March 2023 - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A very appealing wine from Southern France

Terres Falmet Carignan 2020 (Southern France)

Produced from Carignan vines over 80 years old, this very appealing wine from Saint-Chinian in the Languedoc is a smooth, well-rounded wine. The vineyards benefit from the long, hot summers and mild winters of this Mediterranean region and the grapes are picked at peak ripeness to ensure an excellent balance of tannin and fruitiness.

With plum, blackcurrant and savoury overtones on the nose, and cherry, blackberry, and peppery spice on the palate, this is a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with medium tannins and a lengthy finish. An excellent match for red meats or cheese.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£14.99)

A little gem from New Zealand

Main Divide, Riesling 2019 (New Zealand)

Although we might automatically think of Germany when we think of Riesling, the grape is very adaptable and is grown in many different parts of the world. With a preference for cooler, more temperate environments, it is quite at home in the Waipara Valley region on New Zealand’s South Island. And this Main Divide 2019 is a fine example of New Zealand Riesling.

With floral, honey, orange peel notes on the nose and flavours of citrus fruits, nectarine and honey on the palate, this is an off-dry wine with lively acidity and an unexpected but very pleasant spritzig touch to it. A medium-bodied, well-balanced wine with a long finish, it will go well with seafood, duck or a slightly spicy Asian-inspired dish.

Available from Majestic (£13.99, Mix Six £10.99)

Wine of the Month: Altolandon Mil Historias Bobal 2020 Manchuela (Spain)

There’s a lot more to Spanish reds than Rioja! Try this very appealing Bobal for something different.

When we think of Spanish red wine, we probably immediately think of Rioja. But there is lot more to Spanish red wine than Rioja. Bobal, for example.

Though it may not be very well-known internationally, Bobal is Spain’s second most-planted red varietal after Tempranillo and records show it was already being cultivated in the Valencia region in the fifteenth century.

This Bobal is produced by the Altolandon winery, located in the province of Manchuela, South East Spain, around 70km (45 miles) inland from Valencia. Here the high altitude, climate and well-drained soils create a perfect growing environment for the grapes.

This is a very appealing wine with herbaceous and black fruit aromas, and flavours of cherry, plum, blackberry, and raisins on the palate. A smooth, medium-bodied wine with medium tannins and medium acidity, this is a very good example of a less well-known grape variety.

Try it with lamb chops or a stew. It’s also a great match for cold meats and hard cheese.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£12.99)

A very appealing Rioja to brighten up your weekend

Baron de Ley Reserva 2018, Rioja (Spain)

Tempranillo is Spain’s principal black grape variety and is grown widely throughout northern and central Spain. It is particularly associated with wines from Rioja, located in the Ebro River Valley, around 60 miles south of Bilbao.

This is a very appealing Rioja. It is a smooth well-balanced wine, with medium acidity, medium tannins and a lengthy finish.

Deep ruby in colour, it has aromas of plum, blackcurrant and cloves on the nose, and plum, cherry and chocolate on the palate. The barrel-ageing gives the wine additional characters of vanilla and oak.

A wine which can be enjoyed by itself but which also goes well with lamb, duck or a roast vegetable dish.

Available from Co-op (£12.75)