Today’s recommendations open by looking at an increasing trend before going on to introduce something from that rare breed, “affordable pinot noir”.
First is the selected white with only 9% abv – lower levels of alcohol have increasing appeal to many folk; and not just for health reasons.
Such wines are often more suitable for informal drinking, pair better with lighter food dishes and are generally less dense and complex than their higher alcohol peers.
Its companion is a South African red recommended by a MidWeek Wines subscriber as great value pinot noir – and he was right!
Kindly priced pinot is something of a rarity, so close attention to that part of this post is certainly advisable.
However, whether lightness or value appeals to you most, I think you will find today’s choices fit the bill nicely.
Once again, pictures and hyperlinks are included where possible to make it easier to track down the wine in question.
For sunny Sunday afternoons
Por do Sol Vinho Verde (£5.25 at Tesco and 9% abv):
A gentle, lower alcohol, great value Portuguese white here, and one that is neither complex nor demanding.
However, it does include Vinho Verde’s classic prickle of sparkling aeration that neatly enhances its credentials as ideal summer drinking.
Also featured are lightly textured apple and lime flavours accompanied by floral traces.
These are enlivened and embellished by a grapefruit acidity that refreshes yet never intrudes.
And that affordable pinot noir
2021 Pringle Bay Pinot Noir (from £7.99 at Majestic and 13%):
I am indebted to MidWeeker Paul for his steer towards this tasty pinot noir.
As he suggested in his comment to an earlier post, it represents excellent value for money.
Western Cape’s warmth and geology means that its pinot noirs lean more towards ripe fruit flavours than, say, Burgundy’s classic truffle influenced savouriness.
However, the delicacy of the fruit constituents in wines like this one adequately compensates for the absence of some of those contrasting savoury components.
As an added bonus, South African examples are (as here) often significantly cheaper than their Burgundian counterparts.
This version’s initial soft fruit aromas lead into floral red plum, raspberry and red currant flavours on the taste buds.
Those elements – along with hints of orange peel, rose hip and cola – are attractively encased in a light bodied texture with soft tannins and sharp acidity.
News Flash: Great tidings – Majestic are reducing this wine by £1 to £6.99 for a limited period from tomorrow. That is the single bottle price in Scotland but the “mixed six” price elsewhere in the UK.
Join me again on Thursday when I consider three malbecs from the same brand but at different price points.
