Somerfield Christmas '06 Wine Selection

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Somerfield Christmas '06 Wine Selection

From: Mark
Category: Wine
Date: 19/11/2006
Time: 19:09:01

Comments

Whilst I would not recommend doing all my wine shopping at Somerfield I know of least one friend whose nearest store is 7 miles away. The next nearest store (which would be a Tesco) is 12 miles away. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. If you are in need of victuals during the Christmas period and your options are limited (to a Somerfield) then fear not, here are some decent wines that will hold you in good stead.

WHITE

Charles Back Chenin Blanc Viognier 2005, Paarl, South Africa £7.99
A qwerky blend of Chenin and Viognier make for an interesting wine with a little class. Floral overtones with apples and peaches. Good acidity and length.

Leasingham Clare Valley Magnus Riesling 2004, Australia £7.40
Cool climate, dry, classy Riesling full of lime and touches of kerosene. Quite reserved in many ways but has concentration and will age very, very well.

Winter Hill Grande Reserve Chardonnay 2005 Vin de Pays d'Oc, Languedoc-Roussillon, France £5.98
I was quite surprised by this wine. It gave off some classy winemaking. Honey, straw, brioche and grilled nuts meshed with both warm climate flavours of tropical yellow fruits and some cooler pear and gala melon flavours. Creamy, smooth, balanced finish. Not bad.

Blason de Bourgogne Chablis 2005 £8.00
This is from the ripe 2005 vintage. A good, basic Chablis of average to above average quality.

RED

Louis Jadot Combe aux Jacques 2005 £6.98
I love the lip-smacking raspberry and banana fruit of a good Beaujolais. At its best it is like a pretty girl frowning. This is from the super-ripe 2005 vintage so it demonstrates very deep colour, great depth and richness but with an amazing purity of raspberry fruit. A wonderful example from a top Burgundian negociant.

Zonte's Footstep Shiraz Viognier 2005, Australia £7.99
Drongoland is now getting more sophisticated with its treatment of wine. Blending is something they have always been OK at but it has been single varietal wines that has been their main strength. Whilst good examples of Semillon-Chardonnay and Shiraz-Cabernet have been around for years they have now picked up on the old European habit of blending a little aromatic white wine in with a red wine (like they have been doing with Cote-Rotie in the Northern Rhone for decades). These new Shiraz-Viognier wines are scooping up the major Shiraz trophies in competitions all across the Outback and this is no exception. The Viognier (a peachy, candy floss flavour wine) gives the Shiraz an aromatic boost and balance, matching the juicy, spicy character of this grape.

Ravenswood Vintners Blend Zinfandel 2004 California £6.98
Zinfandel (other than super premium, old vine) often does not float my boat. Usually sweet red and blueberry fruits, sometimes lending to jamminess and high levels of alcohol. This is no exception. However I know some people find Zin amazing. If you want a well-made, if increasingly inconsistent, Zinfandel that is up-front and easy to drink that does not fall wholey into the cheap plonk category (yet) then go for this one.

SPARKLING

Piper Heidsieck Brut NV £20
If you want to drink some of the best NV Champagne then make a bee-line for the earthy, creamy, nutty, toasty Pinot-dominated wine from Piper H. Classy stuff and now truly back on form.