Summer is finally upon us! The season of picnics and barbeques and delicious, food friendly reds, whites and roses are the order of the day. For our wines of the month, we have selected a range that is especially suited to the season and which offers exceptional value. With thoughts turning to the summer holidays, it’s time to look for wines that remind us of places we have visited. We have a rose from the South of France and an Assyrtiko from Crete. From Portugal we have a wonderful red which just cries out for a juicy burger or lamb Kofta. Australia is the natural home of the barbeque and our Tempranillo from McLaren Vale is the perfect partner to outdoor cooking. Enjoy!
Domaine de Montmarin Rosé, Cotes de Thongue, France 2022
Domaine de Montmarin has been in the de Sarret family since 1488 and is currently under the direction of Count Phillippe Bertier of the 29th generation. The Count has re-invigorated the estate with new plantings, and a move away from bulk wines to producing all organic, estate bottled wines.
The Cotes de Thongue is in the Languedoc, just east of Beziers. The winemakers of the area decided not to join the Appelation Controlle system, preferring to remain an IGP. This allows them freedom to experiment with different varieties. As a result, the area is recognised for its innovative approach to winemaking.
Taste: Domaine de Montmarin Rose has an intriguing nose with a touch of summer fruits fused with pear drops and mineral spice. On the palate it is full of fresh raspberry and strawberry fruit characters, with a with juicy cherry core and delicate acidity, and a long full finish.
Try: As an aperitif with a nibble of spinach and feta filo pastry parcels. A main course of a grilled tuna Salade Nicoise would be a wonderful pairing.
£10.45 JUNE OFFER £9.00
Lyrarakis Assyrtiko 'Voila', Crete 2022
Assyrtiko is one of the oldest wine grape varieties in existence with a history going back over 3000 years. Originating on the island of Santorini, it is known for producing wines with intense minerality, citrus and stone fruit flavours, bracing acidity and a saline edge. Long admired by insiders of the wine world, Assyrtiko can now be found on wine lists of many of the world’s leading restaurants.
Lyrakakis was founded in 1966 and are now recognised as one of the leading producers in Crete. With 14 ha of vines planted on limestone, loam and sand, at an altitude of around 500m, they specialise in wines from lesser-known native Greek varieties.
Taste: Bright lemon yellow in appearance. Aromas of citrus and white fleshed stone fruit with herbal and chalky notes. The mouthfeel is rich and crispy with a saline freshness and an elegant mineral finish.
Try: With intense, saline minerality it is a natural partner for oysters, crab and lobster. Just right for the season!
£15.40 JUNE OFFER £13.60
Real Companhia Velha Santhiago Tinto, Lisboa, Portugal 2020
Despite being less well known in the UK than Douro or Alentejo, the Lisboa region produces more wine than any other Portuguese region. Stretching some 40km north from the capital, it boasts a wide variety of grape varieties and climates. The coastal areas are relatively cool in summer with sea breezes having a benign effect. In winter the Atlantic serves to keep the weather mild. Further inland the climate is more Mediterranean, with hotter summers & cooler winters.
Real Companhia Velha is the oldest wine company in Portugal, with 260 years of uninterrupted history of Port production. Founded by the King of Portugal in 1756, the company broadened its horizons outside the Douro and developed vineyards in other regions, preserving and honouring traditional techniques, whilst investing in the future with constant modernisation and experimentation in their vineyards.
Taste: Santhiago Tinto is an enchanting blend of Portuguese grapes. Richly fruited, with juicy dark berries, a hint of spice and wild herbal notes, giving lift and freshness to the wine. An approachable and easy drinking style, with an elegant structure, firm well-balanced tannins and defined, refreshing acidity.
Try: With a homemade beef burger, lightly spiced with a little Chimichurri, straight off the BBQ, or a smoky lamb kofta with salads and tzatziki, in a fresh flatbread.
£12.05 JUNE OFFER £10.20
Hancock and Hancock Tempranillo, McLaren Vale, Australia 2021
McLaren vale was colonised in 1836, and wine growing started in 1838. The pioneers were Thomas Hardy and John Reynell, who laid the ground for the famous Hardy’s and Seaview wine empires. With the growth in interest in quality Australian wine throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s a new wave of innovative wineries opened focussing on Grenache, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. In the early 2000’s forward looking wineries started to plant different varieties.
Chris Hancock MW has been making excellent wines for over three decades in McLaren Vale and is one of Australia’s most admired winemakers. He has worked for Robert Oatley Vineyards since 1962, working closely with Bob himself and is now Deputy Executive Chairman. In 2015, Hancock & Hancock was a new venture started by Chris and his brother John.
Taste: A beautiful dense shade of crimson. Lifted nose of dark cherry, raspberry and dark berry fruits. Delicate spice plus some more savoury tobacco leaf notes. Full bodied and luscious on the palate. Fine persistent tannins, great flavour length.
Try: A grilled Rib Eye steak, butterflied leg of lamb, marinated in Thai spices and, cooked over coals… delicious!
£15.94 JUNE OFFER £14.00
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