I do like a nice drop of pinot noir. If I’m very lucky this could be a brilliant Burgundy, a top tipple from New Zealand’s Central Otago region, or something special from the Willamette Valley in Oregon.
But that grape is not the theme of this week’s Tipping’s Tipples. I’ve selected a few alternatives instead, made from grapes that are sometimes compared to, or at least mentioned in the same breath as, the celebrated pinot noir.
In my book (the one I haven’t started writing yet) if a red wine is lighter, it does not mean that it should be lacking in flavour or character. So check out the following if you don’t want anything too heavy: these are reds you pour, not serve by the slice.
And do try chilling them, just for a little while, especially in the summer months. Serve them at ‘cool room’ temperature.
Araldica Corsini Barbaresco 2010 is currently on offer at Waitrose for £8.99, which I reckon is a bit of a bargain. It’s from Italy’s Piedmont region and made from nebbiolo, the same grape used to make Barolo.
Smooth and medium bodied, it has long flavours of black cherry, espresso coffee and spices. It has a freshness too and some structure, both of which help make it a very foodie wine.
De Martino Gallardia del Itata Cinsault 2013 is made with fruit from the Itata Valley, in Chile, harvested from cinsault vineyards which were planted in the 1950s and 1960s.
It is juicy and bright, with distinctly peppery flavours of raspberry, plums and strawberry. This is a red to drink while it is still young, with or without food.
Or head to Beaujolais and the gamay grape. I like Henry Fessy Morgon 2011, which is suitably dry and smooth, with raspberry and cherry fruit flavours and the characteristic Morgon minerality. Pair it with roast pork or ham.
Araldica Corsini Barbaresco 2010, Piedmont, £8.99 down from £11.99 at Waitrose 17/20
De Martino Gallardia del Itata Cinsault 2013, £8.95 from The Wine Society 17/20
Henry Fessy Morgon 2011, £10.50 from oddbins.com 17/20
Twitter: @Tippingstipples
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