Wine with Leslie: White wine recommendations for warm weather
Pic: iStock
Some good news to begin with from Bordeaux.
The Bordeaux 2023 En Primeur tastings are on right now and prices have dropped for the first time in a while.
A hot humid vintage did lead to problems but the quality is generally fairly good although big producers who could afford to spray and intervene did better.
Cabernet Sauvignon-based Left Bank Médoc wines generally did better than the Merlot-dominated Right Bank (Saint-Émilion & Pomerol).
Some big names have dropped prices by as much as 25% over last year including Léoville Las Cases and Ch. Lafite, and so have some smaller quality producers such as Haut Batailley (down 16%).
Among those offering en primeur Bordeaux will be Tindal, Pembroke, Greenacres and O’Brien’s - stay tuned.
I see buying wine en primeur as a way to save as you pay for the wine now and then pay the duty and VAT when it is delivered in two years time - you feel like you have gotten a bargain.
Suggestions this week are crisp refreshing white wines to cool you down in warm weather. My first Sauvignon in a while, and my first Fino Sherry of the year - a wine that is perfectly suited to summertime.
Remember that while Fino will keep for a few days in the fridge it is best to treat it like a white wine as it will lose freshness after a week or so.
Fino works brilliantly as an aperitif or with some salted almonds, but is also the perfect match for fish and chips, mussels or fried whitebait (in season now I believe).
Also below is my first Lugana in a while, this one from the always-reliable Zenato. Other Luganas to watch for include Rizzardi Lugana (O’Briens), Ca del Frati's 'I Frati' (Worldwide Wines) and Zonin (Dunnes Stores - €10).
Barbadillo are not as well known as they should be given they were founded in 1821 and created the first Manzanilla brand. This Fino is very pale with lively aromas of dried and preserved lemon mixed with seawater, bracing and fresh on the palate, bone dry and crisp with wild herb notes. Sip with salted almonds nearby.
Zenato are all about ripeness and their excellent Amarone has almost cult status (and a price to match). The grape here is Turbina (formerly known as Trebbiano di Lugana) related to Verdicchio. Lime essence, cooked apple and a touch of wild herbs - ripe and lithe on the palate with soft edges and a brisk finish.
This is a hugely reliable Sauvignon Blanc and the house wine in Rick Stein’s restaurants and the Savoy. Owners Gavin & Angela Quinney are English, and fought hard against Brexit.
Grapefruit, lime and apple aromas, soft ripe green apple fruits with a background of apricot, lively and crisp.. The crunchy, fruity Merlot-dominated red is also good.
Aldi have been commissioning craft beers from quality Irish brewers for a few years now which I hope is a nice injection of cash for them.
There is also an East Coast IPA from Lough Gill, Sailor Sam’s Hazy IPA from Dundalk Bay Brewery and watch for the always reliable Dot Brew collaborations.
This pours a pale hazy gold with citrus, grapefruit and peach aromas. Brisk and fresh on the palate with some hop bitterness on the finish and a lingering tang of grape skin. Bargain!
