'Wines of the mo' - Germany, S Africa, Spain, France, Portugal, Argentina

rustenberg.co.za

My favourites - and many of the enthusiastic attendees - from around the globe tasted on a recent Saturday 'wine workshop' I ran in Belfast, which deserve a little more airing:

Germany, Mosel: Selbach-Oster Riesling Kabinett 2006 - lovely example of delicate yet characterful mature Riesling with all that intricate oily 'kerosene' thing going on, rounded medium-dry palate with a touch of lingering fresh acidity underneath still, elegant long finish. Plenty of complex flavour for an unoaked white wine with 10.5% abv. James Nicholson list price about £14 I think (now sold out), although I got it in their sale for less than a tenner.

South Africa, Stellenbosch: Rustenberg RM Nicholson 2009 (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah, 5% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec) - very attractive traditional style SA red blend with power and weight (14.5% abv), smoky with dark berry fruit richness, still structured and chunky with nice tannins though, lovely depth, concentration and balance. Will keep longer but enjoy it now with hearty winter food. James Nicholson list price £12.50, about 30% off in their sale.

Spain, Rioja: Campo Viejo Gran Reserva 2007 (mostly Tempranillo) - considering CV is now a massive international brand, they still manage to produce good quality, classic style Reserva and Gran Reserva barrel-aged Rioja styles, this delivers very nicely with smooth maturing fruit and light vanilla edges. Sainsbury's £15.99, £11.99 on offer.

France, Champagne: Oudinot Brut Vintage 2005 - one of Marks & Spencer's long-standing co-op Champers labels, this is a fine example of a longer aged, vintage blanc de blancs style (100% Chardonnay); nice toasty yeasty richness, elegant poise and balance, crisp vs rounded and very tasty. Fair class. £30

Portugal, Douro Valley: Cockburn's Late Bottled Vintage Port 2008 (20% abv) - I remember those jokey TV ads for Cockburn's going back a couple of decades (at least?) now probably, which kind of summed it up as good old reliable Port but not much more. Well, this was a pleasant surprise and a delicious style of LBV with plenty of rich black plum and spice, dense tannins vs alcohol vs subdued sweetness in the end and alluring smoky tobacco notes. "Nice." Good value too: Sainsbury's £12

Plus a forgotten about but still worth mentioning red from Argentina, tasted a couple of months ago:
Argentina, Valle de Uco, Mendoza: Melisa Malbec 2012 (13.5% abv) - nice aromatic violet and herby spicy elderberry nose with underlying darker black cherry and savoury notes, peppery crunchy cran/elderberry fruit vs riper cassis and cherry, quite soft tannins and a bit of oomph, sweet liquorice vs white peppery and wild herby, a bit of weight and grip vs fresh bite. Naked Wines £8.49 - apparently £10,000 of the money earned helped fund a study scholarship for winemaker Patricio Gougenheim's employees' children.