grilled meats Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A well-balanced wine with a lingering, herby finish …

Cru des Côtes du Rhône Vinsobres 2021 (Southern Rhône)

Situated at the northern tip of the southern Rhône, where the grapes benefit from mountain breezes and cool summer nights, Vinsobres, one of the seventeen ‘crus’ of the Rhône valley, produces fresh, smooth, fruity wines with notes of garrigue.

This is a full-bodied wine with aromas of cherry, raspberry and vanilla on the nose, leading to blackberry, cassis, liquorice and chocolate on the palate. A blend of Syrah and Grenache grape varieties, it is a well-balanced wine with a lingering, herby finish.

A perfect match for a Sunday roast, grilled meats or with ripe cheeses.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£12)

An appealing blend from the Black Country

Halfpenny Green Penny Red 2022 (Staffordshire)

This very appealing red wine from Halfpenny Green Wine Estate in the heart of the Black Country in the West Midlands is a fine example of a wine produced by one of the country’s largest vineyards.

Established in 1983, Halfpenny Green benefits from well-sheltered south-facing slopes and light, sandy free-draining soil to grow a wide variety of grapes.

The Penny Red is a blend of Rondo, Regent, Triomphe d’Alsace, and Divico grape varieties. A smooth, velvety, well-balanced wine with soft tannins and a long finish, it has aromas of bramble, plum and blackcurrant, and flavours of forest fruits and cherry.

A wine to enjoy by itself, with grilled meats or vegetables, or with cheese.

Available from Grape Britannia (£12.99)

A smooth, well-balanced Shiraz from New South Wales

PepperBox Shiraz, 2020 (Southeastern Australia)

Having recently tried the PepperBox Chardonnay from the Casella winery in New South Wales, I was keen to try other wines from the winery and I was very impressed with this Shiraz.

Deep ruby in colour, this rich, well-balanced PepperBox Shiraz is very good value for money. With blackberry, cherry and plum on the nose, and black fruits, chocolate and tobacco, with a hint of spice on the palate, this is a smooth wine with plenty of character, medium tannin and acidity, and a lengthy finish.

Perfect for a Sunday roast, with grilled meats, or roasted vegetables.

Available from Sainsbury’s (£9)

A delightfully smooth and elegant organic red from Catalonia

Agricola Fuster ‘Dardell’ Organic Red 2020, Terra Alta (Catalonia)

This Dardell organic red wine is a delightful blend of old vine Garnacha Tinta (Grenache) and Syrah from the Terra Alta region of southern Catalonia. Produced from grapes grown on the rolling hills near Tarragona, this is a smooth, refined wine with medium acidity, medium tannins and a lengthy finish.

With aromas of vanilla, blackcurrant and cherry on the nose leading to flavours of ripe red and black fruits on the palate, and a hint of spice and smokiness on the finish.

This can be enjoyed by itself or with grilled meats, roasted vegetables, or cheese.

Available from Majestic (£10.99, £8.99 Mix Six)

Moulin-à-Vent: the King of Beaujolais

Moulin-à-Vent, Domaine De Roche-Guillon 2015

Just south of Burgundy lies Beaujolais, home of the Gamay grape. There are 10 Beaujolais crus, each with their own distinct personality created by a combination of factors including climate, soil, altitude and aspect.

The four key crus are Brouilly, Fleurie, Morgon, and Moulin-à-Vent, with the first two producing lighter, more perfumed styles, and the last two producing more structured wines which generally age well.

This Domaine de Roche-Guillon wine is from the vineyards of Moulin-à-Vent, where the grapes are grown in pink granite soils rich in manganese and iron. This accounts for the dark ruby colour of the wine, and its structure and complexity.

A medium-bodied wine with medium tannin and a long finish, it has aromas of black cherry, raspberry and a hint of forest floor on the nose, and flavours of black cherry, with a touch of spice and smokiness, on the palate. This is a complex wine that has developed well with age and is representative of a very appealing wine from this terroir. It goes well with charcuterie, duck, grilled meats, and soft cheese such as Brie or Camembert.

Available from Sandhams (£14.98)

Sunshine and spice from the Southern Rhône – Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nimes 2019

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, Vacqueyras – well-known wines of the Southern Rhône region of France, characterised by vibrant, fruity wines with a touch of spice and earthiness. The terrain is known for its stony soils, covered in ‘galets’, the round pebbles shaped by the actions of the Rhône Valley glaciers and the River Rhône over millennia.

These stones are key to the successful ripening of the grapes – not only do they absorb the heat from the daytime sunshine and release it again during the night, they also protect the vines and the soil from the strong winds known as le mistral.

These conditions are perfect for the Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre grapes that dominate the vineyards here. Grenache is the mainstay, bringing concentrated, spicy red flavours to the blends. Syrah adds extra colour and tannin and Mourvèdre brings intense black fruit flavours, and often gamey, meaty notes.

This Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nîmes 2019 is from the most southerly AOC of the Rhône valley, and one which is somewhat overshadowed by its more renowned regional neighbours. It has the characteristically robust, spicy flavours of red wines from this appellation.

A dry, medium-bodied wine with high alcohol and medium tannins, this is a well-balanced wine with a medium (+) finish. It has aromas of raspberry, blackberry and plum, with hints of spice and pepper on the nose, and blackberry, pepper and liquorice on the palate.

An excellent match for grilled meats, casseroles, and goat’s cheese.

Available from Waitrose. £8.99