En Passant - Domaine Gayda

Two new wines from Domaine Gayda

En Passant

ɒ̃ paˈsɑːnt,ɒ̃ ˈpasɒ̃/
adverb:

1. by the way; incidentally.

Languedoc's Domaine Gayda make ripe, fruited and well-structured wines with elegance and a southern warmth. These two En Passant wines are no exception.

The blanc is a somewhat unusual Languedoc blend of Macabeu and Viognier; the rouge is a more-customary mix of Syrah and Carignan.

En Passant Blanc 2016 big-yet-zippy white with ripe yellow stone fruits, sweet spice, zippy lim ezest and southern warmth; fresh, mineral and savoury.

Good.

Match with scallops, meaty white fish or pork.

En Passant Rouge 2015 expressive spicy red with bramble fruits, balsamic and gamey spiciness; fresh, with good underpinnings.

Good.

Match with darker game.

Peter Mertes Erden Dornfelder Trocken 2014, Mosel

A Dornfelder from the Mosel

Think of Germany's Mosel Valley and racy, slatey Rieslings spring to mind. Red Mosels are rather more unusual and all the more interesting for it.

I can count on the fingers of one hand the Dornfelders I have had - this is by far the best.

Ripe, black cherry fruit, oaky spice and excellent underpinnings; fresh and savoury with fine tannins.

Good.

Match with  salami or darker game.

Walker Bay from KWV

KWV's Walker Bay range - available at Morrisons

South African producer KWV has launched a second wine from the cool-climate Walker Bay region; the wines combine a southern warmth with a windswept freshness.

KWV Walker Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2017 (£8.50)  citrussy, herbaceous and zingy with green bell peppers; fresh and mineral.

Match with herby chicken dishes.

KWV Walker Bay Shiraz 2016 (£7.50) ripe elderberries and blueberry with a sour-cherry rasp, black pepper and oaky spice.

Match with spicy sausages or salamis.

Award-Winning Co-op Wines

https://news.sky.com/story/six-moments-of-the-prince-harry-and-meghan-markle-wedding-you-didnt-hear-11378629

Two award-winning wines from the Co-op

These two award winning wines from the Co-op are the Meghan and Harry of wines - crowd-pleasing, sophisticated and characterful.

On a sunny day with a national event - be it Royal or sporting - to watch, these expressive and classy wines are a perfect match with party food or as sippers.

Most Wanted Albarino 2017 (£8.49) ripe yellow stone fruits, sweet spices and freshness with minerality. Very adept.

Good.

Match with salmon, pate or roast pork.

Trapiche Medalla Malbec 2015 (£12.99) ripe, dark berry fruits, spice and freshness with fine, rounded tannins.Very adept.

Good.

Match with roast red meats, steak or burgers.

Domaines et Châteaux - Part Deux

Two new releases from Domaines et Châteaux, available at Tesco

Domaines et Chateaux is an evolving range of wines from small French estates; the wines are available in the UK from Tesco and have a sophisticated Old-World elegance and substance.

These are balanced, accomplished wines with excellent fruit, freshness and savouriness.

Domaine des Bouts 2015, Côtes du Rhône (£9) rich, waxy and spicy Rhône white with good underpinnings; fresh peach and citrus fruits with some nuts and touches of fresh mint.

Deft and adept.

Match with smoked salmon, creamy cheese sauces or crab

Château Briand 2014, Côtes de Castillon (£12) Merlot-based Bordeaux blend; cherries, red fruits and raspberry leaf with spices; fresh with soft tannins and good underpinnings.

Fresh, savoury and rounded.

Match with red meats, such as duck breast in cherry sauce.

Chateau Brown Rosé 2017

An impressive pink Bordeaux from Chateau Brown 

Bordeaux is not just red wine and rosé is not just for summer.

Obviously, it helps if the weather is warm and sunny, but this is a substantial, sophisticated and complex rosé from Bordeaux's Pessac-Léognan that you can drink at any time of the year..

Château Brown Rosé 2017 delicate red-berry fruit with zippy lime and a complex, leesy minerality; fresh-yet-full, long and precise.

Very Good.

This is very much a food wine - match with earthy salads, risotto with sun-dried tomatoes or chicken cacciatore.

Co-op Irresistible Limestone Rise 2016

An English wine for St. George’s Day from The Co-op

English wine is now becoming A Thing - and with St George's Day approaching, this English wine, made by Denbies for the Co-op, makes for an affordable, patriotic aperitif.

Co-op Irresistible Limestone Rise 2016 £8.99 aromatic hedgerow and elderflower with tropical fruits and fresh minerality. Nicely rounded, if perhaps a little lacking in definition.

Match with light vegetable starters, white meats and mild cheeses.