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Marcus James Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

Plonk (u.k) Jug Wine (u.s). After years of “intense research” we have finally found a good quaffing wine and it’s very inexpensive, about $8.20 inc tax for a 1.5 litre bottle. This used to be generally available from most supermarkets etc, but we seem to find it more available at Publix Supermarkets www.publix.com .

Publix have become our general shopping centre, we’ve used them for over 12 years and have watched them grow from a ho hum operation to a very nice caring one where staff seem to be treated well which reflects in the quality of service provided (although they will keep running out of their own brand of seltzer water – very annoying).

 Anyway, back to the wine. Adam, you may remember this one? A smooth wine with berries, spices and vanilla nicely complementing each other. Over the years we have noticed very little difference between the vintages which makes it a very reliable Plonk.

4 out of 5

Name	Marcus James
Style	Red
Grape	Cabernet Sauvignon
Year	2006
Country	Argentina
Region	Mendoza
Producer	Fecovita

Tormenta Viognier 2006

First U.S entry. This caught my eye at Sam’s Club www.samsclub.com (part of the Wal-Mart empire, Sam’s are a wholesale warehouse who have some surprising products in addition to the usual pile it high sell it cheap items).

This is a label specific to Sam’s and what interested me was the “Organic” qualification (are we better off consuming the pests or the pesticides?). Very pale and initially quite acidic, however after a while the acidity disipated and we are left with a dry wine, slightly fruity, slightly steely, quite refreshing. Drink cool not cold for best flavour. Price $10.20 including tax.

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3 out of 5

Name	Tormenta Viognier
Style	White
Grape	Viogner
Year	2006
Country	Chile
Region
Producer	Miguel Torres

Château du Trignon Gigondas 2004

Another recommendation from Alex at Oddbins, apparently it’s a poor mans Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The £13.49 price tag means it not quite for the poor man but expectations were high.

Great wine. Very drinkable, spiced cherry is the best way I can describe it. Almost like mulled wine. Guess that means nutmeg and cloves.

Quite potent, it claims 14% but it seems more. It definitely didn’t taste alcoholic just felt it by the second glass.

4.5 out of 5

Name	Château du Trignon Gigondas
Style	Red
Grape	Grenache, mostly
Year	2004
Country	France
Region	Côtes du Rhône
Producer	Château du Trignon

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2006

I like this wine. It’s my standard, middle of the week, white. Can’t go wrong.

Not as steely as some Sauvignon Blancs, it has enough fruit and zestiness to make it interesting.

It’s on offer in Sainsbury’s at the moment for £5.99, bargain.

4 out of 5

Name	Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc
Style	White
Grape	Sauvignon Blanc
Year	2006
Country	New Zealand
Region	Marlborough
Producer	Oyster Bay Wines

Feeling like a monologue

Dad, feel free to post a wine review when you’ve got a moment.

I appreciate at your age once the bottle has gone you’re pretty much useless for the rest of the evening. Can I suggest

a) you make notes as you’re going along

b) you share some with Mum

Adam

Château Amarande 2005

Having spoken to the man in Oddbins about my non-plussed reaction to the Le Cadet du Chateau la Claymore 2003 I had recently he suggsted this. With regard to the Claymore he asked me if I had decanted it, something he does with all his red wines, and did I know that 2003 was a bad year for Bordeaux, too hot apparently.

At £8.99 it was cheaper than the last one so I thought why not. I wasn’t disappointed.

I made sure I ‘decanted’ first. Not having a decanter this involved pouring into a Pyrex jug and letting it breath before pouring it back in the bottle.

This was a great, easy drinking wine. I was expecting something a little heavier, but this was smooth and fruity it went really well with the gammon joint we had for dinner. Definately one to have again.

4 out of 5

Name	Château Amarande
Style	Red
Grape	Merlot 80%, Cabernet Sauvignon 20%
Year	2005
Country	France
Region	Bordeaux
Producer	Vignobles Germain et Associés

El Quintanal 2006

Had a taste of this in Oddbins before plumping for a whole bottle for £10.99.

Ribera Del Duero borders the Rioja region an apparently this means you get Rioja style wines without necessarily the high price tag of a decent one. The vines are old which apparently suits the Tempranillo grape this is made from.

Traditionally Rioja is a blend of mostly Tempranillo with ~20% Merlot/Grenache but this one is 100% Tempranillo.

It does taste like a good Rioja, nicely oaked from the barrels but unlike a cheaper Rioja the aftertaste is smooth without any harshness. Given this is a 2006 and therefore quite young, I think this is unusual. Wikipedia as a good entry on Rioja Wine which covers this.

Of course being a Spanish red, it went very well with a bit spicy Chorizo sausage.

4 out of 5

Name	El Quintanal
Style	Red
Grape	Tempranillo
Year	2006
Country	Spain
Region	Ribera Del Duero
Producer	Bodega Los Olmos S.Coop.

Errazuriz Estate Merlot 2006

We used to drink a lot of this over 10 years ago when we lived in London. I think it was probably cheap. Not today, this cost me £7.99 in Threshers.

I would pay a fiver for it. It’s OK once you get into it. Lots of red fruit to it, blackberries, blackcurrants, etc but it’s also just a little rough. The 14% alcohol level means you get past that quite quickly.

This is probably a good wine to have with curry. Full of flavour for a palate that has other things on it’s mind.

3 out of 5

Name	Errazuriz Estate Merlot
Style	Red
Grape	Merlot
Year	2006
Country	Chile
Region	Curico Valley
Producer	Errazuriz Estate

Le Cadet du Chateau la Claymore 2003

Decided it was time to try a Bordeaux. Popped into Oddbins and found this at £10.99. I think it was the whisky drinker in me that plumped for the one named after a Scottish sword.

Apparently Lussac St Emilion is an appellation on the border of St Emilion, so similar in style but less pricey, if a little more ‘rudimentary’.

This is unmistakeably French. New World wines don’t challenge in the way French wines do. My first taste was a bit of a shock. Thought I’d make a big mistake. Couple more sips and I started to understand what was happening.

There is an unmistakeable rustic feel to this wine, you can almost taste the vines and vineyard. Once you get past that you get blackcurrants and good depth of flavour. It’s not too heavy, the guy in Oddbins told me to expect that given the Merlot content being higher than other Bordeaux’s.

3 out of 5

Name	Le Cadet du Chateau la Claymore
Style	Red
Grape	80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc
Year	2003
Country	France
Region	Lussac Saint Emilion
Producer	Château La Claymore