Wine of the Month
We look at alot of wines each month and we thought we’d give our guests and easier way to make their choice. Our Wine of the Month section will provide wines we think are worth trying, and give you a heads up.
Wine of the Month - Sparkling Wine
One of the Wine Blokes was visiting some friends in the UK a while ago and was having a look around Dartmouth. He and his partner were on a river cruise and as they came around the bend they noticed a vineyard on the hill. Not so suprising maybe, but he had never tried UK wines before. The next day they visited the cellar door and were blown away with the quality of the wines, especially the Sparkling wines.
So this months Sparkling Wine of the Month is from the UK.
South Ridge Cuvee Merret 2005
Brought to you by Laithwaites:
South Ridge Cuvee Merret 2005 comes from the estate that won the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s World Wide Trophy for Best Sparkling Wine. Owner Mike Roberts is officially the ”King of Fizz”! Even Her Majesty popped open a few bottles at her 80th birthday bash in London - preferred choice, not patriotic duty! Everyone wants this wine - including the French. Several big Champagne houses have made overtures to buy the estate. As Oz Clarke says ”British fizz is the closest thing there is to Champagne” - indeed the South Downs boasts the same combination of chalk and clay as Champagne! Lovely light gold, with a very fine mousse - always a sign of quality fizz - and an elegant, creamy character. Brimful of delicious melon and honey flavours the finish is soft and full. Delicious on its own and with canapes.
South Ridge Cuvee Merret 2005 is available from Laithwaites
Price - £17.39
Click here to order South Ridge Cuvee Merret 2005 online now - direct from Laithwaites
Your Ratings
If you have drunk this wine, feel free to use the ratings below to rate it.
(3 votes, average: 9.33 out of 10)
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10 stars is Excellent (the best wine you’re ever likely to drink) - 1 star is awful - marks out of ten - easy!
Feel free to add your reviews and comments below too - simply leave a reply about South Ridge Cuvee Merret 2005 & help others find the best wines available online.
Wine of the Month - Red Wine
In 2007 we spent 3 months travelling around Africa. Of course we all know that South Africa produces some nice wines from the Cape and a few other regions. But, we could not believe how many vineyards there are all over the continent, in some very weird and wonderful places. Driving around Jo’Burg, which is quite inhospitable for the grapevine, we saw a small vineyard being tendered by the local township, and in Mozambique, a guy selling local wine from the side of the road.
In any case, we thought we would select this months Red Wine of The Month from a very good South African producer from the Cape who do some of the best reds in the country. Check out this wine. It’s full of depth and substance, with upfront fruit, but with structure.
Groenendal Vineyards Merlot 2006
Brought to you by Laithwaites:
This lusciously powerful, plum-laden Merlot comes from a premium Cape producer and one of the first farms to be establishe din the Wellington region some 300 years ago. A dash of Cabernet Franc adds an extra dimension of crisp, crunchy fruit too. It really does shows just how good South African reds can be! ”Blackcurrant, berries, plum, tobacco leaf and spicy aromas. Soft on the palate with some lively fruit. Ripe, subtle tannins. Long lingering aftertaste with a meaty structure” notes our buyer.
Groenendal Vineyards Merlot 2006 is available from Laithwaites
Price - £7.15
Click here to order Groenendal Vineyards Merlot 2006 online now - direct from Laithwaites
Your Ratings
If you have drunk this wine, feel free to use the ratings below to rate it.
(3 votes, average: 9.33 out of 10)
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10 stars is Excellent (the best wine you’re ever likely to drink) - 1 star is awful - marks out of ten - easy!
Feel free to add your reviews and comments below too - simply leave a reply about Groenendal Vineyards Merlot 2006 & help others find the best wines available online.
Wine of the Month - White Wine
Much of the wine world is consumed at the moment by Pinot Grigio (Pinot Gris). In Australia especially it has become the new grape variety in fashion, much like the wave of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. We’ve tasted loads of Pinot Grigio over the last 12 months and have seen good and not so good, but for our money, the rest of the workd can’t really hold a candle to the Italians, just yet. The elegance they obtain but with extraordinary intensity (in the best examples) is superior. There is no better example than the 2005 Vina Baccana Pinot Grigio.
Vina Baccana Pinot Grigio 2005
Brought to you by Laithwaites:
‘Air conditioned’ is how locals describe Italy’s Grave del Friuli - that acclaimed white wine region in the very north east of the country where the Alps and Adriatic create a cool climate ideal for zippy, fresh Pinot Grigio like this. Made from specially selected fruit from prime quality, superior hillside vineyards in Collio and Collio Oriental del Friuli, it has a fabulous intensity not found in lesser examples of Pinot Grigio - currently the must-have grape of the moment. Pale straw in colour and almost Chablis-like in style. Lovely floral bouquet redolent with hints of apple, peach and pear. Crisp, steely fresh and very elegant. Easy quaffing but brimful of style.
Vina Baccana Pinot Grigio 2005 is available from Laithwaites
Price - £7.79
Click here to order Vina Baccana Pinot Grigio 2005 online now - direct from Laithwaites
Your Ratings
If you have drunk this wine, feel free to use the ratings below to rate it.
(3 votes, average: 9.33 out of 10)
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10 stars is Excellent (the best wine you’re ever likely to drink) - 1 star is awful - marks out of ten - easy!
Feel free to add your reviews and comments below too - simply leave a reply about Vina Baccana Pinot Grigio 2005 & help others find the best wines available online.
Value Wine of the Month
It’s getting harder and harder to find good value wines under £5.00. Once upon a time you could find a plethora of wines, especially aussie wines for great prices, but times do change. So to ensure you’re still getting value for money, wines to be considered Value Wine of the Month need to be priced un £7.00. Talking to many winemakers, it’s pretty hard to be below this price point and deliver.
This months value wine of the month (£6.19) is the infamous Rusty Goat, which is becoming more famous by the day. It’s a true story of how a great name, great story, and great wine combine to be a hit. Check it out, because we tried it blind and all of us valued it at between £10 and £12.
Rusty Goat Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Brought to you by Laithwaites:
If you’ve ever been to the Australian outback, you’ll know about that famous red soil (if not, think Ayers Rock and you’ll be on the right track). And if you’ve driven around the tiny county of Warburn you may have seen the odd sight of hundreds of rusty-looking goats - their coats tinted by the red dust. Antonio Sergi, Warburn Estate’s lead man, is also owner of the goats … hence his affection for the name! The rich, red soil does have more important uses too - helping deliver outstanding Merlot and Cabernet grapes. Wine lovers the world over know of South Australia’s legendary ‘terra rosa’ soil that produces such superb wines in the Coonawarra. In New South Wales, near Warburn Estate, the soil is very similar giving the vines the great drainage they need. Left on the vine longer to achieve maximum ripeness, this soft, silky wine is filled with aromas of red fruits, plums with a hint of oak. Lovely fruity flavours of redcurrant and plum with a touch of spice. Perfect for barbeque or Italian food.
Rusty Goat Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 is available from Laithwaites
Price - £6.19
Click here to order Rusty Goat Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 online now - direct from Laithwaites
Your Ratings
If you have drunk this wine, feel free to use the ratings below to rate it.
(3 votes, average: 9.33 out of 10)
Loading …
10 stars is Excellent (the best wine you’re ever likely to drink) - 1 star is awful - marks out of ten - easy!
Feel free to add your reviews and comments below too - simply leave a reply about Rusty Goat Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 & help others find the best wines available online.