Finca Allende Rioja 2009

Wine: Finca Allende Rioja 2009
Winemaker: Miguel Angel De Gregorio
Vintage: 2009
Variety: 100% Tempranillo
Price: £20.99

This is exceptional! 

Lashings of black fruit: black cherry and blackberry powerfully aromatic, with herbs, liquorice, pencil lead and cured meats rounding off an encapsulating nose. 

The same black fruit is intense and concentrated in the mouth; with savoury elements adding deep and complex tertiary flavours. The palate is abound with a host of subtle nuances.  

Medium bodied, with a pronounced aroma and flavour intensity, polished tannins, a linear acidity and an everlasting finish. Simply sublime and the perfect partner in crime to a special treat of Wagyu rib of beef and triple cooked chips.

Buy now from Virgin Wines

Chateau Musar Red 2009

Wine: Musar Red
Winemaker: Chateau Musar
Vintage: 2009
Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan & Cinsault. Approx 1/3rd each. 
Price: £22.00

As with the previous two vintages (07&08) this is immediately approachable, not something one can often say about latest release wines from Musar.

Plenty of barnyard funk on the nose, or brett (brettanomyces) as it is more commonly referred too, something that IS common in Musar reds. Blackcurrant, blackberry, leather, vanilla and pipe tobacco all playing a part, in what is a rich and diverse bouquet. Very elegant and incredibly alluring: In the mouth, Cabernet dominates at first with tarte dark fruit and menthol quite striking, then the fiery spice and sweet red fruit of the Carignan and Cinsault take over. Plenty of liquorice, clove and vanilla. A real crowd pleasing palate!

Medium to full bodied, a linear acidity, supremely refined and silky tannins, moderate intensity and a finish fit for a king (and Queen!) A truly great vintage, but possibly not with quite the same longevity in terms of ageing some other vintages can boast. A good decant is necessary, serve at 18-19'c.

Buy now from the Wine Society

Trimbach Alsace Riesling 2009

Wine: Alsace Riesling
Winemaker: Trimbach
Vintage: 2009
Varietal: 100% Riesling  
Price: £17.99

This was my first Alsace Riesling and one that really blew me away! I couldn't have wished for a better introduction into a future world that I'm sure going to over indulge in.

The bouquet is vibrant, energetic, and particularly expressive and captivating. Oodles of sharp tropical notes of grapefruit and baked pineapple, with some lovely, elegant floral notes. The palate is diverse and proud, brimming with character and complexity: loads of citrus notes, unripe green fruit and moving onto some bready almost starchy flavours toward the finish, which adds depth of flavour as well as something unusual in a usually very lean, overly acidic varietal.

Crisp, bone dry and full of zingy acidity, medium bodied, subtle silky tannins (very appealing to me, to find this to be the case in a white wine), a moderate intensity and fabulous farewell of finish.

Partner this with Chinese or spicy Thai cuisine and you'll be thanking me into the next week.