San Juan is located to the north of Mendoza. Purple colour; sweet red and black fruits (blackcurrant, blackberry), spicy oak. The intense fruity taste fills the mouth along with barely rough tannins. Tame acidity, nice round middle palate. Generous and pleasant to drink now.
I’m a fan of Chile’s Carménère, the grape previously mistaken for Merlot until DNA tasting showed it was the rare Bordeaux variety. Deep ruby colour, the wine has a smoky, cedary, blackberry nose with hints of vanilla oak and pencil lead. It’s mouth-filling with sweet blackcurrant and plum flavours, soft tannins and bright acidity; it also has an intriguing coffee note on the finish.
Ripe, dense and rich, opulent black fruit, cherry jam, resin and tar coat the palate of this Syrah, Mourvèdre and Viognier blend from sandy Franschhoek. Tannins are ample and supple, squeezing the sides of this full-bodied red. There's a pretty floral lift on the end, perhaps a nod from the Viognier, though the rest of this blend is weighted down with some charcoal dust. Certainly an easy grilled meat partner.
Medium ruby-purple. Hints of cherry, raspberry, spices and vanilla fill the nostrils. Medium-bodied, it has a nice fruity taste and a soft mouthfeel, a supple finish of good volume and freshness, even if it is a little warm. This 100% Negroamaro wine drinks well right now.
A sublime Chardonnay with a perfume of pineapple, yellow apple, honey, banana, cream, smoke, vanilla and clove. Elegant with fresh acidity and quintessential PEC minerality wrapping up the package. Try with roasted chicken or grilled salmon.
I must admit a certain fondness for Daroiush. Simply put, they make great wines, year in, year out! The ‘07 Cab follows suit. With 15 years’ worth of tannins, this full-bodied wine serves up plums, blackberries, dark cherries, spice, herbs and vanilla. There is excellent length to this oh-so-gratifying wine.
A spritzy entry with a nose of expressive lime, grapefruit, apple and mineral notes. It has a firm acidic backbone, mellowing bubbles, citrus and floral notes on a refreshing finish.