Bargain reds for BBQ’s
AS A LONG-standing member of the Rotary Wine Appreciation Fellowship, which numbers hundreds of members from across the world, I frequently receive news of what is happening in the wider wine world. We are all looking for a bargain in the face of rising prices, and each month RWAF members are provided with recommendations of value wines, all highly rated by experts such as the Wine Spectator, IWC and Robert Parker. So, this month I thought I would share these suggestions with readers. I continue to be frustrated by online search engines, so have done the homework for you and can confirm that at the time of writing all of these wines are available in the UK. And while on the subject, why on earth does someone need to be over 18 just to read about wine? Absolute nonsense! If only the sun could make a more consistent appearance this summer, these reds would be an ideal accompaniment for a BBQ.
Waterdog Reserva, Setúbal, Portugal, 2018, 13%abv., £13.58
This family-owned wine producer was established in 1834, and takes its name from its founder, José Maria da Fonseca. Its first wine was released in 1850, making it one of the first bottled red wines in Portugal, and is thought to be the first to plant Castelão. This smooth velvety wine is a red blend of native Portuguese grape varieties; 34% Castelão, 33% Touriga Nacional and 33% Trincadeira, with aromas and flavours of cherries.
sugar. A powerful wine, and dense on the palate, its fruity acidity gives a lingering fresh, lively feel on the palate.
A pale ruby-red, with aromas of red fruits along with hints of plums, violets and lavender. Medium bodied, it is smooth yet lean and lively on the palate, with flavours of fresh strawberries and blueberries. Currant leaf (ever sniffed a blackcurrant bush?!) and herbal plum flavours are joined by a minty green tinge on the finish.
Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais, Burgundy, France, 2021, 13%abv., £11
Beaujolais wine often gets a bad rap, largely due to the cheap and cheerful stuff for early drinking that floods the market at the end of November each year. This one, made from the Gamay grape, by arguably the ‘king’ of Beaujolais, is an intense, brilliant cherry colour with purplish tints. For an early drinking, relatively simple, wine it has some complexity on the nose, with red and black berry aromas. A good introduction to easy drinking red wines, this is a smooth wine, with silky tannins. On the palate, it oozes fruit; think red and black cherries.
Chronic Cellars, Purple Paradise, Paso Robles, California, USA, 2019, 14.5%abv., £17.99
Jake and Josh Beckett grew up in Paso Robles, and, since 2004, thanks to their close contacts with the best grape growers, they have prided themselves on making their wines from the finest grapes. This Zinfandel-based blend really does taste ‘purple’. Rich, ripe and bold. It is full of plum, black fruit, exotic vanilla and chocolate spice. Soft and approachable, it goes well with barbecue pulled pork or a hearty pasta dish.
Villa Trasqua, Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany, Italy, 2016, 14%abv., £15.99
In the glass, this wine offers a dense violet colour, with a little sideways stance, the red wine glass reveals an appealing purple hue around the edges. The bouquet has upfront aromas of blackcurrant, plum, black cherry and blueberry. Further exploration reveals secondary characteristics of cocoa bean, vanilla and dark chocolate. Dry and elegant, it is finely balanced. Bottled with only 1 gram of residual sugar, it proves that great taste is not necessarily reliant upon the presence of
Chilensis Reserva, Maule, Valley, Chile, 2018, 12.5%abv., £9.16
Sangre de Toro, Catalunya, Spain, 2019, 13.5%abv., £8.63
The original and classic Spanish red, in production since the 1950s, this is a Grenache dominant blend, paired with Carignan. Deep in colour, it has a plummy jam note on the nose, with a touch of leather. Full of dark, ripe, sweet fruits on the palate, its smooth tannins and soft acidity make it very accessible.
Château Ferrière, Margaux, Bordeaux, France, 2018, 14.5%abv., £29.83
This estate, named a Third Growth estate in the 1855 classification of the Médoc and Graves, has 44 acres under vine, mostly within the village of Margaux itself, making it one of the smallest of the classed growths. The estate was founded and named for Gabriel Ferrière, a member of the court of King Louis XV and wine broker in Bordeaux during the 18th Century. Here they make Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant red blends, with the addition of some Merlot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The aromatic nose is intense, revealing notes of bright blackberry, raspberry along with crushed red berries, plum, iris, lily and a spicy pepperiness. The well-balanced palate is fruity, yet with hints of chocolate and toasted hazelnut. It has good length, and firm tannins. A wine crying out for attention. L.P-V. THE VISITOR August 2022 19
