pasta Archives - It Must Be Wine O'clock

A very good value Vinho Regional Alentejano wine from south-eastern Portugal

Ramos Reserva 2019 Selected Blend, Vinho Regional Alentejano (Portugal)

This Vinho Regional Alentejano is a very good value wine from south-eastern Portugal. A blend of Trincadeira, Aragonês (Tempranillo) and Syrah grapes, it is a full-bodied, elegant wine with medium tannins and a lengthy finish.

Pronounced aromas of ripe black fruits and a delicate spiciness on the nose lead to intense blackberry, blackcurrant and plum flavours, with hints of vanilla and smokiness, on the palate.

Winner of the International Wine Challenge (IWC) Bronze Medal in 2021 for this 2019 vintage, this is a very well-balanced wine which can be enjoyed by itself or with a meat, pasta or roasted vegetable dish.

Available from Majestic (£8.99, £7.49 Mix Six)

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 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 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)

A taste of Crete

For a satisfying, well-balanced red wine, why not try a taste of Crete this weekend? Though perhaps not your immediate go-to choice, wine production in Crete has a long tradition going back more than two thousand years. There are plenty of interesting varieties to try, from Vidiano and Thrapsathiri white wines to the red wines made from Kotsifali, Liatiko and Mantilari grape varieties.

The Kotsifali Lyrarakis 2018 is a very good example of what wines from Crete can be like. It is made from Kotsifali, the classic Cretan black grape variety. This is a grape which typically produces wines which are lightly coloured, with relatively high alcohol, smooth tannins and soft acidity. They are often blended with Mandilaria to add tannin, deepen the colour and temper the alcohol but this wine is 100% Kotsifali.

This is a nicely balanced wine, with red cherries, blackberry and plum on the nose, and raspberry, cherry and warm, sweet spices on the palate. It is a medium bodied wine with medium tannins and medium acidity. A smooth, well-rounded wine which is fine to sit and relax with or enjoy with pasta, lamb or cheese.

Available from a number of stockists, including Cambridge Wine Merchants, Honest Grapes, Thorne Wines, The Whisky Exchange (£11.99-£12.99)

Diner we befuddled – with this? (3,4). Crossword clue.

Answer at foot of page

Three good value, medium bodied red wines to tempt your palate this week – two Old World wines and one from New Zealand. Enjoy!

Domaine Tavian Brouilly 2019 (Beaujolais)

If you’re looking for a fragrant, well-balanced, medium-bodied Beaujolais to enjoy with a mid-week pasta or chicken dish, this should tick the boxes. Quite well defined aromas of raspberry, candy, red cherry, and a hint of violet, on the nose, and fresh fruity flavours of raspberry and strawberry on the palate. This is a dry wine, with high acidity, medium tannins and a medium finish. A good value Beaujolais. (Waitrose, £12.99)

Mud House Pinot Noir 2019 (Central Otago)

A Pinot Noir from the Central Otago region of New Zealand, this wine has red cherry, raspberry and bramble aromas on the nose, with a hint of peppery spice, and fresh fruit flavours of raspberry and redcurrant on the palate. A balanced wine, medium bodied with medium tannins and a medium finish, this goes well with lamb, or by itself. Majestic Wine £13.99 (£10.99 Mix Six), also available at Waitrose.

Louis Latour Bourgogne Pinot Noir, 2019

A youthful Burgundy Pinot Noir with well-defined red fruit aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and red cherry with overtones of cloves, spice and earth on the nose, and quite intense red fruit flavours on the palate. A dry wine, with high acidity and medium tannins, it has medium alcohol and a medium finish. A good wine to pair with lamb or chicken. Majestic Wine £16.99 (£12.99 Mix Six).

Answer to crossword clue: red wine