Brancott Estate Terroir Series review - Tesco Wine

Below is my entry for the Brancott Estate Terroir Series taste panel run recently by Tesco Wine, which involved creating a short video to review two of the New Zealand producer's premium wines: the Sauvignon Blanc 2013 and Pinot Noir 2013. I've also included more detailed tasting notes underneath. Enjoy!

Pinot Noir: A mid-intensity 'claret' violet-rouge: one shade up from rosé. The nose is a little stunted, but blackcurrant, creamy cranberry and violey aromas are present. Fresh palate with crunchy cranberries and a slight oakiness. Tangy acidity, moderate tannins, medium-bodied. A fruity and eager wine, which would probably benefit from time in the bottle.

Sauvignon Blanc: An absolutely stonking Kiwi Sauvignon from a very promising 2013 vintage. Colour is virtually transparent with a lemony tinge, with an aromatic nose of mown grass, green bell pepper, fresh herbs and green apple. On the palate are assertive notes of tangy apple, followed by more herbs and green pepper on the mid-palate. Finish is precise, lengthy and minerally. Top marks - snap this one up while you can.

Viñas del Vero Luces review - Tesco Wine

Recently, I was fortunate enough to be selected for a Tesco Wine Community Taste Panel for the Viñas del Vero Luces range. Below are my thoughts on the 2014 Blanco, which I reviewed.

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Since its birth in 1986, the Viñas del Vero brand has been based in Aragon in northern Spain, at the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. Along with other winemakers in the region, Viñas del Vero were instrumental in the establishment of the Somontano DO, which joined its fellow Aragonese growing areas Campo de Borja, Calatayud and Cariñena as the fourth Denominación in the region. Within Somontano DO, Viñas del Vero today owns 700 hectares worth of vines and produces an annual output of 5 million bottles, utilising both regional and international grape varieties.

The wine I'm reviewing here is in fact an intriguing mix of both: the Luces Blanco 2014 is a blend of the ubiquitous French varieties Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, along with a dosage of the Catalan grape Macabeo (or Viura if you prefer). Attractively and artistically bottled, the liquid itself is also appealing: a pale greenish-gold with just the slightest pétillance visible in the glass. On the nose are fresh notes of sweet red apple, dry cider and apricot, with a grassy twang in the background. Fortunately, the mouthwatering aromas don't flatter to deceive: the palate too is generous, well-textured and flavourful. The initial flavours of the wine are consistent with the orchard fruit notes on the nose, and build up to something more fleshy and tropical on the mid-palate (melon?). The finish is slightly taught and tart, but this adds dimension and character to the wine rather than detracting from it. As a whole, the wine is delicate and soothing, and when coupled with its approachable structure (medium/fully body, low acidity, plump texture), it makes for a very good quaffer on which to sip on a mild spring evening. Overall, I found the Viñas del Vero Luces Blanco 2014 to be a wine of very good quality, and certainly one which tastes more premium than its modest price tag. I shall certainly be keeping an eye out for other bottles from the same winemaker in future, as well as from the Somontano DO in general. ¡Salud!