Comic Relief Red Nose wines

February, 2009

 A very colourful display of red and white wines caught my eye during a recent visit to a supermarket . Closer inspection informed me that these were Red Nose wines produced for Comic Relief to help with their fundraising to provide assistance for extremely vulnerable, poor and disadvantaged people in Africa and the UK. 

Both wines were from South Africa with the white a 2008 Chenin Blanc and the red a 2008 Pinotage-Shiraz blend. At £4.99 per bottle with a pound going to Comic Relief I thought it was worth buying a bottle of each. 

According to the back labels the wines had been selected by Jancis Robinson and Tim Atkins, both highly regarded wine journos and Masters of Wine, and had been produced by SAAM Mountain Vineyards exclusively. 

The 2008 Red Nose Chenin Blanc is typical Chenin Blanc in many respects but a pretty good example in this case. Delightful fresh fruit flavours, citrus and honey dew melon, with zingy acid and quite a long finish. 

The 2008 Red Nose Pinotage Shiraz has lifted maraschino cherry aromas, berry fruit and some spice on the nose. On the palate it is a bright cheerful wine with cherry and berry fruit and nice acidity to stop it being sweet. A great youthful quaffer that worked a treat with the spaghetti bolognaise. 

The wines are available in most supermarkets and I would defy you to find many better value wines at the price, as most £4 wines are undrinkable.