Ok my wines for this week.
1. AVOID M&S Tierra Y Hombre, Ollie Smith recommended, Pinot Noir from the Casablanca Valley Chile. Thin liquid rapsberries and yeuk.
2. Perez Burton 09 from M&S (10-50) - Rioja and complete opposite from the above. Cracking Temperanillo and nice and rich, full of strawberries and straw. A Telmo Rodriguez wine and as the reviews said, "it would be good with pork cooked so slowly you can almost eat it with a spoon rather than a fork" and indeed pork or spicy chicken or some good cheese would be great with it.
2. Domaine des Grands Ormes, Bordeaux @9-50 - a medium-good, solid classic Bordeaux, a little light almost Margauxesque, if that is a word.
3. Ch Peyre -Lebade from the Baron Benjamin Rothschild 07 under the mgt of Ch Clarke, a Cru Bourgeois from the Haut Médoc and I paid 12-95. A good no-frills old fashion Bordeaux, though a higher Merlot content on the nose and palate, along with the classic oak, and with some vanilla and licorice and spice.
More plum than blackcurrant in the proferred fruit. Needs time to open up, so decant and let breath for 2 - 4 hours to open it up. Good with beef and robust cheeses. Worth the money and one to put down if you are a collector - age will open up the tannins, which are a little short at the momen but also a good balance...