Five terrific new wines with a few unusual surprises, too.
2011 Finest* Navarra Rosé, Spain (£6.99, Tesco). This is a chunkier rosé than normal, halfway to being a red wine in actual fact, and this is its charm. With sturdy, juicy red fruit and a lovely smooth palate, this is a charming, summery, chillable wine with an almost inexhaustible food-matching repertoire.
2011 Atlantis, Santorini, Greece (£10.49, Marks & Spencer). This is an incredible wine, made from 60 year old assyrtiko vines and boasting exceptional complexity and finesse. With floral, creamy, wildflower notes and a stunning finish, this is as summery as white wine gets!
2011 Coriole, Fiano, McLaren Vale, South Australia (£14.99, Tanners tel.01743 234500, SH Jones tel. 01295 251179, Cambridge Wine Merchants tel. 01954 214528, Waples Wines tel. 01799 586279). The rare fiano grape gets an ever rarer Australian outing in the form of this superbly racy little number. Coriole is a fiano pioneer and this wine has all of the flair of the more well-known Italian versions, with a thirst-quenching and expressive finish!
2008 McWilliam’s, Hanwood Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, South Eastern Australia (£51.24, for a case of 6 bottles, equivalent to £8.54 per bottle, Tesco.com). My favourite, entry level, classy Aussie cabernet with four years under its belt – hoorah! Drinking perfectly, with scrumptious cassis notes and a twist of savoury oak this is a stunning, elegant wine.
2009 Clos de los Siete, Mendoza, Argentina (£13.29, Waitrose, Majestic). World famous consultant winemaker Michel Rolland whisks together malbec, merlot, cabernet, syrah and petit verdot in this magnificent wine and the results are astounding. With stunning depth and complexity, this is a heroic, rich, powerful red with a massive, inky finish – hoorah!
