I have five superb new wines this week including two completely different white wines to go with Fay Ripley’s delicious pesto risotto cake recipe.
2009 Gewurztraminer, Classic, Hugel, Alsace, France (£13.99 – £16.99, SH Jones tel. 01295 672296, Cambridge Wine tel. 01223 568993, Connolly’s tel. 0121 236 9269, Handford tel. 020 7589 6113, Oxford Wine tel. 01865 301 144). Made by one of the most famous estates in France, this fragrant, immensely elegant and richly appointed gewurztraminer is a true beauty. A decadent treat with the pesto risotto cakes, this is a lush, exotic wine with a sensational honeyed texture which will envelop this dish like a cashmere throw.
2011 Brown Brothers, Moscato, Victoria, Australia (£6.49, reduced to £4.99, until 13 March, Tesco). This cheeky, irreverent moscato is one of the best selling wines in Australia and it’s easy to see why. The simple recipe involves ripe, tropical fruit notes, a dash of grapey sweetness and a gentle spritz on the palate. This prickly, juicy, refreshing white wine is delicious served ice cold and it’s a bargain at a fiver!
2010 Errázuriz Estate, Merlot, Aconcagua Valley, Chile (£8.79 reduced to £6.29, until 13 March, Tesco). Don’t expect an easy-going mild mannered merlot when you open this wine because this cracker is a strident, robust fellow with genuine class and impressive burst of black fruit. It also has a decent life ahead of it, too, so decant it and serve with macho, meaty dishes.
2011 Yalumba, Y Series Vermentino, South Eastern Australia (£8.99, Gwin Llŷn Wines tel. 01758 701004, Hoults Wine Merchants tel. 01484 510700, The Bottleneck tel. 01843 861095). This bone dry, rare vermentino (a delightful white grape which hails from Sardinia) is the perfect wine to cut through the pesto and parmesan ingredients in this week’s risotto cake recipe. It is also a triumphant seafood wine, too. Get in quick to grab this unique, new creation!
2010 Yealands Estate Pinot Noir, Marlborough, New Zealand (£12.95, The Fine Wine Company tel. 0131 669 7716, Latitude Wines tel. 0113 245 3393, Vin Neuf tel. 01789 261747). I know that you shouldn’t judge a wine by its label, but this bottle looks stunning and the wine inside is equally dreamy, too. A succulent, black cherry-soaked pinot, with a heavenly texture and some glorious spice notes, this is a wonderful treat and a lovely wine to drink with roast chicken!
