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August 2005Previous months' recommendations:
| June 2004 | July
2004 | August 2004 | September
2004 | October 2004 | November
2004 | December 2004 | January
2005 | February 2005 | March
2005 | April/May 2005 | June
2005
My rating
system explained. Use www.wine-searcher.com
to locate a stockist in your area and my directory
of UK wine merchants for details of those listed here. See also: the wineanorak's
shopping list - recommended wines from each of the main UK retail
outlets. These recommendations are truly independent: I don't accept
payment or other favours for inclusions, nor do I sell wine.
Stonecroft Syrah 2002 Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
We begin with two crackers from Hawkes Bay. This first wine, from Alan
Limmer’s Stonecroft is dark coloured. It has a tight, intense dark
fruits nose with some freshness and spicy, tarry notes in the
background.There’s a hint of minerality, too. The palate shows wonderful
acidity providing a savoury, tarry minerality to the dark fruits. A pretty
serious effort with the bright dark fruits emphasized by the acidity. A
really good food wine, and possibly one for the future. Very
good/excellent 92/100 (£14.99 Oddbins)
Redmetal Vineyards Basket Press Merlot/Cabernet
Franc 2002 Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
This ultra-elegant red has a smooth, supple nose of berry fruits,
together with a subtle herbiness. The palate is smooth with noticeable but
well integrated oak and very soft tannins. There’s some complexity, but
the big draw here is the elegant, supple fruit. Very good/excellent 92/100
(Hellion Wines, www.hellionwines.co.uk)
Muddy Water James Hardwick Riesling 2004 New Zealand
A third New Zealand pick, this has a lovely, piercingly fresh nose
that’s limey and open. The crisp, well defined palate is quite minerally
and has lots of freshness and plenty of complexity. There’s just a hint
of richness, which is the only indicator of the 13 g/litre residual sugar.
I guess the high acid counters this out, because it feels very dry. Very
good/excellent 91/100 (Corney & Barrow £11.75)
Saintsbury
Garnet Pinot Noir 2003 Carneros, California, USA
A brilliant, accessible Pinot with real character. Forward nose of
sweet cherry and red fruits with a lifted, spicy, savoury edge. The palate
has a nice balance between the sweet cherryish fruit and the spicy,
slightly tarry savouriness. Good structure; rich but well balanced. Very
good/excellent 91/100 (£10.99 Majestic)
Colombelle
Vin de Pays des Côtes de Gascogne 2004 France
France is back. Attractively packaged, this screwcapped white is
fresh, grassy and fruity with vibrant fruit and good acidity. It’s a bit
like a streetwise Sauvignon: brilliantly fresh. Very good+ 87/100 (£4.99
Oddbins)
Ramos
Pinto Duas Quintas 2002 Douro, Portugal
Not a great vintage in the Douro, but this is a really nice wine. It
shows restrained red berry and black fruits with a savoury structure, and
quite elegant spicy tannins. There’s a hint of earthiness, too. Drying
finish, but a lovely fruit profile. A good, spicy, earthy, authentic Douro
red. Very good+ 88/100 (£6.99 Majestic)
El
Burro Kick Ass Garnacha 2004 Campo de Borja, Spain
Two serious bargains from Sainsbury follow. Despite the name, this is
a lovely, fairly serious Grenache, with bright, sweet, pure raspberryish
fruit, lovely acidity and fine, spicy tannins. The sweet rich fruit has a
lovely freshness from the acidity, which in large part explains what makes
this wine so compelling. Very good+ 89/100 (£7.99 Sainsbury, but on offer
at £4.99 from 17 August until 13 September 2005)
Caracol
Serrano Jumilla 2004 Spain
This is a blend of Monastrell, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. It shows
really nice, pure summer fruits with a nice savoury, spicy structure
acting as a foil to the sweet fruit. Exuberant fruit coupled with
spiciness provides the interest. Very good+ 86/100 (£6.99 Sainsbury, but
on offer at £3.99 until 13 September – a serious bargain)
E-mail me with your recommendations or suggestions
at jamie@wineanorak.co.uk
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