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Diner we befuddled – with this? (3,4). Crossword clue.

Answer at foot of page

Three good value, medium bodied red wines to tempt your palate this week – two Old World wines and one from New Zealand. Enjoy!

Domaine Tavian Brouilly 2019 (Beaujolais)

If you’re looking for a fragrant, well-balanced, medium-bodied Beaujolais to enjoy with a mid-week pasta or chicken dish, this should tick the boxes. Quite well defined aromas of raspberry, candy, red cherry, and a hint of violet, on the nose, and fresh fruity flavours of raspberry and strawberry on the palate. This is a dry wine, with high acidity, medium tannins and a medium finish. A good value Beaujolais. (Waitrose, £12.99)

Mud House Pinot Noir 2019 (Central Otago)

A Pinot Noir from the Central Otago region of New Zealand, this wine has red cherry, raspberry and bramble aromas on the nose, with a hint of peppery spice, and fresh fruit flavours of raspberry and redcurrant on the palate. A balanced wine, medium bodied with medium tannins and a medium finish, this goes well with lamb, or by itself. Majestic Wine £13.99 (£10.99 Mix Six), also available at Waitrose.

Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir, 2019

A youthful Burgundy Pinot Noir with well-defined red fruit aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and red cherry with overtones of cloves, spice and earth on the nose, and quite intense red fruit flavours on the palate. A dry wine, with high acidity and medium tannins, it has medium alcohol and a medium finish. A good wine to pair with lamb or chicken. Majestic Wine £16.99 (£12.99 Mix Six).

Answer to crossword clue: red wine

Three warming reds for Bonfire Night!

It’s the time of year when the air is usually filled with the smell of bonfires and the sound of cracks and bangs as fireworks go off. Unfortunately this year, we are all likely to be limited to the back garden with a few sparklers … but that shouldn’t stop us enjoying a warming glass or two of red wine afterwards …. Here are three to consider:

Château Caronne Ste.Gemme Haut-Médoc, 2015

This is a well-balanced Bordeaux red from the Left Bank. A Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend, it has bramble, cooked fruit and blackberry aromas on the nose, with a hint of vanilla, toast and spice. There are pronounced stewed fruit flavours on the palate, together with a hint of earthiness, and this is a medium bodied wine with medium alcohol and high tannins. It is a very good wine, and just the ticket on a chilly autumn night. Majestic Wine £16.99 (£14.99 Mix Six)

Two Hands ‘Angels’ Share’ Shiraz, Australia 2019

This is a very good full-bodied wine from McLaren Vale with high alcohol, medium tannins and a nice long finish. Pronounced blackberry, blackcurrant and blueberry aromas on the nose, with hints of white pepper and chocolate, and a rich black fruitiness intermingled with a light spiciness on the palate. A well-balanced wine which will go well with a beef casserole or other substantial dish. Majestic Wine £21.99 (£17.99 Mix Six)

Casillero de Diablo Reserva 2017, Central Valley, Chile

A straightforward Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon from the warm Central Valley region. Notes of blackberry, red cherry, bell pepper and cloves on the nose, with quite intense fruit flavours of blackcurrant and plum on the palate. A dry wine with high acidity and medium tannins, it has medium alcohol and a medium finish. Not a complex wine, but perfectly fine for mid-week, with or without the fireworks! Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, around £8.

Three red wines to help pass the longer nights

With the clocks going back tonight and the nights now drawing in, here is a selection of three red wines to help lighten the gloom a little …

Ramos Reserva 2017/18 Vinho Regional Alentejano (Portugal)

A recent new discovery and a really pleasant surprise. This wine from the Alentejo region of south-east Portugal is a well-crafted blend of Trincadeira, Aragonez and Syrah grapes. Pronounced aromas of blackberry and plum from the get-go, with hints of honey and spice, leading to intense black fruit flavours on the palate with hints of raisin and a touch of sweetness redolent of port. A full-bodied wine, with medium tannins and a long finish, this is a well-balanced and very good wine. Drink it by itself or with something savoury. Majestic Wine £8.99 (£7.49 Mix Six)

Crozes Hermitage ‘Les Blasons’ 2018 Cave de Tain

If you are looking for a comforting red wine to go with your hearty warming stew or meat roast, this bold Syrah from the northern Rhône will make an excellent match. With aromas of blackberry and plum, and an earthy minerality on the nose, the wine has a peppery spiciness which complements the rich fruitiness on the palate. Dry, with medium tannins and a long finish, this is a well-balanced, good quality wine. Majestic Wine £14.99 (£12.99 Mix Six)

Fleurie Beaujolais 2018 Georges Duboeuf

This is a Beaujolais from one of the region’s most experienced winemakers, Georges Duboeuf, and it is a very good wine. Pronounced aromas of raspberry and strawberry, together with hints of cream and blossom on the nose, and intense red fruit flavours on the palate. It is a light, refreshing medium-bodied wine, with medium acidity and a long finish; fine by itself or with roast chicken/duck. Majestic Wine £12.99 (£10.99 Mix Six)

Three refreshing white wines

If you are looking for something new to try, here are three refreshing white wines from around the world: a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a German Riesling and an Italian Soave.

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2019

If you are looking for a refreshing fruity Sauvignon Blanc to accompany your seafood dish or pad Thai, then this Oyster Bay wine from Marlborough, New Zealand is just the ticket. It’s a zesty, refreshing wine offering grapefruit, apple and pear on the nose with additional tropical flavours of passion fruit and lychee on the palate. A well-balanced dry wine with a good finish, this is one of my favourites. Majestic Wine £10.99 (£9.49 Mix Six)

Kendermanns Riesling Kabinett

Although it has taken a while for German wines to shed their image of inferior sweet wines of the Blue Nun variety, there are lots of good wines coming out of Germany these days for those looking to try something new. This wine, for example, is a fragrant Riesling Kabinett with lemon, peach and apple on the nose, and bright fruity flavours of citrus, apple and faintly tropical fruits on the palate. With high acidity and low alcohol, it is a well-balanced wine with a hint of sweetness and a longish finish. Fine by itself, or paired with white meats or a Thai curry. Majestic Wine £9.99 (£6.99 Mix Six)

Fattori Soave 2019

This is a dry medium-bodied wine produced from the Garganega grape and hails from the Veneto region of north-east Italy. Fragrant on the nose with herbal and floral aromas with hints of peach, and ripe fruit flavours of peach and melon on the palate with a hint of minerality. It’s a refreshing, nicely balanced wine which will pair well with a fish/seafood dish. Majestic Wine £10.99 (£8.99 Mix Six)

Three reds from around the world

How about a little globe-trotting? Three reds from around the world to try – an Italian Barbera, a South African Pinotage and a Chilean Pinot Noir

Barbera Briccotondo 18 Fontanafredda

If you are looking for a fruity Italian red to go with your pasta, this Barbera Briccotondo 2018 Fontanafredda is a good fit. Ruby in colour, with flavours of red cherry, plum and blackberry, and a hint of pepper and cinnamon, this is a smooth, dry wine with medium tannin and high acidity. A well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with a medium finish.

Barista Pinotage 2018/19

Pinotage wines, from South Africa’s signature grape, are a relatively new discovery for me, and this Barista is very good. Intense black fruits, notably cassis, on the nose coupled with a smoky earthiness and more than a hint of coffee and chocolate. The fruits and coffee flavours open up on the palate and the wine has an intriguing complexity to it. A full-bodied wine with moderate acidity and medium tannins, Barista needs something rich and meaty to go with it. We enjoyed it with roast chicken, but it would also suit duck or a hearty stew. Majestic Wine £9.99 (£8.99 Mix Six )

Pinot Noir 2018 Tarapaca (Chile)

A simple but very agreeable wine, this Chilean Pinot Noir has raspberry and strawberry on the nose, together with a slight smokiness. With ripe red fruit flavours and a hint of spiciness on the palate, it is a fairly light-bodied dry wine with low tannins and high acidity. Try it with salmon, chicken or pasta dishes.

Why not try something new?

Fancy a change from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay this weekend? Then here are a few suggestions for something new to try –

Gavi di Gavi 2018 La Toledana

The Gavi di Gavi La Toledana is made from the Cortese grape and hails from Piemonte in north-west Italy. The pale lemon colour is characteristic of this wine and with its light floral aromas of white blossom and a slight hint of honey, it promises something different.

Green fruits dominate on the palate with some citrus notes, and the high acidity gives it a crisp, zesty freshness. Smooth and silky, this is a medium-bodied wine with a medium finish. A well-balanced, very pleasant wine. We had it with grilled salmon and it was a perfect match, but it will also go well with white meats and light pasta dishes. Majestic Wine £14.99 (£10.99 Mix Six)

Not Your Grandma’s Riesling 2018, Eden Valley

Although we rightly associate Riesling with Germany, the grape has also been cultivated in Clare Valley and Eden Valley in South Australia since the early 19^th-century and the more moderate climate there produces wines with more pronounced fruit flavours.

Lemon in colour, this wine has floral, citrusy notes on the nose, and flavours of green fruits, grapefruit, nectarine and mango on the palate. A dry wine with high acidity, it is balanced by its punchy fruitiness and hint of minerality, and has a medium to long finish. Perfect with an Asian dish.

The Great Wine Co. £13.95

Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi 2019 Monte Schiavo

A dry white wine with high acidity from the Marche region of central Italy, this Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi wine is a very good example of the fresh, zesty wines from the Verdicchio grape.

Notable aromas of apple and pear on the nose, and additional lemon, grapefruit and tropical fruit flavours on the palate, with a little twist of fennel which is characteristic of Verdicchio wines. A well-balanced wine with a medium finish with faint overtones of bitter almonds, this would suit a fish or seafood dish. Majestic Wine £8.99 (£7.99 Mix Six)

Red wines for autumn

As the temperature starts to drop and the nights draw in, here are a few suggestions for red wines for autumn, to enjoy along with those casseroles, pies and stews as we look towards Halloween and Bonfire Night …

Ramón Bilbao Crianza Rioja 2016 (Tempranillo)

This deep red Tempranillo wine from the Rioja region of Spain is a well-balanced wine of medium intensity and medium acidity. Aromas of blackberry and cherry together with sweet spices and vanilla on the nose; and intense flavours of black fruits, vanilla and spices, with hints of hazelnut and liquorice, on the palate. It’s a smooth wine with medium tannins which pairs well with red meats, sausage dishes and casseroles. Also, goes perfectly with a hard cheese.

Stump Jump Shiraz 17 d’Arenberg

This is a full-bodied deep ruby wine from McLaren Vale, Australia. Minty and fragrant on the nose, and concentrated with lashings of pronounced black fruit as well as liquorice and sweet spice on the palate. A smooth wine with a nice long finish. It works well with your Sunday roast, and is a good match for a steak and pepper sauce or something similarly robust.

Chianti Classico 15 Campomaggio

A medium-bodied Sangiovese wine with high acidity and medium tannins. It has quite intense flavours of strawberry, plum, and blackberry with a hint of cedar and toasted wood. A balanced wine with a medium finish. An appealing wine, a good all-rounder, which is ideal for a big casserole or roast.

Three Red Wines from Bordeaux – Left Bank

Château Argenteyre 2014

This Médoc blend has an unusually high level of Petit Verdot in the mix which probably explains its spiciness and the richness of the black fruit flavours ranging from plum and blueberry to black cherry and cassis. Although there are signs of developing age in the wine with its overtones of leather, forest floor and oak, its generous fruit flavours dominate. Deep ruby in colour, it’s a well-structured wine with high tannin and high acidity, and a medium finish. It needs something a little salty to soften the tannins slightly – goes well with cheese/charcuterie, or perhaps a lamb casserole. Good value for money.

Château Pierbone 2010 Haut Médoc

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this is a smooth, rich wine with a long finish. The wine is deep ruby in colour, with flavours of blackcurrants, plums and figs, and some leather and earthy overtones. A medium-bodied, fruity wine with medium tannins, it is very food-friendly and pairs very well with red meats or a rich vegetable casserole. A very good wine from a very good vintage.

Château Tour de Laroze 2012 Margaux

A complex and robust wine with dried/ stewed fruit flavours of raisin and prune together with earthy, forest floor overtones indicating the wine has evolved and developed. Full-bodied, with medium acidity and medium tannins, this is a smooth, well-balanced wine with a long finish. A real treat, a wine to savour and enjoy with roast lamb or a selection of cheeses.

For Right Bank wines see this post

Three Red Wines from Bordeaux – Right Bank

Château Saint Paulin 2018

This is a light and smooth Bordeaux red wine from one of the lesser-known châteaux of the Right Bank. Predominantly a Merlot blend, it has distinctive flavours of blackcurrant, black cherry and plum, with spicy overtones and medium tannins. It’s a fruity, straightforward wine that goes well with cheese or cold meats, roast beef, and meaty casseroles. It’s very good value.

Château Franc Baudron 2014 Montagne St Emilion

2014 was generally a very good vintage in Bordeaux and this is a good example of a pleasing wine with bright, ripe fruit, good colour and a smooth, lingering finish. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry and plum, with overtones of smoke and mushroom, and on the palate, additional flavours of liquorice and spice. This is a wine with body and complex flavours and would pair perfectly with roast duck or lamb.

Château La Chapelle Despagnet 2015 St. Emilion Grand Cru

2015 was another good vintage for Bordeaux wines and this is a little gem. A full-bodied wine with medium tannins and flavours of ripe plums, blackberry and blueberry with overtones of leather, spice, vanilla and cloves. A very good finish and a fine example of Saint Emilion at its best. This a wine crying out for a nice piece of beef or lamb to go with it. A lovely treat at a very reasonable price for a wine of this quality.

For Left Bank wines see this post