So following on from yesterday’s top 3 whites from the Waitrose Autmun/Winter wine tasting, it’s time to move onto the reds. Here’s my top 3 from the 70+ that I tried!
The Friday Night “Thank The Stars That Week’s Over” Bottle
Masi, Campofiorin, 2011, Rosso del Veronese (Veneto, ITA) @ £12.99
At only 13% this is lighter than most reds of this region of Italy, famous for its mouth busting Amarones.
This ones made from the same grapes as its more prestigious (and more expensive) cousin. It’s a very clean taste, with rose and violet flower smells and bags and bags of red cherry. You could pair it with things like braised beef, but it’d be great just on its own too!
The Special Occasion
Lopez de Heredia Viña Bosconia 2004 (Rioja, SPA) @ £21.95
Wow! I mean, just wow! You know when sometimes you drink a standard off the shelf Rioja and think “I don’t get what all the fuss is about!”?
Well this 11 year old single vineyard effort will make it all make sense! Tar, toffee, leather, prunes, dates, with loads of length in the finish. I wouldn’t touch food with this, I’d just sit on the couch and glug away!
The “Worth a Punt”
Aemilia Shiraz/Vranec/Petit Verdot 2013 (Tikves, MAC)) @ £9.99
Anyone out there drunk much wine from Macedonia before? Didn’t think so! Me neither to be fair. But when I was wandering round this one really caught my eye.
This is a special blend put together for Waitrose, and they were careful to make sure it had Shiraz in it so you’d recognise at least one grape. The wine is full of deep dark fruit and would go great with spicy stews and sausages.
