Tesco Finest* Viña Mara Rioja Reserva 2007 £9.99
Baron de Ley
The nose is a bit farmyardy, a bit stinky. Lovely oaky Rioja. Plenty of vanilla. Lovely taste but the nose is worrying.
13.50%

Tesco Finest* Viña Mara Rioja Gran Reserva 2004 £13.99
Baron de Ley
Sweet, warm, appealing nose. Very savoury, developed, oaky taste. The better of the two wines, in my opinion.
14%

Simply Chianti 2011 £4.79
Cecchi
Quite a pleasant aroma for the price. Dry, rustic and probably fine for spag bol.
11.50%

Villa Taurini Negroamaro 2011 £6.99
MGM Mondo del Vino
Low on aroma. Spicy, savoury and quite pleasant.
13%

Villa Taurini Sangiovese 2011 £6.99
MGM Mondo del Vino
Very little aroma. Furry tannin. Quite acidic.
13.50%

Tesco Finest* ‘La Francese’ Montepulciano D’Abruzzo 2011 £6.99
MGM Mondo del Vino
Quite an appealing nose. Nice wine. Savoury, some oak. Easy drinking and quite interesting.
13%

Tesco Finest* Teroldego 2010 £7.99
Cavit
Not a great deal on the nose. Juicy acidity. Bright, light and cherry flavoured.
12.50%

Tesco Finest* Chianti Riserva 2009 £7.99
Piccini
Very, perhaps over-, ripe fruit on the nose. The colour is quite brick-red. Gripping tannin and needs food.
13%

Tesco Finest* ‘Ascheri’ Barolo 2008 £14.99
Cantine Ascheri Giacomo S.A.S.
1st bottle: Totally lacking the beautiful Barolo aromatics. This smells like prunes, which is pleasant enough. The tannin feels right, but the wine is old and tired. 2nd bottle: Much more like it. Fragrant and oaky. The flavour is bright and exciting, oaky and baked fruity. Delicious. If you get a dodgy bottle, take it back.
14%

Simply Garnacha 2011 £4.49
Bodegas Borsao
Warm and fruity aroma. Spicy and tasty. Great price.
13.50%

Tesco Finest* Old Vines Tempranillo 2011 £8.99
Bodegas San Marcos
Very dark, perhaps liquorice, aroma. Ditto the taste. Easy drinking, spicy and with juicy acidity. I think £8.99 is pushing it, but if they bring it down to £6.99, as they surely will, it's worth having in stock.
14.50%

Marques de Riscal Finca Torrea Rioja 2007 £18.99
Marques de Riscal
Crayzee orange label. I just knew this would smell wonderful Wow, it really is so inviting. There's a lot going on in the mouth. American oak, obviously, sweet vanilla but also some mint. I have just got to win the lottery. I really should be able to drink wines like this all the time.
14%

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