The Wine Spy returns

HME.com's dedicated Wine Spy has been out and about again, tasting what's on offer on Dubai's wine lists.

The negative side to this choice was the cost, at a very high AED 55 (US $15) per glass.

This is well-made Sauvignon Blanc, with the classic steel and mineral edge balanced by both vegetal flavours of asparagus as well as tropical fruits — lovely wine.

It was also much better than the most expensive white wine, a straight Bourgogne Blanc from JJ Vincent, which at AED 59 per glass (a staggering US $16) will have the summer tourists on a budget fleeing.

However the rosé (the only one on the list) was delightful; an easy to drink Santa Digna, made from Cabernet Sauvignon by squeezing the juice quickly with only a little time in contact with the skins.

This is part of Torres’ Chilean estate — a brand looking to expand further. The wine list description boasts of numerous medals, strawberries and redcurrants.

It certainly delivers — as you would expect from a Torres wine — with a slightly different feel to European rosé, being silky and fruity and maintaining an excellent freshness.

This should have been the thirst quencher when we walked in. Now, though, it led us onto the reds.

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Having tasted a glass between us of the house wine, we quickly moved onto the other options.

Valdivieso is another reliable Curico Valley Chilean producer, producing vast quantities, but with a keen eye for the finished product.

This is their entry-level wine; it is worth looking out for their ‘Reserve’ and ‘Single Vineyard’ wines, as well.

This Merlot is oak-aged and has a rich and full flavour to match the purple colour, with dark fruits such as plum mixed with a coffee-chocolate flavour and rounded off with a nice spiciness.

Trading up significantly in price per glass to AED 52 (US $14), we tried The Yearling Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra.

First impressions were of a wine trying to establish a pedigree that isn’t there — and this followed through in the taste.