Hidden Red Gems
Sometimes hidden gems are actually hiding in plain sight. For example, I’d never heard ‘My Little Town’ sung by Simon and Garfunkel until this year. Wine’s the same – Criolla is a grape in Argentina that’s widely planted and yet little known, capable of producing light reds to make your summer sing, Shiraz in Chile isn’t as famous as it should be and New Zealand Pinot Noir is some of the best in the world…
OLLY’S PICK OF THE BUNCH
Buenas Vides Argentinian Criolla (13.5%), £5.99, Aldi. A light red that is lovely
when lightly chilled – and gives top value, too.
Finest Valle del Limari Shiraz 2019 (14%), £8, Tesco. Blackcurrant pastilles! Gorgeous, silky, fruity and rich. Move over, Malbec.
Esprit des Trois Pierres Costières de Nîmes 2020 (14.5%), £8.99, Waitrose.
Lavender and spice, this fragrant red blend is one to decant and delight in.
Dog Point Marlborough Pinot Noir 2018 (13%), £25, thewinesociety.com. World-beating Pinot – fine wine that’s totally worth splashing out on. Incredible quality.
WINE OF THE WEEK
Flint Vineyard Pinot Noir Precoce 2020 (12%) £23.99, flintvineyard.com. The best English red I’ve tasted this year. Light, ethereal and magical.
This article was originally published in YOU Magazine, Mail on Sunday, 24th July 2021
