Simon J Woolf – Wine Reviews Database

Day: 18 January 2021

Sa Defenza – Deminera 2019

A little reduced and lacking in expression on the nose, but this turbo-charged Cannonau (Grenache) has amazing fruit purity and drive. It’s hard to get the head around, but this is a wine with 15.5% alcohol that has loads of Read more

Sa Defenza – 3 / 4 2019

Ferm and maceration in steel, 2 days verment, 15 days semidano, 1 year ageing in steel. Floral on the nose, with some notes of kiwi and lychee. Quite spicy on the attack, with rounded, ripe apricot and yellow plum. Attractive Read more

Sa Defenza – Furau 2019

A frizzante that bizarrely seems to have oxidised. I don’t know whether this was intentional or not. The colour is on the brown side of pink, and the fruit feels very bruised and a little tired. The nose has some Read more

XXVI Talhas – Tinto do Tareco 2020

Joyful and characterful talha red, with beautiful fruit, subtle tannins, loads of freshness and that slight raisined hint that seems to be very typical of this style. It’s hard to imagine a better benchmark for this style – there is Read more

XXVI Talhas – Palhete do Tareco 2020

A red/white blend that’s very traditional in Alentejo – sometimes called “Petroleiro” (petrol coloured) – this has a a hugely appealing deep red hue. It’s packed with crunchy red berry fruit, and pleasantly spiky tannins. Being a red/white blend, there’s Read more

XXVI Talhas – Branco do Tareco 2020

Super fresh with charming white blossom and white peach perfume. The idea here is to give as close as possible to the true experience of drinking straight from the talha. And it works. Attractive light russet brown hue, with beautiful Read more

Škegro Family Winery – Carsus Trnjak 2017

Tight and full of red cherry fruit and acidity, this is a great example of a still relatively rare grape variety. I love this wine from Škegro every year – it has more lift and firmer tannins than the lightweight Read more

Škegro Family Winery – Krš Crni 2018

I always think of Blatina as a lightish grape variety, so it’s slightly strange to taste this 14.5% monster! That said, the fruit is charming – concentrated but full of supple, ripe cherry and plum. The structure means business too Read more

Škegro Family Winery – Carsus Blatina 2016

The nose promises a pure fruited expression of this indigenous variety, but sadly the palate feels slightly tired and over oaked. There is some attractive red cherry fruit, but the oak really distracts. The structure is soft and overall the Read more

Škegro Family Winery – Krš Orange 2018

Appealingly rustic nose with some bruised apple, dried herb and a subtle medicinal hint (nappies) – if it’s brett, it’s very subtle and kinda fun. Nice fresh acidity, soft tannins and altogether very well balanced. An easy drinking orange that Read more