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Everyday whites

Special whites


Everyday reds

                                   HTQI ratings    
A wine to seek out and enjoy as much as you can superbly over 140
A fairly reasonable wine worth trying, certainly better than its price suggests
111  to 140
Sound commercial wine for the price – goodish but no surprises
 90 to 110
A wine you should probably be thankful you didn’t buy, just try to enjoy at a friend’s  place –
65 to  89 points
If someone gives you this wine as a present, use it in the salad dressing or to de-scour  the kettle, or both sadly less than 65
  The HTQI is simply calculated by taking assessed value of wine divided by the actual retail price, so a wine “worth” £7.99 but costing just £4.99, has a HTQI of 799/499 = 160.  A really good buy indeed. 
       
Serious reds

 

 Harrison,Tate comments Outlet Price HTQI Date tasted
Chevalier de Lascombes, Margaux, Bordeaux 2000 An excellent example of what decent claret should be - well worth the money, race out and buy this.  Tons of ripe cabernet flavours, some oak and still lively.  Drink now or over next couple of years. Sainsburys £11.99 133 14th January 2004
Plan Pegau, Vin de Table, France Non-vintage Expensive for Vin de Table, but a sound old fashioned Cotes de Rhone style of wine, and much much better than lots of its betters.  Interesting ripe fruit flavours, plenty of body and totally OK   Majestic £7.49 93 8th January 2004
Carruades de Lafite 1996  Pauillac Bordeaux Enraptured by the wine precedent, searching hi and low for nirvana we struck out.  Big and gutsy as if wanting to be South African, this wine epitomises a triumph of misguided effort over finesse.  If you appreciate the bitterness of some northern Italian wines you will adore this mouthful of pain.  This wine is made for those who enjoy sprouts, black coffee and olives (simultaneously!).  For the rest of us, who can actually sense bitterness - then AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE    Majestic £27.99 25 1st December 2003
Chateau Bahans Haut Brion 1996  Pessac-Leognan,  Bordeaux Again second wine - this time Ch Haut Brion, a top Bordeaux.  Absolutely & quintessentially excellent claret.  Only the French can scale these heights of elegance, complexity and sinew.  Nothing over the top except the flavour - oozes class without deluging the palate with oomph.  We have no record of where & when we bought this, all we have is a recollection of (affordable) perfection.  Buy it wherever you can - this stuff is well worth £45. If only we knew ??   15th November 2003
La Reserve de Leoville Barton,  St Julien Bordeaux  1998 Second wine of a respectable left-bank Chateaux in a good year.  Still youthful nose, and oaky tannin a plenty - not yet accessible but serious enough to give the impression that it will be fun in a couple of years.  Nose reveals well-integrated oak.   One to keep till late 2005.  Trust us - its like buying a share that you are convinced the management and product are good enough to be rewarding in mid-term.  Majestic £14.99 105 7th November 2003 
Pirramimma McLaren Vale, South Australia  Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Big and soapy, smells cooked and classless.  Evidence that its rare to find as Ozzie red that matures interestingly - maybe its just too alcoholic at 14%, but we can do without this run-of-the-mill red.  Mind you, several people who tasted it with the wine above thoght it more "enjoyable" - Philistines! Majestic £9.99 75 7th November 2003
Les Terrasses Vinedo de Laderas, Alvaro Palacio  2000  Priorat  northern Spain A simple package from a hip region.  An affordable price from a trusty outlet.  So why does it taste so lifeless and uninteresting.  The usual (regional) hint of vinegar is not enough to justify the fancy price - leave it to the cognoscenti who can appreciate it, and opt for two bottles of decent Fitou.   Majestic £11.99 68 2nd November 2003
Fairview Shiraz Coastal Region South Africa  2000l  Not too subtle too be wasted on the masses, but an acceptably luscious wine which merits drinking now not cellaring.  Not classic peppery Shiraz, but an appealing fruity flavour.  Enjoy at this price. Oddbins £7.99 112 28th October
Errazuriz Syrah Reserva 1999 Aconcagua Valley, Chile From an unpronounceable valley, an equally unpronounceable wine.  Tons of new oak but the ripe syrah fruit is now in harmony.  Long flavours complement the balanced palate.  Good stuff, which knocks the socks off more bludgeoning Aussie wines or wafer-thin burgundies.  Reserve an evening soon for this Reserva. Unwins £10.29 119 17th October 2003
Quinta de  Roriz, Douro, northern Portugal  Reserva 2000 Made by the ultimate port family (the Symingtons), this is an interesting wine not constrained by the usual grape varieties - traditional port grapes are used and it shows on the nose.  For something different which has NOT been made with a purely mass market mentality, give this a whirl.  It won't improve much, but its big and hearty now - a winter warmer.  Wimbledon Wines £9.99 105 4th October
Pasiteo Fassati  Vino Nobile di Montepulciano  2000   DOCG Dull and boring, not even redeemed by generous mouthfeel.  (Perhaps somebody at Majestic thinks a certain number of these anodyne wines need to be sold, but we wish they would spend more time unearthing those excellent old Mosel rieslings!) Majestic £9.99 70 1st October 203
Olivier, Grand Vin de Graves Bordeaux (second wine of Chateaux Olovier)  2000 Second wines from the better chateaux of Bordeaux IN BETTER VINTAGES can often be really good value.  This one does not disprove the above.  Attractive classy bouquet, solid mouthful which will repay a few years in the cellar. Oddbins £12.99 100 29th September
Chateau Caronnes Ste Gemme.  Haut Medoc Boreaux  2000 A good vintage, a well regarded petit chateau, and a perfectly acceptable result with predominantly fruity aroma.  Still some tannin, but drink in 2004. Majestic £10.99 91 24th September
Saint-Aubin Le Paradis Hubert Lamy southern Burgundy  1999 Great year, understated presentation from a little known village.  Expectations high.  Soon dashed by a mediocre product.   Yes there is a classic & clean pinot aroma, and yes its balanced - but at this price we think that a tad more quality should embrace the palate Wimbledon Wines £12.99 69 18th September
Septombres 2001 Minervois, France Lots of marketing hype on the back label to encourage one to believe that this is something special.  It isn't Oddbins £10.99 63 30th August
Esporao Reserva 1999  Alentejo DOC southern Portugal Big and subtle with definite warm fruit flavour complemented by hint of oak - but mainly its fruit and more fruit.  Well structured in the mouth - but its not a steal even with classy longish after flavour Wimbledon Wines £9.99 92 2nd August 2003
Fairview SMV 2001 Paarl South Africa Not a timid wine at all - oodles of flavour - just a shame its seems more Mouvedre than Shiraz in fruit flavour.  Nice try for the inclusion of the white grape Viognier to soften and bring out more tropical fruit flavours.  Good structure and length - all it really lacks is a truly classy smell - the oak is masked.  Good value compared to most Cotie Rotie under £20 Oddbins £10.99 115 31st August 2003
Reserva Alentejo 2000 Sogrape southern Portugal Truly complex sweetish flavours of chocolate, coffee, ainseed, plums and whatever else!!  Soft in the mouth which is surprising considering the promise from the nose.  Long flavours which include oak.  (Made by the same people who make Mateus Rose and Sandeman port - much more like the latter!!) Majestic £7.99 125 20th August
Domaine Rochevine  1999 St Joseph, northern Rhone  France Stinky Rhone which doesn't go away with breathing.  Murky soapy texture - not a success at all which is disappointing after the excellent 1998.  Majestic £8.99 50 20th July 2003
Rodet Syrah Special Reserve 2000 Vin de Pays d'Oc, southern France Strongly plummy aromas, rich and enticing - classy.  Relatively full-bodied and firm tannins.  Decent wine, but at this price one really has to consider Australia, South Africa and the better wines of Chile Jeroboams £10.25 80 18th July 2003
Las Brisas Pinot Noir Leyda Valley, Chile Grown in a cool maritime climate to supposedly extract the best from the Pinot Noir grape.  But it has an unattractive stink to it which one would normally associate with high temperatures.  No wood, no class - avoid  Oddbins £8.99 56 15th July 2003
Mont Tauch L'Exception Fitou 2000 Jammy rich fruit smells with a just hint of the oak barrels (apparently) used in the ageing.  Big in the mouth, and well structured.  Finesse is not realy a word one would use to describe it. A large and amiable wine, best enjoyed now. Majestic £9.99 85 4th July 2003
Marques de Riscal, Reserva Rioja, Spain  1998    Pale colour, fine woody aroma and a well balanced palate - just what made Rioja so popular in the UK twenty five years ago.  Delightful length of flavour - charming. Wimbledon Wines £10.99 109 29th June
Paracombe Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Cabernet sauvignon 2000 Classy new oak bouquet and ripe cabernet fruit, still quite tannic but the tanninsa are almost lost in the massive mouthfeel.  A big wine with considerable length and loadsa flavour.  Just a touch biter, but the biggest problem is the price.

 

 Wimbledon Wines £16.99 85 25th June
Barbera d'Alba DOC Italy Conca Tre Pile 2000 Poderi Aldo Conterno Light in colour as one would expect, with usual tarry flavours on nose.  Relatively soft in the mouth not at all bitter, good mouthfeel.  Reasonably flavoursome aftertaste.  But, at this price we need a hint of class. Majestic £13.99 71 23rd May 2003
Kanonkop Estate Wine 2000 Pinotage  Simonsberg Stellenbosch     South Africa A massive wine which has been fully extracted and stored in majority new oak casks.  Even though it is "only" 13,5% alc, it feels like it would prefer to be vinatge port.  Lacks interesting fruit flavours. A front row forward, which some folk will find too assertive.  Not for sissies. Harrods £15.50 62 17th May 2003
Chateau Plo du Roy, Minervois, southern France  2000 A really big massive wine, with tons of fruit flavour, but not too tannic.   Not overly woody, and long after-flavours.  Big mouthfeel.  More guts than class. Marks & Spencer £7.50 92 25th February 2003
Errazuriz, Don Maximiano Estate, Aconcagia Valley, Chile  1999 Syrah  Reserva  Given time to breathe this whopper opens out majestically.  Not for the faint-hearted, this wine will keep for a year or two, but don't waste cellar space - drink and enjoy now.  Ripe plummy flavours predominate. Tesco £9.99 115 23rd February 2003
Domaine la Soumade, Rasteau, southern Rhone, France.  2000 Nice deep colour (so what!!)  Big but uninteresting.   Some folk will find this really appealing but there's nothing special here at all - but no faults either.  You wouldn't bother to cross the road to chat to this wine. Viviane's Cheeses, Richmond £10 75 20th February 2003
Kaituna Hills Reserve, Marlborough, NZ   Pinot Noir 2000 Light colour which is a good sign for Pinot noir grown in the New World - not too ripe.  Delightful raspberry and farmyard flavours that linger without exploding; with subtle support from the oak.  Drink now, its yummy.  Marks & Spence £9.99 125 18th February 2003
Cartuxa, Evora, Alentejo, southern Portugal  Reserva 1996 Made in almost desert conditions amongst cork and olive trees this wine is really has not justified the efforts.  Dull mouldly flavours don't excite, although it is at least well balanced.  For this ££ try Mouchao. Viviane's Cheeses, Richmond £18 58 7th February 2003
Vega Riaza Crianza 1998, Ribera del Duero, northern Spain Every so slightly volatile (vinegar) on the nose as a lot of wines from this trendy area are, but in the mouth perfectly OK.  Nice mouthfeel, and decent length - but is it a great wine or just an ordinary wine cashing in on the regions current celebrity - we think more the latter  Marks & Spencer £9.99 75 10th January 2003
Jacobs Creek Reserve Shiraz 1999  South Australia A wine developed by the "chaps in bow-ties" - brand extension - we love the basic one therefore we are bound to adore its expensive twin brother.  Almost, except that quality is not only measured by BIGNESS, also finesse and fruit flavour.  We found this just a tad too obvious, but it's probably very good at cricket.  Chile offers more at this price.    Tesco £7.99 87 4th January 2003
Volnay 1er Cru Volnay  "Clos des Chenes"  Burgundy  1997   Vincent Girardin Browning colour provides a warning that all is not well. A dull chocolate flavour greets the nose - which is a shame - no fruit; no wood even.  A tired & irritating mouth sensation with no finesse.  We are beginning to lose faith in this apparent young winemaking superstar of Burgundy.  Wimbledon Wines £28 39 16th December 2002
Fetzer Vineyards Barrel Select Pinot noir, Sonoma County, California 2000 Rich and luscious from the land that invented sunshine, but luckily Fetzer have not fallen for over-cooking this delicate grape. Attractive raspberry flavour complemented by the oak, and round softness in the mouth - most folk will be impressed. Solid, reliable stuff, not spoilt by finesse! Tesco £9.99
128		 13th December 2002
Babich Winemakers Reserve, Hawkes Bay, NZ Syrah 2000 Mid-way between Oz and Northern Rhone in style, sadly without much character. Inoffensive and forgettable, the sort of wine the Bulgarians do so well Tesco £7.49 80 11th December 2002

Villa Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 1999 Italy

 Ready for drinking, attractive and typical morella cherry flavours and well structured, but the price is too high - not enough class for the ££. Sainsburys £9.99 85 8th December 2002
Cornas, northern Rhone, France.Jean Lionnet 1999 Usual unpleasant Rhone/syrah stink when first opened, but patience is repaid a little. Well made, gamey fruit flavours but still too young in spite of weak tannins. Unwins £14.99 63 3rd December 2002
Hermitage, northern Rhone, France
1999 Cave de Tain l'Hermitage		 As above, but even weaker. If drunk without knowing the famous appellation it would be dismissed quite rapidly as vin ordinaire Sainsburys £12.99 54 1st December 2002
Domaine de Chevalier Grand Cru Classe de Graves, Pessac Leognan, Bordeaux 1996 A chateau famous for full bodied and slow-to-mature wines, from a good year should be quite a mouthful. And it is, almost. Still closed in terms of flavour, but certainly firm in the mouth. Arguably sacrilege to drink so young, but nice to imagine how overpowering it will be one day. How much are we paying for the reputation? Lea & Sandeman £25.95 77 30th November 2002
Amoskuil Swartland, South Africa 1999 A barbeque in a bottle, massive cooked fruit flavours. Bit rough in the mouth, but after the aroma you'd never expect a ballet dancer - this wine plays serious rugby. Marks & Spencer £8.99 89 29th
November 2002
Imperial Gran Reserva, CVNE, Haro, Rioja 1994 A wine that refused to get out of the bottle. Depth of colour is its only obvious characteristic - still youthful looking for such an old senor. But, so reticent to release some flavour that we questioned whether it had been censored by the Spanish inquisition! Balanced in the mouth, but what's the point. Majestic £18.99 37 28th November