Out & About Summer 2018

Psychopomp, Negron £38 GrapeSmith, Hungerford

If you want to make a smart garden party even smarter, then the Negroni is the aperitif currently winning the competition for the coolest cocktail. You can easily make your own with equal measures of gin, bitters and sweet red vermouth, but why bother when this pre-mixed version from the intriguingly named Psychopomp is so good. It’s a mix of this micro distillery’s small batch, juniper-heavy Woden gin with Italian bitter aperitive and Italian sweet vermouth. Just pour a double measure over ice and add a slice of orange.

Soleiddes Aix-en-Provence £12.99 The Naked Grape, Hungerford

This wine ticks all the boxes, very clean elegant ripe fruits, pale and delicate with a gentle character across the palate and it’s in the traditional bottle shape! Enjoy a Rosé that you can’t find everywhere!

Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2017 £12.00 Haynes Hanson & Clarke, Whitchurch The 2017 Domaine Pique Roque rosé is a gem of a vintage. Beautifully bright, delicate, pale pink in colour, the aromas are scented, fresh and intense. The fruits characters recall peaches and apricots that are ripe, super-pure and freshly picked. There is a wonderful creamy middle here, with silky texture and a lifted, clean finish.

Grillo Sicilia, Rupe Secca 2017 £ 8.45 Haynes Hanson & Clarke, Whitchurch A very pure expression of Grillo from Sicily, this wine is a lip-smacking, dry white. The aromas recall fresh, ripe lime and lemon, the palate being intense and racy with a lovely, cleansing salinity to finish.

Ciconia, Alentejo, Portugal, 2016 £9.95 GrapeSmith, Hungerford A great red for barbeque season at a fantastic price. From just South of Lisbon, this Portuguese red uses Touriga National, Syrah and Aragonez grapes. Touriga is the main grape used in making Port and Aragonez is the Rioja grape Tempranillo. It’s aged in French oak barrels and the result is a powerful wine full of fruit and spice, but balanced with smooth tannins.

Pax, Furmint Pinot Gris, Slovenia £12.60 GrapeSmith, Hungerford

This is a really great wine, from Slovenia, yes, I kid you not. At the Dveri-Pax Wine Cellar in North- Eastern Slovenia, they continue an 800-year tradi- tion of Benedictine winemaking. This is one of the most refreshing and lovely whites around. A blend of Furmint, Pinot Gris and a small splash of Ries- ling. Lovely acidity and bright apple freshness. A great alternative to Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Petxina Vi Natural Sans Sulfite, Tarragon, Spain £16.99

The Naked Grape Hungerford Pure wine – no added Sulphur . The estate has labelled this white, even though it is red. It is their way of saying it’s pure and white as it has had no added sulphur in the winemaking process. Most wines like this taste funky and bizarre, but the quality of grapes and vineyard management make this stand out. Unique in every way, with an earthy Malbec feel.

Top Tipple Tip

Krasno, Sauvignon Blanc / Ribolla £7.99 Majestic Newbury An absolute corker. Lovely Sauvignon aroma and initial flavour broadening out into a smoother fruity style and then a round, but dry finish. Delicious!

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