May 2022 - It Must Be Wine O'clock

Wine of the Month – in anticipation of Welsh Wine Week, an award-winning Welsh wine …

Wythnos Gwin Cymru 4-12 Mehefin 2022

Welsh Wine Week 4-12 June 2022

White Castle Vineyard Pinot Noir Reserve 2019

In anticipation of the start of Welsh Wine Week on 4^th June, this very impressive wine from White Castle Vineyard, in Monmouthshire is the perfect introduction to Welsh wines.

Recently awarded Silver in the International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2022, the Pinot Noir Reserve 2019 is a fine example of the top-quality wines produced by White Castle.

A combination of the Black Mountains, the three local rivers, the relatively low levels of rainfall, the clay and loamy soil, and the gently sloping, south-facing aspect of the vineyard all converge to create a unique micro-climate. This, together with the hard work and commitment to quality of the owners, has resulted in this truly delightful wine.

Made from Pinot Noir Précoce grapes, the Reserve 2019 is a light, well-balanced wine. With aromas of red berries and vanilla, with a hint of oak and smokiness on the nose, and ripe red fruit flavours of raspberry and strawberry on the palate, it’s the perfect match for Welsh lamb or a cheese platter.

Iechyd da! Cheers!

Available from Grape Britannia (£32)

A crisp, refreshing wine from Southwest France

The huge diversity of grape varieties and wine styles in Southwest France makes it an interesting wine region to explore. Tucked away between the Pyrénées and the Massif Central, with Bordeaux to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, it enjoys a warm, sunny climate with short, mild winters.

Here, you will find, for example, the ‘black wines’ of Cahors, the Gaillac blends of local grape varieties, the deep-coloured reds of Madiran, and the sweet and dry wines of Jurançon. You will also find the Côtes de Gascogne IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée) wines. The IGP designation provides growers with a geographical indication for their wines but with less-rigid winemaking requirements than those required for the Appellation d’origine controllé designation.

These are predominantly white wines, produced from local grape varieties such as Gros Manseng, Colombard and Arrufiac, and often blended with Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The Plaimont Côtes de Gascogne Colombard Sauvignon Blanc 2020 is a very good example.

A crisp, refreshing wine with pleasantly perfumed aromas, this is a classic Gascony blend of Colombard and Sauvignon Blanc. Pale lemon in colour, it has apple, honeysuckle and pineapple on the nose, and lemon, lime, melon and peach on the palate. With medium acidity and a lengthy finish, it is a well-balanced wine offering very good value for money.

You can enjoy this as an aperitif, or pair it with fish, or goat’s cheese.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8)

If you like a Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc, why not try a Menetou-Salon wine?

Domaine Olivier Foucher Menetou-Salon 2019/20, Loire

Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc has been a firm favourite of mine since I first tried it sur place as a student many years ago. The refreshing acidity, the aromas of gooseberry, citrus and grass, and the flavours of apple and citrus fruits, with a hint of minerality, tick all the boxes for me.

Just a short distance away to the south-west of Sancerre is the small appellation of Menetou-Salon. Though not as well-known as its neighbour, Menetou-Salon is rapidly establishing a reputation for crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc wines that offer very good value for money.

This wine from Domaine Olivier Foucher, a small 12-hectare estate in Morogues, is a very good example of a quality Menetou-Salon wine. Light in colour, the wine has aromas of blossom with apple and lime on the nose, and flavours of peach and pear on the palate. The grapes are harvested at night to retain freshness, resulting in a lively acidity. This is a well-balanced, multi-layered wine with a lingering, flinty finish.

A perfect wine for a seafood dish – we had it with pan-fried salmon. Or try it with goat’s cheese.

Available from Majestic £16.99 (Mix Six £12.99)

Château de Pizay, Morgon 2020 – a fruity and robust wine, with a pleasant, lingering finish

Beaujolais, home of the Gamay grape, lies between Mâcon and Lyon. There are 10 Beaujolais crus, each with its own distinct personality based on climate, soil, altitude and aspect.

The four key crus are Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon and Moulin-à-Vent. The first two produce lighter, more perfumed wines, and the last two produce more structured wines that generally age well.

This Château de Pizay, Morgon 2020 is a smooth, dry wine, with medium acidity and medium tannins. It has a perfumed nose of blossom, plum and blackcurrant, leading to flavours of plum, black cherry, and vanilla, with a hint of cloves and smokiness, on the palate. A fruity and robust wine, with a pleasant, lingering finish, this is a perfect match for duck.

Available from Majestic £12.99 (Mix Six £10.99)