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This is a list of wines sampled at Vinopolis
in London by Angela, Dave, Steve and Malin on 17th of December 1999.
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Wine:
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Chateau Belgrave
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Saint Emilion La Grand Cuvee
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Producer:
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Dourthe
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Dourthe
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Vintage:
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1997
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1996
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Region:
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Bordeaux, France
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Bordeaux, France
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Grape(s):
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Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc
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Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon
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Price Band:
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More than £9
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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Here the vineyard has benefited from a treat
deal of investment and the vinification is carried out by a talented group
of individuals. The wine has an attractive appearance and is very expressive
with powerful fragrance of ripe fruit. The plate is rich, and well-balanced
with quality tannins.
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This wine is a beautiful, dark cherry, with
an expressive bouquet and aromas of ripe fruit. It also has a particularly
woody finish. The combination of this wine is elegant and complex.
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Stockist:
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Berry Bros. & Rudd Ltd
Enotria Wine Cellar Ltd
Farr Vintners
Laytons Wine Merchant
Oddbins Ltd
Safeway
Sainsbury's
The Wine Society
Waitrose
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Direct Wines
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Our comments:
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Easy drinking, strong nose, enjoyable.
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Dry, very dry
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Wine:
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Turning Leaf Zinfandel
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Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon
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Producer:
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Ernest & Julio Gallo
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Benterra Vineyards
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Vintage:
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1996
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1996
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Region:
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California
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Mendocino County, California
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Grape(s):
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Zinfandel
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah
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Price Band:
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£6 to £9
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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This medium to full bodied red wine had Zinfandel's
classic berry character with a gentle hint of herbs and black pepper.
Try this wine of intense varietal flavous with savoury meat dishes, including
poultry.
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A soft red varietal wine with cherry and blackberry
flavours. It displays complexities of pepper and cedar, and fragrant vanilla-spice
from oak ageing. Full-flavoured, delicious and certified organic. Enjoy
now, and through the year 2002. Suitable for vegetarians.
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Stockist:
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Budgens
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Thresher
Unwins
Victoria Wine
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Fuller's Wine Merchants
Oddbins
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Threshers
Victoria Wine
Waitrose
Wine Rack
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Our comments:
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Dryer
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Wine:
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Baron Philippe de Rothschild Cabernet Sauvignon
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Baron Philippe de Rothschild Merlot
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Producer:
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Baron Philippe de Rothschild
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Baron Philippe de Rothschild
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Vintage:
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1998
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1998
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Region:
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Languedoc Roussillon, France
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Languedoc Roussillon, France
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Grape(s):
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Cabernet Sauvignon
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Merlot
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Price Band:
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£6 to £9
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Less than £6
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Description:
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The deep colour suggests a wine with a powerful
character, and the bouquet confirms this with rich aromas of blackcurrant,
cherry and blackberry. The impact on the plate is immediate and classically
Cabernet Sauvignon.
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A youthful looking, deep velvety red wine.
This has lovely ripe cherry and red berry aromas. It has good structure
and the aftertaste is rich and ripe with overtones of liquorice, vanilla,
blackberries and plums.
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Stockist:
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Europa
Lords Food & Wine
Partridges
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Waddesdon Manor
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Europa
Lords Food & Wine
Partridges
Sainsbury's
Tesco
Waddesdon Manor
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Our comments:
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Sharper than merlot, quite heavy
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Good appearance, sweet nose, blackcurranty,
nice
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Wine:
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Oak Cask Malbec
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Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec
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Producer:
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Trapishe
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Bodega Norton
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Vintage:
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1995
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1997
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Region:
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Mendoza, Argentina
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Mendoza, Argentina
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Grape(s):
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Malbec
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Malbec
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Price Band:
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Less than £6
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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This excellent Malbec has an intense and beautiful
colour. Aromas of sweet berries and plum jam complement the plate. The
light oaking has given it an elegant smoky and vanilla touch. This wine
has a velvety texture and a soft, long finish.
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This is a ripe, gutsy Malbec. It has aromas
of plums, raspberries, tar and cedarwood, which follow through on the
plate. A lovely textured red with good fruit concentration giving way
to a long and harmonious finish. It even has the ability to age for five
years or more.
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Stockist:
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Dickinson's Wines
Wine Cellar
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Bermann Wine Cellar
Oddbins
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Our comments:
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Yes, full wine, one glass at a time, little
fruity, oaky
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Long taste, cushy soft. Long fruity, nice
with a meal
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Wine:
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Vina Pomal Reserva
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La Vicalanda de Vina Pomal Reseva
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Producer:
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Bodegas Bilbainas
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Bodegas Bilbainas
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Vintage:
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1994
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1995
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Region:
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Rioja, Spain
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Rioja, Spain
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Grape(s):
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Tempranillo, Graciano, Mazuelo
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Tempranillo
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Price Band:
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£6 to £9
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More than £9
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Description:
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Made exclusively from grapes harvested on
the "Vina Pomal" vineyard which comprises just over 100 hectares on a
plateau between the Ebro and Tiron Rivers. Round and smooth with considerable
body and an elegant hint of bitterness.
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From a "block" of wines called LaVicalanda,
within the Vina Pomal vineyard, this wine has been matrued in French rather
than the usual American oak berrels. A wine of great body and smoothness
in the "fruit-driven" style.
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Stockist:
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Winopolis Vaults with Majestic
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Oddbins
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Our comments:
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Nice, easy, dry, "if I am going to sit down
I choose this one".
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A bit harsh and dry around the tung. More
fruity than the other Pomal, short nice.
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Wine:
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Robert Mondavi Coastal Pinot Noir
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Robert Mondavi Coastal Cabernet Sauvignon
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Producer:
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Robert Mondavi
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Robert Mondavi
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Vintage:
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1996
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1996
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Region:
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Central coast California, USA
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North Coast California, USA
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Grape(s):
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Pinot Noir
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Cabernet Sauvignon
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Price Band:
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More than £9
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More than £9
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Description:
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From one of the world's premier families of
wine, this stellar wine contains abundant layers of cherry, rose and spice.
Light nuance of oak and silky tannins add complexity and depth on the
plate.
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From one of the world's premier famillies
of wine, this Cabernet Sauvignon is full of blackberries, currants, and
warm spices. It has a rich, ripe character, with soft tannins. For more
information on our family of wines, food or events: http://www.robertmondavi.com
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Stockist:
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Fullers Wine Merchants
Sainsbury's
Tesco
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Tesco
Wine Cellar
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Our comments:
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The smell is funny, not nice. Not impressed.
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Smother
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Wine:
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Beaujolias-Villages "Vieilles Vignes"
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Louis Jadot Beaujolais Villages
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Producer:
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Mommessin
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Maison Louis Jadot
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Vintage:
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1998
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1998
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Region:
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Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
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Beaujolais, Burgundy, France
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Grape(s):
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Gamy
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Gamy
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Price Band:
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Less than £6
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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"Vieilles Vignes" means "old wines", and the
vines which bear the grapes for this exceptional wine are aged between
40 to 80 years. A beautiful deep ruby colour introduces intense, refined
aromas of forrest fruits. The use of old wines, hand harvesting and careful
winemaking makes the wine particularly rich and complex.
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This Beaujolais Villages has far more weight
and character than is typical of the appellation. The fruit is very immediate
and appealing. Fresh and lively, this wine will age well for 2 to 3 years.
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Stockist:
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Averys of Bristol
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Europa
Fenwich's of Newcastle
Tesco
The Wine Press
Vicki's Wine Store
Wimbledon Wine Cellar
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Our comments:
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Extremely smooth, vanilla (Malin's
favorit)
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Vanilla, nice, smooth, not heavy
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Wine:
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Grande Vidure Cabernet Sauvignon
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Carmenere Reserva
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Producer:
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Carmen
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Vina MontGras |
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Vintage:
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1997
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1998 |
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Region:
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Maipo Valley, Chile
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Colchagua
Valley, Chile |
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Grape(s):
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Grande vidure, Cabernet Sauvignon
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Carmenere grape
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Price Band:
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£6 to £9
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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This wine has a deep ruby colour with intense
aromas of ripe red fruits, cassis and hints of spice. The fruit follows
through on the plate to give a complex wine with plenty of structure and
long lingering finish.
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Originally
a french variety brought to Chile in the 1800's, today it is seldom seen
outside of Chile. The grapes selected for this wine were handpicked from
MontGras Estate vineyards located in the Colchagua valley and after being
lightly crushed and fermended, the major part of the blen was aged in American
oak barrels. Deep violet in colour, it has an intense fruit aroma. Ideal
to serve with game and condimented foods. Visit Vina MontGras at http://www.montgras.cl |
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Stockist:
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Nadder Wines
Oddbins
Steven Garnier
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Vinopolis
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Our comments:
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Nice, easy, little dry. Smother than camenere.
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Quite fruity, very easy, short, drying after
but not really dry
(Steve's favorit)
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Wine:
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Plaisir de Merle
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Cape Reflections
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Producer:
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Stellenbosch Farmes Winery
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Vinfruco
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Vintage:
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1996
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1995
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Region:
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Paarl, Western Cape, South Africa
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Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Grape(s):
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Cabernet Sauvignon
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Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
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Price Band:
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More than £9
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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The colour of this wine is deep rich berry,
with aromas of strong ripe fruits and oak. Aged in French oak barrels,
the ripeness of fruit flavours is intense with soft tannins.
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A rare collaboration of the Cape's most sought
after winemakers; Neil Ellis, Jan Boland Coetzee, Braam van Velden and
Anton du Toit. This wine is round, mouth filling and complex flavours
with a long well-integrated finish of fruit and oak.
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Stockist:
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Majestic Wine Warehouse
Tesco
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Mark & Spencer
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Our comments:
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Quite nice.
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Very Good, I'll buy it. Dryer warmer.
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Wine:
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Podere di Stignano Chianti Classico
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Producer:
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Azienda Agricola San Vincenti
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Vintage:
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1996
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Region:
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Tuscany, Italy
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Grape(s):
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Sangiovese
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Price Band:
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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"The Chianti Classico Podere di Stignano 1996
is among the best of its peers. It has complex aromas, revealing red fruit,
leather, and oak tones. The plate is full and powerful, the finish impressively
long" Gambero Rosso - Italian Wines 1999.
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Stockist:
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Winefinds
(e-mail: sales@winefinds.co.uk
or web page www.winefinds.co.uk)
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Our comments:
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Hard, dry
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Wine:
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Deutz Marlborough Cuvee
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Producer:
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Montana Wines
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Vintage:
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NV
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Region:
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Marlborough, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
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Grape(s):
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Pinot Noir, chardonnay
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Price Band:
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More than £9
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Description:
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Full, bright in colour with a fine and steady
mousse. Yeasty and toasty on the nose, showing good maturity. Crisp on
the plate, full bodied, complex and well balanced.
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Stockist:
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Co-op
Oddbins
Tesco
Threshers
Victoria Wines
Waitrose
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Our comments:
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Yes, very easy.
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Wine:
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Penfolds Loonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet
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Producer:
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Penfolds
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Vintage:
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1997
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Region:
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South Australia
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Grape(s):
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Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon
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Price Band:
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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A wine that enjoys a world-wide reputation
for quality beyond its price, from one of Australia's leading red wine
producers. A classic Penfolds red; given 12 months oak-ageing, it is filled
with sweet plum and dark cherry fruit flavours with subtle oak and a generous,
warm rounded finish.
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Stockist:
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Majestic Wine Warehouses
Oddbins
Safeway
Sainsbury's
Somerfield
Tesco
Thresher
Unwins
Victoria wine
Waitrose
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Our comments:
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Easily gluggeble, rich, full of taste.
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Wine:
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Cotes du Rhone-Villages
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Producer:
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Domaines Michel Bernard
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Vintage:
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1998
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Region:
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Cotes du Rhone, France
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Grape(s):
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Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Cinsault
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Price Band:
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Less than £6
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Description:
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Working closely with estate growers, intentional
late harvesting adds extra concentration of flavour. The deep red colour
is a fitting "appetiser" for the wonderfuly intense, powerful aromas of
spicy ripe fruit and liquorice. A well structured wine on the plates,
smooth, full-bodied and generous
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Stockist:
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Sainsbury's
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Our comments:
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No, iffy
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Wine:
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Planeta
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Producer:
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Santa Cecillia
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Vintage:
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1999
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Region:
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Grape(s):
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Sicily, Italy
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Price Band:
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Description:
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Stockist:
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Our comments:
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Yes
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Wine:
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Seaview Brut Rose
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Jacob's Creek Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir
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Producer:
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Seaview
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Orlando Wyndham
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Vintage:
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NV
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NV
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Region:
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South Australia
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South Eastern Australia
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Grape(s):
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Pinot Noir, Muscadelle, Chenin Blanc, Semillon
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Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
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Price Band:
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£6 to £9
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£6 to £9
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Description:
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Rich, complex and flavoursome, this bottle-fermented
sparkling wine from one of Australia's top sparkling wine producers has
characteristic yeasty aromas and soft fruit flavours, crisp acidity and
a refreshing, dry finish in the classic Brut style. Renowned for its consistency
of style and value for money.
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This sparkling wine is a classic combination
of grape varietals which delivers elegant fruit flavours. The citrus and
toasted cashew nut flavours of Chardonnay are married to the fresh attractive
bread crust characters of Pinot Noir.
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Stockist:
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Mejestic Wine Warehouse
Oddbins
Safeway
Sainsbury's
Somerfield
Tesco
Thresher
Unwins
Victoria wine
Waitrose
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Asda
Co-op
Fullers Wine Merchants
Safeway
Sainsbury's
Somerfield
Tesco
Thershers
Waitrose
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Our comments:
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Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, different refreshing,
nice
(Angela's favorit)
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Too heady
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