Recommendations

This is part of a new varietal range from the Waddesdon/Rothschild team and comes from a relatively cool area near Limoux in the Languedoc. It’s a great value, fruity and easy-drinking pinot with notes of strawberry and raspberry as well as spice and menthol. Around 20% of the wine has some ageing in French oak so has more structure than one would expect at the price. A very good entry-level pinot.

Available in the UK from Waddesdon Wines and a range of other retailers.

This is a concentrated, structured wine, with dark plum and bramble notes, which is made in the hills of the Corbières region of the Languedoc, not far from the sea. Strong maritime winds help temper the heat. The wine compliments red meat stews and the confit dishes so popular in the region. Carignan is the main grape variety, supported by Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. To tame some of the rusticity of the Carignan it undergoes carbonic maceration and then the blend is matured for 6 to 12 months 50% in wood and 50% in stainless steel. Available in the UK from the Wine Society.

An outstanding crisp Riesling from leading Uruguayan producer, Bouza. Full-on petrol and gym mat aromas and sparkling acidity. It could hold its own with the most serious German Rieslings and should age beautifully. Currently available in the UK from Jeroboams.

This wine is made from Vidiano which many think is Crete’s greatest white wine variety. It’s an easy-drinking, smooth-tasting wine with medium acidity and alcohol and yellow apple and peach and apricot fruit flavours. Douloufakis also make a barrel-aged, single vineyard example called Aspros Lagos. When young Vidiano is reminiscent of better-quality Pinot Grigio and it can also age well, developing complex honey and nutty flavours. Available in the UK from Maltby + Greek.

This wine comes from Friuli in northern Italy and combines extended skin contact (10 hours) with four months in oak barriques on its lees for 15%-20% of the blend. This gives complexity and bite to the wine which underpin its stone fruit flavours – a world away from mass-produced Pinot Grigio! Available in the UK from Wine Direct (Sussex).

Mirabeau, owned by Stephen and Jeany Cronk who moved from the UK to Provence in 2009, has since then developed a great reputation for rosé including their Classic and the premium Etoile brand. For me Pure is actually the best expression of the Provence rosé style with light acidity, citrus, delicate red berry and grapefruit flavours and a degree of complexity. Widely available.

Nyetimber, based in West Sussex, is one of the oldest English sparkling wine producers with vines dating back to 1988. Their Classic Cuveé is a blend of the three main Champagne grapes – chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. The wines are typically aged for three to five years (well beyond the required nine months).  This gives the wine a depth, body and toastiness which can compare favourably, in my view, with those of any of the major French champagne houses. It’s available from many retailers but watch out for the champagne/sparkling wine promotions from Majestic.

Hattingley Valley, established in 2008, is in Hampshire although grapes are also sourced from Essex, Kent and Suffolk. This is mainly a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir  – an elegant, rounded wine, with vibrant green fruit and a soft toastiness from some barrel fermentation and four years’ ageing on the lees. English wine makers have often built up great reserves over many years which means that their blends contain significantly older reserve wines than many French NVs and are all the better for it. Widely available.