Two More Co-Op Reds

A comparison of two red wines from The Co-operative - an entry-level New Worlder and an older, more complex Bordeaux

Château Sénéjac Cru Bourgeois 2008, Haut-Medoc (£16.99)

Some signs of age, faded round the rim, some brick-red hints.

Complex nose with bramble fruits, pencil shavings and spice with some liquorice and aged aromas of dried herbs and bell peppers.

On the palate, there is mellow black cherry fruit, cedary cigar box and a touch of leathery gaminess with fresh acidity and fine, firm tannins. Soft supple texture and persistent finish.

Very Good.

A really good example of what an aged Bordeaux (and specifically an Haut-Medoc) should be like. Ready for drinking now, it does not need any further aging.

Match with plain roast beef or, even better, venison.

Zalze Shiraz Grenache Viognier 2012 (£7.99, reduced to £5.49 until 17th September)

Exclusive to The Co-operative, this is dark purple in the glass with plummy, leathery spice aromas.

Ripe, plummy, black cherry and black olive fruit with warming, spicy fruitcake, fresh acidity and mouthfilling texture. Long palate and firm, grippy finish.

Enjoyable and thoroughly crowd-pleasing in a ripe, spicy and full-on sort of way; match with spicy barbecue foods.

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Links
The Co-op - website, twitter