Summer is the season of rosé… or is it? There’s no denying a crisp, chilled glass of pink hits the spot on most summer occasions, but what about those times when your al fresco meal – perhaps a BBQ or a delicious canon of lamb – requires something deeper and darker, but no less summery, with it? Step forward red wines that are perfect served lightly chilled…
Artelium Pinot Noir
£27.99
On an English summer evening, what better than to drink an English summer wine? This English Pinot Noir was crafted from grapes grown on a single Sussex vineyard. Produced by renowned winemaker Owen Elias, this is a complex, moreish Pinot Noir with an enticing bright ruby colour and a fine structure. A tiny natural spritz on first opening adds charm while the red and black cherry, baked plum and damson fruit flavours work perfectly with lighter red meat dishes and lamb, or earthy mushrooms or rich bean dishes.
La Reine de l’Arenite Fleurie La Madone
£15.99
Fleurie’s Madone vineyard wraps itself around a hillock of crumbly pink sandstone with the historic chapel of the Madonna perched on top. Evidently blessed by the divine, this wine has aromas of irises and peonies that drift above crushed berry fruit on the palate. There’s a pronounced note of good quality bitter-dark chocolate on the finish. Lightly chill and serve with cold cuts, charcuterie or spiced Asian salads.
Rouge Clair &Frais
£14.99
The clear bottle shows off the vivid hue of this Grenache and Syrah mix from near Carcassonne in France. It’s juicy, light and irresistibly fresh with crunchy red fruit and soft tannins. It’s designed to be served chilled – so much so that the red &Frais only appears on the label when the wine is at the optimum level of chill. With a cane wood cork and no foil this is the ultimate in sustainable summer drinking. Perfect with a charcuterie board or even as a chilled apéritif.
Taurus Wines are Premier Magazine’s regular wine columnists and are recognised as Number #15 in the Harpers Wines & Spirits list in the Top 50 UK Independent Wine Merchants.
They are located at Whipley Manor Farm, Bramley, Surrey, GU5 0LL.
Tel: 01483 548484
This article also appears in the summer edition of Premier Magazine.
