April's Recommendations
We rate our wines out of a 100-points scale.
Our reviews and recommendations are completely independent and we do not have any commercial affiliation with the importers and/or retailers listed.
Please note that prices are correct at the time of our tastings/reviews but are subject to change without us being notified.
Sparkling
Vilarnau Cava Brut Reserva NV - 89pts
DO Cava, Spain, Sparkling White, 11.5% abv, natural cork closure
Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo
Pairs nicely with: Aperitif.
This is a stylish cava using the traditional Catalan grape varieties for a fine-textured, appley mousse with a hint of biscuity bottle development adding a degree of complexity, and tapering to a crisp dry finish, all made doubly worthwhile by its promotional price of £9, as distinct from the £12 list price, until 15 April.
£12 available from Tesco (£9 until 15 April.)
Deutz Vintage Champagne 2012 - 92pts
Champagne, France, Sparkling White, 12% abv, natural cork closure
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Pairs nicely with: Aperitif, white fish.
The mesmering toasty, floral aromas of this elegant vintage Champagne from Deutz in the grand cru village of Aÿ derive from the wine’s five years on its lees in bottle, while the complexity of flavour, combining as it does apple, vanilla and toasty notes, is enhanced by a sumptuously rich mousse etched with fine acidity. Ministry’s current discounted price of £45.99 makes it one of the best vintage buys around.
£54.99 available from Ministry of Drinks
Alfred Gratien The Society’s Champagne Brut NV - 90pts
Champagne, France, Sparkling White, 12.5% abv, natural cork closure
45% Chardonnay, 27.5% Pinot Noir, 27.5% Pinot Meunier
Pairs nicely with: Aperitif, seafood, fresh goat’s cheese.
The Wine Society is known for forging partnerships with excellent producers to make their own range of extremely good value wines and this champagne is here to once again prove it. Fresh yet robust, the Chardonnay dominated blend has a citrus zing underpinned by a nuttiness given by the base wines’ long fermentation in small casks and extended bottle age. Elegant and long finish.
We couldn’t be happier that The Wine Society will be pouring it at our upcoming Champagne & Sparkling Wine Festival.
£33 available from The Wine Society (or 6x5 at £27.50)
Dry White
Pazo Señorans Selección de Añada Albariño 2008 - 94pts
Rías Baixas, Spain, Dry White, 13% alc, natural cork closure
100% Albariño
Pairs nicely with: Grilled scallops.
A really delicious herbal and peach scented wine with spectacular bottle age manifesting in a slightly waxy, honeyed perfection, all offset by zesty citrus acidity. Dazzling.
£39.50 available from The Wine Society
Value choice of the Month
Cantine Rallo Grillo NV - 89pts
Sicily, Italy, Dry White, 12.5% alc, screwcap
Grillo, Zibibbo
Pairs nicely with: Meaty fish such as monkfish.
A great value spring white bursting with yellow plum and white stone fruit flavours with a floral finish from the sprinkling of Zibibbo in the blend. Attractive weight and texture.
£6.25 available from The Wine Society
Domaine de Riaux Pouilly-Fumé 2017 - 92pts
Loire, France, Dry White, 13% alc, natural cork closure
100% Sauvignon-Blanc
Pairs nicely with: Salads, cheese, light white fish.
Incredibly pretty and refreshing with notes of grass, elderflower and flint. The palate is refined, taut and tight with white pepper and grapefruit. Long and elegant with juicy acidity.
£15.50 available from The Wine Society
Villa Barthenau Vigna San Michele Pinot Bianco 2016 - 90pts
Alto Adige, Italy, Dry White, 13.5% alc, natural cork closure
100% Pinot Bianco
Pairs nicely with: Chicken, seafood and shellfish.
Pretty aromas of ripe yellow fruits with some spiced apple and apple blossom notes. This is interesting, waxy, layered with great length, minerality and texture.
£22.50 available from The Wine Society (Available 26th April.)
Château Doisy-Daëne Bordeaux Blanc Sec 2017 - 95pts
Bordeaux, France, Dry White, 13% alc, natural cork closure
100% Sauvignon Blanc
Pairs nicely with: Roast chicken.
This is quite simply a lovely wine with notes of quince, grass, herbs, spice and a waxy edge. This is utterly delicious with great acidity, poise and length. Balanced and pure….. class in a glass.
£20 available from The Wine Society
Kolonics Somloi Furmint 2017 - 89pts
Somló, Hungary, Dry White, 13% alc, natural cork closure
100% Furmint
Pairs nicely with: Chicken tagine and pork chops.
Really ripe, layered tropical fruit notes of guava and some lighter quince with an interesting savoury tang to the wine. Ripe and textured with a suggestion of sweetness as the fruit is so ripe.
£13.50 available from The Wine Society
Blind Spot Clare Valley Riesling 2018 - 90pts
Clare Valley, Australia, Dry White, 11% alc, screwcap
100% Riesling
Pairs nicely with: Seafood and spicy food such as Thai.
Delicious! A really classic apple, violets, lime and tangerine scented Riesling with zesty acidity and interest. Great value and a very, very nice drink.
£8.95 available from The Wine Society
Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Grand Cru Brand 2014 - 93 pts
Alsace, France, Dry White, 12.5% alc, natural cork closure
100% Riesling
Pairs nicely with: Mild Thai chicken curry, roast chicken, roast sea bass.
Four and a half years from harvest, and this biodynamic Alsace grand cru Riesling is starting to develop aromatic notes of toast and lime while the palate is opulent and intensely flavoured with juicily exotic peach and citrus fruits and the finish duly balanced by a crisply defined, almost salty, acidity.
£35.85 available from Justerini & Brooks
Domäne Wachau Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Terrassen 2017 - 88 pts
Wachau, Austria, Dry White, 12.5% alc, screwcap
100% Grüner Veltliner
Pairs nicely with: Smoked salmon, smoked mackerel, dressed crab.
Showing greeny glints in the glass, this classic Austrian Grüner is refreshingly aromatic with notes of green apple and pepper while the medium-bodied palate is juicy-textured and delightfully dry, which makes the whole thing moreishly drinkable, on its own or with food.
£14.49 available from Davis Bell McCraith
Woodlands Wilyabrup Chardonnay 2016 - 91 pts
Margaret River, Western Australia, Dry White, 13.5% alc, screwcap
100% Chardonnay
Pairs nicely with: Roast monkfish, pan-fried sea bream.
A light touch of toasty oak brings a vanilla note to the peachy quality of the vivid, full-bodied fruit which is creamy and nutty textured thanks to its sojourn on the lees in cask with a refreshing grapefruity acidity on the finish.
£18.28 available from Corking Wines
Elgin Vintners Chardonnay 2016 - 89 pts
Elgin, South Africa, Dry White, 13% alc, screwcap
100% Chardonnay
Pairs nicely with: Moules marinières.
From the ocean-cooled cool climate Elgin at the southern tip of the African continent, this is a well-crafted Cape Chardonnay, lightly oaked to enhance the ripe, pear and stone fruit quality of the variety and topped off by a mouthwateringly refreshing, limey acidity.
£15.29 available from Allaboutwine.com
Value choice of the Month
Domaine Félines Jourdan Picpoul de Pinet 2018 - 88 pts
Languedoc, France, Dry White, 13.5% alc, screwcap
100% Picpoul de Pinet
Pairs nicely with: Crab, seafood, tapas.
The new vintage of one of the best Picpoul de Pinets brings added mouthwatering freshness to this stainless-steel fermented, made-for-seafood dry white whose energetic, appley zip and zing ends on a crisp, dry citrusy note. The perfect Springtime sipper.
£8.50 available from The Wine Society
Rosé
Contesa Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2018 - 90pts
Abruzzo, Italy, Dry Rosé, 13.5% alc, screwcap
100% Montepulciano
Pairs nicely with: Charcuterie, paella and salads.
An amazing bright pink, youthful colour with generous aromas of bright strawberry and ripe cherry. A really cheery wine that is utterly enjoyable, fresh and balanced. Dry but ripe this is a tasty glass of rosé.
£8.25 available from The Wine Society (Available 26th April.)
Dry Red
Château Batailley 2009 - 95 pts
Pauillac, Bordeaux, France, Dry Red, 13% alc, natural cork closure
Cabernet Sauvignon dominant
Pairs nicely with: Shoulder of lamb.
An exceptional wine from a great vintage this is drinking beautifully now with some very attractive bottle age leading to well-integrated spicy notes from the oak and poised black and red fruits with a pencil lead finish. Excellent.
£50 available from The Wine Society
Wine of the Month!!
Sassotondo San Lorenzo Maremma Toscana 2013 - 90pts
Tuscany, Italy, Dry Red, 14% alc, natural cork closure
100% Ciliegiolo
Pairs nicely with: Red meats such as rich ragù, casseroles and charcuterie.
Made from the little-known Ciliegiolo grape this wine is extremely beguiling with fragrant spicy oak notes and layers of ripe bramble fruit, kirsch, cherry, compote notes and black cherries and Morello on the palate. Delicious.
£22 available from The Wine Society
Beronia Rioja Reserva 2014 - 89 pts
Rioja, Spain, Dry Red, 14% alc, natural cork closure
100% Tempranillo
Pairs nicely with: Lamb cutlets, tapas.
Made from pure Tempranillo, this elegantly medium-bodied Rioja is imbued with spicy aromatics and succulently ripe cherry and strawberry fruit nicely rounded by oak to produce a traditional Spanish style with evolving silky tannins and mouthwateringly juicy acidity.
£14.99 available from the Oxford Wine Company
Lethbridge Pinot Noir 2016 - 91 pts
Geelong, Victoria, Australia, Dry Red,13% alc, screwcap
100% Pinot Noir
Pairs nicely with: Guinea fowl, pan-fried duck breasts.
Benefiting from the cooling breezes that sweep into the Mornington Peninsula from the Southern Ocean, this is a delightfully perfumed, medium-bodied Aussie Pinot Noir with an opulent cherry and strawberryish quality of fruit and a stylish veneer of spicy oak that brings complexity and velvety texture to a long finish.
£27.99 available from Allaboutwine.com
Wine of the Month!!
Giornata Barbera 2017 - 90pts
Paso Robles, California, USA, Dry Red,13% alc, natural cork
100% Barbera
Pairs nicely with: Pasta dishes, spare ribs.
Excellent Barbera from Paso Robles, who knew? Well we now know that Brian Terrizzi’s winemaking produces a sumptuous California red with an invitingly spicy, cherryish nose and deliciously opulent, medium-bodied, sweet-and-savoury cherry fruit marked by Barbera’s classic, juicy acidity.
£21.49 available from Noel Young Wines