WHAT TO DRINK AT CHRISTMAS 2013 & NE’ERDAY 2014

CANAPÉS & BUBBLY

Whether you enjoy tasty canapés, hand cooked  crisps or mixed nuts you can’t let Christmas or New Years day go past without a glass or two of bubbly. Some nibbles and a glass of Prosecco is the perfect way to give everyone a lift, whet the appetite, and get the festive food orgy underway.

Great news is that quality Prosecco is plentiful at under a tenner and you can buy a double silver medal winner from Aldi at £7.29. Good Prosecco is not just as dry as champagne and it has a hint of fruitiness. Go Italian with a Bellini made from Prosecco and peach juice or French by making a Kir Royale by adding a little splash of Crème de Cassis liqueur.

If you want to push the boat out, then go traditional and serve well chilled champagne. Most supermarkets have their own brands at around £15 per bottle or you could jump up to a Grand Marque such as Veuve Clicquot or Taittinger which are excellent champagnes for around £35 with Lanson Black Label, Piper Heidseick and Pommery in the £22 to£30 price range. If you are looking for something which is almost as good as champagne at around a tenner, why not try Jacobs Creek chardonnay pinot noir which is a brilliant methode champenoise from Oz and it won’t disappoint.

STARTERS

My rule for starters is always to serve white wines which are dry and light. A good sauvignon blanc from New Zealand, a chenin blanc from South Africa or a viognier from Chile or Australia are good New World choices. Sauvignon blanc with its’ dry minerally flavour and a touch of citrus, is ideal with smoked salmon, prawns or cured meats. Closer to home try a steely Sancerre from the Loire or choose an Italian option by going straight for a Gavi di Gavi and avoid an inconsistent pinot grigio.

To serve something really special on Christmas day, you can dig a bit deeper into your pocket and go for a clean and light chardonnay from Burgundy such as Rully, Mercurey or Montagny. Mâcon-Villages produces a softer style lower price with Macon-Lugny a favourite.

MAINS

Main courses at Christmas mainly fall into two categories roast turkey and the rest. Looking at wine options to go with roast turkey, chipolatas, pigs in blankets, rich gravy, sprouts, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce and sundry accoutrements raises quite a challenge. Normally you would associate white wines with white meats but with all those strong tastes going on at once, you need something with a fuller body. Why not go for something special from the Burgundy or the Rhone Valley such as Chateau Neuf Du Pape. Try 2006, 2009 or 2012 which have been hailed as exceptional years. If you like something a bit lighter with a touch of oak and vanilla, why not try my favourite of Spanish Rioja, especially a Reserva or a Gran Reserva which are smooth, rich and complex. If you have a penchant for Italy a Chianti Classico could fit the bill.

If you have opted out of roast turkey and enjoy a juicy steak or a nice rich steak pie New World reds will provide that mouth filling rich fruity flavours which compliment red meats. Why not seek out a cabernet sauvignon from Chile or Australia, a Malbec from Argentina, a Pinotage from South Africa or a weightier Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, Australia. You could go off-piste with a Carmenère from Chile or Argentina which is the new up and coming grape with lots of flavour and round soft tannins. Returning to Europe a smooth Barolo, Amarone or Primitivo from Italy can provide a soft full bodied alternative or a big wine from the Rhone - Vaqueyras, Crozes Hermitage, Gigondas or the heavy weight St Joseph.

PUDDINGS

There is nothing better to go with puddings than a sweet white wine. Top of the tree comes the almost unaffordable Beaumes de Venise or Sauternes from France or an Ice-wine from Austria or Canada which are best served well chilled. The ripe, unctuous sweet flavours offer a complex compliment to most desserts. Alternatives from Oz are available and I recommend the Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora. If you are looking for something different go no further than a chilled bottle of Asti Spumanti. You’ll be surprised how well this goes with sweet desserts such as pavlova or sticky toffee pudding.

CHEESE & AFTERS

When the digestive system starts to cope with the previous courses there is always room for a nibble from the cheese board with a bunch of ripe red grapes. Wines to follow are really a personal choice depending on the cheeses available. A glass or two of a full bodied red wine or rich tawny port can finish the meal perfectly. There are a number of very good Port houses which offer a range of tawny, LBV or vintage ports which will do the job. You really can’t go wrong with Noval, Taylor’s or Cockburn’s ports which are widely available.

TO FINISH

If you have not succumbed to that warm, cosy after meal siesta in front of the TV, then there’s always time for another port or a warm, smooth and mouth filling malt whisky. If like me you prefer smooth, round whiskies with a sweeter aspect opt for a dram from Scotland’s most northerly distillery in Orkney, where a 12 year old Highland park will do the job nicely. A hearty Glenfarclas 15 year old from Speyside, a smooth lightly peated 12 year old Bunnahabhain from Islay or an even lighter 12 year old Aberfeldy from the Highlands are superb alternatives. If you want to push the boat out and have deep pockets there is a wide selection of great malts which have matured well into their teens and early twenties. Three that top my list without being overly expensive are 18 years olds from Smith’s Glenlivet, Highland Park or Glenfarclas.

SOME WELL TRIED & TESTED RECOMMENDATIONS

BUBBLY

Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG - Top Bubbly Recommendation
Prosecco di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene is the DOCG title given to the finest Prosecco wines made in the Veneto wine region of north-eastern Italy. This a fine example of Prosecco which won silver medals at the 2012 and 2013 Wine & Spirit International challenge. Aldi £7.29

Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Brut Cuvée, Australia – NV

Made with bottle fermentation, this bubbly is almost as good as champagne.  Normally sold at £10.00 it is currently available at Sainsbury and Asda for around £7.00

WHITES

Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Chardonnay, Limara Valley, Chile – 2011
Top White Recommendation
A gold medal winner was declared the best chardonnay in the world (under £15) this year. Available from both Tesco and Morrisons at £9.99 and £11.99

Viña Mayu Sauvignon Blanc, Elqui Valley, Chile - 2012

A cracking Sauvignon Blanc with savoury grassy and zingy gooseberry flavours Available at Asda at £6.98.

Cono Sur Bicicleta Viogner, Chile - 2012

A Chilean stunner at a genuinely discounted price from Morrisons for only £4.99. Beautiful fruit, rich flavour and a good finish make this wine worth double the price.

Wairau Cove Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand - 2013

A cracking, crisp dry white packed with gooseberry fruit aromas and passion fruit flavours. Very young but will improve with a few months cellaring. Tesco £6.24

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay, Casablanca Valley, Chile – 2011

A favourite of mine this beautiful chardonnay is unbelievably well balanced, with subtle tropical peach, apricot and melon peach. Subtle oak characters, a touch of acidity and a great finish. Available at Majestic for £10.39 (on offer)

Hardy's Nottage Hill Chardonnay, Australia - 2012

An old fashioned Aussie Chard which is full bodied, dry with loads of rich tropical fruit and melon flavours. Lovely big chardonnay available from Tesco at £5.49 or Asda at £6.00

REDS

Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja, Spain – 2001  - Top Red Recommendation
This impressive Rioja came first in Decanters Top 50 reds. It is a sophisticated wine and a magnificent Rioja. Pale Victoria plum in colour with a mahogany rim and complex aromas of plums and raspberries combined with hints of cedar, vanilla and spice. This superb wine is smooth and velvety on the palate with a hint of vanilla on the finish. Asda £13.00 Sainsbury £13.99

Asda Wine Selection, Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek, South Australia - 2012

This own label is a silver medal winner and worth 3 times the offer price of £4.98. Pour this into a decanter and tell your friends it’s a medal winning wine which has a lovely fruity nose with complex flavours of eucalyptus, deep cassis with just a touch of tannin.

Stella Bella Shiraz, Margaret River, Western Australia - 2008

A smashing Ozzie red for a special occasion. A dark chocolaty shiraz with loads of fruit, a touch of Viognier to soften the tannins and a great finish. Available from Alliance Wines in Beith for around £18.00 (sold by the case)

Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa Valley, Australia – 2011

A full bodied and rich Ozzie red which is ideal for steaks, beef and venison. This classic shiraz has concentrated blackcurrant and bramble fruit as well as hints of mocha and dark chocolate. Available for £8.79 at Majestic, when buying 2 bottles as part of a mixed case

Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile - 2009 

A very sophisticated full-bodied wine with lots of berry fruits and hints of tobacco and vanilla and a delightfully long finish. Available at Morrisons and Tesco online around £13.00

Lagunilla Reserva Rioja, Spain – 2008

Classic Rioja with deep strawberry fruit, vanilla and a good finish. Tesco online at £6.50

Viña Mayu Sangiovese, Chile –2011

A lovely soft, medium bodied, red wine has a touch of peppery spice and a satisfying finish. This great medal winning wine drinks well on it’s own or with almost all meats. Asda £6.98

DESSERTS & PORT

Brown Brothers Orange Muscat & Flora 2009 Australia
Great sticky to go with desserts, priced around £7.50 for a half bottle at Waitrose & Ocado

Asti Martini Spumanti, Italy – NV

An excellent medium sweet bubbly to go with pudding. Asda £6.00 and Tesco £6.99

Noval Late Bottled Vintage Port, Portugal - 2007

Intense, rich, dark, red port with ripe aromas of cherries and blackberries – Tesco & Ocado

Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal – NV

A rich, mellow old tawny port with an intense complex nose from years of ageing in oak casks. Widely available.  Tesco £19.30, Majestic £20.00 and Selfridges £25.99

Cheers for 2014. Enjoy and drink sensibly.

 

NOVEMBER EXTRAS - TWO CRACKING REDS

Sainsbury Taste the Difference Barolo 2009 - £15.49

Having a special dinner party or just want to spoil yourself, well look no further than the mighty Barolo. From the Piedmont northern Italy, Barolo is made from the Nebbiolo grape, which gives powerfully structured wines capable of long ageing and developing savoury characters. One of the best examples, at an affordable price, is Sainsbury Taste the Difference Barolo. The vintage on sale just now is 2009 which was also a great vintage in France, Spain and Italy.

Enjoyed at Chateau Stonefield, Taste the Difference has a fruity nose, light berry flavours backed with deep chocolaty overtones. The smooth flavour is backed by some decent tannins resulting in a beautifully long lingering finish.

Recommended by both Olly Smith and Tim Atkins of Saturday Kitchen can’t be bad for this superb wine. Tim Atkins says: Delicious Barolo, like delicious red Burgundy, is hard to find under £20, let alone at closer to £10, but Matteo Ascheri is brilliant at finding parcels of Italy's most temperamental grape that delivers flavour as well as value for money. This is a riper style (it was a warm vintage), but combines aromas of rose petal and red fruits with savoury, smoky tannins and a classically firm, even austere finish. A great introduction to the joys of Nebbiolo. Impress your guests with a Fab wine at a fab price. Normally available online as Tesco Finest at £15.99 and at Sainsbury online in England only. Definitely worth pushing the boat out and impressing your guests.

 ASDA Extra Special Beaujolais Villages Red 2011 - £5.75

The ASDA Extra Special Beaujolais Villages has won two international awards this year and deserves a visit. Don’t confuse this wine with basic Beaujolais or the Beaujolais Nouveau which is often thin watery and still fermenting when you open a bottle. Beaujolais Villages is a serious wine at an affordable price. Sourced from selected villages, this Gamay-based Beaujolais is deliciously fragrant and full of raspberry fruit flavours. It is light, smooth & fruity. Very tasty with chicken, ham, omelettes, or try lightly chilled with strawberries for a great taste sensation. Currently reduced from £6.50 to £5.75

OCTOBER & NOVEMBER WINE BLOG – MEDAL WINNING WINES

This month brings award winning wines from both the old and new worlds. Chosen from 14000 wines submitted to the 2013 Decanter International Wine competition this selection of reds and whites were all medal winners. Not only medal winners but available from a shop near you at very economic prices. Of the supermarkets Asda and Tesco came out tops in medal winning, which they won on both price and quality. Not surprisingly of their ‘finest selection’ ranges beat wines of many times their price. The list below are just some of the corkers that emerged.

 Concha Y Toro Marques de Casa Chardonnay, Limara Valley, Chile - 2011

*** Star Buy***
This gold medal winner was declared the best chardonnay in the world (under £15). It is a stunner with lovely tropical fruits and an enjoyable nutty finish. The tropical peach and apricot flavours are balanced with a touch of citrus. There is super complexity which releases lots of flavours and taste sensations with each mouthful. Concha Y Toro is one of the top growers which is available throughout the UK in both specialist and high Street stores. A definite winner which is available from both Tesco and Morrisons at £9.99 and £11.99

 Viña Mayu Sauvignon Blanc, Elqui Valley, Chile - 2012

Another gold medal winner which has been recommended by me on several occasions. This is a cracking Sauvignon Blanc with savoury grassy and zingy gooseberry flavours overlaid with a touch of peach and passion fruit. It is a prime example of quality wine emerging from Chile and is an excellent wine with a great finish. If you cant find the Sauvignon Blanc try the blended Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay which is a bit cheaper and will still be a great choice. Available at Asda at £6.98.

Waipara Hills Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough, New Zealand  - 2012

Fancy another top quality Sauvignon Blanc but this choice is from the south island of New Zealand, then choose Waipara Hills. This newcomer is a beautiful wine which has a distinctive bouquet of citrus fruits and gooseberries. It has a dry, flinty edge of grapefruit, topped with subtle lychee and peach flavours. Definitely a seriously dry white which won’t disappoint. Available at Sainsbury, Tesco and Tesco Online at around £10.00, it can regularly be found discounted.

Tagus Creek Shiraz-Trincadeira, Alentejano, Portugal - 2012

Recommending a Portuguese wine is a first for the Glasgow Gourmand. Voted the best regional red wine from Portugal, Tagus Creek Shiraz-Trincadeira is a smash hit. Holidaying Portugal for many years has shown that Alentejo is a much improved wine growing area producing excellent wines in a modern style. It contrast with many heavier reds from Dao and other traditional areas Tagus Creek is an outstanding blend of Shiraz and local grape Trincadeira. Although young, this wine has a fruity nose and flavours of raspberries, blueberries and a definite touch of chocolate. A little fresh on the palate this is definitely one from left field which is worth a try at around £6.00 Available at Tesco & Asda(recently in Asda at £4.50) you can’t afford to miss this.

Asda The Wine Selection, Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek, South Australia - 2012

As mentioned before this Cabernet Sauvignon is from Asda’s Wine Selection range and is a beautiful wine for the price. If you are worried about serving own label, you can pour this into a decanter and tell your friends it is a Silver Medal winner at three times the price. It is a full bodied red from Langhorne Creek, one of the up and coming wine growing  areas in South Australia. This red wine has a beautifully fruity nose with a complex flavour of eucalyptus and deep cassis. You can savour a lovely soft feel in the mouth with just a touch of tannin. Definitely a wine for all occasions, priced at only £7.00 and often on special at Asda.

Tesco Finest Viña Mara Rioja Reserva, Spain - 2008

Rioja has been featuring regularly in my blog and this is a medal winner which has previously escaped my notice. One of the ‘Tesco Finest’ range this 5 years old Rioja Reserva is a typical red from Spain’s most prestigious area. It has been made by top Spanish producer, Baron De Ley and well aged in oak barrels. It has spice, cherry and strawberry flavours and is very well rounded with good vanilla overtones. It is made in a soft, light style and is an exceptional example of a 2008 Rioja. Selling in Tesco at £9.99 you will often see it on offer at £7.99, which cant be bad for this quality of wine.

AUGUST  & SEPTEMBER WINE BLOG – Quality Reds & Delicious Whites

Fancy 3 delicious whites and 3 quality reds to see you through to the autumn equinox then look no further than this magic selection below. Apart from my normal wine haunts I have included wines from Majestic and Waitrose which means a special trip if you are located in Scotland.

Yali Wetland Sauvignon Blanc 2012 Rapel Valley – Majestic £5.99 (if you buy 2 bottles)

Yali is a very reliable producer from Chile and their Wetland Sauvignon Blanc is a great example of a quality wine at a brilliant price. This has all the Grapefruit, lime and grassy flavours you would expect from a new Zealand Sauvignon Blanc but it also has a touch of peachy fruit. It has crisp citrus flavours and a  refreshing gentle acidity and a zingy finish. This an excellent Sauvignon Blanc, for either an aperitif or just for drinking - who needs an excuse at this price! (don’t mention this to the anti-alcohol lobby or they might put a sales ban on it). Fantastic value – even at the normal price of £7.49

Peter Lehmann Shiraz 2011 Barossa Valley – Majestic £8.79 (if you buy 2 bottles)

If you love shiraz, especially Aussie shiraz then you should choose Peter Lehmann. Known as the 'Baron of Barossa,' you can’t really go wrong with any of his offerings. This classic Shiraz has been selected from some of the best vineyards in the region. Ageing in French and American oak for 12 months gives this wine great dept and of course vanilla overtones. Plenty of oomph and spice on the palate, concentrated blackcurrant and bramble fruit as well as hints of mocha and dark chocolate. This is a big wine with loads of rich fruit, complexity, buckets full of flavour and a great finish. It goes well with anything from a barbeque and its powerful flavours compliment grilled sirloin, roast lamb or perfectly pink duck breast. This a wine to decant and drink now or lay down for another 2 or 3 years. Normally on sale at £10.99.

Mont Gras Reserva Sauvignon Blanc 2012 - Waitrose - £6.99

Made from quality grapes sourced from Chile's cooler climate Casablanca Valley, this Reserva Sauvignon blanc is a delicious, juicy and crisp Sauvignon Blanc. It is pale straw yellow in appearance with aromas of citrus fruits combined with intense flavours of asparagus, green olives and some fresh grass notes. It is fermented and left to mature on the lees which gives it a lovely complexity and flavours which last. Mont Gras is a quality producer and if you make a trip to Waitrose before 10 September you will not be disappointed at £6.99. This wine is a fantastic partner to smoked fish or a light chicken salad.

Telegraph Station Pinot Noir 2012 – Tesco £5.49

*** Star Buy***
Loved by some and ignored by others this Pinot Noir from South Eastern Australia is a winner in my opinion. Last year it was awarded a bronze at the International Wine & Spirit Challenge. Enough said!!! This fruity red wine is a beautiful example of a new world pinot, with  light summer fruit flavours and a definite taste of cherries. Unlike cheap French pinot noir you won’t find any vegetal overtones with this wine. Normally retailing from Tesco at £10.99 it is on special until early September. Fantastic with lamb chops and for this price it’s a definite bargain.

Hardy's Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2012 – ASDA £5.00

Interested in an old fashioned Aussie Chard then Hardy’s Nottage Hill is a great choice. It is full bodied, dry with loads of rich tropical fruit and melon flavours. There are subtle oak characters which give it a well rounded elegant finish. If you are in the ABC camp (anything but chardonnay) then leave this beautiful big wine alone. If you still appreciate tropical flavoured white wine then you canny whack it at £5.00 per bottle. Down £3.00 on the normal Asda price of £8.00 or Tesco at £7.98.

La Consulta Reserva Malbec 2012 – Morrisons £7.99

Fancy a big mouth filling wine which is something a bit different from shiraz or cabernet sauvignon then try this classic Argentinean Malbec from Morrisons. It’s powerful wine with blackberry fruit and  lots of character. Although 2 years old and aged in oak for 9 months this wine deserves cellaring for another 2 or 3 years to be at its best. Alternatively open a bottle a few hours before drinking and you will enjoy this Reserva quality wine. Goes brilliantly well with steak and other red meats. Down from £9.99 La Consulta will impress you, if you are tempted to buy.

JULY UPDATE - SMASHING WHITE ON OFFER

Tesco Finest Tapiwey Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc - £5.99
In case you missed some of the July Summer White wine  recommendations here’s a beautiful Chilean sauvignon Blanc at a bargain price. Coming from Tesco’s ‘Finest’ range this dry white has all the characteristics of a New World sauvignon blanc with gooseberry flavours but softened by a touch of tropical fruit. Not one to be missed and on offer until 13 August. (normal price £8.99)

JULY WINE BLOG – WONDERFUL WHITES

JULY WINE BLOG – WONDERFUL WHITES

Following on from last month’s recommendations of Macho Barbeque Reds you will need to balance your cellar by buying some white wines. Summer is a great time for some bubbly or a light dry white wine to get your weekend off to a great start. I have listed below a handful of great wines which won’t break the bank and you can enjoy all of them well chilled in the garden. Priced from £4.59 to £10.39 there is something for everyone.

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2012 – ASDA £6.00

*** Star Buy***
If you are looking for an Aussie wine with the sophistication of a full bodied burgundy then you will love this. This Reserve wine from Adelaide hills is a lighter style chardonnay with finesse and structure and a good finish. There is subtle oak flavours balanced with vibrant fresh fruit characteristics. This is a wine for drinking now or cellaring for another 5 years to create greater subtlety and complexity. An ideal accompaniment to cream based pasta dishes, fish and shellfish and of course chicken. The Adelaide Hills Reserve Chardonnay is on at a special price but you can also buy the classic Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay for just a fiver.

Jacob’s Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir – ASDA £7.00 - COOP £7.99

*** Star Bubbly Buy***
If you want to impress your friends and get your special evening off to great start you should try this bubbly. Showing consistent quality over many years this champagne blend made by the ‘Methode Traditionelle’ and is the next best thing to the genuine but expensive article. This wine is soft, crisp and clean with a fine gas bead and a persistent mousse. It has citrus fruit flavours which are enhanced with creamy nutty yeast characters which provide both richness and structure. You really can’t go wrong with this brilliant product which normally sells between £9.99 and £10.99 and is widely available. Add a few drops of Crème De cassis and enjoy a Kir Royale.

Viña Sol 2012 – Morrisons £4.59
Cast your mind back to that hot Spanish holiday and drinking a pleasant Spanish white wine on one of the Costas. Well it was probably Viña Sol from Torres from one of the country’s biggest winemakers. Made from the Parellada grape, it is fresh and fruity on the nose, with a smooth, crisp palate, with plenty of apples and pineapple fruit. A touch of acidity makes it a refreshingly crisp wine. Viña Sol is suitable for drinking anytime - pre or post siesta! Superb with rice, fish and shellfish. This is on sale at lots of outlets and normally sells anywhere between £6.49 and £7.99. As James Martin says on Saturday Kitchen, ‘A bit of a bargain at £4.59’

Nobilo Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2012- Morrisons £5.49

Regularly recommended by me, Nobilo is an excellent example of a New Zealand sauvignon blanc at a brilliant price. It is crisp and zesty with a refreshing finish and a distinctive bouquet of tropical and citrus fruit, gooseberry and passion fruit. The wine is well balanced between fruit and acidity and has a distinctive grapefruit flavour. It is good on its own but goes perfectly with fish, prawns and smoked salmon. Even at full price Nobilo is still great value and beats many of its’ competitors on both flavour and price.

Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2011 – Majestic £10.39

COOP £10.79
If you are looking for a special white wine Errazuriz Wild Ferment Chardonnay is just fantastic. Rated by Oz Clarke as very good and awarded best in class at the 2011 International Wine & Spirit challenge this is a Chilean wine with an excellent pedigree. Naturally occurring yeasts on the grape skins are used instead of cultivated yeasts to give this dry white wine beautiful complexity and a good finish.  This wine is unbelievably well balanced, with subtle tropical stone fruit in the form of apricots and peaches mingling with subtle oak characters and a rich creaminess. Enjoy this wine over the next 2 years to allow further marrying of oak and fruit. This cracking wine is good enough to savour with warm Scottish langoustines, lobster or juicy roast chicken and is a step up in class

Morrisons Verdicchio Classico – Morrisons £4.99

Fancy something a bit different for a change. This own label Verdicchio Classico comes in an attractively shaped green bottle and is a smashing wine from Italy. It is chock full of mouth watering citrus flavours and there's lemon zest and a smidge of greengage and fig in this dry white. It's gorgeous as an aperitif, smashing with salads and any light starter.

Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG - Aldi £7.29

Prosecco di Conegliano - Valdobbiadene is the DOCG title given to the finest Prosecco wines made in the Veneto wine region of north-eastern Italy. This fine example of Prosecco won a silver medal at the 2012 International Wine & Spirit challenge. It is a light fruity wine with a gentle mousse and is very easy drinking. Perfect with a beautifully sweet Scottish strawberry or raspberry popped into a champagne flute. Why not mix this with equal quantities of chilled peach juice to make a classic Bellini.

Hardy’s Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2012 – Morrisons £5.66

Hardy’s Nottage Hill Chardonnay is one of the most reliable fruity white wines on the market. Its’ full bodied, tropical fruit style is always consistent and will not disappoint. If you want a bit more complexity and rounder flavour you can lay this wine down for a couple of years. Normally selling between £8.00 and £8.99 this excellent Aussie white wine is definitely one to have in your cellar for easy summer drinking on its’ own or with food.

JUNE WINE BLOG – SUMMER BARBEQUE REDS

JUNE WINE BLOG – SUMMER BARBEQUE REDS

Summer has definitely arrived, barbeques are being dusted down, cleaned and lit. Food is being prepared for grilling and charring and you need some good gutsy but smooth reds to wash down the burnt offerings and impress your friends on the warm summer evenings ahead. Here’s a few bottles which will guarantee a great evening and won’t hurt the pocket too much, as they start at £4.50.

ASDA Argentinean Malbec - ASDA £4.50

Looking for an up and coming wine which will go perfectly with a big juicy burger or chilli con carne then look no further than Argentinean Malbec from Asda. Coming from Mendoza, the country’s top wine region, this is a young fabulously easy drinking, rich & full bodied red with forest fruit flavours. This gorgeously rich Malbec packed with basketfuls of wild bramble flavour and is ideal for strong flavoured meats charred over a white hot barbeque.

Telegraph Station Cabernet Merlot 75Cl – Tesco £5.99

Highly recommended last weekend by a well respected Paisley wine connoisseur Telegraph Station Cabernet Merlot is a great find. This fruity red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes grown in South Eastern Australia with flavours of ripe blackberries and plums. This is definitely one to enjoy either at a barbeque or on any occasion. You can also try the Shiraz Cabernet also at £5.99, which is a bit more full bodied. For something lighter try the Telegraph Station Pinot Noir which is a beautiful example of a new world pinot, available from Tesco at £10.99 but is regularly on offer.

Zilzie Shiraz Viognier 2011 – ASDA £5.50

I enjoyed this beautifully rounded Aussie red at a friends house recently. It came as no surprise as the Australian wine guru James Halliday gives Zilzie 4 stars and wrote ‘The wines consistently far exceed expectations, given their prices.’ This wine from South Eastern Australia is a blend of Shiraz with a touch of Viogner grapes aged in oak for 6 months. The 2011 Zilzie Shiraz Viognier is vibrant and deliciously juicy. Layered with mulberry and dark cherry fruit, a hint of spicy vanillin oak and velvety tannins that linger. Easy to drink on its own or with food and guaranteed to impress.

Montes Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon – 2011 – MORRISONS £5.99

*** Star Buy***
Montes are one of the top winemakers from Chile and they know about value and  putting  quality wines into the bottle. There are plenty of Cabernet Sauvignons out there but for under six quid, it’s hard to beat this gem. It has great flavours of cherry and blackberry and hints of gentle spice. Apart from being big on fruit it has a lovely smooth finish. It’s completely yummy sip after sip after sip. Enjoy with a well grilled steak or keep it in your cellar for another year or two. Morrisons are holding this price for only another week before it returns to £9.99 per bottle.

Penfolds Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet 2010 – ASDA £6.48

Penfolds produce some of Australia’s best red wines including the legendary ‘Grange’. Penfolds entry level red wine is Rawson’s Retreat Shiraz Cabernet which yields a mixture of ripe blackcurrant fruit and soft, spicy flavours. Combining the warmth and spice of Shiraz with the fruity richness of Cabernet Sauvignon and tempered with some soft merlot and is ideal to drink now. Previously recommend by me, and normally retailing between £8 and £10, this is on special offer again at Asda.

Piccini Chianti Reserva 2010 - Morrisons £5.49

If you are looking for something a bit lighter to go with grilled lamb chops then look no further than this Italian wine made from the Sangiovese grape. Piccini Reserva, thanks to its ageing in wood, is a well structured, elegant, rounded and velvety wine from Tuscany. There is a nice balance of fruit with strawberry overtones and hint of cedar wood.  Although only 3 years old it pairs particularly well pork, lamb and chicken and is brilliant with pasta dishes. On offer for the next week only.

Peter Lehmann Barossa Shiraz 75cl – Waitrose £9.99 

This wine is a rich, smooth and spicy Shiraz from one of the Barossa's top growers. It is a classic Barossa Shiraz which is smoky, smooth and succulent in youth. It will mature gracefully into a complex full bodied classy wine. This is a big wine with loads of rich fruit, complexity, buckets full of flavour and a great finish. It matures well and is particularly good at 4 or 5 years old. It goes well with anything from a barbeque and its powerful flavours compliment grilled sirloin, roast lamb or perfectly pink duck breast.