THE LOW DOWN: South of France is the feature and I URGE you to check out my three red picks. You’ll discover that there’s more to wine than Aussie Shiraz. France also scores high with a wonderful sparkling and a still Rosé. Complete your shopping basket with Aussie Riesling, Italian Pecorino and Californian Zinfandel.
SPARKLING ROSÉ
wine style: Rosé Sparkling
JEAN GEILER Brut Rosé, Alsace 47191 $17.95
Dry Sparkling Rosé with the classy feeling of Champagne. But at a fraction of the price! The perfect summer aperitif.
WHITES
wine style: fresh white
D’ARENBERG 08 Riesling ‘The Dry Dam’, Australia 942953 $16.95
Lemony, zesty and a little herbaceous. Wonderful exuberant refreshment. Low alcohol. Go get some.
wine style: fresh white
AGRIVERDE 08 Pecorino ‘Riseis’, Abruzzo, Italy 74112 $13.95
Pecorino is an indigenous Italian grape that produces a very savoury wine – great with food. Seafood or white meats. Or an antipasto platter.
wine style: nice & easy white
SAINT-ROCH 09 Cotes du Roussillon, France 175232 $13.95
Very pretty sipper. Delicate flavours and lots of charm. Ultra modern white in a stylish package. Lazy summer afternoon wine.
ROSÉ
wine style: dry rosé
BIELER PERE & FILS 09 Rosé, Coteaux d’Aix en Provence, France 71423 $12.95
Semi-rich with delicious spicy flavours. A hit of Provence at a bargain price. Get a CASE. BBQ’d chicken or seafood.
REDS
wine style: rich red
CHATEAU HAUT LIGNIERES 07 Faugeres, France 177691 $15.95
An amazing red that delivers the spicy richness of Zinfandel along with the earthiness of the Rhone. Nora Jones meets Tom Waits – the pretty and the soulful. Could, and should, convert you to south of France reds.
wine style: rich red
CAVE de ROQUEBRUN 07 Saint Chinian-Roquebrun, France 177519 $17.95
Experience the French edition of Shiraz. Pepperty flavours combined with earthy rustic feelings. Richness meets tangy refreshment. Great stuff.
wine style: rich red
MAS de la DEVEZE 07 Cotes du Roussillon-Villages, France 65797 $17.95
I’m not usually into dark dense reds but this one rocks. Deep, down flavours combined with vigor. There’s a big personality behind the richness. Tells me a story as it nourishes.
wine style: rich red
BONTERRA 07 Zinfandel, Mendocino, California 530139 $18.95
The super-rich Zin experience – from organic grapes. Really good red wine that’s more than ‘just nice’. BBQ’d steaks would be the perfect partner. Of course!
There is no such thing, but if I had to nominate some candidates for the perfect everyday red, Torres Sangre de Toro would be on my list. It’s produced from Grenache grapes (responsible for Cotes du Rhone’s delicious flavours) but it can also be likened to Pinot Noir. Especially when lightly chilled. It combines lovely berry/spicy flavours with charm and great drinkability. A give-me-more wine. Not too big, not too light – sort of perfect. Especially with white meats, tomato sauced pastas, and party sipping.
