New wine tastings - Caixas Albarino and Gavi

I picked up 6 new whites at Majestic last week, because let's be honest there is nothing nicer than drinking a crisp white wine in the warmth of the summer sun (and there has been at least a little over the past week!)

The Caixas Albarino (2014) from Martin Codax, Rias Baixas was a very pleasant Spanish white for a summer evening. Light and young, with refreshingly high acidity for the price of £7.99, good value.

Some of the reviews on the Majestic website have suggested it is potentially too astringent, which I personally didn't find, and thought the lemon married well with stone fruit and some pear flavours.

It would be great with fish or a chicken salad on the hot days we have been enjoying in the south over the past couple of weeks.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/Caixas-Albarino-zid14008

I actually preferred the Gavi (2014) from La Toledana. Mimicking the steely minerality of the white Burgundians of Chablis, with crisp acidity and more peach and pear aromas and tastes, than the citrus and crisp green apple of Chablis.

I have had better Gavi, but again for the price - £10.49 I found it an enjoyable wine to drink with roast chicken, new potatoes and salad.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/Gavi-zid13033

New wine tasting - Rickshaw Chardonnay 2014

I picked up this cheeky little Chardonnay after a wine tasting at my local Majestic. There is so little Californian wine available around this price point in this country, that I snap it up whenever I see something I think I may fancy.

The grapes for this come from Santa Barbara (where I've stayed a few times), Mendocino County and Sonoma (both up the coast and north of San Francisco).

This was an enjoyable enough drop, buttery (presumably from Lees), toasty and vanilla from oak (but importantly not too much), married with lemon, apple and a hint of tropical reminding me of the warmth of the state.

Alcohol was high for a white at 14%, which meant for a full body which as the tasting notes point out meant for a 'balance of richness and freshness'.

I would probably get this again on a mixed six offer where it is £11.99 a bottle, as it was enjoyable and quoffable, though not a huge amount going on in terms of depth or length of finish.

https://www.majestic.co.uk/Rickshaw-Chardonnay-zid18078