If your go-to white has lost its mojo and that weekday rosé feels a little run of the mill, why not try popping a red in the fridge?
This can make for a fun riff on those spicy, peppery notes or jammy, sun-kissed fruit, adding freshness to the finish; most oenophiles agree red wine should be chilled down a bit – ideally to between 12-16°C.
For lighter reds such as a pinot noir, try dipping it to the lower end of the scale (especially on a hot day), and richer reds such as a tempranillo or shiraz somewhere in the middle, and you’ll notice the aromas and flavours become more focused.
Think back to your last Spanish beach holiday; we bet that Rioja was cooled down before you tucked into your tortilla. Of course, some grapes naturally lend themselves to a pre-chill better than others – think medium bodied with fresh acidity and fine tannins, or a ripe, fruity new world style.
Like the sound of giving that lovely berry fruit a warm welcome by popping it in the fridge an hour before serving? These six top drops will fit the bill very nicely…
1. Louis Jadot Beaujolais-Villages 2018, France, £4.75, 37.5cl, Tesco
Fondly referred to as ‘petite pours’, a half bottle makes a great choice, especially if you like a little old-school cool with the pull of a cork, want to enjoy a fine wine in a smaller portion and better still, want to give chilling reds a test run before fully committing your best Bojo. Smooth and silky, this cherry-fruited thirst-quencher is dependably delicious at a cooler temperature.
2. Vignobles Roussellet Pinot Noir, France, £4.99, Aldi
Great from the word go, this plush pinot makes a great summer alternative to pinot grigio, especially when it’s as fresh and fun as this one. Its fine acidity brings vibrancy and lifts the fruit, while the pretty raspberry florals make you want to dive right in. With all the silkiness you’d expect from this variety, the wine sings when its bright berry fruits take an icy plunge.
3. Andrew Peace Shiraz 2019, Victoria, Australia, £5.35, Co-op stores
A smooth shiraz with minimal tannins (chilling accentuates tannin and acidity levels, so you don’t want anything wrestling with the temperature like a heavy red), the ripe black fruits really shine and somehow feel much more lifted when lightly chilled. With a succulent juiciness too, the wine’s bursting with black fruits on the nose and offers a super-fresh finish. A really good all-rounder and crowd-pleaser with a sizzling BBQ, burgers and buns.
4. Sorcova Pinot Noir 2019, Romania, £7.79, Waitrose stores
Bright, juicy and new on the shelves, this Romanian could certainly give a Californian pinot a run for its money and offers a lot of bang for your buck. Openly fruity, with enticing aromas of raspberry and black cherry, it’s vivid and juicy, with wild berry notes ending with ripe plum on the fruit-driven finish.
5. M&S Classics No 35, Beaujolais-Villages 2019, France, £8, Marks & Spencer stores
Another Bojo with excellent credentials, you’ll find all the glorious gamay grape sensations you could wish for in this new Classics label from M&S. With a fruity, juicy silkiness allied to delightful notes of raspberries, spice and violet nuances, it’s one of the loveliest styles out there – and the polished fruit and beguiling mix of bright acidity and freshness really comes to life lightly chilled.
6. Villa Wolf Pinot Noir, Pfalz, Germany, £12.99, Fine Wines Direct
Another warm weather winner, the Pfalz wine growing region (along the German Wine Route) is prized for its pinot noirs, especially this great-value buy from one of the country’s leading producers. Cited as a very grown-up pinot for the price, here we have a beautifully aromatic nose of roses and red cherries with a hint of earthy complexity, spice tip-toeing on the juicy, ripe palate, plus a streak of minerality and all the silky elegance you’d expect from a beautifully made wine.
Read more – Best Mediterranean wine 2020 – 7 top drops for a taste of the Med.
