Uncorked: Under this heading, we collect various wines that we have tasted, and liked, recently. It can be wines that we have had during dinner at home, at wine tastings, press lunches, visits to vineyards, or other occasions.
We describe the wines just with a few short sentences, tasting notes that we hope will give you a short but accurate impression of what we thought of the wine, without delving into finer points tasting notes.
Some inspiration for more wine discoveries! As well as a perspective on what to expect from older wines.
This month:
Delicious and rare wines from South Africa and Argentina. Prestige wine from Moldova, a lovely 15-year-old Cornas, a surprise from Australia, a rare 100 % petit verdot. And also tannat, Douro Valley, Etna and some more. And even a grape I had never tasted before.
Want more inspiration? Read more about what we have tasted, often unusual and always interesting in all Uncorked back issues. Click the link to read more!
White wines
Lammershoek’s White Mysteries 2017, Lammershoek, Swartland, South Africa
A blend of chardonnay, viognier and chenin blanc makes here an agreeable wine. Easy drinking and refreshing with some citrus, stone fruits and pineapple on the nose and palate. Lammershoek is a high-quality producer from interesting Swartland in South Africa. ZAR 170 (~ 9 euros)
Thelema Sutherland Chardonnay 2008, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Deliciously ripe chardonnay in classic style. Completely dry, good body, balanced oak. From Thelema, a respected producer in Stellenbosch. Purchased in wine shop in Franschhoek for not more than 10 euros.
Vivera Salisire Contrada Martinella 2013, Etna Bianco DOP, Sicily, Italy
An organic wine made from the grape carricante. A bit discreet on the nose but fine texture on the palate and some soft honey notes in the finish. A highly drinkable wine but maybe not worth the 20 euros we paid for it.
Finca Suarez Semillon 2019, Paraje Altamira, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Pleasant and easy drinking wine. Quite full-bodied with hints of honey and yellow stone fruits. Good freshness. Altaminra is known for its limestone soils. From high quality producer Finca Suarez.
Pireko Pedro Gimenez 2017, Mendoza, Argentina
Interesting wine from the criolla grape pedro gimenez. A wine full of freshness and with some austerity in the finish. Pireko means “water from the melting snow of the Andes”.
Red wines
Cancha Alegre, Cauquenes Garnacha 2015, Maule, Chile
Pleasant wine in the light and juicy style, made from grenache. Full of fruit and red berry flavours with some elegance and a good length. Dry-farmed vineyards.
13 Clés 2018, Las Historias se Hicieron Vinos, Bodega Calle B, Valle de Uco, Mendoza, Argentina
Well-made wine in the classic style. The grapes are malbec, garnacha (grenache) and mourvèdre. Good balance between acidy, tannins, body and oak. Has spent 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Small production, only 900 bottles. ~ 18 euros
Proemio Reserve 2015, Single Vineyard Syrah Garnacha, Mendoza, Argentina
A charming wine with a light, fruity character. The oak is balanced. A fresh acidity and a lively vitality make for pleasurable drinking. Aged for 12 months on French barrels. ~ 9 euros
Petit Verdot 2015, My Wyn, Franschhoek, South Africa
The production of this exciting wine from petit verdot is minimal, only 3 barrels. 3 months of skin contact in open barriques and then 24 months of ageing. The acidity is very high. This is one of the characteristics of the grape. Delicious, dark fruit. There is a bit of a Bordeaux feeling to it, of leather and mushroom cellar. The oak is evident but the balance is good. Very nice wine for only ~ 10 euros. Purchased in a very good wine shop in Franschhoek.
Bouscassé Menhir 2006, Alain Brumont, IGP Côtes de Gascogne
This is tannat growing in rocky soil in combination with merlot growing in clay soil. Good ripeness. Aromas of plums and quite a lot of oak. However, good balance between the various components.
Kaapzicht Pinotage 2018, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Very pleasant wine, quite soft, with delicious, dark berries. The wine is elegant with floral, perfumed flavours. Long finish. Kaapzicht is an exciting producer not only for pinotage.
Negru de Purcari 2016, Stefan Voda, Moldova
This is the prestige wine from Purcari, one of Moldova’s most famous producers. The grapes are cabernet sauvignon, saperavi and a small splash of rare neagra. Full-bodied, powerful but with some elegance. Flavours of dark berries and some spices. Maybe a bit too much oak though.
Seppeltsfield Barossa Shiraz 2017, Australia
Very enjoyable and not so “typical” powerful Australian but surprisingly elegant, fruity and balanced (~15 euro).
Pedro Milanos Limited 2016, Quinta Senhora da Graça, DOC Douro, Portugal
Winemaker Vasco Valente Lopes at the small Quinta Sra da Graça in the Douro Valley make only 100 bottles of this prestige cuvée. This was bottle number 041. The grapes are the traditional ones in Douro, touriga nacional, touriga franca, tinta amarela and tinta roriz. Delicious wine with a Portuguese feeling to it, with good structure, quite a lot of tannins and dark fruit.
Jean-Luc Colombo Louvée 2005, Cornas, Rhône Valley, France
This feels very much like typical syrah from the Rhône Valley. Spicy with dark fruit, some tannin and good acidity which gives structure. This is a 15-year-old wine so you feel the ripeness but nevertheless it has a very youthful and juicy fruit. A splendid wine that we thoroughly enjoyed.
Want more inspiration? Read more about what we have tasted, often unusual and always interesting in all Uncorked back issues. Click the link to read more!
