Wine O’Clock Wines
The Mistress of Wine Recommends:
Exquisite Collection Albariño 2018 Rías Baixas, Spain
5.99 @ Aldi
My family and I spent a couple of weeks in Spain last month and I had a bit of an epiphany! Generally speaking my favourite sort of wines are medium-bodied, with balanced acidity and some subtle spicy oak; I adore elegant Chardonnay from Burgundy, to New Zealand, South Africa etc and they are generally my go-to white wines. And then, despite buying bottles that cost significantly more, my favourite wine of the holiday was an Albariño. I actually drank my first glass on its own, with no food while having a shower! Well, not actually in the shower but while getting ready for dinner in the bathroom after a shower! And OMG, it was sensational. Textured, but with fresh lime drenched acidity and succulent peachy fruit. A really lovely glass of wine and great value, as is this Aldi Albariño which is a dead-ringer for it and only £5.99 and a Silver medal winner from the International Wine Challenge to boot. If you haven't tried one before I really urge you to do so and I reckon it's a great crowd pleaser too for a party!
Te Mata Estate Gamay Noir 2018 New Zealand
£13.50 @ The Wine Society
So this bottle of wine was sent to me as a sample and I opened it in the garden last Friday to give it a whirl and it completely blew me away! I had chilled it in the fridge beforehand as in the summer I do like my reds to have a bit of chill to them, as at room temperature even lighter ones can become a bit 'soupy' and seem to loose freshness. This was fresh as a daisy! Vibrant, fruity, lightly perfumed and with soft tannins, it is a wine to make you smile. Joyful, uncomplicated and utterly, utterly delicious it is full of raspberry, apple, blueberry and cranberry and a sort of summer pudding/fruit compote edge. This is one of my favourite reds of the year and I have already placed an order for some more and am about to put the just arrived bottles in the rack! HIGHLY recommended!
