6/1/2017 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

I bought this for a stupidly low price from a supermarket in the Loire in 2014. I didn't expect much (and even thought it might be dead), but it was actually very enjoyable. Just textbook muscadet really - and marvellous with fish and chips. Wish I'd bought more.

12/11/2016 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

This is just singing right now. Lovely big red-apple depth without being overly honeyed or too oxidative. Excellent balance and medium plus length. My dining partner isn't a Savennieres fan, but this hit the mark. Really enjoyable bottle.

6/17/2016 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

Well made, but boring. Expect more for £20.

12/21/2015 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

This was my second bottle of this and I've enjoyed both greatly. I expected something tougher on the palate, but it was really quite easy drinking. There's a really deep expression of dried fruit and very respectable length. The alcohol is just right at 13.5% too. I think I paid about £13 a bottle, which is simply terrific value. My dinner companion thought it was a £20 wine.

6/21/2015 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

A really pretty nose of violet, briar fruit and graphite that jumps out of the glass with a bit of air. Luscious and juicy on the palate with good balance. Medium finish. Very nice now, but I think another year or so will really bring this into its own.

Improved steadily over a period of two hours. Quite a lot of sediment in the bottle. I suggest decanting and leaving for an hour before approaching.

6/6/2015 - wakeytim wrote:

Well passed its best, unsurprisingly. It's not totally dead however and there a signs of how it was in its pomp. It was enjoyable with a nice bit of morbier, despite the fact that its fruit and power were well diminished.

3/20/2015 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

Really enjoyed this. Decanted for a couple of hours prior to drinking. Strong and fragrant cherry and wild strawberry on the nose, real power on the palate, powdery tannins, good acid balance and a medium + finish. Drinking nicely now (particularly with food), but I expect the edges to smooth slightly over the next two to three years. Good value.

2/8/2015 - wakeytim wrote:

Thin, astringent, a bit mean. Fine, but hardly exciting.

1/10/2015 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

What a delicious wine this is. Beautiful as an aperitif or with cheese. Went beautifully with a nice bit of Comté. Really terrific value.

1/10/2015 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

I was worried this was well past its best, but although it's on the down-swing there's still plenty of life there.

Decanted for eight hours and served with braised beef cheeks. A beautifully perfumed nose, plenty of cassis and cedarwood. Lots of depth on the palate, like an intense strawberry reduction, and mouthwatering acidity. Not a great deal of length, but a very tasty claret nonetheless.

12/31/2014 - wakeytim wrote:

Big flabby fruit bomb. Very fruit forward, but little in the way of supporting structure. Not totally unpleasant, but pretty unsubtle. Gets pretty cloying after a while.

12/25/2014 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

I enjoyed this, but it was rather blown out of the water by the Fram Chenin Blanc 2013. That said, it had all that you'd want from a shiraz of this type - blackcurrant, pepper, firm tannin and a solid acid backbone. Everything in its right place, but not mind-blowing. Still, very good value I'd say. Could maybe do with a year to soften.

12/25/2014 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

I was so impressed with this wine. For a first vintage (I think) it's a cracking start. An attractive, demure nose of honey, lemon and straw translated to the palate, with excellent balance, depth and length. Served with Christmas dinner to a highly appreciative audience of family members unfamiliar with South African Chenin. A lovely wine. I look forward to more to come.

12/13/2014 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

A really enjoyable wine that benefitted from a bit of bottle age and an hour's decant. Deep hawthorn aromas and flavours alongside some plum and sweet spice, and a medium finish. Well balanced with soft tannins and medium plus acid. A great companion to beef wellington.

10/18/2014 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

Really good value everyday drinker. Deep straw colour and a honey, green apple nose, followed by the unmistakeable honeyed, beeswax taste / texture of chenin blanc. Good acid structure and a medium finish.

10/15/2014 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

Made in the classical style, this is a Rioja of incredible depth and exceptional balance. It provides a hug of strawberry, damson and plum, a firm acid backbone and soft, integrated tannin, and a finish which is both arresting and profound. A truly magnificent wine that will be practically timeless. 'Selección Especial' indeed.

9/7/2014 - wakeytim Does not like this wine:

I don't think I've ever been more disappointed in a bottle of wine. Decanted for five hours beforehand. Complex nose of apple, straw and caramel, but the palate was bland and watery, almost devoid of flavour bar a faintly acrid burnt taste towards the back of the mouth and no finish of which to speak. Really not pleasant at all.

7/5/2014 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

Wine underwent secondary fermentation in bottle and the wine maker decided to stick with it. Has a refreshing fizz as a consequence. Tasty without being especially complex. Dry, grapefruit, slightly honeyed flavour and texture, very good acidity balance, not particularly intense, medium+ finish. Not a massive amount going on, but very pleasant on a summer's evening.

12/25/2013 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

We had this as a Christmas day aperitif. I had high hopes - possibly too high - but it didn't really deliver. It was pretty neutral with no overt autolytic character. The acid was good but the mousse was a little aggressive for my taste.

I've always had a bit of a love-hate relationship with Nyetimber. This has confirmed my view that Chapel Down makes the superior English fizz.

12/23/2013 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

This is a delicious Musar. A heady, intense nose of raspberries, dates and raisins gives way to flavours of raspberry, strawberry, spice and smokiness which linger good and long. Crisp acidity balances with soft, integrated tannins. I would never have guessed 14% alcohol had I not read it on the label. So very harmonious and quite beguiling.

7/28/2013 - wakeytim wrote:

A bit disappointing, but possibly past its best. Pretty linear and lacking in depth.

7/27/2013 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

Took a little while to open up, but when it did it showed plenty of fruit, a touch of damson and gentle (pleasing) jamminess with a hint of pencil shaving on the finish. Medium body, possibly a touch acidic. Pleasant enough, but not pulling up any trees.

7/14/2013 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

A summer berry-bomb. Strawberry cordial balanced with just enough acidity to save it from being sickly. Pleasant enough, but takes a bit of getting used to.

6/30/2013 - wakeytim Likes this wine:

I enjoyed this rather more than I expected. It's light, well-balanced and relatively uncomplicated with fresh berry flavours, some background sweet spice and a hint of leather on the finish. I recommend chilling slightly. Altogether a very pleasant summer drop.