The Edinburgh Wine Club |
Two Grapes from Different
Countries, 15 January 2015
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1.
Corte Giara 2013 12.5% |
Pinot Grigio |
Venezie Italy |
Henderson Wines |
£8.50 |
Fresh acidity, cut grass and apples on the nose; long in the mouth | |
2. Cave de Beblenheim Reserve 2013 13% |
Pinot Gris |
Alsace |
Waitrose |
£10.95 |
Spicy, white pepper and pineapples. Identified as likely to be good with Thai or Korean food – as indeed it is described on the label! |
3rd best wine |
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3. A–Z 2011 13% |
Pinot Gris |
Oregon, USA |
Drinkmonger |
£14.50 |
Mineral notes of stone and flint; lemon grass, mint and green tea | |
4. Greywacke 2012 14.5% |
Pinot Gris |
Malborough, New Zealand |
Drinkmonger |
£18.25 |
Oiliness on nose, wet wool and lanoline; fruit notes of nectarine and crushed mandarins; a spicy, silky wine with slightly metallic acidity |
Best white; 2nd best wine overall |
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5. El Gordo 2012 13% |
Merlot |
DO Cariñena Spain |
Henderson Wines |
£7.50 |
Soft tannins; plummy but caramelised overtones “like a plum crumble”; hints of liquorice |
Joint best value |
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6.
Jean Claude Mas Reserve
2013 14% |
Merlot |
Pay d’Oc, France |
Henderson Wines |
£9.25 |
More acidity; red currants rather than plums; rather short in the mouth; would go well with a casserole | |
7. Aurora Reserve 2012 12,5% |
Merlot |
South Brazil |
Vino |
£9.95 |
Less rounded than the 2 preceding wines; on the nose, vegetation, pepper, beef extract and a hint of coffee beans; fruity in mouth with strawberries at the end | |
8. Andeluna 2011 14% |
Merlot |
Mendoza Argentina |
Drinkmonger |
£10.95 |
On the nose, vanilla, leather and smoke notes; soft tannins and fruits with a slight pepperiness in the mouth; an elegant wine | |
9. Velvet Devil 2011 13.5% |
83% Merlot 8% Malbec 6% Cab. Sauv. 3% Shiraz |
Columbia Valley Washington State, USA |
Drinkmonger |
£10.75 |
Mint and cherries; purchased as straight Merlot but the cherries betrayed it; out came the smartphones and Google confirmed the blend! |
Joint best value |
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10. Manoir de Gay Pomerol 2007 13% |
Merlot |
Bordeaux, France |
Drinkmonger |
£31.95 |
Outstanding; best wine of the evening by a very long way; prunes, cheese, dark chocolate and violets. |
Best wine |