Morrison's Christmas '06 Wine Selection

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Morrison's Christmas '06 Wine Selection

From: Mark
Category: Wine
Date: 03/12/2006
Time: 08:01:58

Comments

Not much to say about Morrisons. 500 wines and fewer recommendations than most other outlets. Maybe I need to go back and revisit their range and give the benefit of the doubt. In the meantime here are just six wines I would recommend from their range.

Equality by Las Lomas ‘Fairtrade’ Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 Maule Valley, Chile £5.50
A fairly priced, good example of the quality that Chile can get out of their Cabernets. This dark, inky, youthful creation has well judged oak with some structure but mainly easy-drinking and ripe.

Jim Barry Cover Drive Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra & Clare Valley, 2004, Australia £8.99
A step up in interest and quality is wine from the southern boundary of Coonawarra. "On the southern boundary of Coonawarra is the old Penola cricket ground, which first saw a match taking place in 1950. Sadly the ground closed in 1996 but soon after, Jim Barry purchased the 30 acre property and planted a Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard. The original pavilion and pitch have been retained, thus preserving an important piece of Coonawarra sporting history. Fruit from this vineyard, along with selected parcels of fruit from the family owned Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards in the Clare Valley have been blended to produce this wine." This is just the wine to watch the Ashes! Rich, accessible, dark, with sweet blackberry and blackcurrant with well judged sweet oak vanillins and tannic structure.

Viña Cono Sur 20 Barrels Chardonnay 2004, Casablanca, Chile, £12.99
Yup, its expensive, rather like its brother below. But this new wine is made just from 20 Barrels - so pretty rare stuff (if you can get your hands on it that is!). The wine itself if s rich golden straw colour with concentrated lemon fruit, roasted hazelnut, blanched almond, honey and biscuity notes. Concentrated, individual and memorable.

Viña Cono Sur 20 Barrels Pinot Noir 2004 Casablanca Valley, Chile £14.99
A strong signal to the Kiwis that they have a fight on their hands on who is the New World King of Pinot. This summer fruit - raspberry, strawberry, cherry, spicy, perfumed, luxurious, seductive, oaky, concentrated creation needs a little more time (maybe as much as another 2/3 years). But it really is pretty fantastic stuff - even now. Yup....i'll have another bottle please!

Harvey River Bridge Estate Buckingham Estate Reserve Shiraz 2005 Western Australia, Australia £7.99
Okay...something slightly cheaper! Elegant shiraz is making big inroads in Western Australia. A place that is defining Australia for its cooler-flavoured, more elegant Cabernets. This is still big, okay but has acidity, and complexity to balance its 'size'. Kind of a sumo in ballet shoes.

Hardys Oomoo Shiraz 2004 McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia £7.99
Some of the best Shiraz comes from the McLaren vale. Solid, dark, minty. This is a well-priced and unusually named one from the big house that is Hardy. Interesting, young, expert oaking.....spicy, good, dark-red fruits and some bramble fruits. Very drinkable.