Out & About Autumn 2021

Out&About food & drink

VINEYARD WINES

Alexana, Revana Vineyard Estate,

Ghost Pines, Zinfandel, California, 2016 £20 A juicy and slightly spicy blend of Zinfandel from Sonoma and San Joaquin Counties. This makes fruity notes, a hint of chocolate and sweet spices. An amazing match to any game dish or, indeed, to some roasted root vegetables with Provence herbs and a bit of heat. for a harmonious wine loaded with

LAITHWAITES Riesling, Willamette Valley, Oregon, 2018 £24 This is a delightfully fresh Riesling, vinified dry, with a mouth- watering vibrancy and textured mouthfeel. The nose is perfumed and seductive with notes of ripe stone fruit, citrus and white flower. The palate is dry and round with a long finish and an amazing depth of flavours. Delicious on its own, but also a fantastic accompaniment to shellfish or vegetarian dishes. Rocksand 2020, Portugal (£10.49/£9.39 if you buy 12, can be mixed) Mostly Shiraz along with a splash of the local Alicante, Jaime finished the wine in expensive oak barrels to add a gorgeous, spicy, vanilla lift to the blueberry, blackberry and peppery fruit. A fine treat to serve with spicy chorizo sausages, a hearty stew or the Sunday roast.

Columbia Winery, Merlot, 2016 £19 Washington state offers amazing value for money wines. This Merlot is deliciously fruit driven with notes of plums and ripe red fruit and a hint of cocoa.

The palate is rich, but well- balanced with

darker fruit tones and a long finish.

Redhead Coco Rotie 2019, McLaren Vale, Australia (£13.99/£12.59) Named after the ancient Monkey hunger for roasted coconuts, this is a superbly balanced red. It’s from RedHeads, a small, very eco winery with only one vineyard. Ideally decant an hour beforehand. King who had an insatiable

Chateau Le coin Sauvignon gris 2020 (£11.99/£10.79) Delicious depth and richness with

real freshness and zing give this Bordeaux white perfect balance. Old

vine grapes and a tiny portion of oak fermentation lends even more richness. Great solo or with a creamy gratin.

GRAPESMITH

Delas Saint Esprit Cotes du Rhone Blanc £13.20 Viognier-based, with a small but important contribution from other southern white varieties, such as Clairette and Rousanne. Plump and friendly, with notes of lemon verbena, yellow apple and white peach, gilded with honeysuckle details on the finish.

Ormanni Chianti DOCG £12.50 This is Italian “food wine” par excellence. Young, tasty Sangiovese with aromas of tomato leaf, violets and red fruits. Medium bodied, with delicate tannins and a fragrant palate.

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O&A AUTUMN 2021