MY AUGUST ALKO FAVOURITES
My 18 bottles out of the 31 wines tasted blind, covering novelties in a general selection and special editions of "Glass full of Argentina", "Pinot Noir Around the World" and "The Magic of Flowery Viognier"
8/9/20265 min read
Cruz Alta Reserve Chardonnay. Medium golden in colour, this Chardonnay shows moderately intense aromas of stewed lemon and apricot with a touch of vanilla. It is dry with medium-plus acidity, offering lemon, lemon zest and green apple, followed by a touch of apricot. Overall, it is a refreshing, easy-drinking wine: a good, fresh expression of Chardonnay. 15.00€
Glass Full of Argentina
Trumpeter Extra Brut. The wine has a golden rim and a ripe, expressive nose of yellow apple, apricot and tropical fruit, with a hint of chalky minerality. On the palate it is off-dry with high acidity, showing fresh pineapple and a touch of herbs. Overall, it is a nice, fresh, Crémant-style sparkling wine. 19.00€
El Esteco Old Vines Torrontes. The wine shows a green and tangy aromatic profile with green pepper, nettle, lemon, lemon zest and minerality. It is dry with medium-plus acidity, with herbal, nettle and lemony flavours on the palate. Overall, it is green, racy and refreshing: a good wine for trying something different. 16.00€
Malma Chacra La Papay Cabernet Sauvignon. A sweet vanilla aroma leads into ripe red fruit, raspberry, strawberry and strawberry-jam notes. It is dry with medium acidity and medium-plus, grainy tannins, giving the wine a structured character. 17.20€
Catena La Consulta Malbec. Deep purple in colour with a medium-violet hue, this wine has an intense nose of ripe dark berries and cherry, together with raspberry, blackcurrant and vanilla. It is concentrated and dry with medium acidity, showing oak, ripe fruit and black pepper on the palate. 19.99€
Pinot Noir Around the World
Palliser Estate Pinot Noir. The wine develops from pale purple towards garnet in colour. Its moderately intense nose is earthy and savoury, with dry cherry, sour cherry, herbal notes, cranberry leaf and wet leaves. It is dry with medium-plus acidity and medium-plus tannins, showing sour cherry, earthy flavours and black pepper, with a savoury finish. Overall, it has a good Old World Pinot Noir character. 29.98€
Korrel Spätburgunder. Medium garnet in colour, this wine has a rather intense nose of red fruit (cherry, cranberry and raspberry) complemented by vanilla and minerality. It is dry with medium-plus acidity and medium, grainy tannins. The palate shows cranberry, red cherry, cranberry leaf and cherry-pit notes, finishing with a savoury, earthy character. 19.99€
Philippe Le Hardi Bourgogne Côte d’Or Pressonnier. Medium purple in colour, the wine shows sour cherry, raspberry, wild strawberry and cranberry leaf, together with vanilla. It is dry with medium acidity and relatively soft tannins, offering ripe red cherry and raspberry flavours with a touch of vanilla. Overall, it is a very easy-drinking Pinot Noir. 29.98€
Don Mauro Gran Reserva Pinot Noir. Medium purple in colour, the wine has a sour and tangy nose of cherry and cranberry, with earthy raspberry and a touch of volatile acidity. It is dry with medium acidity and medium soft tannins, with a touch of vanilla. The soft tannins make it particularly easy to drink. 19.99€
Buena Vista North Coast Pinot Noir. Slightly cloudy in appearance, possibly suggesting an unfiltered style, this wine has a pretty and juicy nose of red fruit, cranberry and cherry, with old-wood and pepper notes. It is dry with medium-plus acidity and medium-plus soft tannins, showing juicy cranberry and red-fruit flavours. Overall, it is very good, with a possible Burgundy-like character. 28.98€
The Magic of Flowery Viognier
Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône. The wine shows a zesty and fresh nose of lemon, apricot and green apple. On the palate it is dry with medium acidity, with tangy lemon and lemon zest alongside apricot, green apple and pineapple. It is refreshing, intense and concentrated. Classical Viognier. 17.48€
Wildeberg Kleine Oranjerie Viognier. Bright golden in colour, this is a moderately-plus intense wine. The nose opens with toffee, followed by ripe yellow apple, caramel, a touch of smoke, apricot, ripe citrus and minerality. It is dry with medium-plus acidity, showing ripe lemon, yellow apple and apricot, with a touch of smoke. Overall, it offers a bold, fresher take on Viognier. 12.69€
Mayu Viognier Reserva. Golden in colour, this wine has an intense and highly aromatic nose of ripe apricot, peach and pear, with touches of green herbs, mint and possibly tomato, alongside sweetness and vanilla-pod character. It is off-dry with medium acidity, intense and concentrated, with flavours of lemon and sweet flowers. Overall, it is an excellent and aromatic wine. Just keep swirling the glass. 14.99€
Novelties in General Selection
Les Lys Vouvray. Pale gold in colour, the wine has moderately intense aromas of nettle, green gooseberry, unripe stone fruit, green pear and apricot. It is dry with high acidity and medium-plus flavour intensity, dominated by lemon and lemon-candy notes. There is also a slightly unusual aroma reminiscent of caramelised lemon. 16.89€
Swartland Private Collection Chenin Blanc. Pale golden in colour, the wine initially shows a highly intense note of toast or burnt caramel, followed by ripe tropical fruit with peppery and herbal nuances. It is dry with medium-plus acidity, moderate intensity and a medium-plus body. The palate has a slightly burnt or smoky character combined with a green note. 11.49€
Moillard Montagny Les Chênes. The nose combines toffee, fresh green herbs, peach, caramel, lemon and tropical fruit with ripe yellow-fruit character. It is dry with medium-plus acidity, showing soft, buttery caramel and toffee notes alongside lemon and concentrated tropical fruit. Overall, it felt like as a high-quality wine. 32.48€
Santa Carolina El Pacto Carmenere. Deep purple in colour, this wine has a very intense nose of ripe blackberry, with lifted mint notes, black pepper and oak. It is dry with medium acidity and high, structured tannins. The palate shows blackberry, black pepper and oak, with touches of vanilla and smoke. Just delicious! 19.49€
Quinta de la Rosa Grande Reserva. Very deep cherry in colour, this wine shows dark red fruit with vanilla, oak and spice, particularly black pepper. It is dry with medium acidity and medium-plus, grippy tannins. The palate is concentrated and fruit-driven, but the wine needs some time to open and reveal its full character. 29.99€