Lots of red wines benefit from being drunk cool rather than at room temperature, especially in summer. Here are some suggestions, writes JOHN WILSON
THIS WEEK, I continue with a selection of wines for summer drinking. I have tried to keep the cost down, and an eye on the alcohol too. This is more difficult with red wines, which tend to have higher alcohol, but below you will find some super, light, refreshing reds alongside a few with a bit more body. These you could drink with grilled or barbecued foods. As I suggested a few weeks ago, even the most robust red should be kept cool in summer. About 18 degrees is perfect; anything over 22 will just taste soupy. Lighter reds are better served at about 14-16 degrees.
Delgado Zuleta Manzanilla , 15%, €9 for a half bottleIt is neither red, nor low in alcohol, but summer would not be summer without a glass of chilled sherry to accompany a little plate of tapas. If the sun is shining, you can close your eyes and imagine you are sitting in a square in Jerez. La Goya is delicate, crisp and full of flavour, with a wonderful dry finish. Stockists: 64wine, Glasthule; Liston's, Camden Street; Sweeney's, Glasnevin; Fallon Byrne, Exchequer Street; The Wine Boutique, Dublin 4; Ennis's, SCR, Dublin; The Wicklow Wine Co, Wicklow; The Celtic Whiskey Shop, Dawson Street; On the Grapevine, Dalkey; Enowine, Monkstown and IFSC
Egiarte Lezuan Joven, Navarra 2010, 14%, €8.95This is full of rich, soft, damson fruits with a touch of tar, and a supple finish. Remarkable value at under €9, and a great summer glugging wine. Stockist: Terroirs, Donnybrook
Barranc dei Rei 2010, Valencia, 14%, €10From the man responsible for El Tribu, a red that has featured here before, a less expensive wine that will go down a treat served cool with barbecued food. It has a lovely damson nose; rich, ripe, rounded. Well-made, svelte and with good length at the price. Stockists: The Wine Boutique, Ennis; Red Island Wines, Skerries; Liston's, Camden Street.
Corriente del Bio Pinot Noir 2010, Chile, 13%, €10.99A fragrant, attractive wine with juicy sweet-sour dark cherry fruits and an earthy touch. This would go nicely with white meats or tuna. Stockist: Marks Spencer
Château Gaillard, Touraine Gamay 2009, 12.5%, €12.50Fresh, ripe, summer pudding fruits, nicely rounded yet beautifully refreshing. I could drink silly amounts of this wine served cool, with a plate of nibbles. Stockists: Lettercollum Kitchen, Clonakilty; The Grainey, Scarriff, Co Clare; Quay Co-Op, Cork; Mary Pawle, marypawle.com
Beaujolais 2010, Cuvée Premiere de Jean-Paul Brun, 12%, €12.50Delicious fresh, light, strawberry fruits with a nice kick of acidity; serve chilled for outdoor summer drinking or with salady lunches, particularly anything featuring pork or charcuterie. Stockist: Wines Direct, 1890-579579, winesdirect.ie
Domaine de la Renaudie Gamay 2010 Les Guinetieres, 12.5%, €12.95A delightful summer wine with light, brambly summer fruits, and a soft finish. A true vin du soif. The Cabernet Franc from the same producer is also a great summer wine. Stockist: The Wine Store, thewinestore.ie, 1890-252624
Minervois, lEnclos de Borie, Cuvée Gourmande, 13.5%, €13.50A nicely fashioned, polished Languedoc, with soft, ripe, gently spicy dark fruits and a smooth finish. One for a slightly up-market barbecue or to drink with roasted red meats. Stockist: Mitchell Son, chq, IFSC Sandycove, mitchellandson.com
Côtes du Marmandais, Vin est un Fête, Domaine Elian da Ros 2009, 12%, €13.95This is absolutely delicious, and dangerously drinkable; light but concentrated plum fruits, light tannins and good acidity – perfect with most light meats during the summer months. Stockist: Terroirs, Donnybrook
Sticks Pinot Noir 2009 Yarra Valley, Australia, 12.5%, €15It is unusual to get a Pinot with only 12.5% alcohol, but this shows it can really work. It is lightly fragrant with slightly herbaceous red cherry fruits, a hint of spice and a clean finish. Light and very drinkable, this is worth buying in for the summer. Stockist: Wines Direct, 1890-5795 79, winesdirect.ie
Domaine Aonghusa, 14.5%, €16.50An Irish-made wine, from vines in the upper reaches of Corbières, but it qualifies only as a Vin de France because it is made 100 per cent from Grenache. This is a lovely wine, full of personality and the warmth of the south, with ripe, dark plums and herbs of the garrigue. Drink it with barbecued red meats. I know it is over my self-imposed limit of €15, but it is well worth the extra euro or two. Stockist: Karwig Wines, Cork
BEER OF THE WEEK
Brooklyn Summer Ale, 5%, €2.49 for a 355cl bottleLight in flavour with good citrus freshness and tasty malt and hops. A session beer, but of the best kind for summer drinking.
World's End
Having created some of the most sought-after and expensive wines in Bordeaux, Jonathan Maltus has now turned his attention to the Napa Valley in California. He has just released three new wines from the 2008 vintage, under the name Worlds End, made from grapes sourced from some of the very best vineyards in the Napa. Three wines are now on offer – the Wavelength (€46 per bottle, down from €70), Crossfire (€64.90, down from €99) and Good Times Bad Times (€79, down from €129). These will certainly be of interest to those fond of the rich, ripe, opulent style of wine, with plenty of spicy new oak. Stockists: La Touche Wines, Greystones; Redmonds, Ranelagh; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock.
