Severe lack of posts

Sorry for the awful lack of post recently. Things have been quite hectic to say the least! When things calm down and return to some sort of normality, the posts will return!

Villa Wolf Silvaner

Villa Wolf, Silvaner, 2007, Pfalz, Germany.

Villa Wolf is owned the Dr Loosen group. As I love Loosen wine, I had high expectations for this wine - it did not disappoint! This wine is full of tart, green, granny smith apples; it's almost like a really dry cider, with hints of apricot. The palate is much softer with a really smooth, almost creamy texture. The cider notes are again evident on the palate, as is the apricot but with more stone fruits like nectarine and some tangerine too. The acidity is well balanced and not as sharp as some of the fruit characters that are represented in the wine. Amazingly well integrated oak. I can't remember having a Silvaner before - I really like this. This would be ideal to have in the garden in the summer! 4.2/5 (11.5% abv)

Great Spanish Syrah

Today was a better day. Had a very productive day at work and was so ready to open a bottle when I got home. I reviewed the sister wine to this wine on 26 October 2009. This was a great wine with a great label.

Bodegas Carchelo, 'A' Altico, Syrah, 2007, Jumilla, Spain.

Beautiful, expressive wine. Rich, concentrated blackcurrant and dark cherry with tar and spicy pepper. There are also subtle edges of rose petal. Smooth, velvety texture. The tannins are firm but don't overtake the wine. Great length, well balanced. There is some oak character but thankfully unlike a lot of Spanish wine it remains understated in the background, allowing the wild, dark brambly fruit to come to the forefront. Great wine. Definitely will be getting some more of this wine. 4.3/5 (14.5% abv) £11.99 Oddbins

Chilean Carmenere

This morning I woke up feeling like I needed a weekend! It was a long day at work - couldn't wait to get home and crack open a bottle.

Casillero del Diablo, Carmenere Reserva, 2008, Rapel Valley, Chile.

Out of the big branded wines - this one is really good and actually delivers decent tasting wine. I am quite partial to some Casillero del Diablo! Lovely big ripe raspberry and blackberry fruit with hints of plum and sweet cherry. There is a certain chocolatey-ness to this wine too. Nice, smooth texture to this wine with a bit of structure. Soft, supple tannins. There is some spice on the palate and edges of coffee. Lovely Monday night wine, great with the grilled lamb I am having tonight. This wine delivers well above its price point. This would be a great wine with a BBQ in the summer. 3.9/5 (13.5% abv)

Hand Picked Riesling

Knappstein, Hand Picked Riesling, 2007, Clare Valley, Australia.

The nose is full of oily lime and citrus fruits. This is all besides plenty of blossom, floral and meadow aromas. There is a clean, crispness to this wine. You can get some honeyed notes on the nose too. The oil, petrol, and citrus flavours are very present on the palate. Nice, steely minerality. This wine has good acidity, balance and length. This would be great, chilled down in the summer with a BBQ or a picnic. 4/5 (13.5% abv) £8.99 Majestic Wine

Penalolen Cabernet Sauvignon

I really feel like I need a weekend already - and it's only Monday! So, tonight I decided to open a bottle I have tried before. This is a comforting, re-assuring sort of wine - exactly what I was after.

Penalolen, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2007, Maipo Valley, Chile.

Lush, rich, opulent nose full of fresh cassis, blackberry and crushed raspberry. You can almost get blackcurrant jam on the nose too. The palate has lovely, soft tannins and a silky, smooth texture. The palate has fairly complex, dark fruit flavours. There is some well integrated oak adding some structure to this wine. The palate also contains hints of leather, mint and mild edges of tobacco. 3.8/5 (14% abv) £9.99 Oddbins.