<b>Great value blend reds case, £56</b> (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Great value blend reds case, £56

2:26pm Thursday 26th April 2007 in Leisure

The blending of different grape varieties together adds interest, complexity and diversity to a wine. This ancient practise started off in the Old World where winemaking was originally (and still often is passed down from father to son. Over time traditional blends developed (Bordeaux being a classic example) and were endorsed by the Appellation Controlee system in France and its equivalents elsewhere. In the New World though, experimentation is the name of the game and many unusual matches have made for even greater diversity in the world of wine.

Includes four bottles of each of the following three wines:

• Domaine Baudare Cabernet/Syrah 2004, France
  
  From Chateau Baudare in the Fronton area close to Toulouse, this is a lovely fruit driven wine, showing deep blackcurrant flavours mixed with subtle hints of herbs and spices intermingled with a gentle touch of oak. Excellent southern French winemaking.

• Broken Earth Shiraz/Cabernet 2006, Australia
  
  Produced by Tandou Wines, this tasty and juicy wine is made from a selection of quality vineyards in Australia's premium grape growing regions. The blend of Cabernet and Shiraz works well, producing flavours of redcurrant, eucalyptus and spice. Delicious.

• Eagle's Cliff Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon 2003, South Africa
  
  A classic Bordeaux style blend from the Worcester area of South Africa, north east of Cape Town, this wine has notes of plum and blackcurrant with vibrant, aromatic fruit. A medium weight crisp style with good complexity.