Ready to drink, there is plum, cherry, spice and cocoa coupled with a herbaceous streak. Medium body with fresh acidity and mild tannins.
Medium plum-red. The aromas are of cherries, blackberries, oak and spice, and become quite alluring with time in the glass. In the mouth one could wish for a little more of the red-berry fruit and a little less acidity. Medium-bodied, this is a decent entry-level Burgundy.
January 2017 release. Elegant and rich with pure, pretty red-fruit flavours highlighted by spice, floral notes and hints of blood orange. Although the wine is quite graceful, there's ample structure and firm tannins with depth and complexity, finishing with loads of fresh minerality.
Though the Schiava grape might be new to you, it's been grown in Alto Adige since the 16th century. Also known as Vernatsch or Trollinger, the grape produces light, fragrant reds typically with moderate alcohol and light tannins. This elegant, lightly-hued example from Nals Margreid is an excellent introduction; 100+-year-old vines yield a light red with delicate wild strawberries, raspberries, perfumed pink florals and a thin vein of minerality. The palate, also quietly confident, brings delicate strawberries and anise, fine pink peppercorn spice, a slight grip of tannins and a subtle smoked stoniness. Acidity is freely lifted and the finish lingering. Pair with charcuterie, specifically speck, on a midsummer eve.
I am a great fan of Austrian Grűner Veltliner as a versatile food wine. Bright, light straw in colour, this Grűner has that characteristic bouquet of white pepper and peach skin with a thread of minerality. The wine is medium-bodied, dry, with flavours of white peach and lemon. A beautifully balanced wine that cries out for asparagus, sushi or scallops.
Another Cowichan Valley pace-setter for Vancouver Island, this very expressive style brims with bright ripe apple and grapefruit hints wrapped in juicy acidity with tropical notes underpinned by moderate acidity.
If you think the Douro is just for Port Wine, think again. Dry table wine from the Douro is hotter than ever, and it's a category you're going to see more and more (thankfully). Here Touriga Nacional and Tinta Roriz show soft, thorny black fruit, finely savoury, hued with anise. Tannins are chocolaty and fine, and a light medicinal black cherry lingers on the finish. Impressive red — authentic, dry and true to place — for this price. That's the riches of Portugal; drink up, oft.