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Marks & Spencer Baglio Nero D’Avola 2008

September 19, 2011
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This could be the first Italian wine I’ve been genuinely impressed by. Sure, I’ve been mellowing in my long-standing prejudices toward what is – or was, last time I checked – the world’s number one producer of wine by volume, but generally the wines I’ve not hated have been “interesting” or “palatable” or “well-suited to [...]

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Cannonau di Sardegna, Nepente di Oliena

September 16, 2011
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Cannonna di Sardegna comes from the Italian island of Sardinia but it’s better known by it’s French name Grenache. The vine is widely planted on the eastern side of the island and is cultivated in bush vines. Sardinia is not a major Italian wine producer but recently some producers have begun to make some seriously [...]

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Herringbone Hills Marlborough Pinot Noir 2008

September 15, 2011
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By now I need no convincing that New Zealand – or indeed, Marlborough, specifically – makes some of the best Pinot Noir, and therefore by my reckoning, some of the best wines, in the world. And so every time I now try a wine of that type from this region it’s almost a slightly nervy [...]

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Scotto Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2008

September 12, 2011
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If one was to vastly simplify the wine production of Americans for a non-wine-savvy friend, it might go something like the following: It’s all made in California. Their whites are mainly dull, but they do a good, buttery Chardonnay. Their reds are overly fruity and unsubtle. The pricier produce does best when it imitates French wine styles. [...]

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2009 Bella Riva Sangiovese/Merlot

September 9, 2011
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Bella Riva is Italian for “beautiful riverbank” according to the winery website and seeing as the vines are situated overlooking the King River in the King Valley of the state of Victoria in Australia. Bella Riva is part of one of the big players in Australian wine, the De Bortoli winery. De Bortoli makes a [...]

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Cotes du Roussillon Villages, Les Vignes de Bila-Haut 2009, M. Chapoutier

September 5, 2011
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Along with parts of Provence, the Roussillon region is said to have the oldest cultivated vineyards in France, dating back to 500 BC. While wine producer M.Chapoutier hasn’t quite been there that long, on the evidence of this bottle he’s certainly made the most of the Mediterranean climate and diverse soils that characterise this part [...]

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Spice Route Mourvèdre 2008

September 1, 2011
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In terms of simplicity and effectiveness of design, I think this South African red is up there with the best wines I’ve seen. Look at that label. What a colour! Amateur detective work on my part identifies it as #CC5E45, a by-no-means-famous middle-ground between Dark Orange, a shade of Coral, and possibly (raw) Salmon. Call [...]

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Willow Bridge Estate Black Dog Shiraz 2008

August 30, 2011
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Australia is constantly surprising me nowadays. First it was Mac Forbes’ Syrah and now I have been introduced to a new wine region of SW Western Australia, the Ferguson Valley. The Ferguson Valley is located between Perth and the renowned wine region, Margaret River Valley.  It’s here where you will find Willow Bridge Estate. The [...]

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Porcupine Ridge Syrah Viognier 2009

August 24, 2011
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Continuing with my animal-on-the-label-theme here, you wouldn’t expect to choose a Porcupine as the most endearing or glamorous animal to represent a bottle of wine. It seems as if everyone is getting in on the act though and the more exotic the animal on the label the better the chances of someone saying “Ooh, look, [...]

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Hand of God Wine (Yes, it’s From Argentina)

August 22, 2011
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Not being a football fan but having lived in England for a number of years now, I am vaguely familiar with the phrase “hand of God”. When I spotted a bottle of the Hand of God red wine at the recent American winebloggers conference in Virginia, it definitely caught my attention. It also helped that [...]

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Michel Torino Colección Pinot Noir 2009

August 11, 2011
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I don’t readily associate Argentina with Pinot Noir, although it’s a big enough country that they can probably grow what they like there, from cacti to… erm… Antarctic pearlwort. (Yes, I did look that up.) Much more closely associated are the full-bodied likes of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, even Merlot, I imagine, although in the [...]

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