February 2023 - It Must Be Wine O'clock

Wine of the Month

A perfect English wine to welcome spring

Danebury Madeleine Angevine 2021 (Hampshire)

Produced from Madeleine Angevine grapes, this elegant, floral wine from Danebury Vineyards in Hampshire heralds spring perfectly. With apple, pear and peach on the nose, and orchard fruits, lemon and a hint of honey on the palate, this is a well-balanced, crisp wine with a lengthy mineral finish.

Here is another fine example of the excellent quality of wines now being produced on this island. This Madeleine Angevine wine can be enjoyed by itself and also pairs very well with a seafood dish or chicken.

Available from Grape Britan nia (£11.99)

A great value Haut-Médoc, perfect with a Sunday roast

Château Dasvin-Bel-Air, Haut-Médoc 2019 (Bordeaux)

This smooth, elegant wine is from the heart of the Médoc wine area, just to the north of the city of Bordeaux. A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, it has vanilla, blackcurrant and dark cherry on the nose, and blackcurrant and plum on the palate.

A hint of smokiness reflects the oak ageing and there is a slight earthiness in the finish. This is a well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with medium tannins, offering very good value for money.

This is an excellent match for a Sunday roast and will also go well with hard cheese.

Available from Co-op (£13.50)

A nod to Spain in this Australian wine

Yalumba Y Series Tempranillo 2019/20 (South Australia)

When we think of Tempranillo, we think of Spain, and in particular, Rioja, but this Tempranillo wine from South Australia adds a little Antipodean twist to proceedings. Produced by Yalumba winery, one of Australia’s oldest wineries, founded by Englishman Samuel Smith in 1849, this is a deliciously smooth wine which can be enjoyed by itself, and goes really well with duck or lamb.

With aromas of cranberry, cherry and bramble on the nose, and flavours of blackberry and plum, with a hint of chocolate and spice, on the palate, this is a balanced wine with a long finish which is guaranteed to brighten up your day.

Available from Majestic (£9.49, Mix Six £7.49)