ON THE GRAPEVINE
SAM WYLIE-HARRIS ON... BIG, BEAUTIFUL NEW WORLD REDS TO MATCH MEATY DISHES
WHAT is it about New World reds that makes them so inviting and dangerously easy to drink?
With just the pull of a cork or twist of a screw cap, we know these wines are going to taste great, make us smile with their heady aromas and want to break out the BBQ come rain or shine.
Here are some must-try reds from some of our favourite hotspots to get the juices flowing...
■ McGuigan Reserve Shiraz 2018, NSW Australia (£7, Sainsbury’s)
THIS mega-brand is a go-to label for well-made, fairly priced wines. Here we have the concentration and sweetness of the blackberry fruit with jammy blueberry, some spiced oak and juicy acidity on the finish. Bring on the burgers, ketchup and sweet red onions.
■ Co-op Irresistible Fairtrade Organic Malbec 2017, Argentina (£7.50, Co-op stores)
THIS International Wine Challenge (IWC) Fairtrade trophy-winner shows it’s at the top of its malbec game.
Florals, cassis and plum mingle beautifully on the nose, with lush, ripe brambly fruits framed by firm tannins and a gentle herbal note adds extra interest. Perfect with a simple sirloin steak.
■ Carnivor Zinfandel 2017, California, USA (£10, Tesco) THE name’s a dead giveaway and if you’ve never sinned with zin, this is the red to lock you in.
These robust Californians are the perfect bedfellow with BBQ meats, with waves of lip-smacking, fleshy dark fruits, a twist of black pepper and oak sweetness.
■ Billy Bosch Western Cape Reserve Shiraz 2018, South Africa (£9.99, Virgin Wines)
A SERIOUSLY delicious shiraz that’s bright and snazzy with well ripened red fruits; think cranberry, raspberry and black cherries, with a sumptuous, silky feel and sweet spice on the fresh finish.
A wine that really hits the spot on its own, and a must with sizzling ribs and sticky sauces.
■ Wirra Wirra Church Block 2016, McLaren Vale, Australia (£13.49, Waitrose)
CHURCH Block is a firm favourite with wine-lovers, the critics and anyone who loves a generous Aussie red.
Cabernet sauvignondominant, it offers a wealth of blackcurrant, blackberry and raspberry flavours with enticing aromas of florals, plums and cedar accents, well-integrated tannins and a lasting finish.
A joyous glass.