May 2023 - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A smooth, rich, full-bodied red wine from Languedoc-Roussillon

Les Hauts de Saint Martin, Saint Chinian 2021 (France)

This Saint-Chinian wine is from vineyards located at the southern end of the Massif Central and just 20 miles from the Mediterranean coast, which enables the grapes to benefit from long, hot summers and mild winters, resulting in a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine. It won a Gold Medal in the Concours des Grands Vins de France in 2022.

A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes, this is a dry wine with medium acidity, medium tannins and a lengthy finish. With bramble, plum and cherry on the nose, and an array of red and black fruits, with a hint of spice, on the palate, this is an appealing wine offering very good value for money.

A very good match for a grilled or roast meat dish, or roasted vegetables. We enjoyed it with lamb chops.

Available from Co-op (£9)

A very good value Malbec from Argentina’s Uco Valley

Trivento Private Reserve Malbec 2021, Uco Valley (Argentina)

A very good value Malbec from Argentina’s Uco Valley, this Private Reserve 2021 was awarded a gold medal in the International Wine Challenge 2022, and was recently awarded 93 points by Master of Wine Tim Atkin in his 2022 Best of Argentina report.

With bramble, plum and black pepper on the nose, and blackberry and plum, with a hint of spice and vanilla on the palate, this is a smooth, medium-bodied wine with medium tannins and a lengthy finish. A well-balanced wine which is a good match for red meat dishes or cheese.

Available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons (£8.50-£10)

Wine of the Month – an outstanding oaked Solaris from Burn Valley Vineyard on the Norfolk Coast

Burn Valley Vineyard Solaris 2021

Created in 1975 at the Freiburg Wine Institute in Germany, Solaris is an early ripening, frost-resistant grape variety that is particularly suited to cool, damp climates and is very much at home in the UK and other parts of Northern Europe.

This Solaris from Burn Valley Vineyard in North Norfolk is outstanding. It is an aromatic wine with pronounced notes of vanilla on the nose, leading to peach, nectarine and honey on the palate, and has a rich, buttery mouthfeel.

Refreshing and well-balanced, this is a delightful wine which can be enjoyed as an aperitif, or with seafood or white meat. We had it with grilled salmon and it was a perfect match.

Available from Grape Britannia (£24.99)