Some lovely wine recommendations for spring 2016

Happy Mother’s Day! I hope you’re all having a wonderful day. Since I’ll be opening a special bottle today to celebrate, it seems like a perfect day to share the wines I’ve been drinking recently.. I do write about all the wines I try on Vivino, so please do follow me there (and start an account to keep track of your own wines, it’s great fun).

This week, Mr E and I had a little alone time at our favourite little wine shop/deli, No 2 Pound Street in Wendover. We pop over and try some of their wines by the glass and their delicious deli plates with local meats, cheeses, breads and chutneys. We loved this Chilean Clos des Fous Chardonnay 2013 - not a classically oaky Chardonnay but appley, fresh and not too acidic.

My next pick was discovered on board the Disney Dream on my trip with Amy. This 2012 Seven Daughters Pinot Noir is a perfect red to sip on holiday as it’soft and light bodied. It’s full of those yummy sweet shop flavours of strawberries and vanilla that keep me coming back to Californian Pinot Noir too. Delicious.

Picked up in Waitrose, this £6 bargain bottle reminded me how much I like Torrontes. The Tilimuqui Fairtrade Organic Torrontes 2013. I don’t like my white wines very dry and acidic (hence my love for poor old Chardonnay) and this Argentinian is fragrant, floral and yummy. The scent reminds me of the fragrance of Muscat, but with a citrus hit.

After Mr E got the good news about his job, we cracked open this lovely wine very generously sent to me by Miles (you’ll find him on Vivino and Twitter under his code name: Red Sipper!). Apparently the Domaine O Stranger Stranger Merlot is only produced in exceptional years (this was a 2010) and this is evident in the glass. Incredibly smooth and velvety, loads of rich black fruit and a wonderful smokiness. Best wine of 2016 so far. No pressure!

I’ve also been meaning to tell you about the Catena Alta Chardonnay that Sam bought us for Christmas (£25 in Majestic, which is very generous of him). Delicious buttery Chardonnay with pleasant minerality (I’m just starting to really understand this now - everyone is different, but for me it’s the almost chalky taste that we get in our water round here!) and an intense hit of aromatic melon and pineapple. Yum

Another Waitrose bargain, the Bear Haven Chardonnay was on offer at Waitrose, but even now it’s back up to full price (£7.99) it’s worth buying - a delicious creamy Chardonnay with loads of peachy freshness.

Finally, we’ve bought loads of this and it continues to impress - Dark Horse Chardonnay is just delicious - sunny days and apple pie in a glass. A bargain at just £6.50

Whatever you’re drinking today, and whether you’re celebrating being a mum, having a wonderful mum, or raising a glass to a much missed, much loved mum, I hope you have a wonderful day. x