weekly wine buys

This is the inaugural weekly wine recommendation! Throughout each week I taste a lot of wine. From these tastings I will find the wines that stand out for me, give my notes and opinion on quality as well as where to buy and price. Every now and then ill throw in something different, like a whisky or a sake. I have to keep my pallete on its toes!

Mount Impey, Sauvignon blanc, 2023, Marlborough, New Zealand

This is a classic New Zealand Sauvignon blanc at a really nice price point. Its vibrant, fruity and herbaceous. Notes of pear, fresh cut grass, gooseberry and grapefruit. It is relatively full bodied with 13% abv and a silky mouthfeel, however, with fresh and light flavours, its got the best of both worlds. This is for a hot summers day having a little al fresco dining, you can’t beat that for a just over a tenner.

I would serve this with a fishcake and hollandaise. Maybe some asparagus prepped simply. Salt, pepper, olive oil and lemon juice. You could also take it down the classic seafood route with a fillet of fish or some prawns, but with is lively acidity I like to put it against a creamy sauce. Think carbonara, Caesar salad or a tuscan chicken with some rice. 

Price: £14

Shop: Tesco

Discount: £11 with a club card.

Chateau Tanunda, Grand Barossa Shiraz, 2021, Barossa, Australia

This wine is heavy. It’s a classic full bodied spicy and sweet Barossa valley shiraz. Shiraz is the same grape as our European Syrah, but tends to be much more ripe and fruit forward. The name is identifying the style of wine somewhat in this instance. Even though its the same grape, a Syrah will be more savoury and peppery. Back to this beast. This winery has been kept in the same family, the Gerbers, for three generations and they use traditional along with new winemaking techniques to get to what’s in the bottle. ‘Lifted aromas of blackberry, plum and black pepper are accompanied by spicy, dark berry fruits on the palate.’ That comes directly from the family and you can’t really argue with it. 18 months on oak has given this wine all the associated flavour. Pepper, wood, tobacco, leather, smoke, vanilla, chocolate and my personal favourite note from this wine, lots of baking spices. It has a luxurious mouth feel, medium tannins and is very easy to drink. My close friend described it as a “TV wine”. One where you whack on a long film and have a few glasses. Although this is drinking well now this wine may be cellared for up to ten years from its bottled vintage.

I’d pair this with a charcuterie board. One with lots of herbaceous meats like Finocchiona. Pop some great cheeses on there and you have yourself a winner. This would also be sensational just as I had it, with some steak and bbq’ed sausages. Classic. 14.5% abv.

Price: £16

Shop: Sainsburys

Discount: None available, however, Sainsbury’s often do 25% off when you buy six bottles. So keep an eye out.

Craggy Range Pinot Noir, Te Muna road Vineyard, 2022, Martinborough, New Zealand 

This wine isn’t for the everyday. Its a gift or a special occasion wine. Its up there in price, almost clipping thirty of our Great British pounds. I start with that because I believe it punches way beyond that price. If you had a wine of the same quality from Burgundy, I think you would be looking comfortably at £80. Deep burgundy colour, lots and lots of red fruit. Plums, cherry, raspberry alongside a subtle earthiness. Some mushrooms perhaps. Super velvety mouthfeel. Very soft and fine tannins. This wine makes you feel quite special. The oak is integrated very well. Having spent a year in French oak, 27% of which is new, it has lovely hints of smoke, leather and liquorice. Really, a top class wine. Vivino puts it in the top 4% of wines in the world. I wouldn’t be complaining if I always had one of these around. Great expression of what a New Zealand Pinot Noir can be at a fair, entry level price point for the grape. 

Id say this pinot could get away with being served with something like duck or roast pork, but at the same time, a heavier fish like salmon or turbot would be killer also. I don’t often say this, but, i’d go simple on the food to let the wine shine here. Roast turbot with lemon and anchovies. A pan fried salmon with new potatoes or a roasted pork chop with a lemon and white wine sauce. 

Price: £29.99

Shop: Majestic wine

Discount: Mix six bottles and the price on this one drops to £25.99