Wines of the Month
Seasonal wines for September: A crisp white, and two fuller-bodied reds to savour as we head into autumn.
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As fields are being shorn of their ears of wheat and grapes move towards full ripeness, opportunities to drink fuller-bodied reds are moving to the forefront of our minds here at Yapp HQ. While we hope that rosé season continues deep into autumn, we're mindful that recipes such as Crab Linguine (September Food and Wine Matching) requires a crisp white. This month's trio reflects that with a mineral Western Australian Chardonnay, a Rhône red blend from redoubtable Rasteau and a recently-recommended (in the press) cuvée from Corsica.
Forest Hill Vineyard: 'Estate' Chardonnay 2019
Just off the South Coast highway, some 5 hours drive from Perth, Guy Lyons' Forest Hill vineyards are a stone's throw from the Pacific Ocean. With winds from the Antarctic keeping vines cool, the climate is very much influenced by the sea. In turn, the wines retain lovely freshness and their estate Chardonnay is no exception. Zingy citrus zest, white peach and a hint of almond and buttery oak give this a lovely smooth finish. Great with seafood or a lemon and herb-roast chicken, it has enough welly to work well with cheese either of the hard or blue persuasions.
Rasteau: Domaine Saint Gayan 'Ilex' 2016
One of the more recent Rhône Crus (in 2010), Rasteau's reputation is shooting skywards as an excellent value source for wines to rival its neighbours Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas and Vacqueyras. Jean-Pierre and son-in-law Christian-Yves Carré de Lusançay's cuvée comes from a five hectare plot of older vines and usually comprises 63% Grenache Noir, 26% Mourvèdre and 11% Syrah. Earlier-drinking than their Gigondas, its bright fruit and spicy vigour makes it a terrific companion to hearty stews, simple sausages or North African-spiced chickpea-based tagines.
Vin de Corse Porto Vecchio: Domaine de Torraccia Rouge 2016
The Telegraph's Wine Correspondent Victoria Moore made the Granite Isle subject of her recent column. She highlighted two of veteran vigneron Marc Imbert's wines commenting on the Domaine red: "This organic red is a blend of nielluccio and sciaccarello (the Italian side of the heritage) and grenache and syrah (the French). It tastes of bilberries, red fruit and dried herbs with a faint touch of smoke or tar. Good with slow-cooked lamb." We'd heartily concur and meekly suggest stuffed peppers or aubergine as accompaniments for those of a vegetarian or vegan bent.
Santé,
Grant Berry
(Two bottles of each wine shown are included in this six-bottle case. Our standard list price of these wines would be £98.90, plus £12.50 delivery to a mainland UK address. Offer price saves £16.40).
2 x Forest Hill Vineyard: 'Estate' Chardonnay 2019£0.00
With the influence of the Southern Ocean, this is an elegant, well-balanced and textured cool climate Chardonnay.
2 x Rasteau: Domaine Saint Gayan 'Ilex' 2016£0.00
A strapping Rasteau wine with dark ruby colour, copious quantities of chocolate and black cherry flavours and warming tannins. This warming blend of Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault out-punches and out-points many a Châteauneuf' and is just the kind of wine to cosset one through a chilly winter.
2 x Vin de Corse Porto Vecchio: Domaine de Torraccia Rouge 2016£0.00
An earthy, medium-bodied, herb-tinged Corsican red wine. It is well-rounded with attractive red fruit aromas and supple, balanced tannins that are ideally suited to rustic cuisine. Vigneron Marc Imbert suggests wild boar as they proliferate around Torraccia and cause untold damage to the vineyard!
