M&S Collection No 9 Gewurztraminer
Marks & Spencer | €15
When it comes to pairing spicy food, I’ll often reach for a riesling as its subtle sweetness balances beautifully with the spice. Gewürztraminer is another aromatic grape that shares these qualities and is worth exploring if you’re a riesling fan. The home of Gewürztraminer is Alsace in northeast France. Produced by the cooperative Cave de Turckheim for M&S, they have been perfecting their production for 60 years. One of the key characteristics of Gewürztraminer is lychee, which has sweet and floral characteristics which shine through in this bottle, along with pops of pear, apple and the novelty of Turkish delight. This opulent wine will work with many of Aashim Bajaj’s recipes, but especially the butter chicken.
Tesco Finest | €12
The one problem with this pinot grigio is that it’s too easy to drink. It’s always a crowd pleaser, so is perfect to enjoy on its own, but it’s also a wine that will carry you into the sunnier days of spring when we start reaching for seafood and salads. Saying that, it isn’t a flat pinot – it has good complexity as the grapes take their time to ripen on the vines of the high altitude hills of Trentino in Italy. Baked pears and peach come to the fore of this fresh and clean wine, but you’ll also get some elderflower and grassy qualities. Well balanced, it’s got good acidity and notes of honey blossom give a hint of sweetness on the finish.
Sauvignon Blanc
Available nationwide | €37.60
New Zealand is home to Cloudy Bay wine and it all started with their sauvignon blanc. Not surprising as the brand first began on the vines of Marlborough and helped put New Zealand on the wine map. It is brimming with all those fantastic Kiwi flavours. With that we’re talking lots of fresh green herbaceous notes, such as gooseberries, peas and that fresh-cut grass flavour, which sits nicely next to the exotic acidic flavours of passion fruit and pineapple. Stone fruit help to elevate it by delivering that distinctive minerality, which gives a lengthy finish. A fine expression of the region, this is a quality wine deserving of its price point. This would pair beautifully with the prawn jalfrezi.
South African
Lidl | €7.69
Chenin blanc is a versatile grape, ranging from bone-dry to unctuous and sweet. However, its versatility can be its downfall as people can be reticent to try it. Over 60% of the world’s chenin blanc is produced in South Africa and here it’s found its sweet spot; displaying fresh and fruity flavours. Lidl has a few chenin blanc varieties (distinguishable by the animals on the label) and this Western Cape wine is clean and accessible. Expect lemon and lime flavours, with crisp green apple, a touch of grapefruit and a nice acidic tang on the finish. If you’re a sauvignon blanc lover looking to try something different, this is a variety worth exploring and Lidl allows you to do so at a decent price point.
Chassaux et Fils Côtes de Provence Rose
Aldi | €9.99
Rosé is such a food-friendly wine, but often people assume that is limited to summer salads and light fish dishes. It’s actually capable of so much more – even the more delicate wines from the Côtes de Provence. Case in point is this rosé from Aldi’s specially selected range. It’s more complex than its pale pink hues would suggest, as flavours of peach, strawberries and raspberries are complemented by floral notes. It’s got good, crunchy acidity with the stone fruit giving a dash of minerality. Give this one a whirl and flex its muscles beyond the usual summer salad and try it with some of the spices in our curry pages, such as the mango duck recipe.
Valle De Colchagua Merlot
Tesco Finest | €12
We’re off to South America for the red wines in this issue, stopping off first in Chile’s renowned Colchagua Valley, where the granite soils and cooler conditions of the coastal regions help the merlot grape to thrive. Luis Felipe Edwards, one of Chile’s leading family-owned wineries, produces this wine for the Tesco Finest range and it’s a stunner. Fruit to the fore, it has delicious plummy and black cherry flavours, but also a touch of vanilla sweetness and, to top it off, a smooth and subtle spice. This hearty red will hold up well to the flavours of Kevin Dundon’s buttermilk roasted leg of lamb or even Aashim Bajaj’s braised lamb shank.
Morandé Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Dunnes Stores | €13.59
(usually €16.99)
Staying in Chile, we’re heading towards the Maipo Valley – specifically the Romerol property of Viña Morandé where the cool, dry climate contributes to grapes that make well-structured cabernet sauvignon. Punchy red and black fruit flavours of cherry, raspberries and plums are complemented by sweet notes of cassis, ginger and a peppercorn spice. A year of ageing in French oak barrels lead to smooth tannins and a stylish complexity. There’s also hints of chocolate on the finish, meaning this wine will take you from a delicious roast beef dinner to chilling out on the couch with your favourite Easter egg. It will also pair well with mature cheeses, like Knockanore or Hegartys.
Leyda Pinot Noir Las Brisas
O’Briens Wine | €14.95
(usually €17.95)
Leyda winery in the Leyda Valley is putting its best foot forward, proving that Chile is more than capable of producing a top-quality pinot noir. It might not have as much complexity as its French or New Zealand counterparts, but you’ll forgive it given the price point for such a good wine. The sloped vineyard, just 4km from the Pacific Ocean, benefits from the cool Chilean climate, which creates fresh and vibrant wines with well-balanced fruit flavours. Expect lots of cherry, raspberry and jammy strawberries complemented by earthy nuances and a touch of spice. Round and well balanced with silky smooth tannins, this will work great with our chocolate desserts, but especially the Mississippi mud tartlet.
Avoca, €24
We’re heading across the Andes, from Chile to Argentina, similar to the route taken by Kaiken, the wild geese who this wine is named after. Mendoza is home to great malbec wines and, specifically, the high-altitude slopes of the Uco Valley, where the grapes for this wine are grown. Blueberries, blackberries and plums stand up straight away; complemented with a rush of spice and a touch of thyme. As the wine is aged in French oak for 12 months, it adds great structure with silky tannins. It’s got a lingering finish that you just have to sit with and enjoy. Again, another good wine to take you from your roast lamb to your Easter egg (but this is also ideal for the upcoming barbecue season).
Read more
Looking for a special wine? Your local independent wine vendor can help
What’s so special about the old world?
M&S Collection No 9 Gewurztraminer
Marks & Spencer | €15
When it comes to pairing spicy food, I’ll often reach for a riesling as its subtle sweetness balances beautifully with the spice. Gewürztraminer is another aromatic grape that shares these qualities and is worth exploring if you’re a riesling fan. The home of Gewürztraminer is Alsace in northeast France. Produced by the cooperative Cave de Turckheim for M&S, they have been perfecting their production for 60 years. One of the key characteristics of Gewürztraminer is lychee, which has sweet and floral characteristics which shine through in this bottle, along with pops of pear, apple and the novelty of Turkish delight. This opulent wine will work with many of Aashim Bajaj’s recipes, but especially the butter chicken.
Tesco Finest | €12
The one problem with this pinot grigio is that it’s too easy to drink. It’s always a crowd pleaser, so is perfect to enjoy on its own, but it’s also a wine that will carry you into the sunnier days of spring when we start reaching for seafood and salads. Saying that, it isn’t a flat pinot – it has good complexity as the grapes take their time to ripen on the vines of the high altitude hills of Trentino in Italy. Baked pears and peach come to the fore of this fresh and clean wine, but you’ll also get some elderflower and grassy qualities. Well balanced, it’s got good acidity and notes of honey blossom give a hint of sweetness on the finish.
Sauvignon Blanc
Available nationwide | €37.60
New Zealand is home to Cloudy Bay wine and it all started with their sauvignon blanc. Not surprising as the brand first began on the vines of Marlborough and helped put New Zealand on the wine map. It is brimming with all those fantastic Kiwi flavours. With that we’re talking lots of fresh green herbaceous notes, such as gooseberries, peas and that fresh-cut grass flavour, which sits nicely next to the exotic acidic flavours of passion fruit and pineapple. Stone fruit help to elevate it by delivering that distinctive minerality, which gives a lengthy finish. A fine expression of the region, this is a quality wine deserving of its price point. This would pair beautifully with the prawn jalfrezi.
South African
Lidl | €7.69
Chenin blanc is a versatile grape, ranging from bone-dry to unctuous and sweet. However, its versatility can be its downfall as people can be reticent to try it. Over 60% of the world’s chenin blanc is produced in South Africa and here it’s found its sweet spot; displaying fresh and fruity flavours. Lidl has a few chenin blanc varieties (distinguishable by the animals on the label) and this Western Cape wine is clean and accessible. Expect lemon and lime flavours, with crisp green apple, a touch of grapefruit and a nice acidic tang on the finish. If you’re a sauvignon blanc lover looking to try something different, this is a variety worth exploring and Lidl allows you to do so at a decent price point.
Chassaux et Fils Côtes de Provence Rose
Aldi | €9.99
Rosé is such a food-friendly wine, but often people assume that is limited to summer salads and light fish dishes. It’s actually capable of so much more – even the more delicate wines from the Côtes de Provence. Case in point is this rosé from Aldi’s specially selected range. It’s more complex than its pale pink hues would suggest, as flavours of peach, strawberries and raspberries are complemented by floral notes. It’s got good, crunchy acidity with the stone fruit giving a dash of minerality. Give this one a whirl and flex its muscles beyond the usual summer salad and try it with some of the spices in our curry pages, such as the mango duck recipe.
Valle De Colchagua Merlot
Tesco Finest | €12
We’re off to South America for the red wines in this issue, stopping off first in Chile’s renowned Colchagua Valley, where the granite soils and cooler conditions of the coastal regions help the merlot grape to thrive. Luis Felipe Edwards, one of Chile’s leading family-owned wineries, produces this wine for the Tesco Finest range and it’s a stunner. Fruit to the fore, it has delicious plummy and black cherry flavours, but also a touch of vanilla sweetness and, to top it off, a smooth and subtle spice. This hearty red will hold up well to the flavours of Kevin Dundon’s buttermilk roasted leg of lamb or even Aashim Bajaj’s braised lamb shank.
Morandé Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Dunnes Stores | €13.59
(usually €16.99)
Staying in Chile, we’re heading towards the Maipo Valley – specifically the Romerol property of Viña Morandé where the cool, dry climate contributes to grapes that make well-structured cabernet sauvignon. Punchy red and black fruit flavours of cherry, raspberries and plums are complemented by sweet notes of cassis, ginger and a peppercorn spice. A year of ageing in French oak barrels lead to smooth tannins and a stylish complexity. There’s also hints of chocolate on the finish, meaning this wine will take you from a delicious roast beef dinner to chilling out on the couch with your favourite Easter egg. It will also pair well with mature cheeses, like Knockanore or Hegartys.
Leyda Pinot Noir Las Brisas
O’Briens Wine | €14.95
(usually €17.95)
Leyda winery in the Leyda Valley is putting its best foot forward, proving that Chile is more than capable of producing a top-quality pinot noir. It might not have as much complexity as its French or New Zealand counterparts, but you’ll forgive it given the price point for such a good wine. The sloped vineyard, just 4km from the Pacific Ocean, benefits from the cool Chilean climate, which creates fresh and vibrant wines with well-balanced fruit flavours. Expect lots of cherry, raspberry and jammy strawberries complemented by earthy nuances and a touch of spice. Round and well balanced with silky smooth tannins, this will work great with our chocolate desserts, but especially the Mississippi mud tartlet.
Avoca, €24
We’re heading across the Andes, from Chile to Argentina, similar to the route taken by Kaiken, the wild geese who this wine is named after. Mendoza is home to great malbec wines and, specifically, the high-altitude slopes of the Uco Valley, where the grapes for this wine are grown. Blueberries, blackberries and plums stand up straight away; complemented with a rush of spice and a touch of thyme. As the wine is aged in French oak for 12 months, it adds great structure with silky tannins. It’s got a lingering finish that you just have to sit with and enjoy. Again, another good wine to take you from your roast lamb to your Easter egg (but this is also ideal for the upcoming barbecue season).
Read more
Looking for a special wine? Your local independent wine vendor can help
What’s so special about the old world?
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