Michael Loken

Montecillo Crianza 2010

Our house was a bit divided on this wine. I thought it was a great value - rustic, robust with a dry, dusty finish. My wife found it too dry on the finish - and although she agreed it was a wine with a full mouth feel, she would not get it again.

Lavau Rasteau 2012, Ac

The aroma is full of oak, leather, star anise and plums. The taste has strong syrah character with black pepper notes. High alcohol with medium plus acid. A good bottle.

La Posta Angel Paulucci Vineyard Malbec 2013, Ugarteche

A nice wine - dark fruits with subtle sweet herbal notes on the nose. A very smooth taste with balanced oak and moderate acid. Easy drinking, but not a long finish.

Emiliana Adobe Reserva Merlot 2013

This was a really decent merlot. Ripe fruit flavours were balanced with a good finish. This pleased all around the table.

Moillard Tradition Pinot Noir Bourgogne 2012, Ac

This wine - which received a very high review from another website - was a bit of a disappointment. The wine was a little too delicate and lacked the depth in flavour profile that should be expected from a Burgundy red.

Château Blaignan 2010, Cru Bourgeois Médoc

This wine was a pleasant surprise, and showed a nice level of power and a good length of finish. There was significant cassis and plum mixed with a little bit of neater and mineral. Not the most elegant expression of bordeaux, but nice nonetheless.

Mountain Fish Agiorgitiko 2012, Igp Peloponnese

This is a wine that suits drinking with food, rather than sipping on its own. Aroma and taste has components of cherries with a subtle herbaceous quality. The overall profile was on the lighter side, with a good finish. A nice wine to try to say you've tried Greek wines.

Thelema Mountain Red 2012, Western Cape

Marqués De Riscal 2014, Rueda

This is an easy drinking white with notes of pear and white peach. The palette shows some oak, but there is a refreshing tartness on the finish. Good for the price.

Château Saint Roch Chimères 2012, Ac Côtes Du Roussillon Villages

This wine is full and powerful and hot. The high alcohol content gives the wine a warming character, but in a very controlled way. The flavour and aroma are full of ripe red fruits, pepper and even hints of cumin. This was an excellent wine for the price, and continued to reinforce the fact that Roussillion wines are full of value.