It Must Be Wine O'clock

This Pecorino wine from central Italy is a little gem

Saladini Pilastri Pecorino, Offida DOCG, 2020 (Italy)

Italian wines never fail to surprise (and delight) me, and this Pecorino wine from the Marche region of central Italy is a little gem. Though the word Pecorino may conjure up yearnings for the nutty, buttery sheep cheese of the same name, there is no connection. And while Pecorino wine may not be as widely known as other Italian white wines, it is certainly worth trying for its floral aromas, crisp freshness and stone fruit flavours.

This honey-coloured wine from one of the first wine producers in Italy to produce organic wine is a fine example of what Pecorino grapes are capable of. It is a smooth and elegant wine, with good acidity, a creamy mouthfeel and a lengthy finish. With notes of honey, blossom and citrus on the nose, and flavours of pear, peach and apricot on the palate, it can be enjoyed as an aperitif or with risotto, grilled fish and cheese.

We had it with ‘cacio e pepe’ pasta and it went down a treat!

Available from Majestic (£11.99, £9.99 Mix Six)

A rosé from the Surrey Downs to brighten your day!

Denbies Rose Hill NV (Surrey)

Denbies Wine Estate on the North Downs in Surrey planted their first vines in 1986. After a bumpy few years when the wines were a far cry from what they are now, the vineyard has grown to become the largest wine producer in the UK, producing a million bottles a year.

A blend of Pinot Noir and Rondo grapes, the Rose Hill is a very flavourful off-dry rosé with raspberry and candy floss on the nose, and a palate bursting with flavours of rhubarb, strawberries and cream, and a touch of toffee apple and caramel.

A refreshing, well-balanced wine which is perfect for this summer weather. Enjoy it by itself or with a salad, light chicken or fish/seafood dish.

Available from Grape Britannia (£9.99)

A refreshing regional wine from Lisbon

Porta 6 2020 (Portugal)

Portugal has an abundance of local grape varieties which bring a note of difference to its wines. This Vinho Regional (Regional Wine) from the Lisbon area is a case in point. It is a blend of Tinta Roriz (50%), Castelão (40%) and Touriga Nacional (10%), and is a smooth, silky wine with balanced acidity and a lengthy finish.

With aromas of blackberry, cherry and vanilla on the nose, and flavours of cherry, plum and a pleasant spiciness on the palate, this is an attractive wine offering excellent value for money.

This is a wine to enjoy by itself, or as a perfect accompaniment for lamb or a pasta dish.

Available from Co-op, Sainsbury’s, Tesco (£7-£8)

A fresh, lively Albariño from north-west Spain: perfect for summer drinking

Paco & Lola Albariño 2021 (Rías Baixas)

Although Spain is well known for its red wines, in recent years its white wines have been growing in popularity, too. And this Albariño, from the Rías Baixas region of Galicia in the north-west of the country, is definitely one to try. As well as its Atlantic climate, moderate year-round temperatures, ocean mists and above-average rainfall, the region is also blessed with many hours of warm sunshine, enabling the Albariño grapes to ripen and produce wines that are naturally high in acidity, with floral aromas, and citrus and stone-fruit flavours.

This Paco & Lola 2021 is a fine example of a very good Albariño wine. Having enjoyed the 2019 and 2020 wines, I was very glad to see that the 2021 vintage is now available.

This is a fresh, lively wine, high in acidity, with aromas of blossom, lemon and apple on the nose, and flavours of apple, peach and nectarine on the palate. It is a well-balanced, medium-bodied wine with an attractive creamy mouthfeel and a lengthy finish.

Enjoy this by itself as an aperitif or as a perfect match for seafood.

Available from Sainsbury’s (currently on offer at £11)

A very appealing organic Tempranillo from Toledo …

Finca Constancia Entre Lunas Organic Tempranillo 2019 (Castilla-la-Mancha)

Located near Toledo in Castilla-la-Mancha, the winery at Finca Constancia is a pioneer in biodynamic winemaking practices and this very appealing red wine is 100% organic. It is made from indigenous Tempranillo grapes, which flourish in the long hot summers and cooler winters of the region.

This is a full-bodied wine, smooth, silky and well-balanced, with medium tannins and a lengthy finish, and has been aged in oak for eight months, giving it a hint of smokiness in the background.

Aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant, raspberry and plum on the nose lead to raspberry, cherry and damson, with hints of cloves and chocolate, on the palate. This is a bold, expressive wine, which will go very well with a traditional roast lunch.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£8.50)

Wine of the Month – a new discovery from an urban winery in the Cotswolds

Freedom of the Press Bacchus 2021 (Oxfordshire)

This excellent wine from Freedom of the Press winery, an urban winery located in the Cotswolds, 15 miles outside Oxford, is a new discovery for me. And it certainly ticks all the boxes.

Set up by Gavin Carver in 2020, Freedom of the Press aims to ‘make small batches of beautiful still wines from exquisite English grapes, selecting techniques and vessels best suited to crafting each wine’s distinctive style’. And they have certainly achieved that with this outstanding Bacchus.

With aromas of apple, pear, peach and blossom on the nose, and lemon, apple, pineapple and grapefruit on the palate, this is a splendid first Bacchus vintage for the winery and augurs really well for the future.

Produced from grapes grown in Essex, principally the Crouch Valley, it is a well-balanced wine, with lively acidity and a smooth, lengthy finish.

Enjoy by itself, with seafood, or with sheep and goat cheese. It will also pair well with spicy Asian dishes.

Available from Grape Britannia (£15.49)

A deliciously fresh organic Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand

Villa Maria EarthGarden Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (Marlborough)

Founded in 1962, Villa Maria is now New Zealand’s most-awarded winery. It has always been at the forefront of innovation and has been a pioneer of organic vineyard management for over 20 years. The EarthGarden range is Villa Maria’s first range of wines that are 100% organically grown and this Sauvignon Blanc from the winery’s Marlborough vineyards is deliciously fresh.

Full of life, with aromas of apple, lime and pear, and flavours of lemon, peach and passionfruit, this is a well-balanced wine with refreshing acidity and a lengthy finish.

Perfect by itself on a warm summer’s day, this will also pair very well with seafood, chicken or plant-based dishes, and is a wine that offers very good value for money.

Available from Tesco (£10.50)

Two cracking wines from Sussex to brighten your day!

Rathfinny Wine Estate planted their first vines in 2012 with ambitious plans to develop their 240-hectare farmland on the windy Sussex Downs, just a stone’s throw from the English Channel. Located on south-facing, free-draining chalk slopes and benefitting from a unique micro-climate, the vines enjoy ideal conditions to produce grapes of excellent quality.

Here are a couple of their very impressive wines I tried recently.

Rathfinny Classic Cuvée 2018

Made according to the traditional method using a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier grapes and aged for 30 months in the bottle, this Classic Cuvée Sparkling Wine is a real Sussex sparkler.

With aromas of apple, pear and toast on the nose leading to flavours of brioche, lemon, apricot and a hint of nuttiness on the palate, this is a crisp, dry sparkling wine with refreshing acidity and a long finish.

Available from Rathfinny Estate

Rathfinny Cradle Valley White 2018

And Rathfinny also have a range of still wines, including this very appealing blend of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. With lemon, peach, vanilla and honey on the nose, and lemon, peach, apple and grapefruit on the palate, this is a dry, crisp wine with refreshing acidity and a hint of minerality on the finish.

A well-balanced, medium-bodied wine which is an ideal aperitif and is also a perfect match for a seafood dish.

Available from Hedonism Wines, South Downs Cellars, Quaffology

A Portuguese Regional Wine with plenty of personality

Porta 6 Branco 2020 (Portugal)

Portugal has an abundance of local grape varieties which bring a note of difference to its wines. This Vinho Regional (Regional Wine) from the Lisbon area is a case in point. It is a blend of the indigenous Arinto and Viosinho grapes, together with the more international varieties, Chardonnay and Viognier.

Produced from grapes grown in vineyards close to the Atlantic Ocean, this is a fresh, fruity wine with plenty of personality. Aromas of blossom, lemon, apple and pear on the nose lead to more stone fruit flavours of peach and apricot on the palate.

Medium-bodied with lively acidity and a hint of minerality, this is fine by itself or with a seafood or pasta dish. This is a good quality wine at this price.

Available from Tesco and Sainsbury’s (£7-£7.50)