Here are five superb wines for Bonfire Night. Have a lovely dinner, some superb wines and then wrap up warm for the fireworks.
2008 Lamatum, Crianza, Ribera del Duero, Spain (£8.99, reduced to £6.99 if you buy 2 bottles, until 30 January, Majestic). This is a ridiculously serious wine for its seven pound price tag, with lashings of dark, prune fruit notes and a superb vanilla and toast aroma coming from its top class American oak barrels. Drink it with the Sticky Sweet Chilli Dogs and you will enjoy an unlikely, yet sensational combo!
2009 Bourgogne Blanc, L’Arnage, Burgundy, France (£8.95, www.fromvineyardsdirect.com & tel. 020 7549 7900). With wonderful nutty oak barrel nuances and a creamy, rich honeyed chardonnay palate, this wine has all of the grandeur of a posh white Burgundy, but without the usually prohibitive price tag. You should by all rights roast a chicken in its honour, but it would certainly match well with this week’s delicious Caramelised Onion & Carrot Soup recipe.
2008 Tinto da Ânfora, Alentejo, Portugal (£7.49, Waitrose). Both French and American oak barrels are used to add complexity and spice to this excellent Portuguese red and I have to say that it is one of my favourite wines from the whole country. Keenly priced, blackberry-soaked and reassuringly chunky and heart-warming it simply must sit alongside the Sausage, Chorizo & Bean Stew!
2010 Lugana, Lake Garda, Italy (£7.98, Asda). With not much to go on on the label, let me tell you that this delicious, fruit-driven white is a steal, with its gentle floral aroma and mellow pear and apple notes. By all means tackle the Spiced Sweet Potato Wedges with it to hand and allow it to soothe your palate and relax your mood.
2010 Rustenberg Straw Wine, Stellenbosch, South Africa (£12.49, reduced to £9.99 if you buy 2 half bottles until 30 January, Majestic). I had to find a wine to go with this year’s Bonfire Night toffee apple recipe and sesame ingredient moved me to mention this stunning creation. Made from dried grapes (4 months on straw mats) the heavenly honeyed and nut flavours are beautifully concentrated, but not too gloopy. A wicked match if ever there was one.
