warren Gibson has been with Trinity Hill since 1997. He is also in charge of the 80 hectares of vineyard owned by Trinity Hill and knows Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels exceptionally well. The wines reflect this. Warren and his team make wines that show the best of what Hawkes Bay and the Gimblett Gravels can produce. The wines have an elegance, balance, drinkability and precision of flavour that makes them a joy to drink.
Cotes du Rhone ‘Bout d’Zan’, Mas de Libian
Mas de Libian, a working farm (cereals, fruits and vines) since 1670, has remained in the hands of famille Thibon for its entire history. Hélène a remarkably energetic member of the family took over the viticulture and winemaking in 1995, and convinced her family to bottle their own wine rather than sell to local négociants. Her farming is entirely biodynamic since the 1960’s when her grandfather ran the farm, and the vines (averaging 40-45 years-old) are pruned for low yields and concentration. The terraced vineyards, composed mostly of galets rouges, in St-Marcel d’Ardèche (the west bank of the Rhône) provide stunning views of Mont Ventoux, the Alpilles, and the Dentelles de Montmirail.
Hélène is in her late 20s and in June this year she was selected by the French Wine Review as one of its Young Winemakers of the Year. She makes her wines in a traditional fashion following organic principles, and the vineyards have ‘pudding-stone’ soil like that found in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The stones reflect sunlight during the day and retain heat during the cold nights, thus making the vines work harder to extract water and minerals from the soil.A great wine for the price, full of real character.
Perfect with roasts, stews, bbq...you get the idea.
Givry Rouge 1er Cru ‘Grande Vignes’, Domaine Parize
From the heart of this appellation in the southerly Cote Chalonnaise sub-region of Burgundy, this is a gorgeous wine with delicious primary aromas of spiced cherries, berries and rhubarb, notes of clove and cigarbox – lovely refinement and complexity.
Burgundy can be frustrating and very expensive but this is a great example of finding quality and value from lesser-known villages. If this was slightly further north it would be considerably more expensive!A great wine for roast lamb or pork, or even chicken.
Caprichos Old Vine Garnacha, Bodegas Esteban Martin
The region of Carinena is producing some of the best value wines around and this old vine (35 years old) Garnacha (same as Grenache) is a great case in point. Unoaked and full of juicy, lip-smacking red fruit flavours; a great party wine and a storecupboard essential - versatile enough to go with most things when you just need a good glass of red!
Shrinking Violet Old Vine Syrah, Boris Kovac
Made from old Syrah vines in the l'Herault region of the south of France, this is a real bargain. The wine spends some time in toasty new oak which complements the lovely juicy, dark Syrah flavours nicely.
A good wine to take to someone's house when you don't know what you're eating and when the host may just take the bottle and put it out of sight..bt if it did get opened, everyone would love it.
A nice name, a pretty label and tastes much more expensive than it is...a win all round!
Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Mas Saint-Louis
Mas Saint Louis, located at the centre of the appellation, has been in the Geniest family since 1890. The cellar is located on the ancient route from Avignon, on the edge of the town. There are 30 hectares of vines planted on a combination of gravel sand and galets, with an average age of 40 years. The oldest Grenache vines make up 80% of the red cuvée. Syrah, which is planted in the heart of the village, accounts for around 8% of the blend. Cinsault and gobelet pruned Mourvèdre make up the balance. Everything is hand-harvested and sorted in the vines, before being delivered to the cellar.
Very drinkable and complex. Old fashioned, but in a positive way. The 2014 shows real freshness and has a lovely fruit profile. Drawing comparisons to the wines produced by the family Reynaud might be dangerous, but that is what comes to mind. It certainly shows Pinot-like character.Proper Chateuneuf-du-Pape from a great producer, miles away from the dreary, disappointing bottles often sold in supermarkets.Perfect with roast lamb with all the trimmings.
