lamb Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A great value wine from Languedoc-Roussillon

Saint-Chinian, Domaine Raynier 2022 (Southern France)

This very pleasant Saint-Chinian wine from The Wine Society offers excellent value for money. The wine is produced from grapes grown in the vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France, at the southern end of the Massif Central and just 20 miles from the coast. This enables the grapes to benefit from long, hot summers and mild winters, resulting in a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine.

A blend of Grenache and Syrah grapes, this is a dry wine with medium acidity and medium tannins. Herby aromas of the garrigue together with plum and blackberries on the nose lead to a palate of vibrant black fruits, with liquorice and a hint of spice, and a lingering finish.

A wine to enjoy by itself or with food. It’s a very good match for lamb, or a casserole.

Available from The Wine Society (£7.50)

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)

A nod to Spain in this Australian wine

Yalumba Y Series Tempranillo 2019/20 (South Australia)

When we think of Tempranillo, we think of Spain, and in particular, Rioja, but this Tempranillo wine from South Australia adds a little Antipodean twist to proceedings. Produced by Yalumba winery, one of Australia’s oldest wineries, founded by Englishman Samuel Smith in 1849, this is a deliciously smooth wine which can be enjoyed by itself, and goes really well with duck or lamb.

With aromas of cranberry, cherry and bramble on the nose, and flavours of blackberry and plum, with a hint of chocolate and spice, on the palate, this is a balanced wine with a long finish which is guaranteed to brighten up your day.

Available from Majestic (£9.49, Mix Six £7.49)

Bursting with red and black fruits, this great value Saint-Chinian wine is perfect with roast beef

Les Hauts de Saint Martin, Saint-Chinian 2020 (Languedoc)

The vineyards of Languedoc-Roussillon in southern France cover a vast area along the Mediterranean coast, stretching from Nîmes and Montpellier to the Spanish border. Here you can find a wide range of wine styles from a variety of grape varieties, producing predominantly red wines. This Saint-Chinian wine is from vineyards located at the southern end of the Massif Central and just 20 miles from the coast, enabling the grapes to benefit from long, hot summers and mild winters, and resulting in a smooth, rich, full-bodied wine.

A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre grapes, this is a dry wine with medium acidity and medium tannins. Aromas of mint, plum and blackberries lead to a palate bursting with red and black fruits, vanilla and spice, and a lingering finish.

A quality wine offering very good value for money. A perfect wine for roast beef, lamb or steak.

Available from Co-op (£8.50)

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 celebration of English and Welsh wines

As we celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this month, there are two more great reasons to crack open a bottle or two in June – Welsh Wine Week (4-12 June) and English Wine Week (18-26 June). Here are a few suggestions to tempt your palate. Iechyd da! Cheers!

Winbirri Solaris 2020 (Norfolk)

Winbirri Vineyard near Norwich is well-known for its award-winning wines and produces a range of still and sparkling wines.

The Solaris 2020 is a smooth, refreshing, slightly off-dry wine with medium acidity and a lengthy finish. With elderflower, apple and peach on the nose, and honey and nectarine on the palate, the wine also has its own character which distinguishes it from a Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay or Bacchus.

If you are looking for an appealing wine with a difference to go with your seafood or chicken dish, this is certainly one to try.

Ancre Hill Estates Rosé 2018 (Monmouthshire)

Although we might automatically think of France when we think of rosé, there are plenty of other wine regions around the world producing some fine examples, including this Ancre Hill Estates Rosé 2018 from Wales.

This is a well-balanced wine with lots of flavour and a lively acidity. Pale pink with a tinge of yellow in colour, it has aromas of strawberry, bramble, apple and grapefruit on the nose, and flavours of strawberry, rhubarb, cream soda and grapefruit on the palate.

A crisp, fresh wine with low alcohol which is perfect by itself and also goes well with canapés or fish, particularly oily fish.

Halfpenny Green Penny Red NV (Staffordshire)

This recent discovery is a fine example of a wine produced in the heart of the Black Country in the West Midlands. One of the largest vineyards in the country with almost 30 acres, Halfpenny Green benefits from well-sheltered south-facing slopes and light, sandy free-draining soil to grow a wide variety of grapes.

The off-dry Penny Red is a blend of Pinot Noir, Regent and Rondo grapes. A smooth, velvety, well-balanced wine with soft tannins and a long finish, it has aromas of bramble, cherry and blackcurrant, and flavours of blackberry, damson and plum. A wine to enjoy by itself or with lamb or cheese.

White Castle Vineyard Pinot Noir Précoce 2019 (Monmouthshire)

This is a very impressive wine from White Castle Vineyard, located near Abergavenny in Wales.

A combination of the Black Mountains, the three local rivers, the relatively low levels of rainfall, the clay and loamy soil, and the gently sloping, south-facing aspect of the vineyard all converge to create a unique micro-climate.

Made from Pinot Noir Précoce grapes, this is a light, well-balanced wine. With aromas of red berries and vanilla, and a hint of oak and smokiness on the nose, and ripe red fruit flavours of raspberry and strawberry on the palate, it’s the perfect match for Welsh lamb, duck or a cheese platter.

All the above wines are available from Grape Britannia

Wine of the Month

This month’s Wine of the Month is a Georgian qvevri wine.

Tbilvino Qvevris Rkatsiteli 2020 (Georgia)

Although wine cultivation is believed to have started in the Caucasus region as early as 6000 BC, Georgian wine is perhaps not as well-known as it ought to be. The traditional method of vinification using ‘qvevri’ – clay pots – whereby the juice, skin and seeds of the crushed grapes are placed in handmade clay pots, then sealed and buried underground for fermentation to take place, is still used today.

The qvevri maintain a constant temperature and allow the wines to breathe and evolve in relatively stable conditions. For white wines fermented this way, the prolonged skin contact gives them their distinctive amber colour and subtle tannic grip.

This Georgian wine from Tbilvino Winery is produced from Rkatsiteli grapes, the most widely planted white grape variety in Georgia. The grape is also popular in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania and Moldova, and in recent years it has found a home in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, where the climate is similar to that of Georgia’s main winegrowing regions.

With peach, pear, apricot and blossom on the nose, and honey, peach and orange peel on the palate, this is a robust wine with a creamy mouthfeel. A dry wine, it is well-balanced with a lively acidity, and has a slight nuttiness in the finish. A very good match for a lamb dish, roast chicken, or salmon in a creamy sauce.

This is not a Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay or a Pinot Grigio but it is an appealing wine with a character very much of its own. It’s a fine example of a qvevri wine and well worth trying.

Available from Majestic (£13.99, £11.99 Mix Six)

Wine of the Month

White Castle Vineyard Regent 2019

Originating in Germany, the Regent grape copes well with cooler climates, producing wines that are full-bodied and richly-coloured, with soft tannins and ripe red and black fruit flavours. A number of vineyards in the UK have Regent plantings, including White Castle Vineyard located near the market towns of Abergavenny and Monmouth in Wales.

A combination of factors including the protection of the Black Mountains, the three local rivers (Usk, Monnow and Wye), the relatively low levels of rainfall, the sandstone rock shelf, the clay and loamy soil, and the gently sloping, south-facing aspect of the White Castle vineyard all converge to create a unique micro-climate.

This, together with the hard work and dedication of owners Robb Merchant and his wife Nicola, has enabled them to produce a range of top-quality, award-winning Welsh wines. The White Castle Regent 2019 is a little gem, a delightful wine that shows just what the Regent grape is capable of.

With aromas of cherry, blackberry and a touch of smokiness on the nose, and ripe fruit flavours of raspberry and plum on the palate, this is a well-balanced wine with medium tannins and a long finish. It’s a perfect match for Welsh lamb or other meat dish and if you are partial to a light Beaujolais, you should try this excellent Regent 2019.

Iechyd da! Cheers!

Available from Grape Britannia (£24.99)