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
92
NV Les Pionniers, Champagne
£16.99, 12, The Co-operative
With the way the pound is behaving at the moment, it's impressive that the Co-op can keep the price of this stunning frizz from Piper Heidsieck under £17. It's a classy, toasty, mouth-filling bubbly with creamy bubbles, based on the red grapes, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, but with 20% Chardonnay providing a citrus-edged tang of acidity. The best value Champagne in the country.
Available from (as of date of review): The Co-operative
Drinking window: 2017-21
91
2015 Masseria Pietrosa Verdeca, Cantine San Marzano, Puglia
£6 down from £8, 13%, Morrison's
Even at its normal price, this fine-looking Italian white from the country's boot heel is a total bargain, but at £6 it shoudl ahve people queueing out of the door. Blending the local Verdeca grape (not the same thing as Verdejo) with 2.5% each of Sauvignon Blanc and Malvasia, it's a tangy, crunchy thirstquencher with flavours of pear and orange zest and lovely texture.
Available from (as of date of review): Morrison's
Drinking window: 2017-19
96
2014 Koyle Cerro Basalto, Los Lingues, Colchagua Valley
£17, 14, The Wine Society
Grown on basalt soils identified as ideal by the French terroir consultant, Claude Bourguignon, for Mediterranean grapes, this is a stunning blend of mostly Mourvèdre with Grenache, Carignan and Syrah. Liquorice, damson, tapenade and blackberry flavours are embellished by bright acidity, savoury, grippy tannins and just a hint of oak.
Available from (as of date of review): The Wine Society
Drinking window: 2018-24
89
2015 Rojalet Negre, Montsant
£7.99, 13.5, Majestic
Montsant is not as famous as neighbouring Priorat, but generally offers much better value. Blending Garnacha and Carignan, this isn't short of alcohol (we're close to the Med after all), but it has plenty of spice, plum and bramble fruit concentration and stony minerality for balance. In summer, it would make a great barbecue red. Right now, try it with winter stew.
Available from (as of date of review): Majestic
Drinking window: 2017-21
93
2016 Greywacke Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough
£14.99, 13, New Zealand House of Wine; The New Zealand Cellar
Kevin Judd is arguably the most famous exponent of Sauvignon Blanc on the planet, thanks to his work at Cloudy Bay and subsequently at his own Marlborough winery, Greywacke. He certainly knows how to invest the variety with considerable complexity, using wild yeasts to add extra nuances to the exotic lime, gooseberry and stone fruit flavours. Long and very satisfying.
Available from (as of date of review): New Zealand House of Wine; The New Zealand Cellar
Drinking window: 2017-19