Pocket Vintages - wine guide, wine recommendations, wine reviews

Amarone 2005 - Sainsburys Taste The Difference

I tasted an amazing Amarone in a little Italian restaurant near Paddington station the other day and decided it is time that I went on a quest for good value Amarone wine.

This is the Sainsburys taste the difference Amarone della Valpolicella 2005 and since 2005 was such as good vintage, I pretended not to notice the £13 price tag (certainly one of Sainsburys more expensive wines) and stuck it in the basket.

Pur yourself a glass and you will see that it is a rich, blackberry juice thick wine, slightly browning round the edges, which usually indicates age but not in this case.  It is definitely produced to be drunk now, or within 1 year of purchase (in line with 90% of supermarket wines) so if you stock up then tuck in quickly.

It doesn't smell particularly interesting but when you taste it you will get a mouthful of smooth, ribena-like nectar, with just a hint of tannin to make it a great wine to drink with red meats, but equally good to drink on its own.

This is a wine that stands up very well and would grace any dinner table and be agreeable to even the most critical dinner party guests.  But I would decant it first, simply because the label does not do justice to the wine.

Overall, an expensive supermarket wine but I would probably buy it again unless I can find something equally good at a cheaper price. The mission continues....!

Pink Port

Did you know...

That Marks and Spencer, the bastion of British retailing, has launched a new drink called Pink Port?

Marks & Spencer is launching its Pink Port in the wake of soaring demand for rosé wine.

The tipple, which goes on sale today, is created by taking only a small amount of colour from the skins of grapes which grow in Portugal's Douro Valley.

Sue Daniels, the chain's port specialist, said: "Some people wrongly think port is the preserve of men but we have created a drink which will appeal to women because it is light and flavoursome."

However, Guy Woodward, the editor of the wine magazine Decanter, was unimpressed, describing the flavour as more like vodka and cranberry juice than a typical port.

"I suspect they're trying to jump on the rosé bandwagon, but it tastes worryingly close to the alcopop market," he said.

Vina Alarde Berberana Reserva 2001

A better than average Rioja, from the 2001 Vintage and benefiting from a decent amount of time aged in oak barrels, this wine is drinking well now.

It smells toasty and alcoholic and weighs in at 13% alcohol.  It still gives away a good mouthful of fruit and the tannins have mellowed to allow this wine to be drunk with or without food.

Try it with roast chicken or roast pork for a good value delicious combo.