90
2016 Rezabal Txakoli, Getariako Txakolina
£12.99, 10.5%, Winetraders UK
Frothy, zesty and refreshing, this is everything you'd expect from a white from so-called green Spain, with notes of lime and citrus peel, bracing acidity and a salty, mineral-edged finish. A wine that you just have to dirnk by the bottle.
Available from (as of date of review): Winetraders UK
Drinking window: 2017-18
94
2015 Neudorf, Moutere Chardonnay, Moutere, Nelson
£35, 14%, From the winery
Consistently one of New Zealand's best Chardonnays, this is a rich, leesy, barrel-fermented style that treads the line (successfully, I might add) between opulence and pithy freshness. Citrus, oatmeal and honeyed notes are complemented by subtle vanilla sweetness and lovely, understated concentration.
Available from (as of date of review): From the winery
Drinking window: 2017-22
93
2012 Neudorf, Moutere Pinot Noir, Moutere, Nelson
£29, 13.5%, Available from the winery
Pinots from the clays of Moutere always remind me of the wines of Pommard in Burgundy. They are rich, bold, even slightly sturdy wines that are textured, a little gruff even, and extremely impressive. Structured and concentrated, this is savouery, spicy and intense, with notes of incense and sweet summer berries, supported by tannins.
Available from (as of date of review): Available from the winery
Drinking window: 2017-22
92
2015 Neudorf Twenty Five Rows Chardonnay, Moutere, Nelson
£21, 13.5%, Available from the winery
Neudorf makes some of the most characterful Chardonnays in New Zealand. This is their unoaked, Kiwi-meets-Chablis style that sess no oak, but seven months on lees to pick up some extra texture and weight. Supple and fruity, with notes of white peach and pear, taut acidity and a long, satisfying finish.
Available from (as of date of review): Available from the winery
Drinking window: 2017-20
91
NV Graham Beck, Brut, Western Cape
£13.99, 12%, Majestic
Bready, tangy and well balanced, this great value bubbly from the Cape's leading fizz producer would give a lot of basic Champagnes a run for their euros. Leesy, complex and frehsh with the Chardonnay providing acidic backbone and structure.
Available from (as of date of review): Majestic
Drinking window: 2017-20
89
2015 Domaine des Garennes Le Brossay, Saumur, Loire Valley
€4.80, 12.5, From the domaine
A youthful, easy-drinking, well-priced Cabernet Franc grown on clay and limestone soils on the Champ de Liveau plateau, this is grassy and refreshing with supple tannins, plenty of the perfume that's typical of the variety and a twist of graphite. Very attractive at the price.
Available from (as of date of review): From the domaine
Drinking window: 2017-20
94
2015 Our Fathers Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia
£25, 14.5%, Our Fathers Wines
A wine that tastes as good as it looks, this is made by my fellow Master of Wine, Giles Cooke (we passed in the same year), who donates all of the profits to charity. Sourced from the Ebenezer sub-region of the Barossa Valley, it's rich, but well balanced, with subtle oak, refreshing acidity, fine-grained tannins and sweet bramble and bluberry fruit. Long and refreshing with a savoury tang.
Available from (as of date of review): Our Fathers Wines
Drinking window: 2018-23
93
2014 Zorzal, Eggo Malbec, Tupungato, Mendoza
£15.95, 13.5%, www.corkingwines.co.uk; www.slurp.co.uk
Fermented and aged in concrete eggs, as its name suggests, this is a wonderful blend of Malbec with a little Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from the Michelini brothers. Typically light and refreshing, with sappy, tangy, black cherry flavours, bright acidity and no wood at all. Modern Argentina at its refreshing, spicy best.
Available from (as of date of review): www.corkingwines.co.uk; www.slurp.co.uk
Drinking window: 2017-21
90
2014 Domaine des Garennes Empreinte Blanc, Saumur, Loire Valley
€10, 13, From the domaine
Youthful, pithy and still quite tight, this barrel-fermented Chenin needs more time in bottle to show what it's really capable of. Apple, citrus and pear flavours are complemented by stony minerality, some vanilla spice and a tangy, focused finish.
Available from (as of date of review): From the domaine
Drinking window: 2017-20
93
2014 La Loba, Ribera del Duero
€16.20, 14.5%, Desoutter & James
Serious, youthful, good value Ribera that's at the lower end of the scale in terms of oaking. Sourced from century old vines in Matanza de Soria, this is part of a new wave of balanced, elegant Tempranillos with lovely freshness and poise. Scented, floral and complex with notes of bramble and balackberry and a refreshing finish.
Available from (as of date of review): Desoutter & James
Drinking window: 2018-22