This month Angela Mount, wine and food critic, celebrates the wines of America…
This month, I’m looking to the Americas, sampling a bold Californian red, a cool Washington State aromatic white, a sassy new option from Chile, and a seductive Argentinian red-blooded charmer. The big brands have done California no favours, in terms of reputation, but look beyond that, and there’s a wealth of vinous delights, from the ripe, plush wines of California’s Pacific coast, to the cool elegance of the more northern Columbia State, and the excitement of Patagonia’s far south.
With Brazil now starting to pop its head above the parapet in terms of international wine renown, and our love affair with Argentina’s Malbec grape continuing, it’s an exciting time over there. These wines are all great food partners, in all their different guises, and perfect alfresco and barbecue matches- it’s well worth deviating from the safe bets of Sauvignon blanc and Aussie red to discover something new.
If you’re leaning towards Asian and Indian dishes, or spicy marinades, for your weekend cooking, have a look at Chateau Sainte Michelle Dry Riesling 2013 (Great Western Wine £9.95, down to £8.76 throughout June); it’s a dry take on this fragrant, aromatic grape variety. Time and time again, Riesling triumphs as the best style of wine to have with spicy food; this has lovely lime marmalade and honeysuckle scents, and is packed full of refreshing, mouthwatering fruit salad flavours, but all backed up with a steely, fresh, dry edge, just perfect to cope with all those spices.
Chilean Sauvignon blanc, especially from the coastal Casablanca Valley is looking very polished these days, and a great alternative to New Zealand Sauvignon. But why not go out on a limb and try something a little more left field, although similar in style?
Vina Leyda Sauvignon Gris Kadun Vineyards 2013 (GWW £11.95 down to £10.52 throughout June) wowed at the recent Bath Good Food Awards, when it was served with Royal Crescent chef David Campbell’s, hay smoked salmon with sweet and sour cucumber. It’s a clone of Sauvignon blanc, and similar in profile, but it’s fleshier, richer, and with added texture – packed with lime zest, passion fruit, and wild herb character, it’s a great wine for seafood, chilli-spiced prawns and flavour-packed vegetable salads.
For the start of the barbecue season, I’ve picked a couple of rich, friendly, smile-inducing reds, which will cosy up beautifully to pretty much any combination of red meat dishes.
First up is a voluptuous red from one of my favourite grape varieties – the plump, indulgent and seductive Bogle Old Vines Zinfandel 2013 (GWW £14.50, down to £12.76 throughout June). You can’t help but fall in love with the rich, irresistible, silky smooth charm of this bold Californian beauty.
Full of luscious, oozingly-ripe blueberry and blackberry fruit, it’s overlaid with a sprinkling of cinnamon spice and a smidgeon of dark chocolate. Big, bold, yet soft and beckoning, it will cope beautifully with Indian-spiced red meats, and Tex-Mex dishes.
Finally, over to Malbec, the current darling of the red wine world. The experts at Great Western Wine have been sniffing out a few new gems recently, and this is definitely one of them.
El Esteco Don David Malbec 2014 (GWW £11.50, down to £10.12 throughout June) is brimming with sultry South American charm, but, unlike many Malbecs it’s not an overly gutsy bruiser.
This one has more charm, more finesse, without losing one iota of its rich, compelling charm.
Packed to the rafters with dark, gloriously ripe fruit and hints of dark chocolate and sweet spice, it’s no surprise that I’m recommending this one for steak, or chargrilled rib of beef.
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