ABOVE: AVERYS FRENCH SAUVIGNON BLANC

Wines of the Month - April 2008

CHÂTEAU DE L’AUMERADE, CUVÉE MARIE-CHRISTINE, CÔTES DE PROVENCE CRU CLASSÉ 2006
Made from a mixture of grenache, syrah and cinsault, this wine has that translucent salmon pink colour so typical of Provence rosés. A nose of sappy, balsamic strawberries with a hint of black pepper accentuates the rich, dry, full-bodied strawberry-fruited flavour. It has a smooth texture with a spicy, warm alcoholic finish. If you thought pink wine was all about frivolity and alcoholic fruit juice, this will change your mind.
£8.50 Nicolas

DOMAINE SAINTE ROSE, LE SOLEIL DU SUD CABERNET SAUVIGNON/SYRAH 2006, VIN DE PAYS DES CÔTES DE THONGUE
If you want to find new world flavours in the old world, look no further than this wine. The Aussies made cabernet/shiraz blends their own in the 1990s. They also widely used American oak as well as French for the more overt and affordable flavours it imparts to wine, as does this wine. Spicy, plum, black cherry, coconut and vanilla flavours predominate in a front-ofpalate explosion. This is a big, meaty wine for the boys.
£9.99 Majestic

DOMAINE PIERRE DE PREHY, CHABLIS 2005
It doesn’t come much truer than this. Fresh cream and cornmeal nose combine with rich, full-bodied flavours of cob nuts, citrus, melon and white peach. With warm mouthfilling intense flavours, this wine really packs a punch. And it’s organic to boot. Made for M&S by one of Chablis’ better known producers, it comes from a very happy vintage.
£9.99 Marks and Spencer

BERRY BROS. EXTRAORDINARY RED BURGUNDY 2005
Translucent dark cherry colour, earthy strawberry fruit on the nose follows through on the palate. The hint of spice along with the flesh of fruit stands up to the balancing acid core of this 100 per cent pinot noir wine. The 2005 vintage was very good indeed.
£11.95 Berry Bros.& Rudd

AVERYS FRENCH SAUVIGNON BLANC 2006, BORDEAUX BLANC
You’re not going to be disappointed with this wine. Attractive lemon colour with green grassiness emerging at the front of the palate, along with classic green pepper spice and white pepper notes. It has enough palate weight and fruit intensity to justify the price point. The flavour finishes with a clean citrus zestiness and zing to the palate. A good apéritif.
£5.99 Averys

LA FORGE ESTATE SYRAH 2006, VIN DE PAYS D’OC
A deeply coloured syrah with plum and hints of violets on the nose. Sweet fruit attacks the tongue in a delicious embrace and is followed by sweet, ripe, oak-toasty tannins, all of which creates the sensation of a lush, flavoursome wine. Succulent enough to drink on its own, those juicy tannins and intense fruit would also provide ample backdrop to a redmeated dish such as venison casserole.
£7.99 Thresher

SALLY EASTON is a Master of Wine, one of only 264 people in the world to hold this prestigious qualification. She writes, teaches and consults on all things vinous, as well as judging at wine competitions in the UK and abroad. Contact her at www.winewisdom.com

STOCKISTS:
Nicolas: Tel 0800 169 5359 www.nicolas.com
Thresher: Tel 01707 387 200 www.threshergroup.com
M&S: Tel 0845 302 1234 www.marksandspencer.com
Majestic: Tel 0845 605 6767 www.majestic.co.uk
Berry Bros. & Rudd: Tel 0870 900 4300 www.bbr.com
Averys: Tel 0845 863 0995 www.averys.com