McHenry Hohnen Rocky Road Chardonnay 2010 Margaret River Australia

McHenry Hohnen Rocky Road Chardonnay 2010 from Western Australia - Margaret River. It is a cracking wine, fresh clean aromas of melon, peach and apricot and a hint of cleverly integrated spice introduce it nicely. On the palate an apple start leads to melon and peach and then a cheesy edge, the acidity of the wine is fine and fresh and the alcohol, well integrated is enrobing the flavours, adding a warmth that is still clean and balanced. The length is long and the spice skips in an out of the fruit, all sweet and ripe, a really carefully crafted wine.
Score : 88 and is available to purchase form WineDirect at a cost of £17.50.

David Hohnen is well-known in the wine industry for his development of both the Cape Mentelle and Cloudy Bay brands, his latest wine venture is in partnership with his brother-in-law Murray McHenry, his daughter Freya and her partner, winemaker Ryan Walsh. They have planted a wide range of alternative varietals from southern France and Spain ( marsanne, roussanne, grenache, mataro, shiraz, tempranillo ) which are proving to be very well-suited to the area. Grapes are sourced from three vineyards owned within the families of David Hohnen and his brother-in-law Murray McHenry. Within the three vineyards, fourteen varieties are cultivated. These reflect the region's heritage with the Bordeaux varieties (semillon, sauvignon blanc, malbec, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, petit verdot) and as well as the varieties mentioned above (marsanne, roussanne etc.)  are Chardonnay and Zinfandel
From the Rocky Road vineyard, fruit is picked separately from the top and bottom of the valley, fermented separately and then blended to produce a wine that represents the minerality style of the vineyard "creamy clay" . The grapes were picked during the coolness of the night and following pressing were fermented in oak barrels. The wine was left on its lees untill the blend was assembled and bottled in late summer.

Margaret River
Located approximately three hours' drive south of Perth, the region was ‘discovered’ in the early 1970s after various pieces of research from Professor Harold Olmo and Dr John Gladstones identified it as a potentially great grape growing region. The Margaret River area includes the rolling hills of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge, extending 90 kilometres north-south between Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin, and is bounded to the west by the Indian Ocean. Highly regarded as a producer of powerful yet elegant Cabernet Sauvignon, the region has also forged a great reputation for its white wines notably Chardonnay and Semillon Sauvignon Blanc blends. However, it is capable of producing all the classic varietal wines. The region is a vibrant and popular wine destination for visitors from around the world. 

Margaret River wine region first saw European settlement as late as the 1830’s and has evolved from pioneer ‘outstation’, forestry, dairy, alternative life stylers who enjoyed the unique coast and its surfing to an area dedicated to the pursuit of great vines and fine wine.

The climate is strongly maritime-influenced, as might be expected in a region surrounded by the ocean on three sides.  With a mean annual temperature range of only 7.6°C (45.68°F), it has less than 25% of its annual rain falling between October and April. The low diurnal and seasonal temperature range means an unusually even accumulation of warmth. While spring frosts are very rare and highly localised, the lack of winter dormancy for the vines can cause problems that are unique to this region.

Reviews.

Robert Parker (2009)90 pts

Wine Advocate #191 Oct 2010 - Lisa Perrotti-Brown - 2009 Rocky Road Vineyard Chardonnay was fermented in oak with a proportion of natural yeast. It gives intense citrus and tropical fruit aromas with notes of lemon curd, pineapple and green guava plus nuances of passion fruit and cedar. This medium bodied wine has a good backbone of high acidity enlivening the concentrated flavors and a long, zesty finish. Drinking now, it should continue to be delicious until 2014+.

Jancis Robinson (2010)16.5 pts

Tasted Jan 2012 - Smoky oak aroma (all French). Rich, dense and fresh with ripe fruit flavours giving breadth. (JH)

James Halliday (2010)94 pts

Pale straw-green; similar restraint in the winery, both McHenry Hohnen Chardonnays are wild-yeast-fermented, but here the flavours are in the grapefruit spectrum, heightened by the linear acidity the fruit offers; this wine, too, is driven by fruit, not oak.

Wine Front (2010)95 pts

Cumquat, nectarine and spice to smell and taste with a startling burst on the palate of intense grapefruit flavour and acidity – the acid line and drive is unswerving and precise. It’s a leaner style, that’s flinty and refined, but has no shortage of flavour, impact or length. Terrific.

Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay 2010 Adelaide Hills Australia

This Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay 2010 from the Adelaide Hills  in South Australia is pale lemon with a definite green tint at the rim ( sign of a young wine), it has fresh clean aromas that have a lime character with other citric fruits also play their part. On the palate there is fresh bright acidity keeping the apple, peach and pithy grapefruit clean and lively, a little spice intermingles and it has a bit of a cheesey character. Great length and a complex peachey finish define this wine as a carefully well made wine, with a great future. It has elegance and finesse, the oak usage is not obvious but part of its well knitted charcater. The texture is silky and overall you could enjoy this wine with or without food. Just enjoy!
This wine is available from Majestic for £25.
Score : 86

Established in 1989 by Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith, Shaw and Smith's aim is to make contemporary, high quality wines that stand amongst the best of their type in Australia. The wines are made exclusively from fruit grown in the Adelaide Hills, one of Australia's coolest and most exciting regions. Shaw and Smith specialise in grape varieties suited to the cooler climate, such as Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. The wines are vinified at Shaw and Smith's winery in the Hills.'

Winemakers are Martin Shaw and Darryl Catlin.

 

The M3 Vineyard at Woodside is named after the vineyard owners, Michael and Martin along with Michael‘s brother Matthew. It was planted in 1995.  The vines are planted at a high density of 2,780 vines per hectare and are hand pruned with vertical shoot positioned canopies.

The winemaker says ' Hand picked grapes - 3 different cultivars of Chardonnay - were chilled overnight and then whole bunch pressed. The must was barrel fermented with over 50% wild yeasts in one third new, one third one year old and one third two year old French barriques (approx 228 litres) for ten months during which time the lees were regularly stirred and malolactic fermentation allowed to take place.'

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yering Station Village Chadonnay 2010, Yarra Valley, Australia

Yering Station Village Chadonnay 2010 from the Yarra Valley in Victoria, Australia is a pale lemon coloured wine with green tints, it has peach, melon and spice on the nose which is carried through to the palate which is rounded and etheral. The acidity saves this ripe, spicey fruit mix from being flabby and fat, the oak is obvious but cleverly integrated, it is sweet and structural, edgy winemaking at its best! Barrel fermantation is part of this wines make-up and this is where the nuts and creamy texture come from, 9 months maturation in barrel furthers the complexity of this wine and underwrites its longevity. The length is long and persistant, rounded sweet spices and white stone fruits with a little pear in the mix - a well crafted and exciting wine.Wild ferment yeast also helps to increase the layered interest.
Score : 83 and can be bought through Nywines at a cost of just over £14 per bottle.

About the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley was Victoria's first wine growing district with a history stretching back 170 years. It is known as the birthplace of Victoria's wine industry. Vines were first planted in 1838 and viticulture spread rapidly through the 1860s and 1870s And is now recognised as one of Australia's foremost cool climate regions, capable of making classic styles from a wide range of varieties. It is located less than one hour's drive east of Melbourne and is currently home to more than 80 wineries and although grows many grapes successfully it is well known for its high quality for production of premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The Yarra Valley is one of Australia's coolest regions, with elevation varying from 50 metres to 400 metres. Rainfall is winter/spring dominant, with the summer relatively cool, dry and humid and there is limited maritime influence a small diurnal temperature range reflects the proximity of the sea. Frost is rarely a problem, but can affect the lower vineyards on the valley floor from time to time. A rainfall of 750-950 millimetres and restricted water holding capacity in some soils, irrigation is considered essential − although the extent of its use does vary significantly between producers. Another  point worth noting is that the Yarra Valley is Phyloxera free.

Victoria's first vineyard, Yering Station, is located in the 'heart' of the Yarra Valley only one hours drive from Melbourne. As a family-owned winery and led by Winemaker Willy Lunn since 2008. It is set in a stunning location with breathtaking views, beautifully kept gardens and dramatic architecture.

Victoria’s first vineyard was planted at Yering Station in 1838. The Scottish-born Ryrie brothers ventured into the Yarra Valley as they moved their cattle south from Sydney. Taking up a grazing license of 43 000 acres, they named the property ‘Yering’, its Aboriginal name. The Ryrie’s planted two varieties, the Black Cluster of Hamburg and a white grape variety called Sweetwater. During the early 1850’s they returned to Sydney and Paul de Castella took ownership of Yering Station, developing the property from what remained primarily a cattle station into a landmark of winemaking in Victoria.

Paul de Castella arrived in the Yarra Valley after traveling from his home town- the Neuchatel district in Switzerland. Many Swiss settled in the Yarra Valley around this time due to the sympathetic presence of the Victorian Governor’s wife, Sophie La Trobe, who also came from the region. Without them, the story of wine in the Yarra Valley would have been very different.
By the early 20th century, the Yarra Valley wine industry was in decline. The phylloxera epidemic had destroyed many Victorian vineyards and although it never reached the Yarra Valley, economic and social factors (such as palate preference) impacted upon cool climate viticulture in Victoria. The Yarra Valley area returned to dairy farming. It was not until the early 1970’s that, in response to the changing cultural demands of the new generation, coupled with the growing success of other Australian regions, the Yarra Valley vineyards began to thrive once more.
After changing hands several times throughout the early-to-mid 1900’s, Yering Station was purchased by the Rathbone family in 1996. A further 100 acres of vines were planted and that same year a joint venture was signed with Champagne Devaux, a leading Champagne house in France, to make the now famed Yarrabank sparkling. The Rathbone family made plans for the development of a state-of-the-art winery to accommodate and complement the anticipated increase in winemaking standards. John Evans moved across from nearby Yarra Ridge to manage the expanding vineyards.

Melbourne architect Robert Conti was appointed and designs were laid to recreate Yering Station as a landmark tourist destination and key contributor to the international wine community.

Phi Pinot Noir 2010, Yarra Valley, Victoria Australia

Phi Pinot Noir 2010 Yarra Valley a wine made by Steve Weber  together with the De Bortoli family in the Yarra Valley and its name derives from 'Philosophy'. The vineyards planted in 1985 and the fruit is hand picked and destemmed and placed in six tonne open fermenters - 15% whole bunches are included. Natural fermentation occurs and the cap receives the occasional plunge toward the end of fermentation. After 20 days on the skins the wine is pressed, settled overnight and gravity filled to French casks (40% new) for 10 months. The wine is then racked by gravity and bottled in early February.
This wine has a lovely transparency - ruby with a hint of garnet that was a surprise, on the nose ripe cherry and a complex array of spices which includes vanilla and ginger. On tasting it - cherry once more but joined by red currants and a wisp of raspberry this is interleaved with tobacco, earth, leather and spices add further complexity, a joy with a long long finish! The oak is carefully used and is well integrated and the whole wine is elegant with sweet decadence and a burgundian feel but with the New World twist.
Score : 92

The Yarra Valley was Victoria's first wine growing district with a history stretching back 170 years. It is known as the birthplace of Victoria's wine industry. Vines were first planted in 1838 and viticulture spread rapidly through the 1860s and 1870s And is now recognised as one of Australia's foremost cool climate regions, capable of making classic styles from a wide range of varieties. It is located less than one hour's drive east of Melbourne and is currently home to more than 80 wineries and although grows many grapes successfully it is well known for its high quality for production of premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

The Yarra Valley is one of Australia's coolest regions, with elevation varying from 50 metres to 400 metres. Rainfall is winter/spring dominant, with the summer relatively cool, dry and humid and there is limited maritime influence a small diurnal temperature range reflects the proximity of the sea. Frost is rarely a problem, but can affect the lower vineyards on the valley floor from time to time. A rainfall of 750-950 millimetres and restricted water holding capacity in some soils, irrigation is considered essential − although the extent of its use does vary significantly between producers.

Another  point worth noting is that the Yarra Valley is Phyloxera free.

Dourthe La Grande Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Bordeaux

Bordeaux white wines are generally blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, this Dourthe La Grande Cuvée Sauvignon Blanc 2010 is the former only and is supplied by Waitrose at a cost of £7.99.
It is bright and clear as expected with a pale lemon green colour. On the nose a mix of tropical fruits, nettle, grass and honeysuckle with a citric grapefruit hint. This smells 'New World' - full on and fruity, and when you taste it - the confusion would stop, it tastes French, the grassiness takes over, the acidity is crisp with quite low alcohol ( 12.5%, would have felt higher if the wine was from newer world clime).The length remains dry throughout and the pithiness excels in the finish! A fresh, zesty, uncomplicated wine - ready for drinking now, and drink it soon to trap all those fruity flavours in!
Score : 85

La Ramade Rosé 2010 Côtes de Provence France

La Ramade Rosé 2010 Côtes de Provence France is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grown traditionally on Bush vines with some trellising and there is minimium intervention of the growing system ( soil, chemicals etc), and made by Laurent Bunan. Pale salmon core welcomes you into this wine and creamy floral aromas and cooked nectarine with a touch of tangerine, all this is echoed on the palate with a hint of saltiness, carried through to the finish which is primarily tangerine and rose.
A lovely wine supplied by M&S at a price of £9.99 a bottle.
Score : 87

Domaine d'Ott Clos Mireille Blanc de Blanc 2010 Côtes de Provence

Domaine d'Ott Clos Mireille Blanc de Blanc 2010 from the east of the Côtes de Provence in Southern France. The Domaine was started by Marcel Ott but purchased by Champagne Roederer 5 years ago. This white wine is made from a blend of 80% Sémillon and 20% Rolle ( Vermentino ). It is a pale lemon with a green tint to the rim and on the nose it has a floral note above the white stone fruit aromas and a green vegetal nuance, but it has a youthful fresh aura.
On the palate there is fresh brisk acidity and a silky texture with warming but well integrated acidity, it has great structure and flavours of white stone fruits, flowers and a long finish with apricot through to the end. It is an elegant well structured wine in a very trendy bottle. Slurp supply this wine at a cost of £23+.
Score : 88 but is it good value? 

Corsican Clos Culombu Rosé 2010

Corsican Clos Culombu Rosé 2010 is from Calvi in North West Corsica, it is from a winery founded by Paul Suzzoni in the mid 1980's and run by his brother Ettienne as is 95ha in size. Low intervention viticulture with few chemicals and weedkillers added, and low yields (by debudding and green harvesting) ensure good quality wine potential. The dominant grape here is Sangiovese ( a grape which one thinks of as an Italian variety.... well, Corsica is thought of as French/Italian)

This wine is a bright but very pale salmon and on the nose one immediately is struck by the red berry fruits interminglad with pink grapefruit and flowers, these are echoed on the palate and the length is good with a citric pith finish, the acidity is not high and the alcohol is merely 12.5% and well integrated. A fresh, clean wine of the easy drinking variety, though it would stand up to a risotto or simple chicken dishes. Sold by The Wine Society at £12.50.
Score : 85

Benvenuto de la Serna Mil Piedras Viognier 2010 Argentina

Benvenuto de la Serna Mil Piedras Viognier 2010  made with estate-grown fruit from a single vineyard located in the Valle de Uco at 1100m above sea level in a semi desert climate, long sun hours and little rainfall. Benvenuto de la Serna is a small family winery owned by Silvio Benvenuto who is an Italian immigrant and the winemaker is Angel Mendoza who was at Trapiche for 20+ years. The wine is made from 100% Viognier and has not seen oak, fermented in Stainless steel before bottling.

Floral honeysuckle aromas overlaid with tropical notes including lychee and apricot are echoed on the palate after a definite carbon dioxide 'spritz', this reduced after a few minutes, but felt uncomfortable initially. The alcohol was medium but out of kilter with the wine, Viognier can have a flabbiness to it, but this felt in the wrong place for the wine. The alcohol was as expected, quite high in alcohol and low in acidity but well integrated and the silky texture was pleasant. The wine lacked real fruit promised by the aromas so was a let down, feint flavours of lemon, apricot and grapefruit pith bitterness butlinear in nature, left one wanting more. This is a shame because I often feel that Viognier packs a real punch of aromatics that follow through to the palate, but this had been reined in far too much - a pity!

Score : 75

Doña Paula Chardonnay 2010 Argentina

Doña Paula Chardonnay 2010 comes from the 800ha estate Finca Alluvia at 1,350 meters above sea level in Tupungato of the Uco Valley just south of Mendoza in Argentina where there are warm days and cool nights. The grapevines are espalier trained and drip irrigation with melt water is used, and managed using sustainable agriculture practices where possible.  The vineyard is owned by Santa Rita, a Chilean producer in the Maipo valley The grapes were pressed and then fermented at low temperatures in stainless steel tanks. 50% of the must was fermented  in new French oak barriques then aged partly in new French oak barriques for a period of 6 to 8 months. And you get all of this for £10.99.
Aromas of peach, apricot and a sprinkling of spice with a floral edge, it tempts you in. In the mouth, nectarine and green apple join the flavours and a chalky minerality enrobes the bunch! Great acidity, well integrated alcohol at 14% and a silky mouth feel all support this great fresh and fruity wine, it has an elegance that is often not found in Chardonnays. The length is good and linear, lemony to the end with a sharp acidity, this feels slightly out of kilter with the rest of the wine and may indicate some acidification that has not quite knitted in as yet, but the oak treatment has been sympathetic and stylish, a good wine at the money!
Score : 82

Mendel Semillon 2010 from the Uco Valley, Argentina

Mendel Semillon 2010 from the Altamira in the Uco Valley, Argentina is a wine made from the Semillon grape and supplied by the Wine Society at £9.75. The Semillon grape is normally associated primarily with Bordeaux Whites in France, it is often paired with Sauvignon Blanc which provides extra acidity to keep it fresh, it now has also found a quality home in Australia ( Hunter Valley and Margaret River). This particular grape comes from the Uco Valley at a height of 3600 feet  which is just south of Mendoza, and the vines are on average 60 years old.
The wine had a slightly green tinge indicating a young wine in some cases, aromas of white flowers, apricots and peapods were obvious on the nose, once in the mouth the silky texture and fresh fruit were a delight, lemons, limes with a pithy edge, a touch of green apple and a great fresh citric, a light wine with zippy attack and lovely mouth feel - a great wine to enjoy on its own or with a meal. There was a little oak apparent on the palate in the way of a nuttiness, and on investigation it is found that 15% was aged for 8 months in new American oak barrels, this aids its food pairing possibilities. Review by Jancis Robinson.
Score : 82

Minarete Ribera Del Duero 2010 DO. Tempranillo

Minarete Ribera Del Duero 2010 DO made in the Ribera del Duero region of northern Spain, on the spanish side of the Duoro/Duero river.
This area often has a reputation for producing expensive, good quality wines from the Tempranillo grape ( also called Tinta del Pais). This was a steal at the price of £5.49 from Aldi Spermarkets - but was it any good?
Having poured it, we peered into the glasses - great purple ruby colour, and the ripe black cherry aromas and spicy juicy plums - smelt good to us all, and so we tasted it.....
Once more black cherries, blackberry, vanilla and toast, chocolate and coffee hover in the background tantilisingly, the tannins - definite grip but ripe and coating, there was fresh acidity and the alcohol felt well tucked in ( 13.5%) and supported the good structure of this wine well. It had a lovely long finish with a sweet spicey end. My after thoughts - soft, long and full - and please can I have some more!
Well done Aldi ! Amazing value.

Camille Giroud Bourgogne Rose 2010

Camille Giroud Bourgogne Rose 2010 supplied by Berry Brothers at a cost of £13.50 was a pale garnet some may say salmon pink, darker than a Provence Rose, but clear. Aromas of red fruits with a herbal note lead to flavours of red berry fruits including strawberry and raspberry, the acidity keeps it fresh and the alcohol is well integrated. The texture lacks conviction and the wine feels sleek, linear and as if something is missing - the length is good and has fresh fruits to the end. Overall I feel that this is a fresh, simple wine made for drinking soon.


Bourgogne Rose is the title used for still rose wines produced under the generic Bourgogne appellation and the grapes can come from 4600 hectares which is practically the whole of the region. While Pinot Noir is the main grape, Pinot Gris is a secondary one and both Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc are permitted varieties.

Louis Jadot Macon 'Les Roches Rouges' 2010

Louis Jadot Macon 'Les Roches Rouges' 2010 is a red wine made in the Macon where most (95%) of the wines are white and made from the Chardonnay grape. The Macon is in the south of the Burgundy region.
 It is supplied by Majestic Wine at £9.99 ( special offer reduces it to less if buying 2 or cheaper at Majestic Wine in France)
It has a good ruby colour with slight purple glints - showing its laCK OF age. On the nose, ripe red fruits and baked black fruits are apparent and a hint at smokiness. The red and black fruits come through in abundance on the mouth with a little spice or pepper but not alot of complexity, it has a light linear fruity character and the low tannins are ripe with a grippy chalky texture. Overall I enjoyed this light Pinot and would probably chill it slightly and drink it soon while it is fresh and fruity.

Domaine Thilbert Pere et Fils Pouilly-Fuisse 2010

Domaine Thilbert Pere et Fils  now run by Christophe Thibert and his wife Christine along with his sister Sandrine, they own a 60 acre estate in 'the Fuisse' in the heart of the Pouilly-Fuisse appellation in the Mâconnais. The Mâcon region is in Burgundy and offers good value and often high quality white wine. The Thiberts  vineyards are now mainly organic, the fruit is picked by hand (not a universal practice in this region) and use low yields, new oak and minimium filtration producing wines that are intense, pure and long.
The Domaine Thilbert Pere et Fils Pouilly-Fuisse 2010 is one such wine produced from the 16 hectares they own in Pouilly-Fuisse, an appellation making 95% white wine from Chardonnay with the remaining 5% making red wine from Gamay.

This wine has a lovely pale gold colour and aromas of limes and apricots and a hint of spice, this indiactes some oak usage and maybe malolcatic fermentation. On tasting it there is noticeable acidity balanced by the alcohol and a silky texture. The green appley/lime flavours have a cheesey aftertaste which then gives way to red apple finish and the crisp apple adding padding to the body of the wine. It has a freshening mouth feel and is richer and fatter than a Chablis wine - less linear and not a elegant but complex. A great quality wine with alot to offer.

Chablis Domaine William Fevre 2010

 Domaine William Fevre produced a Chablis in 2010 that is perfumed with a stoney edge to the green apple aromas which also carry a tinge of lime in the back ground. On tasting it the acidity is freshening, the wine has a silky texture and real prescence! It has minerality layered with green crunchy fruits and some white stone fruits rounding out the flavours and adding flesh to what some think is an austere style of wine. The length is good and shows the quality of the wine with the layered minerality and ending in peach. Overall the style is linear, crisp and clean and shows elegance through to the end.
2010  wines were concentrated due to poor fruit set earlier in the season, so leading to a smaller harvest, minerality and keen acidity are key for this vintage. This wine may have seen a small amount of new oak in its making and this would have been much higher before 1998 when William Fevre sold to Champagne Henriot. The fruit was hand harvest with rigorous selection under the watchful eye of the winemaker Didier Séguier .
The  wine was £14.95 and came from The Wine Society.

Domaine de la Tournelle Uva Arbosiana 2010 Jura

Domaine de la Tournelle Uva Arbosiana 2010  is a red wine from the Jura and is made from the Poulsard grape. It is made in a very natural way, it is unfined or filtered and has no sulphur added.
On the nose the pale ruby ( I would have gone as far as to say Rose....) wine has a spicy, savoury note and only a little red fruit, and an over-riding vegetal aroma which adds to the savouriness and invites you in.
A slight spritz initially is the first sensation, this disappears immediately and is followed by red fruit ( raspberry, strawberry and red plum) and enrobed with vegetal flavours, the acidity is cleansing keeping the fruit clean and fresh and the alcohol not obvious. The tannins were ripe and low, the body of the wine felt in balance and a hovering minerality shows a good quality level. The length was good with a sweet spice and red fruit finish.
This felt like a light acidic take on Pinot Noir, with similar vegetal notes on nose and palate, it would be great with pigeon or ham hock, a lovely fresh simple wine from the Jura!

Arbois Chardonnay 2010 Fruitiere Vinicole d'Arbois Jura

Arbois Chardonnay 2010  made by Fruitiere Vinicole d'Arbois (cooperative ) in Arbois - Jura.  This gold coloured wine has a creamy apple aromas on the nose mixed with white stone fruits, on the palate it is dry with good acidity and the lemon, apple skin flavours are initially simple but develop a more complex character in the mouth , there is some minerality apparent on the nose after tasting it and the moderate length finish is clean and angular. This is a good quality wine with a lovely mineral finish and a fresh, clean, crisp appeal.

Domaine de L'Idylle Cepage Mondeuse 2010 Savoie

Cepage Mondeuse 2010 by Domaine de L'Idylle and supplied by Yapp brothers is a red wine made from 100% Mondeuse which is a grape that is said to be related to Syrah or Refosco (from Fruili), but may be related to neither.
On the nose it had an aroma of baked red fruits ( as in - fruit ripened in a hot climate), it is youthful and has savoury aromas with a juicy twist. On tasting it there is good palate cleansing acidity and also a warmth due to the alcohol content - though this was only 12% it felt higher. The chalky dry tannins had a silky edge, and the pepper on the palate added a savoury quality to the wine. The red fruits were sweet and juicy and had plenty of character, the spice evident but not dominant, and a fruity finish with a slight bitter cherry finish. Overall this wine is a light fresh wine that could be served chilled and  would compliment cold meats or even a roast!

Domaine Gilles Berlioz Chignon Vin de Savoie 2010

Chignon Vin de Savoie 2010 is a Biodynamically made blended wine from the Jacquere grape along with Chardonnay and Mondeuse ( a very important Savoie Red variety) in the Savoie region of Eastern France made by Domaine Gilles Berlioz. This is not a particularly aromatic wine but there were slight aromas of apple, pear and stone fruits, on the palate flavours of apple, lemon and baked fruits, good acidity and simple, single dimension flavour array and the alcohol does not interrupt this wines character ( 11.5%), the length was short and had a crisp lemon finish. Overall my feelings on this wine are that it is a simple, clean, crisp aperitif wine that has alot of the Savoie in it - cool region wines that have not been tampered with. This wine is supplied by the Wine Society - £10.95