Wine with Leslie: Here comes the summer — and this €16 Vinho Verde
Pic: iStock
Now that May is here can we please begin to think about summer?
I know the weather is still quite cool but there has been some sunshine in recent weeks, enough to have me reaching for the Pet-Nat and the Vinho Verdes anyway.
I firmly believe that summer is a state of mind, if we embrace the brighter evenings and drink fresher fresh juicy wines we really can fool ourselves that we are enjoying an Irish summer.
So what if you have to put up an umbrella over the barbecue or the Ooni pizza oven.
My son and wife clubbed together to buy me an Ooni this time last year and I must have used it on an almost weekly basis during July and August.
They wisely went with the wood-burning version as they know I am firmly old-school on such matters and the whiff of burning wood really adds character.
Tip: use a breadmaker to make the pizza dough.
All the wines recommended today are making their debut on this page, and will work beautifully with sunny weather, with picnics, and with the lighter flavours most of us tend to favour in the warmer months.
While I do feature white Burgundy here occasionally I rather neglect varietal Chardonnay from other French wine regions on this page.
The Wines Direct example below is actually from Bordeaux but tasting it blind I think it could happily pass for a Chardonnay from the Jura or one of the cooler vineyards in Limoux (both excellent places to seek out fine-boned elegant Chardonnay).
Another Bordeaux Vin de France suggestion is from Peybonhomme Les Tours who were early adopters of biodynamics and remain steadfastly pure in their approach to wine.
Finally my first Vinho Verde in a while - a perfect aperitif or shellfish wine.
Winemaker Jorge Gonçalves learned his winemaking in Germany so this crisp Summery Vinho Verde is Kabinett in style with a touch of sweetness balanced by acidity.
Made from 100% Loureiro this is bursting with pear and apple fruits with a touch of candied apple but with a huge hit of acidity to clean the palate.
Made by the Hubert Family who own a couple of biodynamic-run estates in Bourg and in Blaye.
Winemaker Rachel Hubert crafts lively fruit-focused natural wines with gorgeous drinkability and freshness.
This is 100% Merlot and packed with soft blackberry fruits with a touch of blackcurrant pastilles - juicy and pure, bright, tasty and delicious.
Château Thieuley like to mix it up (I’ve mentioned their ‘Les Copains’ Merlot-Syrah blend before).
This is ‘Vin de France’ as Chardonnay is also forbidden under AOP Bordeaux rules.
Aromas of Galia melon, almonds and a touch of honey - textured and supple with ripe pear fruits balanced with acidity. For grilled monkfish perhaps.
Uais is from Ahascragh Distillery near Ballinasloe, Ireland’s first zero energy emissions distillery with whiskey production all powered through renewable energy.
Their own distillate has begun to flow and will be ready in three years' time so Uais is from (well) sourced whiskey.
A blend of Pot Still, Single Malt & Grain Whiskey aged in ex-Bourbon and Virgin Oak casks.
Malt, citrus and light honey aromas, sweet dried fruits followed by spice and salted caramel notes. Tasty!
