New vintages, cuvées and interesting wines to try Red Sweet
Sparkling Cremant De Bourgogne NV
For those looking for a cheap champagne alternative, cremant is made by the same method using the local region’s grapes – which in Burgundy’s case are the same as Champagne. Citric, creamy cleverly made fizz.
£7.99, Lidl
Champagne, France: Cuvée Manoir Vintage 2010 Nicolo & Paradis
Highly rated by tasters for its biscuit brioche nose, yellow fruit flavours and lively mousse. Stylish 50 per cent pinot noir/50 per cent chardonnay cuvée made by up-and-coming grower David Nicolo in southerly Aube. £38.95, www. champagneone.co.uk; www. thechampagnecompany.com; www.amathusdrinks.com
Dry white Languedoc, France: Irresistible Marsanne 2016 Jean Claude Mas
This looks cheap and cheerful with its screwcap and simple label, but this new Co-op white is great value for a light, creamy quaffing aperitif. Made from the northern Rhône marsanne grape, it has pear and honey aromas, a hint of vanilla, slightly creamy palate and a dash of oak.
£7.99, Co-op stores
Trentino, Italy: Vinai Nosiola 2017 Cavit
Made by a large Trentino co-operative, but it is remarkably good for the price and has just scooped Best Value White Trophy at the Wine Merchant Top 100 Awards. Made from little known nosiola grape, usually used to make sweet vin santo wines, winemaker Anselmo Martini has transformed it into a delicious, nutty, spicy and crisp unoaked dry white. £9.99, Woodwinters, Edinburgh, Bridge of Allan and Inverness, www.woodwinters. com
Crete, Greece: Assyrtiko 2017 Domaine Lyrarakis
A crisp, dry, elegant white
might sound a surprising find on a hot Greek island, but this superb find comes from high altitude-grown unirrigated vines cooled by seabreezes in Alagni in eastern Crete. Made by a small family winery run by the pioneering Bart Lyrarakis, it offers really fresh floral notes. £12.75, Oddbins, www.oddbins. com; £12.95, Berry Bros & Rudd, www.bbr.com
Mclaren Vale, Australia: Money Spider Roussanne 2017 d’arenberg
Luscious flavours of mango, honey and apricot with a zippy undertone from a dash of sauvignon blanc. Suit those who like semillon. £12.30, Fine Wine Co, Musselburgh; £14.50, www.
greatwesternwine.co.uk
Rosé Sicily: Etna Rosato 2017 Pietradolce
The latest vintage of this wonderful rosé. Our tasters loved its cranberry fruits, zippy acidity, minerally undertones and crisp dry finish. Made from old bush vine nerello mascalese grown at 600 metres in Solicchiata on the northern slopes of Etna.
£16.50, www.armitwines.co.uk
Patagonia, Argentina: Finca La 70 Malbec Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 Vinalba
This new exclusive blend for Co-op won gold at this year’s International Wine Challenge and you can see why. The cooler Patagonian climate gives a fresher minty feel and very pure ripe elegant fruit flavours.
£8.99, Co-op stores
Niederosterreich, Austria: Taste The Difference Zweigelt 2017
Better known for his gruner veltliners, Markus Huber has turned his hand to Austria’s cherry-fruited zweigelt grape. Deliciously pruney, rich, vibrant red with smooth tannins. Very approachable in style and price.
£8.50, Sainsbury’s
Tasmania, Australia: Artisan Tasmania Pinot Noir 2016
A bit above Aldi’s normal price tag, but this Tasmanian example has cherry and violet aromas, soft succulent palate, natural acid and tannins. £16.99, Aldi, available from 1 October
San Antonio Valley, Chile: Corralillo Syrah 2014 Matetic
Good spicy example of cool climate biodynamicallyfarmed syrah from El Rosario Valley in northern Chile. Subtle aroma opens out to generous black cherry fruit on the palate, hints of pepper, smoke, good complexity, silky tannins and freshness. Good value under £13. £12.79-£15.70, www. noblegrape.co.uk; www. armitwines.co.uk; www. haywines.co.uk
Tokay, Hungary: Late Harvest 2016 Disznoko
If you cannot afford deliciously rich Tokaji dessert wine, late harvest Furmint is an inexpensive option made by a different method fermenting all grapes together giving a light sweetness, tropical fruit and citrusy undertones. Serve with lemon tart or cheesecake. £14.50-£15.50 hf bt, Oddbins; The Good Spirits Co; Lea & Sandeman; Cambridge Wine; Richard Granger Wines
South West France: Pacherenc Du Vic Bihl 2014 Plaimont
A delicious bargain dessert wine made from old vine gros manseng, courbu and petit manseng. Expect honey, passionfruit, raisiny sweetness with a rich appley finish. ■
£7.99, Lidl Join Rose’s Piedmont v Veneto wine & charcuterie tasting at The Royal Scots Club, Abercromby Place, Edinburgh on 25 October, £50, www.rose murray brown. com