2011 Saumur Rouge, Château Fouquet, Loire, France (£11.75, Yapp tel. 01747 860423 & www.yapp.co.uk). As I write this piece the weather is still grim outside – damp, humid and depressing. The hosepipe bans have been lifted and it’s hardly surprising given the incessant rain. I am hoping that by alerting you to the most summery red wine I have tasted this year that by the day of publication the sun will finally have emerged from behind the heavy clouds. If not, then fire up your central heating, pull on some shorts, slide a bottle of this awesome Cabernet Franc out of the fridge and slake your thirst. Château Fouquet is owned by the Filliatreaus (of Saumur-Champigny fame). I think so highly of this family and their wines that they have made it into the new wine book that I am currently writing featuring the one hundred most iconic estates in the world. This inexpensive, stunningly aromatic red is a joy. This is not a serious navel-gazing wine but a hilarious, cocktail of summer pudding notes cut with a razor sharp acidic finish. It is genuinely mouth-watering and perfectly suited to a vast range of dishes so don’t worry about what you’re cooking, just slosh this chilled wine into your glass and get the party started whether your in the garden or stuck indoors.
