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Teme Valley Times Majestic Discounts apply until June 29
Wines from California! It’s easy to underestimate the vastness of California’s wine output. Even though California is just one state, if it were treated as a country, it would still rank 4th in the world (well ahead of Australia) and California has over 100 ‘American Viticultural Areas’, which is about as many as the whole of the rest of the USA. California accounts for approaching 90% of the USA’s wine production, and over 100 grape varieties are grown there, so there is no lack of choice. The characteristics of the wines reflect the sunny state of California and the American palate: soft and full, with a luscious low-tannin character, which can help make the reds more approachable than is often the case in the old world. Perhaps even more important, there wasn’t a single bad bottle among the wines we tried. ALDI Rockstone Ridge Merlot £4.49 This medium-bodied red offers a smooth, ripe dark-fruit flavour with no obvious tannin, plenty of flavour, and a long finish. Overall, an enjoyable wine at an affordable price. Rockstone Ridge White Zinfandel £4.49 Potentially quite sweet, but served straight from the fridge it seemed to offer a better balance. There’s a fruity cherry/strawberry flavour that comes through nicely and if you’re looking for something to serve decidedly cool on a hot evening, this might be just the job.
Waitrose Waitrose Californian Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 £6.49 Not a typical Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a fruity and surprisingly soft red that packs a lot of flavour. It’s assertive, but it’s neither dark nor heavy; there’s a hint of blackcurrant and almost a touch of clove. Unusual, but enjoyable, this might also appeal to people who sometimes find reds rather unapproachable. Waitrose Californian Chardonnay 2013 £6.49 This white was very well received. It’s not expensive but it’s really rather good. It’s very drinkable and it’s pleasantly smooth and rich. There’s a refreshing fruity sharpness, but no unpleasant harshness; there’s a steely, brassy minerality, but at the same time there’s citrus and florality; everything from starfruit and physalis to lemon and lime. It also went well with a range of food - even with pepperoni pizza!
SPAR Prices are for Tenbury, Ludlow and Leominster stores until June 18 Californian Red £5.00 Medium-bodied, with red fruit flavours and with raspberries on the nose, this is a very drinkable, if not particularly serious, red wine. Pleasantly flavoursome, given its relatively light weight, this should go nicely with a BBQ, or with Tex-Mex food.
Californian White £5.00 There’s plenty of flavour, with sensations of pineapple and ripe honeydew melon, and this could be drunk by itself or with food. If this is what you’re looking for, you shouldn’t be disappointed, but not one for drinkers who want a ‘dry white wine’ that tastes of almost nothing.
Ravenswood Lodi Old Vine Zinfandel 2013 £11.99 (£7.99 if you buy 2) If you’re looking for a serious red that combines aromas of pomegranate, cranberry, damson and chocolate with flavours of prune, spice and blackcurrant, this might go down a storm with a traditional Sunday roast, especially if your like your beef and roasties well done. It’s complex and there’s obvious tannin, so it’s a mix of New World and Old, but for most people, it will be at its best with food, rather than without. Geyser Peak Chardonnay 2012 £9.99 (£7.49 if you buy 2) Served lightly chilled, this aromatic white was really quite good and it came across well, with tropical fruits and a good bouquet - eminently drinkable!
Californian White Zinfandel £5.00 Quite delicate, the cooler it’s served, the less sweet it tastes, so your ideal serving temperature will be a reflection of your palate. Refreshing, with juicy strawberry flavours, this could go down well, particularly if straight from the fridge on a warm summer evening.
Edna Valley Pinot Noir 2012 £11.99 (£8.99 if you buy 2) Pinot Noir is almost a law unto itself, but if you enjoy what it has to offer, this is an interesting red, being peppery and fruity with plum and greengage and hints of blackberry and blackcurrant. It’s decidedly quaffable, but it’s also 14.5%, so some selfrestraint may be called for. Paso Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 £15.99 (£13.59 if you buy 2) Another red that would be at home with a Sunday roast, with plenty of flavour and an assertive edge. Complex, full and bold, with a darkness that engages but doesn’t overpower, the back label suggests this would be ‘best paired with big food and spirited conversation’ and we wouldn’t disagree with a word of that. Clos du Bois Chardonnay 2013 £12.99 (£9.74 if you buy 2) A flinty yet pleasantly floral white, we’d suggest drinking this with fish, as it has a bit of astringency, served cool, but not cold, as this would inhibit some of the more interesting flavours. There’s a lot in here, ranging from pear drops and vanilla to coconut, and all with a pleasant butteriness.
Warm brie sa
welcomes you to our 6th Real Ale & Cider Festival
Evenin breast ribbon
Friday 24th, Saturday 25th, Sunday 26th July 3 days of entertainment for the whole family including a bouncy castle for the kids. as usual, there will be a variety of hot food available all weekend to enjoy with your drink. see you there!
20+ ale s 15+ ciders
liVe music from turn stone (fri 7.30pm), fabulous bordellos (fri 9.30pm) bluzebox (sat 12 noon), new tricks (sat 3pm), The endings (sat 6pm), hot climate (sat 9.30pm) steady ed & The boogie men (sun) and more!
For more information contact us on 01568 780228
Or email us: hello@ thebootinnorleton.co.uk
The Boot Inn, Orleton, Ludlow, SY8 4HN www.thebootinnorleton.co.uk
Mixed salmon Smoke Marina