ON THE GRAPEVINE

BY SAM WYLIE-HARRIS

Have you been saving a wine for ‘best’ that’s languishing on the shelf? Instead of letting those special occasion wines pass their prime, maybe it’s time to share the love and dig out a bottle you’ve been squirrelling away. This selection proves the old adage, there’s no time like the present to pour a pukka glass...

Morande Terrarum Patrimonial Semillon 2022

Maule Valley, Chile, £9.99, Waitrose

Clean as a whistle and super refreshing, this semillon offers a streak of lime acidity with vibrant citrusy fruits, concentrated lemon, a waxy texture with notes of savoury herbs and a mouth-watering finish. Fantastic with fish and chips.

Yalumba Gen Organic Sauvignon Blanc 2022 South Australia, £11, Ocado

Switch your usual Marlborough sauvignon blanc for this Australian in a super-approachable style. With a welcoming blossomy nose, hints of passion fruit, lemon grass and herbs and delicious freshness, it also has tropical fruit flavours, a hint of minerality and a pure, crisp finish. Perfect for enjoying now.

Robert Oatley Semaphore McLaren Vale Shiraz 2021 Australia, £10.50, Co-op, in-store

This great-value red from awardwinning producer Robert Oatley showcases how dependably delicious a stylish shiraz can be. Polished and generous with a forest floor of blackberry fruits, savoury spice laced with fragrant black cherries and smooth, silky, lengthy finish, it’s impressive from word go.

Asda Extra Special Cru De Beaujolais Fleurie 2021 France, £11, Asda

With ribbons of bright cherry fruit, this will remind you why these wines deliver so much joy. Beautifully fragrant with an open bouquet of rose petals, a silky palate of dark cherry fruit and ripe blackcurrant lifted by floral notes glides gracefully, with savoury accents. Great finesse and food friendly.

The Wine Society’s Generation Series Haut-Medoc 2019 Bordeaux, France, £14.95

2019 is cited as an excellent vintage and you’ll be blown away by the rhapsody of rich ripe fruit, intensity on the palate and silky textured tannins... plus we applaud the price. The wine opens up with exquisite florals, exotic spice, opulent blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with a cedar finish. Snap it up now.

Mythral Rosé 2023 Cotes de Provence, £15.99, (£13.99 Mix Six), Majestic

This is a rosé to have on standby whatever the weather. Highly recommended, this ballet-slipper pink offers enticing aromas and flavours of peach blossom, red berries, a whisper of citrus, herbal nuances and fresh, minerally finish.