Tag Archives: red wine

Wine for Winter Nights 

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It’s officially Winter and almost the countdown to Christmas (eeeek) so here at Frost we decided to toast away what has been a glorious Summer and a mild Autumn with some beaut wine offerings.

For our White Wine lovers we have gone for;

Villa Maria Sauvignon Blanc Private Bin

Villa Maria has long been a hit with consumers and New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc has continued to dazzle customers for a number of years now. As the most widely planted grape variety in NZ, Villa Maria have a few distinct Sauvignon Blanc styles dependent on regions of the country owing to the maritime climate. Here we try the Malborough Private Bin which features grapes picked from a combination of vineyards across two different valleys in Malborough. The result is an intense and herbaceous flavour noticeably distinguishable from Villa Maria Reserve Malborough wine which has grapes specifically from Wairau valley. Private Bin has a strong and fresh flavour alive with citrus and tropical fruits owing to the long sunny days and cooler nights. 

This is a flavoursome wine and can be enjoyed without food but with owing to its strong flavour, a glass with dinner will go down well. We paired it with Chicken and Mushroom risotto. 

Available from most good grocery stores. A full list can be found on their website:

www.villamaria.co.nz 

RRP: £9.69 (Waitrose price)

For a hearty RED recommendation we chose; 

Errazuriz Estate Series Carmenere 2017

This Chilean number is robust and pleasing owing to it being 90% Carmenere. The aromas are evocative of a classic wintery red with hints of black pepper, oak and nutmeg. A perfect fireplace wine. The balance of smoke and spice is the stand out essence which distinguishes this Carmenere variety, and ever so subtly sets it apart from the Merlot. The dash of Petit Syrah which makes up the other 10% adds to the aromatics of the wine.

Smooth tannins make this highly desirable on the palette with and without food and I would certainly recommend with rich dishes sweet and savoury due to the chocolatey nature of this wine. 

RRP: £10.50 

www.majestic.co.uk

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2013 Review

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Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2013 Review.jpg

Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 2013 is a rich, textured wine with subtle spice flavours and red cherry notes. This is a sensual wine, elegant and intensely flavoured. It gives a red fruit burst and is medium bodied with a clean and long finish. Cranberry and spice make it perfect for winter.

Winemaker Notes

The 2013 Cellar Selection Pinot Noir displays a fragrant bouquet of dried herbs, red cherries and subtle smoky notes. On the palate the wine is concentrated with juicy red berry fruit flavours, integrated acidity and fine grainy tannins.

Vineyards

The fruit for this wine originates from a diverse range of vineyard sites in both the Awatere and Wairau valleys in Marlborough. Soil types range from clay loams, adding depth and concentration to the wine, whereas the stony limestone soils contribute perfumed aromatics and texture.

Winemaking

The wine is made with true respect for the fruit with gentle handling through the winery.The fruit was chilled, destemmed and cold soaked for 10 days before being fermented using a mixture of indigenous and cultured yeast. The ferments peaked at 32°c to extract the desired colour and tannins. The wine was then post macerated for a further 3-5 days to soften tannin profile before gently pressing. It was matured for 10 months in new and seasoned french oak barriques, resulting in a silky refined and layered Marlborough Pinot Noir.

Vintage

The 2013 vintage was warm and dry, although quite mild temperatures throughout the summer months resulting in pronounced aromatics and ripe tannins.

Food match

Enjoy with:

• Grilled & Roasted Red Meats • Grilled & Roasted White Meats • Pizza/Pasta
• Mild Creamy Cheeses

 

Grapes: Pinot Noir 100.0%

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13.5%

pH: 3.55

Total Acidity: 6.20 g/l

Residual Sugar: 0.00 g/l

Drink now…2 to 5 years 

 

 

Domaine Vintur Cuvee Le Gentleman 2011 Wine Review

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Domaine-Vintur-Le-Gentleman-wine reviewI am fussy about red wine. Some of it just tastes like acid and gives me a headache. So was Domaine Vintur Cuvee Le Gentleman 2011 (£14) drinkable? Yes, more than. It is a very good, full bodied red wine with a great taste and no bad aftertaste. It has a bit of spice and is well balanced. It has ripe, dark fruits and a good balancing of acidity,

This lightly oaked wine has full, fresh tastes of cherry and red fruit. It is a very fruity red wine. It has lots of flavour and does not have the acid-like aftertaste I feel some red wines have. It is also dominated by grenache.

My favourite thing about this wine is that it is not too heavy. It is just fresh and light and full of flavour. Worth every pound of the 14 it cost.

The wine is dedicated to all the cyclists who have climbed Mon Ventoux – one of the most famous final ascents in Tour de France history by the English owner of the estate Graham Shore.

What They Say.

Cuvée Le Gentleman 2011, Appellation AOC Ventoux

Our flagship red wine, made from grapes selected from the best and oldest vines. 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Carignan. Aged for 20 months before bottling with a light touch of oak.

The wine is complex. It has a round nose rich in woodland fruit, with a hint of oak. The palate is full and succulent, with fresh cherries and notes of the garrigue -Provençal herbs- and spice. Its tannins complement the length and balance of the sweet wild fruit and give a rounded full finish.

It is named to honour all the men who have ridden up Mont Ventoux by bike and to celebrate Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France win in 2012. It is a wine to enjoy with meats, cheeses and on its own. Ready to drink now but with aging potential.

 

Frost Wine Reviews: Banrock Station Shiraz Mataro

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This Shiraz is very easy to drink, not necessary a good thing!, it has just the right amount of spice and fruitiness.  As a general rule of thumb, the darker a red wine the younger it is, the lighter it is, the older it is, this wine is just the right colour. It has pepper as the main aroma, and it has a lovely taste of blackberries, blackcurrants and plums. As I have said before, I am quite fussy about red wine although I liked this one. It taste great with spaghetti bolognese and doesn’t have a bad aftertaste. Also it is not too acidic.

The ideal accompaniment to enjoy with red meats such as venison or beef steak as well as mushroom based dishes.

Banrock Station’s new Eco packaging revealed.

Banrock Station is as passionate about crafting flavoursome Australian wine as it is about giving nature a helping hand. With a genuine passion and commitment to the environment, Banrock Station has donated £2.3m to 97 environmental projects in 13 countries. This dedication to the environment flows through the Banrock Station winery, to craft generously fruity wines packed with flavour.

This summer, Banrock Station is celebrating nature by unveiling a gorgeous new exterior to its eco-friendly collection of both classic and innovatively-styled wines.

Its sleek new look packaging, with distinguishing gold labelling, makes its full bodied Shiraz Mataro the ideal choice for dinner parties and crisp Colombard Chardonnay a refreshing accompaniment on those long lazy summer evenings spent with friends and loved ones.

Banrock Station strongly believe that, both now and in the future, nothing is more important than the earth, and by using best-practice and sustainable techniques, Banrock Station has expertly crafted the ideal setting for a wide variety of grapevines to thrive.

Banrock Station’s vast portfolio of world-renowned wines not only makes for an ideal gift for friends and family, but a gift that gives back to the earth in which it’s grown. Over the past decade, proceeds from every bottle sold have contributed to environmental projects in Britain, including the donation of £55,000 to The Co-operative’s Plan Bee campaign in 2010.

To learn more about the delicious selection of wines and the projects that their sales support visit www.banrockstation.com

Banrock Station wines are available at Morrisons, Sainsbury and Asda, for RRP £6.19

Frost Wine Reviews: Kumala Cabernet Shiraz

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I rarely drink red wine, and when I do it is normally mulled. This means I set the barometer very high. However, I liked Kumala Cabernet Shiraz. It has a lingering aftertaste of chocolate. If that doesn’t win me over, nothing will.

It is a very beautiful bright red colour, with ripe tannins and a fruity flavour. I like its smoothness and it also has some spicy notes. I can also taste red berry and a hint of nuttiness.

The wine will make a perfect partner to fillet steaks, lamb chops and hearty stews. RRP£6.79