Out & About Summer 2019

Out&About food & drink

The Grapesmith, Hungerford, recommends these summer tipples

wonderfully floral, with citrus and gently tropical aromas that lead to a palate of sherbet lemon acidity, a touch of mango and a bright mineral finish. Gently spritzy, ultimately easy- going, and at only 11.5 per cent abv, perfect for lunchtime. Château Saint Baillon Rose, Cotes du Provence £13.80 Petal pink and as pretty to drink as it looks. Lightly scented with red berries, pink grapefruit, wild herbs, and a touch of sea breeze. Saint Baillon really is a top-quality Provence pink. Crisp and fresh, with a pleasingly round volume and great length on the palate. The perfect summer wine – with or without food. Hello summer. Moutard Blanc de Blanc – France £14 From Champagne Moutard comes this fantastic traditional method sparkling wine. Made with Chardonnay grapes grown in the Chablis region, this is champagne in all but name. Lean and crisp, with notes of preserved lemon, brioche, and apple turnover. Great complexity balanced with refreshing acidity, making it the perfect aperitif. A summer- entertaining essential. The 2018 is a bright lemon-green with fragrant, wonderfully fresh aromas. A lively, uplifting mouthful, the ripe fruit recalls citrus fruit and white peach, with a bright, saline finish. Domaine Pique Roque Rosé, Côtes de Provence 2018 £12.45 An excellent vintage for Pique Roque. The 2018 is a bright, very pale, salmon pink, with gentle aromas combining ripe peach and floral freshness. The palate is lively and intense, with a creamy middle and a wonderful racy character. As ever, this is a light wine, just 12.5 per cent alcohol, to enjoy chilled throughout the summer. Chianti Colli Senesi, Campriano, 2017, £12.90 The 2017 vintage is a huge success for Ranuccio Neri at Campriano. Rarely do we taste a wine that has such brightness and purity – even the colour shines with a brilliant ruby hue. The aromas are ripe and beautifully fragrant, recalling freshly-picked red cherries. It is an utter joy to drink this charming wine, with its crunchy fruitiness and an open, rounded texture. The finish is perfectly judged, with gentle tannins and fresh uplift.

Chapeau Melon Blanc £10.50 Light, sumptuous, refreshing and absolutely en-pointe for the coming months (cue sunshine). Made from traditional Muscadet grape of Melon de Bougogne, with that trademark touch of salinity we know and love, enlivened with an equal quantity of Sauvignon Blanc for added ‘lift’ and aromatic quality. A perfect blend, and a perfect summertime wine. Chapeau Melon Rouge £10.50 A light and summery blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir, comparable to a great Beaujolais Villages, but without any of the ‘bubblegum’ notes those wines sometimes suggest. High quality grapes from the coastal Loire region, bursting with berry-fruit deliciousness, and fresh like the seaside. Unctuous and juicy, with elegance and poise by the bucket-and- spadeful. Refreshing even on the warmest of summer days. Vila Nova Vinho Verde £9 Vinho Verde just says ‘summer holidays’ like nothing else. From the cool and sunny north-Portugal coast, Vila Nova is Basa Blanco, Rueda, Telo Rodriguez 2017 £10.65 From Rueda in Spain`s Castilla y León region, this blend of local varieties Verdejo (92 per cent) and Viura (eight per cent) has a crisp, delicate fragrance. With lemony, white peach flavours and a bright, lively palate, this is a refreshing accompaniment to light dishes, or delicious served on its own. Touraine Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine de la Bergerie 2018 £10.95 Domaine de la Bergerie is run by siblings Rodolphe and Ludivine, son and daughter of Jacky Marteau. The domaine’s holdings include 15 hectares of Sauvignon Blanc, on southern- exposed, flint and pebble plots, overlooking the River Cher. Very pale, lemon-green colour, this 2018 Touraine has a crystalline lime and gooseberry scent. Light and with good intensity of flavour, this is a bright, silkily-textured wine, which dances over and refreshes the palate. Les Parcelles Chardonnay, Christophe Réthoré 2018, £10.25 This is very much cool climate Chardonnay from vines planted on stony, well-drained land to the east of Nantes.

And Haynes Clark Hanson, Whitchurch, have these summer numbers in stock

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O&A SUMMER 2019