Wine Journal

Source-based profile: dark and rich Southern Rhône character with garrigue, warm spice, soft tannins, fresh red-berry fruit, ripe red fruit, plum, liquorice and pepper. Personal tasting on 2 October 2026 in Gravesend: really liked it and considered the Vacqueyras a success. No detailed personal aroma/flavour breakdown was recorded, so the source-based descriptors remain clearly separate from the personal verdict.

Vacqueyras was a success — really liked it. It reinforces the very positive Southern Rhône experience across Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Lirac and Cairanne. These appellations are now a strong personal fit, but price remains important because they can become expensive; keep attractive-value bottles and deals on the shortlist.

Producer profile: blackcurrant, redcurrant, raspberry, pepper and cocoa with age; velvety and balanced. Personal tasting on 1 October 2026: really good, fresh, savoury and structured, with no obvious oak character. Enjoyed the Southern Rhône freshness, spice and savoury character.

Personally tasted and finished on 1 October 2026 in Gravesend. Really good and enjoyable, but clearly below the Gigondas in depth, power and overall impact. Definite buy again, especially at a good price. Confirms that Lirac is an appealing fresher Southern Rhône style for me.

Ripe blackberry, black cherry and dark plum with peppery spice, garrigue/dried herbs and a subtle chocolate note. Full-bodied, juicy and balanced, with ripe medium-plus tannins and a savoury finish.

Premium-quality Gigondas on the evidence: the exact 2022 won 97 points and Best in Show at DWWA 2024. Personal tasting also strongly positive — lovely, really good and a definite rebuy — although £18 was still not considered a good price.

Personal tasting 3 Oct 2026: distinctly savoury, very good aroma, dark fruit, good acidity, medium-bodied and easy to drink. 12.5% ABV feels well integrated. Dry rather than sweet; user felt a touch more sweetness might have rounded the balance slightly.

Personal verdict 3 Oct 2026: really liked it. Savoury character was the pleasant surprise. Decent, reliable Douro and would buy again, especially around £10; user now considers £10 very good value.

Personal feedback from Smith, reported 29 September 2026: nice wine; needs decanting; by the end it was really good. Bottle confirmed finished; exact finishing date and decanting duration not supplied. Published style description, not Smith's own detailed sensory notes: bramble fruit and ripe berries, warm spice, dark-chocolate/oak notes, medium-full body and fine structured tannins.

Positive personal result: Smith said it was a nice wine and really good by the end after decanting. Finished, confirmed 29 September 2026. Buy-again decision and actual paid price were not supplied.

Reineta apple, citrus and apricot with subtle toasted lees notes. Medium-bodied and rounded, with saline minerality, contained acidity and an unctuous texture from six months on fine lees.

Good-quality estate Albariño with useful extra texture from six months on fine lees. The £12 offer looks attractive for the style, but without an exact-vintage independent score it should not be promoted to Very Good purely on producer description or an older Bronze medal.

Fine persistent mousse; pear and peach with lively Chenin freshness, floral Chardonnay notes and a rounded mid-palate. Elegant, fresh-fruited finish.

Good-quality Crémant de Loire with very good value at the £10.25 offer price. Fine mousse, fresh orchard fruit and traditional-method character; value is stronger than the independent score level itself.

Finished 23 Sep 2026.

Good value and worth considering again on offer. In a direct comparison that week, the Cellier des Dauphins Cairanne 2021 was preferred.

Golden colour with floral and fruity aromas; peach, apple and citrus with toasted/brioche notes, fine bubbles, generous texture and a lingering finish.

Very Good value at the £11.50 offer price. A credible traditional-method Crémant with genuine lees ageing and more complexity than basic sparkling wine.

Small black fruits, black pepper and a light smoky note; supple attack, velvety fruit, present tannins and fresh length. Finished 26 Sep 2026. Personal comparison: preferred this Cellier des Dauphins Cairanne 2021 to the Réserve des Hospitaliers Cairanne 2025 drunk earlier the same week.

Good-value Cairanne Cru with proper Southern Rhône structure and spice. Personal verdict: preferred this to the Réserve des Hospitaliers Cairanne 2025 tasted earlier the same week. Stronger personal fit and the preferred of the two Cairanne bottles.

Lime, grapefruit, fresh herbs, tropical fruit, blackcurrant bud, passion fruit, kiwi and fresh grass. Juicy palate with lively acidity, citrus and spice; refreshing finish with good length.

Good-quality, strong-value everyday Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Exact 2025 has a credible 90-point Falstaff score; at £8 it is especially good value, while remaining the standard regional bottling rather than a higher-tier Yealands cuvée.

Opened 22 Sep 2026 and finished 22 Sep 2026. Really enjoyable and very good overall; an approachable, satisfying Mendoza Malbec that the user clearly liked.

Really liked it; very good wine and a bottle worth remembering. A strong benchmark for Catena's standard Malbec. The higher-tier Catena Alta Historic Rows Malbec 2022 and Catena Zapata Angélica Zapata Malbec Alta 2021 remain in the cellar for a future comparison, expected to offer a more structured and different experience.

Opened 18 Sep 2026. Fresh and very fruity, with good acidity and very soft tannins. Youthful, light-to-medium structure and easy to drink. Reminded us somewhat of Fleurie in its freshness, fruit and gentle tannin profile.

Good and enjoyable, but not a first-choice Mencía style. Preference is clearly for more structured old-vine Mencía with some oak ageing, lively acidity and soft but clearly present tannins. Ultreia Saint Jacques, Paluezas and Pétalos are closer to the preferred profile.

Iris and peony florals over crushed berries, Morello cherry and strawberry; ripe tannins, fresh acidity and an elegant finish. Personal verdict: decent and enjoyable, but price-sensitive rather than a must-buy.

Good, elegant Fleurie with genuine old-vine and cru-vineyard credentials. Personal value verdict: buy again only at a genuinely good promotional price; at a similar price Johann Wolf German Pinot Noir is preferred.

Source-based profile; personal tasting pending: mulberry, plum, blackberry and lingonberry with violets, herbs, cinnamon/spice, graphite and cocoa. Juicy and medium-bodied with bright acidity, fine/chalky tannins and good length. Exact-2024 critic coverage supports this profile.

One of the strongest unopened exploration bottles in the cellar: serious Priorat pedigree, exact 90+ critic support and a fresher 2024 profile. Personal tasting pending.

Finished 17 Sep 2026. Personal verdict: really enjoyed it. Mencía is clearly a strong personal fit. Pittacum had more structure and oak than some fresher Mencía styles, but still kept the red-fruit freshness and acidity that make the grape appealing.

Would definitely buy again. Very good Mencía and a strong personal fit. Not at the same level as favourites such as Pétalos and the other standout Mencías tried in Spain, but still a wine I liked a lot. UK availability and pricing are the main drawbacks rather than the wine itself.

Source-based profile; personal tasting pending: dark colour from Tintorera, ripe red fruit, mineral and toasted notes, Mediterranean spice, broad/intense palate, fresh balanced acidity and a persistent finish. Exact-2022 merchant sources describe Mencía plus Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) with about 12 months in French oak.

Very promising Bierzo exploration bottle: darker and more structured than pure-Mencía benchmarks, with strong producer pedigree. Personal tasting pending.

Opened and finished at dinner in Madrid on 11 Sep 2026. Personal memory is limited because several drinks were consumed that evening, so no detailed tasting descriptors are claimed. Personal verdict: liked it / passed — positive overall. Expected profile from producer and specialist notes: ripe red and black fruit, cherry/plum, liquorice, vanilla, toasted/roasted oak, spice and a fleshy palate with balancing acidity and present tannin.

Liked it — passed; positive overall, but detailed personal tasting notes not reliable from that evening.

Opened in Madrid on 1 Sep 2026. Personal preference clarified on 18 Sep 2026: liked this more than the lighter Maruxa style. The old-vine character, some oak, acidity, greater structure and more noticeable but still soft tannins fit the preferred Mencía profile.

Preferred Mencía style — old-vine fruit, some oak influence, lively acidity, more structure and soft but clearly present tannins. Ranked personally above lighter, fruit-forward Mencía such as Maruxa.

Tasted at Parada Torres in Mercat de Santa Caterina, Barcelona, on 7 Sep 2026, after visiting Palau de la Música Catalana and the market. Personal verdict: loved it.

Loved it — strong positive

Purchased in Barcelona on 7 September 2026 and opened on 10 September 2026. Earlier tasting notes were still in progress. The linked Wine Cellar record now records this bottle as Finished; the exact finishing date and final personal verdict are not recorded.

Research assessment: concentrated berries, spice, liquorice and mineral/slate character with rounded tannins and a persistent finish. The linked cellar bottle is recorded as Finished. A final direct personal tasting verdict remains unrecorded; do not interpret the historical 'tasting in progress' note as the current bottle status.

Tasted by the glass at Palau de la Música Catalana, Barcelona, on 7 Sep 2026. Personal verdict: loved it.

Loved it — strong positive

Bought in Aldi Barcelona on 6 Sep 2026 and finished. This is the bottle the user had actually finished; previous status attribution to Fuentespina was corrected on 7 Sep 2026.

Good-value Montsant supermarket wine. Personal verdict: okay and acceptable for the price, but clearly below more serious Montsant/Priorat bottles.

Bought in Aldi Barcelona on 6 Sep 2026. Opened on 7 Sep 2026. Personal verdict: okay, but not great; acceptable for the price, but clearly below the more serious wines enjoyed recently. Would not buy again.

Good everyday Ribera del Duero, but personal verdict was only okay; would not rebuy.

First Barcelona wine, tasted at Orvay Restaurant on 5 Sep 2026. Personal verdict: loved it.

Loved it — strong positive

Purchased at Lidl in Madrid on 3 Sep 2026 based on in-store comparison. Unopened; personal tasting notes pending.

Purchased — tasting pending

Purchased at Lidl in Madrid on 3 Sep 2026. Selected as the top Albariño from the Lidl shelf photos. Unopened; personal tasting notes pending.

Purchased — tasting pending

Purchased in Madrid on 31 Aug 2026. Tasted and strongly enjoyed: really good, rich and satisfying, with the style landing very well personally. Bought two more bottles at Lidl Madrid on 3 Sep 2026 because it has become a strong Ribera del Duero favorite/value benchmark.

Really good — strong rebuy / favorite Ribera value benchmark

Madrid tasting, 30 Aug 2026: good and enjoyable, but not a standout. Easy enough to drink and a useful Ribera del Duero exploration. Finished the bottle on 30 Aug 2026.

Good — maybe rebuy; not a priority

Opened in Madrid on 31 Aug 2026 and finished on 31 Aug 2026. User verdict: amazing, really good. Strong positive Albariño experience; definite successful bottle on the Spain trip.

Amazing — really good; strong positive Albariño hit

Madrid tasting: really good. Fresh, juicy and easy to drink without food; one of the strongest Mencía hits of the trip.

Excellent — definite rebuy / benchmark Mencía

Personal tasting: really good. Finished the bottle on 26 August 2026 and would happily drink this style again.

Very Good — really enjoyed it; a successful Cava and one to remember/rebuy.

Ripe red and dark berries, juicy bramble fruit and plum, with light spice, refreshing Atlantic-influenced acidity and soft-to-moderate tannins. Medium-bodied and fruit-led rather than heavily oaked.

Good-value exploratory Portuguese red at £9.50. The Atlantic-influenced freshness should keep the ripe Castelão fruit lively and make it a useful contrast to richer Rioja/Malbec styles.

Dry, smooth and rounded, with zesty citrus, fresh fruit and light biscuity notes; easy-drinking traditional-method Cava.

Good-value traditional-method sparkling wine at £8.50; useful benchmark Cava for comparison with Crémant.

Expected profile from published references: cherry-led fruit, soft texture and light vanilla-oak influence. Personal bottle result was very different: unpleasant aroma and horrible taste; user could not finish it and suspected the bottle may have been faulty/off.

Personal bottle strongly disliked and discarded; possible bottle fault. Do not recommend this exact bottle again. Discount should not override quality evidence or palate fit.

Expected style: fine bubbles, fresh apple/fruit character, creamy notes and a rounded, refreshing palate.

Very good value at £10 and a useful comparison with the Cave de Lugny Crémant de Bourgogne.

Dry and aromatic, with fennel, white flowers, fresh grass, citrus/grapefruit and stone fruit. Fresh, flavourful and balanced, with the characteristic slightly bitter, savoury Verdejo finish. Personal tasting (16 Aug 2026): really good; enjoyed the bottle and finished it.

Excellent value at £8 and a very strong palate fit: dry, crisp, herbal and refreshing, with more character than a basic Rueda. Personal verdict: really good; a successful bottle and worth buying again.

Dark cherry, bramble and red/dark berry fruit with dried herbs, savoury earth/forest-floor notes and spice. Dry, fresh and structured, with polished silky-to-firm tannins and a long, complex finish. Personal tasting (16 Aug 2026): really good; enjoyed the bottle and finished it.

Strong buy at the sale price. Serious step up from simple supermarket Pinot: savoury, fresh and structured. Personal verdict: really good; a successful Central Otago Pinot and worth buying again.

Citrus and apple with biscuit notes; generous, slightly creamy palate, fine bubbles and a crisp finish. Personal tasting (15 Aug 2026): amazing, really nice; thoroughly enjoyed the bottle and finished it.

Excellent personal result — really enjoyed it and described it as amazing. Strong repeat-buy candidate.

Dry, crisp Provence rosé with fresh summer berries, floral notes, spice and a refreshing finish. Personal note (13 Aug 2026): preferred to M&S Myrtia Xinomavro Rosé because it showed more aroma, more flavour and brighter/more noticeable acidity; the higher perceived acidity was a positive and part of why the wine was liked more.

Very Good — classic, polished Provence rosé with more gastronomic weight than a basic poolside style. Personal verdict: preferred over Myrtia Xinomavro Rosé for stronger aroma, fuller flavour and brighter acidity.

Very dry, pale Provence rosé with pink grapefruit, lychee, peach, wild raspberry and zesty mineral freshness.

Very Good — fresh, elegant and strongly suited to warm-weather drinking and light food.

Fresh red apple and citrus with creamy, biscuity and brioche notes; light-bodied, dry and lively, with a clean zesty finish.

Very Good — one of M&S's strongest-value sparkling wines. Traditional-method complexity, fresh acidity and brioche character make it a more serious choice than basic Prosecco at around £11.

Peach, strawberry and citrus with lively acidity, bright freshness and a gentle creamy texture; dry, light-bodied and refreshing. Personal tasting (13 Aug 2026): enjoyable, but less aromatic and less flavourful than Mirabeau Classic Côtes de Provence Rosé.

Very Good — a distinctive Greek rosé with more acidity and savoury interest than a simple fruit-driven pink. Personal comparison: Mirabeau Classic was preferred for greater aroma and flavour intensity.

Fresh raspberry and red berry fruit with violet and floral notes; medium-bodied, light on its feet, with bright acidity and a clean, refreshing finish. Personal tasting (18 Aug 2026): really good; especially liked the aroma, tannins and fruity flavour. Later preference clarification (18 Sep 2026): enjoyable and easy to drink, but this lighter, very fresh style is not the first-choice profile compared with more structured wines with more noticeable tannin and some oak.

Very Good — a classic, approachable Fleurie with floral Gamay character and bright acidity. Enjoyed, but not a first-choice style: preference leans more toward structured, old-vine reds with some oak, stronger texture and clearly present but polished tannins.

Deep cherry and wild red berries with violet, earth, leather, underwood and a touch of chocolate; supple tannins, good acidity and a lingering savoury finish. Personal tasting: really enjoyed it and thought it was a very good wine.

Very Good — a proper Chianti Classico Riserva with classic Sangiovese acidity plus leather, earth and well-integrated oak. Personal verdict: really liked it and would happily drink this style again.

Dark plum and blackberry with chocolate and toasted oak notes; medium body, silky tannins, balanced acidity, and an elegant persistent finish.

Mid-tier — a structured, well-integrated Uruguayan Tannat with approachable oak; genuine value for the category. Open now or hold 3–5 years.

Intense aromas of grapefruit, green apple, and fennel; lees-driven creaminess on the palate with good structure and a characteristic bitter Verdejo finish. Crisp, medium body.

Mid-tier — a reliably aromatic, well-structured Verdejo with multiple 90-point scores; fair value for weekday whites. Drink now through 2027.

Ripe black fruit (plum, blackberry) with herb and liquorice notes; medium body, smooth tannins, balanced acidity, and a persistent finish.

Entry-tier — straightforward Alentejo red with fresh dark fruit and soft tannins; reliable everyday table wine. Drink now.

Pale pink; redcurrant, grapefruit and pomegranate with fresh citrus, light body and a clean dry finish.

Entry-tier — fresh, dry Corsican rosé with genuine island character from Vermentinu and Biancu Gentile. Best drunk young and chilled.

Vibrant citrus and white peach aromas with subtle floral notes; zesty, refreshing palate with lifted acidity and a crisp, clean finish.

Mid-tier — approachable, reliable Alvarinho with genuine varietal character at a competitive supermarket price. Drink now.

Lemongrass, jalapeño, and fresh herbs from Awatere fruit; grapefruit, passionfruit, and ripe citrus from Wairau; crisp medium body, vibrant acidity, clean persistent finish. Classic Marlborough style.

Very Good-tier Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc delivering consistent tropical aromatics and citrus precision at the £16 price point; a go-to aperitif or easy seafood pairing.

Lemon, tangerine, and exotic fruit on the nose; lively attack with fine persistent bubbles, a touch of brioche, and a clean citrus-berry finish.

Very Good-tier Crémant de Loire delivering genuine Champagne-method finesse and Chenin-driven freshness at a fraction of the price; the benchmark affordable celebration bottle.

Pink grapefruit, gooseberry, passionfruit, and melon on the nose; vibrant acidity, medium body, clean dry finish with a herbaceous lift.

Good-tier Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc that reliably delivers the textbook NZ style at a compelling £9–10 price point.

Passionfruit, grapefruit, lemon zest, capsicum, and tomato leaf; crisp and dry with vibrant acidity, a herbaceous edge, and a clean persistent finish. Single-vineyard Lower Wairau character.

Very Good-tier single-vineyard Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with more site precision and elegance than typical blended examples; worth the small step-up from entry-level NZ SB.

Ripe red and dark fruit (plum, blackberry) with garrigue, sun-warmed earth, and a hint of spice; medium body, soft tannins, approachable and fruit-forward. Unoaked Syrah/Grenache/Merlot blend.

Entry-tier Cabardès blend delivering ripe southern French red fruit warmth at everyday pricing; a reliable weeknight pour for Languedoc-curious drinkers.

Lemongrass, jalapeno and fresh herbs from the cool Awatere component; grapefruit, passion fruit, guava and pineapple from the warmer Wairau side. Crisp, zesty palate with lively citrus acidity, gently creamy mid-palate texture, clean refreshing finish. Dry, light-to-medium body.

Exactly what a reliable Marlborough Sauv Blanc should be — bright, aromatic, honest. The award sticker (James Suckling 90pts) is well earned. That tropical-meets-herbal duality is well executed. Very good everyday white at UK retail price. 2023 scores a touch higher than the 2022 (88pts); consistent, trustworthy producer.

Bone-dry white. Nose: hot stones, lemon, crushed rock, white blossom, jasmine. Palate: zesty citrus, white peach, green apple, mineral freshness, saline bite. Unoaked, stainless steel. Clean energetic finish. More fruit-forward than Santorini Assyrtiko — great approachable entry to the variety.

Very Good — a strong-value, dry and mineral mainland Assyrtiko with bright acidity. Best young and well chilled.

Ripe blackberry and plum with violet, cocoa, tobacco and subtle vanilla/oak; full-bodied with polished tannins, balanced acidity and a persistent dark-fruit finish. Serious, concentrated Malbec with refinement.

Premium — excellent benchmark Argentine Malbec; strong value around £30 for the quality level and ageing potential.

Black cherry, plum, blueberry and blackcurrant with lavender/herbal notes, pepper, vanilla and French-oak spice; structured Cabernet with ripe tannin and a persistent finish.

Very Good — strong New World Cabernet profile with structure; fair value around \~£30, better value if found below that.

Dark plum and blackcurrant with bramble fruit, cedar/cigar box, blackcurrant leaf, and a minty bay leaf savoury note; full-bodied, firm yet ripe tannins, zesty acidity, long woody-spiced finish.

Reserve tier — solid value Chilean Cab at £10–12. Drink now through 2028; no need to cellar further.

Dried cherry, fig, raisin, sweet spice. Full body, soft tannins, concentrated dried fruit, long velvety finish. 15.5% ABV — decant 1hr.

Good tier provisional classification — likely higher if from a stronger house. Better value near £35–45; less compelling above £70 unless top producer.

Ripe blackberry and plum with minty red-fruit lift, sweet spice and oak toast; medium- to full-bodied with glossy tannins, bright acidity and a long, polished finish. Very good value when bought on offer.

Very Good tier. Strong buy at £12–13.50; at full shelf price it is closer to the Good/Very Good boundary.

Crisp, light-bodied white. Citrus (lemon, grapefruit) and green apple notes, subtle honey/mineral undertones, slight refreshing spritz. Dry, high acidity, short finish. Entry-level Portuguese Vinho Verde.

Entry-tier — good value for everyday drinking. A perfectly serviceable supermarket Vinho Verde at a fair price. Crisp, refreshing, nothing remarkable.

Deep, concentrated dark plum and blackberry fruit with violet florals; secondary notes of dark chocolate, cedar, and subtle toasted oak; full-bodied, polished but firm tannins, bright acidity, long persistent finish with savoury mineral edge.

Premium tier — excellent value at £27 on offer (was £33). Serious step up from the standard Catena; deserves 3–5 years cellaring but drinks well now.

Dark plum, boysenberry and blackcurrant on the nose; palate shows blackberry, mocha, clove-kissed plums and a hint of cardamom and sweet tobacco; medium-full body, soft rounded tannins, subtle black pepper and toasted oak, with an unexpected saline/soy note that adds freshness on the finish.

Mid-tier value — well-made, crowd-pleasing California Cab at a fair UK price. Drink now, no need to cellar.

Juicy blackberry and black cherry lead, with soft violet top notes; 15% Bonarda adds freshness and a lifted quality; medium-full body, supple rounded tannins, hints of spice, delicate French oak, and a clean, approachable finish. Drink-now entry-tier value Malbec.

Entry-tier — excellent value for the category at Sainsbury's price. Open now, no need to cellar.

Licorice and dark spice on the nose; ripe cooked black fruits — blackberry and plum — with sweet vanilla and hints of mocha; rich and full entry, medium-to-full body, tannins smoothly integrated, spicy finish of moderate length.

Mid-tier — solid value at \~£10. Drink now; no need to cellar. A reliable crowd-pleaser for casual entertaining.

Red and black plum with brambly blackberry fruit; lick of vanilla from brief oak contact; soft ripe tannins, medium body, modest acidity, short-to-medium finish. At 12 years old, fruit likely faded — drink with caution.

Entry-tier — was fair value at \~£7 but 2013 is past its prime for this style. Drink immediately if the bottle has been well stored; don't cellar further.

Fresh raspberry, wild strawberry and cherry with subtle spice; clean, lively mousse, structured yet elegant on the palate, with a gently rounded finish that stays bright rather than heavy. Distinctive — fruit-forward but not sweet.

Premium — the benchmark NV rosé Champagne. Justified price for the category; over-delivers on complexity vs most rosé Champagnes at similar price. Drink now or hold 2–3 years.

Apricot, peach and pear on the nose with a floral Viognier lift; medium-bodied, fresh acidity, clean dry finish without the heavy waxy texture that poorly-made Viognier often delivers. Bright and approachable, not phenolic.

Entry-to-mid tier — good value at £7.75. Clean, varietally correct Viognier for everyday drinking. Drink now.

Bright passion fruit, pineapple and blackcurrant on the nose, with ripe lemon-lime citrus and a hint of guava; medium-bodied, soft palate with lively acidity, clean dry finish. Textbook Marlborough SB — fresh and uncomplicated.

Mid-tier — fair value at £10–13; reliable, clean Marlborough SB. Drink now, no need to cellar.

Exotic and tropical fruit aromas with mild minerality and citrus lift; delicately acidic on the palate with volume from Lagorthi softening the Riesling's edge, and a fresh tropical fruit finish.

Mid-tier Greek white — interesting for the Lagorthi grape alone; £12 is fair. Drink young and cold.

Mulberry, plum and dark cherry with vanilla, clove, dark cocoa, and herbal undertones; medium-full bodied, sandy tannins, vibrant acidity, and a smooth spiced finish.

Mid-tier Rioja Reserva from a reliable centenary house; £16 at Waitrose is fair for the oak regime. Drink now through 2027.

Ripe cherry, plum, cedar, liquorice, violet, gravel and toast. Full-bodied with firm, well-integrated tannins, red and dark fruit on the palate, and a long structured finish.

Honest mid-tier Saint-Émilion at négociant pricing. The anonymous Classé sourcing is Maison Ginestet's own claim — can't be independently verified — but at £20 it punches above its weight. Decant 30–45 mins. Customer rating 4.7/5 (23 reviews).

Pale straw yellow with fine, persistent bubbles; fresh green apple, white peach, and citrus zest on the nose with a subtle almond/brioche hint; light-bodied, crisp acidity, clean and dry on the palate, short-to-medium finish. Refreshing, uncomplicated NV Cava.

Entry-tier organic Cava — reasonable value at \~£8–10 for what it is. Honest, clean, refreshing. No pretensions. Drink now.

Deep ruby with violet tints; fresh red fruit (plum, raspberry) with pepper and subtle graphite; medium-bodied, soft tannins, balanced acidity, long aromatic finish. Entry-level everyday red.

Entry-tier — good value for everyday drinking at Brazilian supermarket prices. Open now; no need to cellar.

Green papaya, Granny Smith apple, and passionfruit with a flinty mineral edge; light-to-medium body, bright acidity, short-to-medium finish. Grassy, zesty Marlborough style.

Mid-tier entry — fair value at £11–12. A dependable everyday SB for the Marlborough style. Drink now; no cellaring benefit.

Lemon, lime, green apple, and subtle brioche on the nose; light-bodied, fine persistent bubbles, dry and clean with a faint toasted note. Traditional Cava style — refreshing and honest.

Mid-tier Cava — genuinely good value at £11. Organic credentials, bottle-fermented, real Cava character. Drink now; no ageing needed.

Fresh lime, grapefruit, white peach, and a herbal/fennel lift; light-bodied, crisp high acidity, clean dry finish. Unoaked, textbook entry-level Verdejo.

Entry-tier supermarket Verdejo — good value at \~£8. Drink now, no need to cellar.

Brick-cherry red; ripe plum, blackberry, and dried dark fruit with vanilla, tobacco, cedar, and faint cocoa from American oak; medium-full body, supple tannins at 14 years, good acidity, smoky finish. Fully mature — drink promptly.

A solid mid-tier Rioja Reserva from an outstanding vintage — well-aged, classically styled, and good value for a fully mature Tempranillo with real cellar character.

Tried during Madrid holiday. Ripe cherry, blackberry/plum, sweet spice/clove, savoury/herbal notes and vanilla/toast; medium-full body with rounded tannins.

Good value / solid Ribera exploration

Drunk during Madrid holiday. Fresh Verdejo profile with fennel/citrus and a lightly creamy lees-driven texture; familiar benchmark style for the trip.

Good benchmark Verdejo

Tried by the glass in Madrid. Rounder and fuller than Verdejo, with pear/apple/white-peach, floral, herbal and mineral character. Enjoyable exploration, but not a premium example.

Good exploration; not premium

Madrid flat tasting: enjoyable, but clearly less good than the stronger wines tried on the trip. Fresh and easy enough to drink; not a standout.

Good / enjoyable, but not a priority rebuy

Bright ruby; fresh and persistent, with red fruit, liquorice, savoury spice and polished but noticeable tannins. Fresh acidity keeps the wine lively and long.

Excellent-value traditional Rioja from one of Rioja's benchmark historic producers; unusually serious for a Crianza and capable of further ageing.

Pure black cherry and raspberry, polished oak, silky tannins and a focused, lingering finish. Grand Cru Burgundy with plush fruit but good definition.

Collectible, high-pedigree Burgundy. The 2015 has strong independent support and is substantially above ordinary regional Burgundy in complexity and provenance.

Dark berries and plums with smoky, toasted oak, spice, mineral and tobacco notes. Smooth, velvety tannins with coffee, chocolate and dark fruit on the finish.

Very Good — established Rioja Gran Reserva style with mature dark fruit, tobacco, spice and polished oak. Owned-bottle vintage confirmed from the label as 2017.

Bottle opened and finished on 2 October 2026 in Gravesend. No detailed personal tasting verdict was recorded. Source-based profile: crisp citrus and green-fruit character, brisk acidity and a light, refreshing finish.

Good, inexpensive everyday Vinho Verde: crisp citrus/green-apple fruit, light spritz and refreshing acidity. Entry tier; the exact grape composition is inconsistently reported by retailers, so it should not be presented as a confirmed Alvarinho bottling.

Ripe blackberry, blackcurrant, morello cherry and plum with pepper, sweet spice and a fresh herbal lift; rich and full-bodied but balanced, with smooth tannins and a long finish. Personal tasting (15 Aug 2026): amazing, really nice; thoroughly enjoyed the bottle and finished it.

Excellent personal result — really enjoyed it and described it as amazing. Strong repeat-buy candidate; 2021 vintage has independent 91-point Decanter support.

Dry, elegant and refreshing. Crisp green apple leads, with citrus and some riper tropical fruit, followed by Grüner Veltliner’s characteristic light white-pepper/spice note. Fresh acidity, clean finish, no heavy oak character.

Very Good — excellent value at £9.20. Fresh, dry and precise with enough fruit to drink on its own, while retaining the peppery, high-acid profile that makes Grüner distinctive.

Fresh, light and lively, with green apple, lime and citrus character, brisk acidity and a clean mineral finish. Currently drinking; personal tasting assessment can be refined as the bottle opens.

Good — a fresh, light, Atlantic-influenced Vinho Verde at £10, with the high acidity and restrained body that suit your current preferences. Best drunk young and well chilled.

Ripe cherry, raspberry and strawberry with a light sweet-spice edge; medium-bodied with sappy fine tannin, brisk acidity and a clean, savoury finish. Personal tasting note (11 Aug 2026): okay, but not great; it did not give the same satisfying Pinot Noir experience as the other Pinot Noir previously enjoyed.

Good entry-tier Burgundy: fresh, unoaked Pinot made for immediate drinking. Personal verdict (11 Aug 2026): okay rather than great; not a repeat-priority bottle.

Grapefruit, lime and green apple with a light floral note and a white-pepper edge; dry, brisk and cleanly mineral, with refreshing acidity and a crisp finish.

Good — a dry, fresh German Riesling and a strong everyday white at £12.50. Drink now through 2028.

Apricot, lemon, peach and apple with a saline mineral edge; dry and light-to-medium bodied, with fresh coastal acidity and a clean finish.

Owned bottle — detailed assessment and purchase price still to be completed.

Bright cherry, cranberry, raspberry and blackberry with fresh herbs and savoury chalky detail; light-bodied, lively and finely tannic, with a tart finish.

Owned bottle — exact Majestic listing, producer, vintage and technical details confirmed from the supplied label and Majestic product page. Personal tasting: really good; especially liked the tannins. Finished bottle.

Fresh lemon and citrus with white-floral lift and brisk acidity; dry, simple and refreshing, with a lightly creamy texture.

Good — fresh, dry Assyrtiko with citrus, floral lift and brisk acidity. Exact purchase price and closure are not yet verified from the available record.

Blackberry, dark plum, black pepper and spice, with a full-bodied, softly textured palate and a dry finish.

Good — a rich, straightforward Barossa Shiraz at £8.29. Open now with grilled meat or barbecue.

Fresh passionfruit, elderflower, lime and green apple, with citrus acidity and a dry, herbal finish.

User favourite from Lidl right now — likes it a lot. Strong repeat-buy candidate. Fresh, expressive Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc with passionfruit, elderflower, lime, green apple, citrus acidity and a dry herbal finish.

Raspberry, sour cherry and wild red berries with violet and dusty volcanic mineral notes; medium-bodied, fresh and finely tannic, with a savoury finish.

Good/Very Good — fresh, savoury Etna Rosso with red fruit, volcanic character and fine tannins. Strong value around the mid-teens.

Ripe cherry and strawberry with quince, anise, tobacco and mint detail; light and fresh with gentle tannin, lively acidity and a fruit-led finish. Personal tasting: excellent, really good wine.

Excellent — really enjoyed it. Would buy again when the price is good, especially on a Majestic Mix Six-style discount; full price feels a bit expensive.

Lemon-led and dry, with brisk acidity and an energetic finish; fresh, zippy and bright rather than rich or overtly fruity.

Owned bottle — detailed assessment and purchase price still to be completed.

User tasting (23 Aug 2026): cherry-led fruit, noticeable spice, smooth tannins. Overall impression: good wine.

Good — classic, savoury Rioja Reserva at a particularly attractive Mix Six price. Drink now with food; no need for long cellaring.

Black cherry, blackcurrant and ripe dark fruit with violet, baking spice and light French-oak notes; dry, fresh high-altitude lift, smooth tannins and a persistent finish.

Premium — a fresh, high-altitude organic Uco Valley Malbec. A strong £13 sale purchase and a useful contrast to the more savoury Luján de Cuyo Doña Paula.

Blackberry, red plum and cherry with violet, fig leaf, mint, white pepper and dark chocolate; medium-bodied with a mineral line, fresh acidity, fine tannins and a long savoury finish.

Premium — focused, site-driven Luján de Cuyo Malbec with real complexity. A strong cellar bottle for dinner now or medium-term keeping.

Fresh cherry and sour cherry with plum, a light floral lift and gentle savoury spice; medium-light in body, soft in tannin, mild in acidity and clean on the finish.

Good — a straightforward, well-made Austrian red with real regional identity. Fair value at about £10; ideal for weekday food rather than a special-occasion bottle.

Fragrant red and dark cherry, wild strawberry and violet with graphite, cacao, smoke and dried Mediterranean herbs; medium-bodied and velvety, driven by vivid acidity and fine tannins into a mineral, persistent finish.

Premium — an unusually serious, perfumed old-vine Mencía for about £23. Drink with food now or cellar confidently for medium-term development.

Dark cherry and bramble with dried herbs, savoury spice and a light oak note; medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh acidity and a dry finish.

Good — a credible Central Otago Pinot for relaxed dinners, but not a fine-wine expression; fair value around £15–16, less compelling above £18.

Rose, cherry, tar, and dried herbs with firm tannins, bright acidity, and a savoury structured finish. Proper Barolo character rather than soft crowd-pleasing red.

Good/Very Good — a credible introduction to Barolo at low-£20s pricing. Drink with food now or hold into the early 2030s.

Red cherry and cranberry with light spice and soft earth; medium-bodied, fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a smoother more elegant finish than most supermarket reds. Good value Oregon Pinot.

Good/Very Good — one of the stronger bottles from today’s shelf scan. Worth buying if priced sensibly.

Red cherry and raspberry with light earthy spice and a touch of liquorice; light-to-medium-bodied, fresh acidity, supple tannins and a clean savoury finish. Good value entry Burgundy.

Good — fair value entry Burgundy from a reliable house. Drink now with food; no need to hold long.

Delicate pale strawberry and redcurrant with a little citrus peel and soft herbs; light-bodied, dry, fresh and clean with a restrained Provence-style finish. Good crowd-pleasing rosé.

Good — reliable pale Provence rosé for warm-weather drinking. Best young and chilled.

Gooseberry, lime and passionfruit with cut grass and a crisp citrus edge; light-to-medium body, bright acidity and a clean zesty finish. Strong value Marlborough Sauvignon.

Good — solid value for classic supermarket Marlborough Sauvignon. Drink now and over the next year or two.

Bright cherry and raspberry fruit with a light smoky note, a little earth and pepper; light-to-medium body, fresh acidity, fine tannins, and a clean straightforward finish. Good everyday Pinot at the price.

Good — fair value for an easy weekday German Pinot. Drink now rather than cellar it for long.

Bright cherry, red berries, plum and floral lift with herb/aniseed notes; medium-bodied, fine silky tannins, fresh acidity and an elegant, lingering finish. Good-value Marlborough Pinot.

Good — fair to good value for a regional Marlborough Pinot Noir. Drink now; no need to cellar.

Deep garnet; ripe plum and black cherry with nutmeg, clove and a touch of balsamic; palate of black fruits layered with cacao and cedar, finishing with smooth spice; full-bodied, silky tannins, long refined finish.

Reserve-tier Rioja — Very Good quality, excellent value at £27–28 for a Gran Reserva of this pedigree. Drinking well now, cellar-worthy through 2030+.

Crisp, citrussy Chablis with green apple, white flowers, and flinty minerality; unoaked, bright acidity, clean persistent finish. Textbook Chablis value.

Very Good quality, mid-tier price. Exceptional value for textbook Chablis. Drink now through 2029.

Aromatic white blend with stone fruit, apricot and floral notes; medium-bodied, textural, fresh and dry on the finish.

Good/Very Good — distinctive McLaren Vale white blend with real personality and good value around £13.50–17. Best with food or when you want a richer aromatic white.

Gran Reserva Rioja with mature dark fruit, tobacco, cedar and spice; structured, polished tannins, balanced acidity, long finish.

Very Good — mature, traditional Rioja with genuine complexity and strong value around £18–25. Drinking well now and capable of further ageing.

Deep cassis and blackberry with cedar, red capsicum and violet lift; concentrated and vibrant palate with fine chalky tannins, good acidity, and a long persistent finish. Outstanding value for the depth on offer.

Very Good — exceptional value at £15. Serious cellaring Cabernet that over-delivers for the price. Drink now or cellar 5–8 years.

Lemon and orchard fruit with biscuity notes; dry, fresh and gently creamy with lively acidity, fine mousse and a clean citrus finish. Very Good value traditional-method fizz.

Very Good — one of the better supermarket sparkling buys here. Worth grabbing on offer and still decent at full price.

Black cherry and plum with leather, coconut and sweet spice; medium- to full-bodied with smooth tannins, balanced acidity and a polished savoury finish. Very Good value traditional-modern Rioja Reserva.

Very Good — a proper, dependable Rioja Reserva with enough depth to justify the price. Good for roast meats, steak, or a richer weekend bottle.

Pale, dry rosé with raspberry, red cherry and a touch of citrus/grapefruit; light-bodied with fresh acidity and a clean, softly fruity finish. Good value for easy summer drinking.

Good — fair value southern French rosé for aperitif duty, salads and warm-weather drinking. Drink now; no reason to cellar.