Ten of the best new wines to tempt the tastebuds
This week we look at ten new wine releases from across the world including a debut varietal from ancient French grape, terret blanc, an exclusive Cape blend from one of the most sought-after winemakers, Marc Kent, a bargain Austrian white and a superb Rioja Reserva.
White Languedoc, France: Villa Blanche Terret Blanc 2016 Calmel & Joseph
The first varietal wine made from this grape. The ancient Languedoc terret blanc grape was once used for vermouth and Eau de vie in the 1960s, but then abandoned when they fell out of favour. Now revived by Jerome Joseph and Laurent Calmel, who have been nurturing this grape in the Cevennes foothills of Faugeres. The result is a zippy, herby, dry white with plenty of fresh acidity and moderate alcohol of 12 per cent. £8.49, Waitrose; Vino Wines, Edinburgh
Spain: Lagar De Cervera Albarino 2016
A beautifully styled albarino, our tasters loved the peach, apricot and white blossom scents, tropical fruit notes, minerally character and textured palate from the grape’s thick skins. A great match for rich seafood such as monkfish or scallops. £14.95, www.tanners-wines. co.uk; www.armitwines.co.uk
California: Terre Rouge Viognier 2015
Zesty, fresh and floral, this American viognier is a new release from talented Californian winemaker Bill Easton in Fiddletown, Amador County. Using organic methods, his viognier vines thrive on the granite soils of the Sierra foothills. For the first time in 2015, Easton matured his viognier in barrels shipped from Condrieu in the Rhône. It works well, giving the wine added complexity.
£20, www.domainedirect.co.uk
Austria: Austrian Pepper Grüner Veltliner 2016 R&apfaffl
So named as the grüner veltliner grape has plenty of peppery spice alongside its appley fruits, zestiness and rich textural palate. A well-priced introduction to Austria’s famous grape grown in Niederosterreich, lower Austria, by the Pfaffls, awarded European winery of the Year 2016 by Wine Enthusiast magazine. This is a clever attempt to simplify Austria’s labels – also try their Dot Peach (riesling) and Dot Cherry (zweigelt). £10.99, Vino Wines, Edinburgh; St Andrews Wine
Sardinia: Vermentino Di Sardegna Ala Blanca 2016 Poderi Parpinello
You can find vermentino in Provence, Liguria, Tuscany, Corsica and even in California, but the most elegant examples hail from vineyards on the rugged north-west coast of Sardinia. Chalky soils and sea breezes give this fresh, floral, unoaked white a saline note alongside its bright tropical fruit and almond flavours.
£12.73, www.strictlywine.co.uk
France: Côtes du Rhône Blanc 2015 Guigal
Marcel Guigal has overseen 55 vintages and he rates 2015 as one of the best. Even though Côtes du Rhône makes very little white, 25 per cent of its white production comes from the Guigal stable. As a northern Rhône producer, Guigal focuses on viognier, so his attractive white Côtes du Rhône has a high 65 per cent viognier to add exotic aromas and freshness, alongside rousanne, marsanne, clairette, bourboulenc and grenache blanc. £13.99, Fenwick Ltd; Swift Wines; Direct Wines; Amazon
Red S France: Sous Le Soleil Du Midi Merlot 2016
A lowly Vin de France, but extremely soft, approachable and moreish. It is exactly what you expect from a humble merlot with its sweetness, easy going cherry fruited flavours and smooth creamy texture – a red to quaff on its own or with a mid-week pizza.
£5.99, Waitrose
South Africa: The Red Winemaker Series 2016 Marc Kent
Scary label, but a delicious wine. Marc Kent is the man behind one of my alltime favourite Cape reds, Boekenhoutskloof Syrah, and creator of the popular Chocolate Block. This Majestic exclusive, a spicy blend of shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and cinsault, reminds me of a spicy, smooth-structured Rhône.
£9.99/£12.99, Majestic Wine
Spain: Rioja Vina Ardanza Reserva 2008
One of my favourite Rioja bodegas is now celebrating the 75th birthday of Ardanza, a wine made exclusively from La Rioja Alta’s own vines. It is labelled Reserva, but aged long enough to be a Gran Reserva. A generous percentage of grenache adds pepper and spice notes to this deliciously smoky cherry and raspberry fruited Rioja. £22, The Wine Society; £21.99/£25.99, Majestic Wine
New Zealand: Lowburn Pinot Noir 2015
This Central Otago winery scooped Air New Zealand Champion Wine in Show for their 2014 pinot noir. The 2015 is in the same vein, with red cherry, smoky, herby flavours, underlying leather and tobacco notes and savoury oak. £34, Vino wines, Edinburgh; St Andrews Wine