New Reds on the Block

By Angela Mount

The new arrivals at Great Western Wine continue to swoop in, like the proverbial swallows returning to our shores for the summer.  Having enjoyed the new range of sparkling and white wines, it’s time to take a look at the recently -arrived reds on the shelves,

There’s a  red wine to suit every possible taste and just about every pocket in the new line up, from northern France, to South Australia.  Here are my favourites, but the range goes far further and is worth exploring, both online and in the shop.

Let’s start in the north, and head south.  First up is a delicious juicy, fresh, light, joyous red, GAMAY DE TOURAINE, DOMAINE DE PIERRE 2013, a new vintage, hot off the press from the Loire Valley, using the grape most traditionally grown in Beaujolais – the style isn’t dissimilar, yet there’s more punchy fruit, and bright, fresh herb- scented character; bright, breezy, eminently drinkable, and pretty much perfect served slightly chilled, on a summer’s day, with a plate of charcuterie, or a picnic ( this will be my red of choice for the inevitable sports day picnic).

Moving southwards through France, the team have sniffed out a gorgeous new discovery from the southern Rhone, ARABESQUE DOMAINE DE MONTVAR, VACQUEYRAS 2011 – Southern Rhone wines are a particular favourite and this one doesn’t disappoint – soft, rich, and beckoning in its beguiling richness, it’s full of rich , super- ripe blackberry fruit, black pepper and cardamom spice and dark chocolate layers -  perfect with that barbecued  leg of lamb.

With a quick flip south-eastwards, the next stop is Portugal, with a delicious new range from the southern Alentejo region, just south west of Lisbon.  This region produces consistently great wines, yet remains undervalued – PLANSEL SELECTA RESERVA 2012 is no exception – full of warm, velvety, plump black fruits, hints of mocha and cinnamon spice, and a deliciously soft, silky finish.  No harsh edges, just glorious fruit and would work beautifully with chargrilled steak and lightly spiced lamb steaks.

Whizzing across to  the New World side of the Northern Hemisphere, there’s a cracking new signing from  Oregon, in the form of Omero Cellars, nestled in the quaintly named Willamette Valley.  OMERO PINOT NOIR WILLAMETTE VALLEY 2011 is a silky, sumptuouos mix of opulent red berry fruit, with wafts of ripe raspberries and a hint of toffee – a rich, full style of Pinot, plush and polished – and at under £20 a bargain for decent Oregon Pinot Noir.

Heading southwards, to where the oceans meet, South Africa’s most southernly winery, STRANDVELD has an interesting range of reds to match its breezy, perky whites – my pick is THE NAVIGATOR 2011, a classic Rhone blend of Syrah, Grenache and Mourvedre, with a dollop of scented, opulent Viognier. It’s bold and gutsy, with ripe black fruit flavours, yet with a restraint and freshness, which reflects the cool climate where they are located.

Great Western have further strengthened their already- rich portfolio of Australian wines; firstly,  from Victoria, the quirkily named and labeled ARE YOU GAME? SHIRAZ 2012, produced by a game- obsessed producer named Matt Fowles. Predictably, this has been made specifically to go with all manner of game and I can see how it works. With 10% Tempranillo in the blend, which adds a hint of strawberry sweetness, it’s  a big, sassy red, full of violet, black pepper, fresh mint  and bruised blackberry fruit.

Over in Western Australia, iconic producer Howard Park continues to make great red classics from Margaret River, with poise and elegance. There’s a range of wines called Miamup, with a very decent Cabernet Sauvignon, boasting a sweet core of curranty fruit, but my top choice from the line up was the classic single vineyard HOWARD PARK LESTON SHIRAZ 2009 – poised, polished and showing restrained power, it has an abundant richness, and complexity – a perfect example of the pinnacle of Margaret River reds.

Finally, and fittingly, there’s a new red on the block, from one of South Australia’s finest winemakers, Ben Glaetzer.  HEARTLAND SPICE TRADER SHIRAZ 2012, from Langhorne Creek is  a gorgeously rich, bold, chocolate, mocha, spice and blackberry-infused explosion of aromas and flavours – exotic, intense, yet juicy, its concentration belies its price – amazing value and a dead cert for Summer barbecues.