grilled meat Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A smooth, expressive red wine from the Douro, Portugal

Feuerheerd Reserva Douro 2020 (Portugal)

Though this wine comes in a bottle wrapped in thick grey paper and has a label tied round the neck with string, don’t be misled by the gimmicky packaging!

The Feuerheerd Reserva Douro 2020 is an expressive red wine, aged in carefully selected old oak barrels, and is a very good example of the high-quality, good value red wines produced by Feuerheerd, a renowned Port producer.

A blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Roriz grape varieties, the wine is a smooth, elegant, well-balanced wine with medium tannin, medium acidity and a long, silky finish.

With plum, cherry and vanilla on the nose, and blackberry, chocolate, liquorice and a touch of spice on the palate, this is an excellent match for a grilled or roast meat dish, or with roasted vegetables. It will also go well with a strong cheese.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£11)

A delightful GSM blend from the Rhône Valley

Domaine Gramiller Rasteau 2020 (Southern Rhône)

This wine from Domaine Gramiller in the Southern Rhône is a blend of Grenache (50%), Syrah (30%) and Mourvèdre (20%) grape varieties. It is a smooth and elegant full-bodied wine with medium tannins, medium acidity and a lengthy finish.

With aromas of plum, blackberry and the herbs of its native garrigue on the nose leading to flavours of plum, cassis and liquorice on the palate, this is a well-balanced wine which can be paired with a grilled or roasted meat dish, or with roasted vegetables.

Available from Cambridge Wine Merchants (£15.99)

An expressive red wine from Bergerac. Perfect for a barbecue!

Château Bel-Air, Bergerac 2020 (France)

This expressive red wine from Bergerac in the Dordogne, just to the east of Bordeaux, is a very good example of the high-quality, good value wines from this appellation.

A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this Château Bel-Air 2020 is an elegant, well-balanced wine with generous tannins and a long finish. With plum, cherry and black fruits on the nose, and blackcurrant, plum and vanilla on the palate, this is an excellent match for a grilled or roast meat dish, or with roasted vegetables. Perfect for a barbecue!

Available from Majestic (£8.99; Mix Six £7.99)

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 rich, intense Monastrell from south-east Spain

Carta Roja Pura Selección Privada 2019 (Jumilla)

Made from organically grown Monastrell grapes from the hot, rugged valleys of Jumilla in south-east Spain, and with no sulphur added, this wine demonstrates the dark berry characteristics typical of this grape variety.

This is a rich, intense, full-bodied wine, with medium acidity, medium tannins and a long finish. It is a smooth well-balanced wine that is easy to drink, despite the 14.5% alcohol.

Aromas of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry and spice on the nose lead to black cherry, plum and liquorice and a hint of smokiness on the palate. This is a good match for a hearty, meat dish from grilled meat to a lamb stew to a traditional roast. It’s also a perfect pairing for manchego or a blue cheese.

Available from Morrisons (£7.50)