The Northern Echo | Wine Guide

Smith and Hooper Merlot 2006 from Australia

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:13:57 +0100

There are some unusual names in South Australia but it in no way detracts from the quality of the wine.

Cantina di Merlara Valpolicella from Italy

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:57:17 +0100

This is a garnet red wine from Aldi’s fine wine collection. The source of grapes is Veneto one of the 20 states of Italy.

A red and a white Chilean

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:56:25 +0100

We start with a red this week called Chono, a 2006 syrah from the Elqui Valley - Chile’s most northerly wine growing region.

Castillo Establés Gran Reserva 1999

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:42:55 +0100

The above wine has two significant features.

Rioja v Claret

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:57:45 +0100

Wine is of course a matter of taste and there are many types of Rioja and even more of Claret.

Espigueiro Vinho Verde 2007 from Portugal

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:35:49 +0100

I have a Portuguese wine this week with a famous name - Vinho Verde. This is actually the name of the region North of the River Douro to the border with Spain.

Point West Touriga Nacional from Portugal

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:16:57 +0100

The Estremadura region north of Lisbon seems to be exporting more wine to the UK lately.

Fernão Pires 2006 from Portugal

Mon, 11 Aug 2008 12:07:32 +0100

Portugal’s wine regions are categorised into, D.O.C. – reserved for the best growing regions (the wine itself doesn’t have to be first rate) but that’s the way to bet.

Pléyades Shiraz 2007 from Spain

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:38:00 +0100

This week's wine is an old world type Shiraz which a few years ago would have been called syrah.

Montes Cabernet Sauvignon / Carmenere 2006 and Waiki Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - Chile

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:16:00 +0100

Two wines from South America this week. The first is from the very good company of Montes, whose wines are usually a little dearer than the £6.39 promotional price tag at Morrisons.