Cheers ma’am! Reds to crown a right royal barbie this weekend
It’s the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee bank holiday weekend and hopefully, with some decent weather, we’ll light the barbecue and spend time in the garden. So here are some barbecue red wine suggestions from the southern hemisphere to open this weekend and throughout the summer.
First, a couple of juicy, uncomplicated, good value crowd pleasers. Bruce Jack Pinotage Malbec 2020, Western Cape (Sainsbury’s £7, Asda £7 currently £6) may have an unusual blend of grapes –South Africa meets Argentina – but it does work pretty well and at this price is ideal if you’re hosting a relatively large gathering.
There are dark ripe fruits and chocolate on the nose, followed by a ripe, juicy palate with more dark fruits, a little spice, soft tannins and a smooth finish. This is undemanding red wine but it will come into its own with spicier barbecue dishes or those with a sticky, slightly sweet marinade.
The Society’s Australian Shiraz 2020, South Australia (The
Wine Society
£8.50) is made for
The Wine Society by Bleasdale in Langhorne Creek and is text book Aussie shiraz at less than £10. There are black fruits including blackberry and cherry and some spice in the background on the nose, followed by medium to full-bodied palate with more dark fruits, ripe tannins and a generous finish. This over-delivers at this price and would be lovely with simply barbecued lamb chops or a burger.
The Argentinian word for barbecue is Asado. It’s becoming increasingly used at food events and it follows that malbec can be a good accompaniment for a barbecue, particularly if you are planning beef or lamb dishes. Zuccardi ‘Serie A’ Malbec 2020, Mendoza (Ocado £15) has only been partially aged on older oak and the emphasis here is more about fruit purity than oak and power. There are aromas of blueberries, plum, mocha and a little spice. This continues on to the palate along with fine tannins and bright acidity before a long elegant finish. Pair with a flat iron steak.
I’ve recommended Wynns Shiraz 2020, Coonawarra (Majestic
£14.99 but £11.99 in a mixed six) before, but I was reminded during a recent tasting with winemaker Sue Hodder what a gem this is, especially for the barbecue season. More elegant than many Australian shiraz, it has an expressive nose with hedgerow bramble fruits, spice and a twist of pepper. The palate is well-balanced with a long, elegant finish. A great barbecue all-rounder. n Alistair Gibson is proprietor of Heritage Cellars. Call 07712 669973 or e-mail alistair@heritagecellars.co.uk