9/22/2012 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Fine, a fair degree of depth, smooth, but nothing exceptional. Broadly what you'd expect from this price point and variety.

5/20/2012 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Great depth, smooth but full. After many disappointing Riojas this was a pleasure.

5/5/2012 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Pleasant enough but missing that acidity that only New Zealand S-Bs seem to provide.

3/24/2012 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Bland on first opening but a day later (using a Vac-u-vin) much better, with depth and strong cherry flavours. No hint of tannin so definitely ready for drinking.

11/20/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Clean, crisp, pleasant taste of fruits. Good value.

9/24/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Very average (as often seems to be the case with mid-priced French wines).

9/16/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Pleasant enough. Dry, refreshing, very drinkable, what more can you ask for the money. I'd generally opt for the pinot/chardonay blend as having more depth.

7/17/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Surprising depth. A relatively powerful Pinot Noir with strong berry flavours and clear peppery aftertaste making each mouth ful memorable. Deep colour and strong flavours. Might benefit from another year but good now.

5/29/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Very pleasant, but nothing memorable. Smooth, easy drinking, some hints of berries.

4/24/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Good - but should be better given the price. Smooth, cherry flavours and some depth but lacking a real wow factor.

4/17/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Smooth, but with slight smokiness and lingering taste. Didn't seem overly old.

4/15/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Very typical NZ S-B but at only £5 a bottle represents good value. Not quite as refined as some of the other Malborough vineyards.

4/1/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

A classic Malborough S-V - not much more to say really...

3/6/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Bitter, no real flavour, generally disappointing.

2/18/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Fairly tasteless, nothing much to recommend.

1/21/2011 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Pleasant but uninspiring rioja. No strong flavours or taste.

10/29/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Sadly disappointing for what should be a premium rioja. Bitter and sharp but lacking any real depth.

10/9/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Hard to get excited about a pinot grigio! Fine, crisp, somewhat tasteless.

9/25/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Great wine. Good musty and spicy aftertaste and holds up well during the meal. Definitely a superior wine. Ready for drinking now.

9/3/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Better sauvignon blanc than most non-New Zealand although still not up to their standards. Crisp and very fresh, no real depth but refreshing and cuts through full flavoured food well enough.

8/28/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

A fairly standard Australia shiraz, smooth, drinkable, no unpleasant notes, but just enough mustiness and depth of flavour to lift it out of the run-of-the-mill. Definitely ready for drinking now.

5/15/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Average, even when decanted. No strong tastes, lots of tannin, nothing noteworthy.

5/15/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Interesting tastes of cherry, quite well rounded

4/4/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Reasonable first taste but rapidly loses all finesse, no real aftertaste and nothing special. Pleasant, drinkable but not memorable.

3/20/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Interestingly different taste - rather a sour cherry-like flavour that's not unpleasant but rather jolts you each time you taste. Well rounded without much tannin - clearly ready for drinking.

2/28/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Pleasant enough, goes well with chicken in creamy sauce. Not a particularly strongly-tasting chardonnay but perhaps better for that.

2/12/2010 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Disappointing for a relatively expensive wine. No strong smell and the taste was a little metallic and slightly unpleasant. No real depth or power to the wine.

12/12/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Pleasant and smooth but no distinctive taste - a typical mid-price Italian wine.

12/6/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Slightly above the average Rioja with more depth and strength, but still the familiar taste. No real lingering aftertaste but very pleasant. Ready for drinking in 2009 but would survive a year or two longer.

11/22/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Great depth and power. Strong plum and spicy taste, keeps its flavour right throughout a meal. Tasted alongside Bin 28 - clearly much better.

11/22/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Pleasant, goes well with food, but no real depth or staying power.

11/14/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Typical French sauv-blanc, pleasant but nothing outstanding. Nowhere near as good as NZ. No strong tastes or flavours, clean, fresh.

10/24/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

All pleasant enough but no finesse. Probably could last a few more year but no sign that it will mature. Goes well enough with casseroles or similar.

10/18/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Strong cherry flavour make this an interesting and versatile wine. Quite lightweight - well suited to those difficult meals where it's not clear whether a red or white would work best.

10/16/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Relatively cheap but fruity and pleasant, unremarkable otherwise.

10/4/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Very fruity, strong deep flavours but with the tannin held well in check. Probably drinking a bit too late but holding up very well nevertheless. A great wine for food like lasagne.

10/2/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Very average, OK but nothing worth commenting on!

9/20/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Pleasant but disappointing given the price - lacking in any differentiation over less expensive NZ SB.

9/20/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Tasted blind alongside Cloudy Bay and preferred the Montana. Outstanding acidity and taste right through the meal.

9/20/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

Rather bland without an strong flavour. When tasted against a New Zealand SB it was clearly not in the same class.

9/6/2009 - wilwebb1 wrote:

A perfectly good but completely uninspring Rioja. Good nose but taste was bland - not unpleasant but nothing to get excited about. Perhaps kept for too long, although the colour remained good.