Category Archives: Wine Lifestyle
Frares 2013, Priorat
Frares 2013 is a young-ish wine from Priorat. This was my first stop at Marks and Spencer to source Priorat fro dinner. I was quite surprised of the retail price as it was there at £11 (no special promotions). Let’s explore what’s the trick here. First of all, as you can expect from Priorat, it…
Tsantali 2011, Cabernet Sauvignon, Greece
The full name of the wine is Organiki Tsantali, Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, Greece and I sourced it from Waitrose. The label says it all – it is organic, Greek and made from Cabernet Sauvignon (which is somewhat unusual as they normally prefer to work with the local varieties). The flavours are recognisable and full of black fruit, hints…
Thirsty Earth 2012, Organic Primitivo, Puglia
This interestingly named wine, Thirsty Earth, is organic and made from Primitivo grapes in IGT Puglia. It is anothr organic find for me in Ocado, so let’s try. It has some bold black cheery flavours, woody vanilla undertones and hints of violets. It is amazing how good these flavours are expressing themselves – the wine comes from…
Challenge yourself for two days a week!
Do not blame the authorities placing some strict rules on alcohol consumption: units and other guidelines, they should be treated as an advice. Yet different countries have slightly varying set of limits, be it daily 3 units, or not exceeding 28 units a week. However everyone agrees that you should have at least 1-2 alcohol…
Pure Cabernet Franc 2012 Organic, Domaine Brau
Another good organic wine find this month was Pure Cabernet Franc, made by Domaine Brau in Pays d’Oc, France. It is slightly aged wine of 2012 vintage and made exclusively from organic Cabernet Franc grapes. I must add a word about he grape and the region – first of all, there aren’t many examples of…
Fishy suppers and a good British white
A part of my New Year resolution, which was to follow my GP advice and eat less red meat, I have started to discover how joyful and light at the same time can be cooking some fish for dinner. This option will be my healthy food wine pairing, or several of them. Let’s start with…
Have you discovered the elegance of Priorat?
Attending wine events and masterclasses is a true entertainment for a wine enthusiast, don’t you think? It has been my first Decanter masterclass, mainly because I always thought it could be slightly on the snobby side. Well, the Landmark Hotel in London only proves that point, yet the rest was quite casual and warm. I…
Blau 2012, Montsant
Blau 2012 is coming from Montsant region, which is adjacent to Priorat, but doesn’t have their remarkable slate soils, and also the price tag. Yet all and all, the wines could be compared to the more prominent brother, and they normally offer a very intriguing complexity. This wine comes with the typical alcoholic strength of 14% and…
Ayers de Escal Priorat 2008
Ayers de Escal 2008 comes from one of my favourite Spanish regions of Priorat. I had been shopping in Clapham and decided to try Oddbins, whether they had something to match with my upcoming venison feast. So I bought this Priorat (there were just two different ones) for £12, which is quite cheap for good…
Art 2010, Bodegas Luna Beberide, Bierzo
Art 2010 made by Bodegas Luna Beberide comes from DO Bierzo in Spain and even though I have mentioned about it before, I would like to re-instate the overall growing reputation of this Spanish region, which produces intensely fruity wines full of elegant peppery spices and herbal notes. This Bierzo wine has spicy cherries when you…
El Chaparral Navarra 2011, Bodegas Nekeas
El Chaparral 2011 from Navarra is produced by Bodegas Nekeas and is an estate bottled wine. I feel more attracted to estate bottled wines, because they were made by proud winemakers, who showcase how a single estate can produce grapes, do magnificent work with them (winemaking) and then should it be required, mature the wine. That…
Les Jamelles 2013, Syrah, Pays d’Oc
Les Jamelles wine is made from Syrah grape from a French region normally associated with the bulk production, Pays d’Oc. It was a last minute purchase at ‘Co-Op’ – so frankly speaking, no major expectations at all. Yet let’s see what this bottle offers. For the budget wine it offers a good and straightforward nose of…
Spartico Organic NSA Tempranillo 2014
Spartico is a NSA wine (that is for no sulphites added!). It is also organic and gluten free wine that made last year (2014) just nearby Valencia. It is deep purple in colour – just to reassure us of its young age (no age at all now!) Wonderful and pure organic Tempranillo gives this juicy…
One 2009, Ribera Del Duero
One 2009 from Ribera Del Duero was a recommendation from Oddbins. I have a nice corner shop in Clapham and I was pleasantly surprised how passionate and somewhat knowledgeable was the sales adviser. This was a Ribera del Duero for only 11 pounds, yet it offered a punch of a premium one. Let’s go on talking flavours here. Dark…
Las Uvas de la Ira 2012, Mentrida
This one has an amazingly long name. Starting with Las Uvas de la Ira, it is made at Vino del Pueblo in the Spanish DO Mentrida. Vintage is 2012 and is made of 100% Garnacha. Ok, not too bad of a name then, but this label is full of information, which could be really confusing…
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