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| 2006 |
Valcanto Syrah |
£5.95 (£71.40) |
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Bodegas Picqueras |
| This deeply coloured, richly fruity Syrah from Spain's value region, Almansa, is fermented in large oak casks, and given only a brief period in barrel. Elegant and smooth this is incredible value. |
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| 2005 |
Barossa 'Chook' |
£5.95 (£71.40) |
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Shiraz Australian Terroirs |
| Selected Barossa Shiraz make up this fantastic value red which is full of plums, berries and spice, supported by supple mature tannins and a hint of vanillin oak. |
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| 2006 |
Syrah d'Endès |
£6.95 (£83.40) |
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Verget du Sud |
| Violet-hued and scented, a fine, delicately balanced Syrah of stunning purity, excellent weight on the palate, and silky, juicy length. Syrah did brilliantly in 2006, perfectly ripe and perfectly healthy, all harvested before the damp autumn weather came. As Guffens says, as good as many Crozes Hermitages. |
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| 2004 |
Lirac |
£9.95 (£119.40) |
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La Dame Rousse Domaine de la Mordorée |
| Sryah dominated, with Grenache, Christophe Delorme's Lirac leads the pack with its rich berry fruit, notes of tar, tobacco and the 'garrigue'. A perfect wine for game dishes. |
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| 2006 |
Twins Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre |
£10.95 (£131.40) |
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Maverick |
| Amazingly well priced Grenache (70%), Shiraz (22%) and Mourvedre (8%) blend from Maverick's Greenock Rise and cooler climate Trial Hill vineyards. Full bodied and rich, with mocha notes, yet with a crispness and acidity that keeps the wine vibrant and immensely drinkable. |
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| 2006 |
Gladstone Vineyard |
£11.95 (£143.40) |
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Pinot Noir |
| Ruby red colour, this has typical Burgundian, earthy and forest floor characteristics. Spicy and peppery on the nose, it is a well structured wine, with flavours of raspberry and cherry. Careful use of good French oak has resulted in an enjoyable smooth wine which is gorgeous now. |
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| 2005 |
Crozes Hermitage |
£13.50 (£162.00) |
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Cuvée Albéric Bouvet Domaine Gilles Robin |
| Fabulous Syrah from one of Crozes Hermitage's rising young stars in a top vintage. Layer upon layer of ripe fruit and densely packed this is showing beautifully already, and if one could resist, will age very well. |
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| 2004 |
Gigondas |
£13.50 (£162.00) |
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Domaine de la Bouissière |
| 70% Grenache, 30% Syrah, a cuvée from vines high up for this appellation, and on north facing slopes, so that the emphasis is on mineral definition rather than sheer thickness. A real winner, with bright, succulent black fruits and lovely earthy, spicy notes on the finish. |
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| 2003 |
Chassagne Montrachet |
£13.95 (£167.40) |
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Rouge Vieilles Vignes Dom. Fernand & Laurent Pillot |
| Seductive and inviting clean pure nose of ripe blackberry, followed on the palate by fullish, meaty and rich fruit with good style and tannins. Close to a Pommard or Volnay in style. |
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| 2004 |
Rustenberg |
£15.95 (£191.40) |
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Syrah |
| Rustenberg's first release of Syrah (as opposed to Shiraz) is loaded with dark cocoa, plum cake, currant and fig, with a rich seam of ripe tannin leading to a powerful yet very well defined finish. |
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| 2004 |
Rippon |
£20.95 (£251.40) |
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Pinot Noir Rippon Vineyards |
| Nick Mills' biodynamically produced Pinot is bottled unfined and unfiltered after sixteen months in barrel. Immensely fine, with gentle flavours of strawberries, plum, smoke, spices and earth, the sweet tannins and crisp acidity build to a delicious, refreshing climax. |
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| 2005 |
Trial Hill Shiraz |
£24.75 (£297.00) |
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Maverick |
| Typically rich and full bodied in classic Barossa style,with dark chocolate and blackberry fruit and yet fresh and savoury on the palate, making it very drinkable. |
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