As Winter brings its colder chills and our food becomes heartier we have selected three lovely wines that can snuggle up on the sofa in front of the telly as much as they can hold their own with a rich casserole and friends around for dinner
2 x Banrock Station Sparkling Shiraz. S E Austrailia
This is a great way to bring some Auzzie warmth to a British winter, the Shiraz grape is exploited to gain this deep coloured sparkling wine. Intense fruit and the maturity you would expect from laying in American oak adds a distinct sweet vanilla dimension to this wonderfully balanced wine. You might not be that familiar with sparkling reds and we think you will appreciate the depth of flavours and pleasently surprised by the delicate note that presents so well in the fizz. Certainly one to serve and enjoy chilled. Available also in half cases at only £65.702 x Robert Mondavi Woodridge Chardonnay, California
California has some subtle and well crafted wines as well as the more familiar varitals. In this young but elegant wine a small amount of Semillon is used to increase the complexity of what would be a good drinking Chardonay. Mixture of Barrel and tank fermentation and the early contact with French oak provides creamy, slightly spicy note and ensures the flavours are well integrated and less demanding on the palet than many new world wines. There is so much going on in this lovely wine its certainly one to consider as a stand alone endulgence as well as serving to enhance perhaps something like a carrot and corriander cowder. Displaying lifted citrus and tropical fruit on the nose, the palate shows zesty citrus with hints of Peach and Nectarine backed with cream on the finish, well thats what we wrote on the tasting notes along side three stars and yummy!. Available also in half cases at only £57.002 x Torres Atrium Merlot, Penedes, Spain
To order the winter case for just £60.80 plus postage and packing email wineclub@thatgreatfoodplace.com
Torres is a renowned marque and this 100% Merlot sources from the Agulladolac Estate . The wine displays superior quality and has been matured for 6 months in French Oak. Deep in colour with soft juicy plum and blueberry fruit, mocha and smoked meat add a sophistaced edge, delightfully rounded tannins make us think you could keep this one for a couple of years and find it even more delicious than it is drinking now. This wine is ready to take on the pairing with a winters chilli con carne and certainly drinks really well with smoked charcutterie. Available also in half cases at only £59.70.