Chateau Moulin Bellegrave 2006

The Top 100 Wines: Chateau Moulin Bellegrave 2006

As good a 'basic' St Emilion as I have tried.

Plenty of body, good flavours without being particularly complex and a smooth finish. Thoroughly enjoyable with some cold meats and cheese. Might improve in a year or two but I found it pleasant drinking now and evidence that you don't necessarily need to limit St Emilions to Grand Crus or GC Classes. I'd look out for this again at the right price.

Hardys Crest Brut Rose Sparkling NV

Name: Hardys Crest Brut Rose Sparkling

Colour: Rose

Country: Australia

Region: South East

Year: NV

Producer: Thomas Hardy & Sons

Grape Varieties: Colombard, Sultana, Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol: 11.5%

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Purchase Price: £5.90 (half-price offer, Tesco)

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Notes:Maker's tasting notes –

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Somnambulist's verdict: We’re on the hunt for bargains, and to date it’s fiendishly difficult to find quality and cut-price in a sparkler. Half-price offers always present the chance of some unexpected value and so I cheerily grabbed a bottle of this Ozzie pink fizz, stuck it in the cooler and lit the barbie… While the prawns sizzled away I took some time to try and appreciate the delicate aromas - boy are they delicate. After a few sniffs I ended up with my conk halfway down the glass, inhaling furiously through my nostrils like a spin-bowler in a night-club dunny, just trying to get a recognisable scent. There’s some ‘gentle’ fruits there, let’s call them Summery: melon and strawberries, perhaps. Pleasant enough, but steamrollered on the first sip. It’s drier than an outback waterhole in a drought, and it's got a vicious acid sharpness. The kind that runs off that spin-bowler’s tongue when he’s busy sledging the opening batsman at The Oval, and which leaves a long, sour, pithy after-taste. Only a chilli-dipped giant prawn (or a six knocked straight back over the cocky bowler’s head) can deal with that…

Chuck this one in the bin of bum bargain bubblies and move on.

Grizzly Bear Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Name: Grizzly Bear

Colour: Red

Country: USA

Region: Central Valley, California

Year: 2007

Producer: Zimmermann-Graeff & Mueller

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon

Alcohol: 13%

Purchase Price: £3.33 (£10 for 3 offer, Sainsburys)

Notes:

Maker's tasting notes – A full-bodies red wine with masses of plum and blackcurrant flavours, finished with toasty oak and subtle chocolate notes. Excellent with steak or roast dinner.

Somnambulist's verdict: I don’t often choose Cab Sav varietals especially not at the bargain-basement end but somehow this found its way into the shopping trolley and I’m very pleased it did. This is a very quaffable red, loads of fruity flavours (I’d add cherries to the black fruits mentioned above) with a smooth long finish. I have no idea how a Mosel weingut ends up bottling Californian reds but it doesn’t really matter – at 3 bottles for a tenner I am filling the cellar with this excellent everyday drinker.

Chateau Cheval Brun 2005

Name: Chateau Cheval Brun
Colour: Red
Country: France
Region: St Emilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux
Year: 2005
Producer: Familie Riviere
Grape Varieties: 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 12.5%

Purchase Price: EUR 20.00 (wine merchants, France)

Notes:

Maker's tasting notes – deep and intense crimson robe. Fine nose of ripe grapes, with elegant toasted and vanilla oak aromas confirmed in the mouth. Elegance, balance and harmony.

Somnambulist's verdict: I’d not heard of this St Emilion before, and raised a slightly suspicious eyebrow given the similarity of the name to the famous Cheval Blanc. This was totally misguided, and proved to be the consensus favourite of all the wines tried over the holiday period. It’s unctuous, smooth as silk, with gorgeous rounded flavours. Very highly recommended.

Il Bruciato 2006

Name: Il Bruciato

Colour: Red

Country: Italy

Region: Bolgheri DOC

Year: 2006

Producer: Antinori

Grape Varieties: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 10% Syrah (and other black varieties)

Alcohol: 14%

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Purchase Price: EUR 44.00 (restaurant)

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Notes:

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Maker’s notes – Intense ruby red colour. Aromas of fruit and whole red berries (especially cherries) rather than jam on the nose. Light hints of liquorice and vanilla follow from the oak. Sweet tannins and a dense structure, with a return of the fruit in the aftertaste alongside a hint of saltiness, which gives the wine a lovely harmonious, lingering flavour.

Somnambulist's verdict: This was absolutely superb – rich, fruity, perfect with some fine hams and cheese, and very moreish. So much so that a small group got through 4 or 5 bottles in pretty quick fashion. Interestingly, one bottle was not decanted but served straight to the glass and was remarkably bland by comparison. A perfect reminder for our party about the value of allowing a good wine to breathe.

The Chocolate Block 2006

Name: The Chocolate Block
Colour: Red
Country: South Africa
Region: Franschhoek
Year: 2006
Producer: Boekenhoutskloof
Grape Varieties: 55% Syrah, 17 % Grenache Noir, 15% Cinsault, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Viognier
Alcohol: 14.5%

Purchase Price: EUR ?

Notes:
Maker’s notes – Spicy, dark chocolate surrounded by ripe berry flavours and a fine clove character show in the nose of the Chocolate Block. The Richness of the palate with ripe flavours is in balance with the smooth tannins. This wine has great length with a minimum of 5 years aging potential.

Somnambulist's verdict: Found the initial bouquet a little over sweet, like strawberry confection, but beyond that, wonderful. Deliciously rich, intricate blend of berries, exotic fruits, a touch of pepper and spice, and yes, chocolate. Not a lot of chance of it aging for 5 years in the Somnambulist household.

Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Name: Woodbridge Cabernet Sauvignon
Colour: Red
Country: USA
Region: Napa Valley
Year: 2005
Producer: Woodbridge Winery by Robert Mondavi
Grape Varieties: 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, complementary varieties incl. Malbec, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 13.5%

Purchase Price: EUR 28.00 (restaurant)

Notes:
Maker’s notes – Lush aromas and velvety texture envelop vibrant dark fruit flavors. Briary blackberry character mingles with complex violet, cola and spices nuances. Smooth, elegant style.

Somnambulist's verdict: Reminded me of cherry tarts for some reason. Which is weird as I don't really eat cherry tarts. Throw in a pepper edge on the nose, some black cherries and a fair bit of acidity. Easy drinking, and not much in the way of complexity. Wouldn't search it out...

Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2003

Name: Marchese Antinori Riserva

Colour: Red

Country: Italy

Region: Chianti Classico

Year: 2003

Producer: Antinori

Grape Varieties: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and selected others

Alcohol: 13.5%

Purchase Price: EUR 47.99 (posh restaurant)

Notes:

Maker’s notes – Intense ruby red colour with light garnet hues. Vibrant aromas of citrus marmalade, dried fruit and sultanas. Full-bodied, solidly structured lingering palate with a pleasantly tannic finish. Hints of liquorice in the aftertaste.

Somnambulist's verdict: Super-smooth with rich fruits that somehow captured that scorching '03 Tuscan summer in a glass. Brilliant. A real heavyweight that needs meaty foods or cheese (in my case a wonderful veal lasagne!).

Knipser Cuvee X 2003

Name: Cuvee X
Colour: Red
Country: Germany
Region: Pfalz
Year: 2003
Producer: Weingut Knipser
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet France, Merlot
Alcohol: 13.5%

Purchase Price: ca. EUR 38.00

Notes:

Maker’s notes – Very herbal aromas from black currant, tobacco, coffee and cedar.

Somnambulist's verdict: Complex, velvety smooth, a fabulous winter red. I have not found many German reds that I like but this is spectacular.

Chateau d'Angludet 2001

Name: Chateau d’Angludet

Colour: Red

Country: France

Region: Margaux

Year: 2001

Producer: Maison Sichel

Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot

Alcohol: 13%

Purchase Price: ?

Notes:

Maker's tasting notes - Very deep red colour, shot through with purple tints. Ripe fruit on the nose but incredible finesse and complexity. Same characteristics on the palate, dense, silky and elegant, with rich, ripe tannin structure.

Somnambulist's verdict: Not cheap but if you are going to splash out on a Margaux this is luxury in a glass. Advise decanting and allowing to breathe for at least an hour. Gorgeous.