Goodbye Cold... Hello RIPASSO!

Hello All,

Feeling on top of the world after shaking the cold and a perfect post illness wine to review at the same time. 

Link: M&S Ripasso

Although it was difficult to pick out the detail in the flavours of the wine following the cold, one thing that stood out was, how lovely this wine is. 

I have tried the odd Ripasso before, mainly because it's similar in style to and Amarone or Recioto, the little brother of these if you like, but I have been disappointed in the past.

Marks and Spencer have jumped leaps and bounds over the past year with their wine, perhaps there's a new wine buyer or a new policy? Either way what they're doing is good from what I've sampled.

So on to the wine.

This wine had a fair few things going on, herbaceous  hints of liquorice and leather. Smooth fruit and subtle tannins. 

I matched it with a fantastic recipe from BBC Good Food, a Sausage Pasta Bake. This is becoming an all time favourite of mine. All the way down to the spinach the wine and dish seems to work hand in hand. I wasn't a big fan of spinach before trying it with this wine, but that's now changed because the herb-like nature of the wine seemed to work so well with it. Plus the tanic tone of the wine (a low whisper) didn't fight the sausages away.

A great flavour combination and a nod of respect to M&S.

A very well priced wine at £8.99 at the time of writing, and I believe for the next week or so M&S are running their 25% off 6 or more bottles promotion! Well worth a bottle or two!

The wine is available in store and online. 

Oh and before I forget, here's the recipe... give it go, you'll love it!

Link: Rigatoni-Sausage-Bake

Don't forget if there's a wine you'd like me to review, please leave a comment!

Just my luck, Ill all Weekend

Hi All!
Had a stinker of a cold all weekend, so the review this week is on hold until mid-week, but will be reviewing a fantastic Italian red in the week and a recipe that goes so well with it, a real autumn / winter warmer rustic dish!

A Date With Gemma

Well my first post and hopefully if you try this wine you agree its a beauty!

Moscato (Muscat) is a grape which I have recently become quite attached to. Having gotten to know the Spanish version Moscatel (mainly from around Valencia), I have found this light, refreshing and sweet wine to be a real treat.

The amazing thing about this grape and wine is that the Europeans want to get rid of it, and ship it over to us for next to nothing! Result!

Majestic Wines used to stock a real fantastic example for around £4.00, but I can't seem to get a hold of that one any more... which isn't the point of this blog "readily available wines in the supermarkets and shops". I'll link it anyway           

Link: Vina Tendida Moscato

A trip to London at the weekend led me to stumble across a wonderful sight, Oddbins! Having not realised they had just managed to stay trading, after being hit hard by the recession, I dove straight in.

The rest is history I found Gemma, an Italian beauty, with an ever so light sparkle and such an array of flavours!

This one probably doesn't need a food match, I enjoyed in a bit of a rush before heading out with family for a meal, which is OK because it's only in the region of 5% alcohol.

Link: Oddbins - "Gemma"

Welcome!

Welcome to the Weekly Wine Review

Each week, or hopefully twice weekly if my liver can deal with it, I'll be reviewing and recommending wines that hopefully are readily available across the UK.

I'm slowly becoming a big fan of wine, and love to combine travel, discovery and all things wine. Hopefully I can pass on some of my passion for wine to you, as wine is such a great social talking point and great to share with friends and family.