In June in this article John Wilson of the Irish Times rated sub €8 wines from a number of retail chains and M&S came out best, so I decided to try some. I haven't reviewed any wines from M&S as it is not especially convenient for me although I do like the food. In this case we decided to try the meal deal or whatever they call it whereby for €12-50 you get a main, a side, a dessert and a bottle of wine.
It turns out there is a limited range of items in each of these categories and when we got to the meal deal wine section there was only one red available - Le Froglet Shiraz 2008 (at right in picture). I suppose I should have been wary given that they had branded this a Shiraz rather than the usual French Syrah, but as it was effectively free I saw no issue in at least trying it.
I decide to give the Shiraz a fair go and decanted it for an hour or so before trying it. Initially there were two dominant flavour, harsh oaky tannins and blackcurrant. these flavours did not meld at all, they were just there, two peaks of taste dominating the skyline. There was no balance or roundness here although we gave it another half an hour but it didn't improve so I poured it down the sink. I'm not sure who this wine is aimed at, people who like Aussie shiraz will hate the oak and people who want A French Syrah won't be happy either, looks like there ain't no such thing as free lunch. Note: the list price of this wine is €7-99.
So we had to open another M&S wine. I chose the Popolino Rosso Sicilia, a cheeky €6-49. No grape varieties are mentioned on the label but according to someone on the interweb, this is made from Nero D'Avola and Sangiovese. This had the classic bitter cherry flavours initially and not much else but we persevered and after a while this rounded out into quite a decent wine, the bitterness receded and some fruit come to the fore along with some acidity. All in all, quite a pleasant wine, once decanted and great value at €6-49.
The other two wines I got were a 2008 Montepulciano D'Abruzzo at €9-99 and a 2007 Corbieres at €9-49. More of these anon.
I have tried Los Nucos 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon from Marks & Spencer.Chile is one of the countries I recommend for exploring good value reds. The wine is produced from grapes harvested from the Colchagua region, which lies near to the Pacific Ocean and has been produced by a team of Chilean and Australian winemakers.A smooth, medium bodied wine that is nicely balanced by plenty of sweet black cherry fruit with a hint of spice. The wine is clean, well made and displays quality wine making for under a fiver. I like this with my Cohiba. It is just a superb combination.
ReplyDeleteWINES: SPECIAL SUPPLY - LIMITED
ReplyDeleteThe propose mode of payment is with " collection documentaria" (with simple letter), pay to 180 days of date of boarding.
The order type (module 1), is made up of 15 wines of our collection The commitment of the buyer will have to be for a minimum of 4 boardings per year, identical to this module proposed or fit to requirement, which will have to be embarked in frequency of load of 90 days.
The interested one, will have to complete the associate (file " .doc" in English or spanish, according to it corresponds), and to give back it in leaf with letterhead of his company with company/signature, explanation and seal.
This will be given our examining one, which within to the following 10 will contact it days, and it will give his ok or observations us, and in those conditions the operation could be firm, to happen to make official the same with invoice pro forma. Given the particular characteristics of this supply, it must be considered like " limited”.
For this reason, our suggestion is that in case of interest, it is come to show the same without delay It is difficult to find in the international market a relation of " quality-price" similar to that we offer, mainly associate to a so soft mode of payment and to 6 months of date of boarding, for that reason we think that this supply is a true tool abrir markets and to promote in mix products of our wine collection Before any consultation, we were to its disposition.
Immediately, we make our better desires for this New Year extensive that begins.
Regards!
ERNESTO RAUL ANGULO
CUYO WINE
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
anguloernesto@yahoo.com.ar
Skype: anguloernesto
www.cuyowine.com
ARGENTINA
ARGENTINA