The Perfect Reds For Summer!
Over the past few months, since the grey veil of winter has lifted and we have welcomed the rays and warmth of spring and summer, we haven’t shown a whole lot of love to our beloved red wines. Whites, rosés and sparklings have all been getting their days in the sun, however, just because the weather’s hot, the sky is clear, and the bbq’s are sizzling, doesn’t mean that there’s no place for a lovely glass of our dear ol vin rouge.
There are styles of red wine to suit every occasion. They don’t all have to be big, complex and decadent, to be served indoors or only with a hearty meal. An elegant, fragrant and refreshing red wine can also serve as the perfect partner to long, hot afternoons in the summer sun, just as well as any crisp white, or zesty sparkling. So, with this in mind, we bring you our ‘Perfect Reds for Summer’ Special Offer Mixed Case, showcasing some of our most drinkable and refreshing reds. These are all bottles that we ourselves will be reaching for, to quench our thirst on some of these pleasant and balmy summer afternoons.
This is a six-bottle mixed case, containing 2x each of the following wines:
2017 Côtes du Rhone ‘So Rhon!’, Constant Duquesnoy – £13.35 Per Bottle
2014 Chinon, Serge & Bruno Sourdais - £11.30 Per Bottle
2018 Calusari ‘Pinot Noir’, Viile Timisului - £11.55 Per Bottle
Normal Retail Price - £72.40
SPECIAL PROMOTIONAL PRICE - £64.95
Continue reading, to find out more about the cuvées that make up this mixed case.
First up, we have what can only be described as a ‘punnet of fruit in the glass’. The Côtes du Rhone from our favourite producer in Vinsobres, Gerard of Constant Duquesnoy, is delicious. It has a beautifully pure and fragrant bouquet, with gorgeous, ripe and juicy black fruit on the palate. Elegant, harmonious, vibrant and refreshing, this is a silky delight of a wine with a lot of character.
Secondly, we head up to northern France and the Loire Valley’s appellation of Chinon: responsible for some of France’s most drinkable and refreshing red wines. Here, winemaker Bruno Sourdais, the 6th generation of his family’s domaine, crafts refined Carbernet Franc which express everything that is so magical about this often-overlooked grape variety, and which also represents remarkable value. His 2014 Chinon is classic, crunchy Cabernet Franc, perfect for spring and summer. From 35-year-old vines in the ‘Côtes de Cravant’, this red bursts from the glass with notes of red and bramble fruits, with a subtly herbaceous and mineral backbone. There is a freshness and ease to the wine which makes it an absolute joy to drink, it is stylish, juicy and vibrant.
Last but certainly not least, we bring you the Romanian ‘Calusari Pinot Noir’ from the revitalised estate of Viile Timisului. This is a historic, and long moribund estate that has been re-invigorated by English winemaker Philip Cox and his Romanian wife Elvira over recent years. Their Pinot Noir offering is far too easy to drink! It has a light, soft and welcoming nose of autumn fruits, followed by smooth and generous, soft red fruit flavours with a subtle bit of spice on the palate. This is perfect for summer. Pure, vibrant Pinot fruit, clean and elegant and such a complete contrast to the rustic reds that invaded the market from this part of the world in the past.