Beaujolais Nouveau 2010, Georges Duboeuf

Tasted 19/12/2010. 12% ABV. Waitrose, £5.99. Georges Duboeuf. Bright red, lovely gamay character on the nose. A little short on the finish but pleasant enough. A solid producer, this is a good value wine and all I need from Nouveau. Drink now! 14.5 / 20

Chianti Riserva DOCG 2007 'Piccini'

Tasted 19/12/2010. 13% ABV. Marks and Spencer £9.99. Another of the Piccini portfolio from this large Tuscan producer, we think this might be the same as the Tesco Finest version. Bright cherry red, full, rich nose with toasted aromas. Cherries and vanilla on the plate, smooth and well made. From 2011, 16 / 20

Blason de Bourgogne, AOC 2008

Tasted 22/12/10, recommended by Alex and Jane. Widely available UK, currently underpriced at £7 in Budgen (reduced from a very overpriced £14). Hautes-Cotes de Beaune. Not my usual 'cup of tea' but a good value everyday Burgundy. Very light cherry red colour. Nice youthful strawberry fruit nose, hint of cured ham. Quite pleasant Pinot Noir character on the palate – cherries, a short finish and dry with soft tannins. Not much evidence of oak, about ready to drink now.14 / 20

Casillero del Diablo Reserva, Central Valley Chardonnay, 2008

Tasted 07/12/10, 75cl, 13.5%. Widely available UK, c.£7. Though it says 'reserva', this is basically Concho y Toro's entry level brand in their CdD portfolio. It's a Central Valley blend. However, as is often the case with this company, even their basic wines are better than your average New World 'varietal gluggers'. Very good tropical fruit on the nose, vanilla and apricots on the palate. Zesty and well balanced. Excellent value for money. Drink now. 15/20
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Barbera d'Asti DOC Superiore Fratelli Martini 2007

Tasted 01/12/10, 75cl, 13.5%. About £9 UK retail. A lovely example of the richer Barbera d'Asti style. 100% Barbera, aged in old oak. Dark red colour, rich cherries and mixed spice on the nose, dark fruits on the palate. Medium bodied with a layer of vanilla masking the fruit to some extent. Needs maybe another year. From 2011, 16.5 / 20.

Carta Roja Gran Reserva DO, Jumilla 2001

Tasted 28/11/10 with Tom, 75cl, 13.5% ABV. Light cherry red, lots of oak on the nose. A good expression of the Monastrell grape. Red fruit aromas, and lots of ripe plum and vanilla on the palate. A good wine from an up-and-coming region. Showing good age, ready now. From 2010, 15.5/20

The new Chelsea and Fulham Wine Society now launched

See www.cfwinesociety.org for details of the new wine tasting club, starting in Spring 2011
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Humberto Canale Black River Reserve 2006, Mendoza

Tasted 25/11/10, at WHICH group. Available at the Gaucho restaurant shop, Swallow Street, W1. 14% ABV, 100% Cabernet Franc. Dark brick red colour, gamey nose, hint of stewed fruits over-extraction?
Lovely berry fruits on the palate, big, powerful wine, rather fruit driven and a little unbalanced but very enjoyable. 16.5/20

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Zeyssolff Reserve Particuliere Pinot Noir AOC, Alsace, 2009

Tasted 4/2010 and 11/2010, 14% ABV. n/a UK, about £10 ex-cellars. An incredibly good wine in a fine year. Never tried Alsatian pinot noir? Well, this is a good one. Pale red-brown, no sign of age at all. Vibrant cherries and boiled sweets on the nose. Initially closed.Slightly tannic but drinking well already. Good strawberry drops on the palate with a long-ish finish. A fine Alsace estate that is a bit 'below the radar' in the UK. There is a private import to the UK. Let me know if you are interested. Ready now. 16.5 / 20.

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Pinot Noir, Casablanca Valley, 2008

Tasted with Chris and Fran, 11/06/10, 14% ABV, about £12 UK retail (e.g. Majestic). From  La Escultura Estate, this is classed as a speciality wine made with 'spontaneous yeasts' from vines planted in 1996. Beautiful bright pink colour, strawberries, rosehips and toast on the nose.Lovely balance with forward fruit and soft tannins and a superb finish. Complex and elegant. from 2010. A great New World Pinot Noir with a twist. Top Burgundy it's not (in style, at least) but it certainly is great quality and excellent VFM. 18.5/20

Trivento Golden Reserve Malbec, 2007

A fantastic wine, well deserving of its 90 Parker Points. Tasted 6/11 and 11/10, 14.5% ABV, about £11 UK retail. It is said that Argentina is the king of Malbec, in which case this is a jewel in the crown. Dark ruby colour, mint and chocolate on the nose, dark fruits in the mouth, rich and elegant, youthful and vibrant, a lovely wine: a little tannic and needs longer but excellent finish. From 2011, 18.5/20

Duas Quintas, Douro 2005

Tasted various times, 13.5% ABV. (TourNac, TintaRoriz and TourFranca) Ramos Pinto's house red. €9 duty free, about £10 UK. A lovely blackcurrant nose, and a hint of spice and plums. Dry, forward, a little tannic. A layer of vanilla covering the fruit but a lovely, balanced wine. 16
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