Gérald Besse, Les Serpentines, 2021, Syrah, Martigny, Switzerland
The swiss can make some really good wine and this dry red syrah from Gérald Besse from the Martigny area of Switzerland shows it. Good length and full of red fruit flavours. With a little bit of smoke, leather and slight earthy note just poking through it’s very enjoyable red to watch a sunset with.
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Aldi sells some great wines and although it’s not great when you consider the price of £4 a bottle it’s hard not to be impressed. It’s a cheap red wine for sure, dry, unbalanced on the tannins and flavours. There are positives. Reasonable red fruit and tannins don’t overwelm. It’s better to chill this a little and drink it in the garden on a summer’s day.
Lyrarakis located in Crete, Greece is an interesting example of a red wine from Greece. It’s dry and reasonably light with small amounts of tanning. Its ok as a wine to go with food but just lacks character on its own. At £20 a bottle it’s way over priced.
Ermacora, Schioppettino, 2020, Italy
You can’t really go wrong with Italian red wine and this one from Ermacora in Northern Italy almost proves it. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with it, its just a dry red wine. Red fruit and pretty light is the best any of us that tried it could say. When tasted one evening with 2 other reds, it was left limping into 3rd.
Greek red wine can be excellent, world beating and it’s not to say that this red made from the Liatoko grape is bad. It lacks any real sense of depth or standout flavours. Its a lunch time, dry red wine to be drunk and enjoyed with a meal. Certainly at £20 a bottle there are better wines out there, but at least it’s a “not to be refused if you are offered a glass” category.
Martin, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2020, Croatia
Croatia makes Some great wine and this isn’t a bad example. It’s not gold medal by any standards, but for a dry red wine., it’s very pleasant. It’s got enough flavour dark and red fruits to keep you drinking, there’s some reason tannins, and it’s very easy to drink, especially with food. At about Euro 30 bottle, it’s a bit on the pricey side, that said, nice wine.
Vinha do Fava, Reserva, 2021, Portugal
This family run vineyard produces a rather excellent red wine, primarily made from Touriga Nacional grape it’s dry, full bodied with plum, cherry and spices coming forward and lasting in the mouth. It’s smooth and subtle, quite beautiful. At £16 a bottle nicely priced too.
Reguta, Pignolo, 2020, Northern Italy
What a wonder red to sit in the garden and just relax. Reguta certainly knows how to make a great red wine with this pinolo grape. Its smooth, subtle, rich and yet light. Redcurrant, blueberry and hints of cranberry give long lasting flavours that dance in the mouth. Its one of the best reds of the year or even the 2020’s. At about £20 a bottle it’s amazing value too.
Fondo Antico, Nenè Nero d’Avola, Sicilia, Italy
Dry and bold but pretty smooth best describes this southern Italian red wine, or great red to just enjoy. With Red cherry and redcurrent flavours and notes of oak and leather with a very slight smokiness and chocolate poking though its very easy drinking and doesn’t need food to be enjoyed, just what I like. Pasta and red meat would still go very well with this. At about EUR12 a bottle its a wine to buy by the case.
Dagernova
Dernauer Schieferlay Spätburgunder
Most of the German Pinot Noirs you get in the UK are pretty good. This one from Dagernova is excellent. Light, dry with soft tannins and well integrated fruit flavours of cherry and red current. This a little oak and hints of earthiness poking though. Delightfully subtle and easy drinking it’s hard not to drink the bottle in one go.