Turning to a new chapter in the on-going adventures in wine discovery, courtesy of Laithwaites. The box this month contains a range of wines – expect the unexpected! We’ll start with the sparkling wine, then onto a white, then move through a (very good) Rosé. There’s a good selection of three reds – from Australia – Laithwaites do seem to have a super selection of good-value and yummy reds from ‘West Island’. The last wine is one I’ll be uncorking on a video, so look out for that – a Touriga Nacional from Portugal.
Song and Dance Sparkling. A non-nonsense sparkler. It’s not going to wine awards for complexity, but it has a lovely zip of freshness to both the perfume and into the palate. One to get the party started. Juicy flavours of apple, grapefruit and lemon peel. A lightness and froth to the body, where just a touch of savoury, herbal flavours add an edge of interest. 87pts
Trimboli ‘White Duck’ Chardonnay/Pinot Grigio 2022 is a white blend (of the two grapes) from New South Wales. A pale straw colour with tinges of green. Aromatic and vibrant, taking the best fruit flavours from both varietals. The palate is equally fruit-driven, with grapefruit, peach, pear and lychee flowing on a zesty acidity. Crisply dry, with a touch of fuzzy tannin adding phenolic complexity. Notes of herbs, baking spice and honeycomb also creep in as you go. There is a creaminess to the fine texture, and a pleasing length to the finish. 91pts
McPherson Aquarius Rosé has that lovely pale coral pink colour that is so inviting. Quite floral and aromatic, with fresh herbal notes to go with the crushed summer berries. Slightly more ‘serious’ on the palate than the nose suggests – a light phenolic rasp of peppercorn and bitters, which is very appealing. Well balanced and with plenty of good juice. A super wine for the table. 91pts
Red Rattler Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot has that lovely combination of these two classic varietals where the Cabernet provides structure, tannin and weight, and the Merlot softy fills in the gaps, with a plush plummy fruitiness. A dense black-red colour in the glass, and with an earthy toast of oak to the perfume. A touch of mint, some spice and herbs, and masses of dark bramble and plum fruits. A great match for a winter casserole or just a good steak. 89pts
Kilikanoon ‘Baroota’ Limited Release Reserve Shiraz 2019 is the latest ‘limited release’ of the wine that was originally made as a tenth anniversary edition. Unashamedly big in stature, with lashings of oak and a power-packed palate that’s brimming with ripe, inky fruit flavours. Full-bodied, rounded and with a smooth, plush texture, there is still lots of fine tannin and balanced acidity here. I’d be enjoying this as it is now – but it would keep well and develop into an unctuous, mellow drop in another five years time. 91pts
Vinho do Fava Touriga Nacional 2020 showcases the favourite varietal of Portugal. The nation’s most famous wines are Ports from the Douro; but their table reds are gaining a lot of attention in recent years too, with wines from Touriga Nacional grapes even being crafted in Australia now. Robust and smoky on the nose, with spice and vanilla added to the dark red fruit notes. Off-dry on the palate, driven by a ripe fruit sweetness, and supple tannin. That lush textural feel makes this style quite an approachable proposition – nothing too hard to understand or complicated. I could drink this on its own, or with a tapas-style meal of charcuterie and cheeses. 90pts
