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With spring around the corner what better time to experiment with your usual wine choices than by exploring different grape varieties from around the world. Get ready to head to your local wine merchants with a new understanding and appreciation of what makes an exciting red this year with The Wine Tipster’s top class red grapes for Spring 2022.
Gamay
The Wine Tipster’s guide to: Gamay
Primary flavour profile
Pomegranate, Blackberry, Bramble, Violet and Earth!
Palate Profile
Dry
Light to medium in body
Low tannins
Medium to high acidity
Low to medium Alcohol
Starting with the lightest bodied grape on The Wine Tipster’s radar this year, Gamay is similar to Pinot Noir a thin-skinned variety packed with red fruits. It’s not surprising as the two varieties are related. Gamay is primarily grown in the Beaujolais region in Burgundy, France. It also thrives in cooler-climates such as Canada, Switzerland, Oregon, and New Zealand. Gamay is often more budget friendly than Pinot Noir but is no less delicious, with stunning floral and red fruit aromas of red cherry, and red plum. As a high acidity, low tannin wine, Gamay is a great option for nearly any food pairing so try it with everything! The 10 Crus of Beaujolais offer tremendous value and Morgon (see below) is the closest in weight and structure to Moulin-à-Vent arguably the fullest bodied of the crus and super food friendly.
- For a classic soft, savoury, complex and fruity Gamay, try the Domaine Lucien Lardy Morgon, 2019, Côte du Py available from Majestic (£16.99 or £14.99 multibuy). A wine with ageing potential too.
Grenache
The Wine Tipsters guide to: Grenache
Primary Flavours Profile
Cooked/stewed strawberry, cooked red plum
Aged characteristics: Leather dried herbs
Palate Profile
Dry
Medium to full body
Medium tannins
Medium acidity
Alcohol high 15% or more.
On the cusp between being a light and a medium-bodied red due to its higher alcohol, Grenache has an unmistakable candied fruit and spice flavour that makes some of the most expensive wines in the world. The major regions for Grenache are the Southern Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In Spain it can be found in Priorat, and Calatayud as well as parts of Italy, North America, and Australia. The different climates result in different Grenache flavour and aroma profiles. Grenache is a great blending partner as it’s high alcohol and red fruit pairs well with some dark fruit flavour profile grapes. It can also go alone and produces some much underrated single varietal wines that are still not recognised as much as they should be. Regardless, the distinct spice aromas of Grenache make it perfect for pairing with rich and spice-laden dishes and can even reduce the heat of spicy food.
- The Les Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Villages 2020 is a well-balanced, medium to full-bodied, vegan Rhône, which is lovely to drink at a great price. Available from Waitrose (£9.99).
- The Grant Burge The Holy Trinity Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre 2019, Barossa, is a classic example of an Australian Grenache, full of dark chocolate and plum flavours. Available from Laithwaites (£25.00).
Carménère
The Wine Tipsters guide to: Carménère
Primary Flavours Profile
Red and black fruits: Raspberry, red plum, black plum, blackberry
Herbal and vegetal notes: Bell pepper, paprika
Aged characteristics: Notes of sweet vanilla
Palate Profile
Dry
Medium Body
Medium Tannins
Medium Acidity
Medium alcohol
Carménère is one of Europe’s most ancient grapes and is at the lighter end of Medium-Bodied. It gets its name from the French for crimson due to its vibrant leaves at certain times of the year. Carménère has an interesting history, having been presumed extinct in the Médoc region of Bordeaux after a plague of Phylloxera aphids in the mid to late nineteenth century. However, today it is largely found in Chile after being rediscovered when the Merlot grapes that had been growing there for 150 years were in fact Carménère! Its likeness to other red grapes in the Cabernet family make it a firm favourite for blending as it brings vibrant berry flavours and a subtly bitter taste that balances well. Another all-rounder for food pairings too.
- An affordable and top-class Chilean Carménère is the award-winning Mont Gras Reserva Carménère. Available from Waitrose (£9.49).
- The Mayu Carménère Appassimento 2017/18 is a terrific bottle with great richness and depth and is the first appassimento Carménère in the world. Available from Majestic (£12.99 or £9.99 multibuy).
Sangiovese
The Wine Tipster’s guide to: Sangiovese
Primary Flavour Profile
Red fruits: Red cherry, red plum
Savoury notes: Roasted tomato, balsamic vinegar
Herbal notes: Oregano
Palate Profile
Dry
Medium to full body
Medium to high tannins
Medium to high acidity
Medium to high alcohol
Sangiovese is a true Medium-Bodied red although it presents differently depending on where it is grown – which is typically across Italy. It can be more savoury and earthy in flavour or more fruit forward with distinct cherry flavours. Most good bottles of Sangiovese find the perfect balance between its earthy and fruity qualities which make it a great option for pairing with the rich flavours of Winter.
- A bottle of Chianti Riserva DOCG Castellani is a great introduction to Sangiovese as an aromatic and fruity vegan wine from Tuscany. Available from The Great Wine Co. (£11.50 or £8.63 multibuy)
- For a well-balanced example of this complex grape, Querciabella Organic Chianti Classico is a vegan wine which delivers on juicy red fruits and subtle acidity. Available from Waitrose (£19.99).
Tempranillo
The Wine Tipster’s guide to: Tempranillo
Primary Flavour Profile
Red and black fruits: Red cherries and dried figs
Herbal notes: Dill
Aged characteristics: cedar from oak and tobacco
Palate Profile
Dry
Medium to full bodied
Medium to high tannins
Medium to high acidity
Finally, Tempranillo is on the border between being a Medium and Full-Bodied red and can change depending on the ageing process. Those that are young generally have bright red fruit notes, while those that have the quality and capacity to age over decasdesevelop t give rich, dried fruit characteristics. As Spain’s number one red wine grape, you will most likely see Tempranillo from Rioja. It’s a great one for pairing with Spanish food, smoky barbeque dishes, and tomato based Italian or Mexican dishes.
- For a Lighter-Medium Bodied young Rjioja, the Monte Llano Tinto Rioja from Ramon Bilbao is a fresh example of Tempranillo. It is vegan-friendly and available from The Great Wine Co. (£10.25 or £7.69 multibuy).
- Bodega Matsu ‘El Viejo’ 2019, Toro is a more complex and Full-Bodied wine thanks to its long maturation. Full of jammy black fruits and smoky notes. Available from Majestic (£29.99 or £19.99 multibuy).
Keep in touch with The Wine Tipster via Social Media to share any new bottles and grape varieties you try this year. Cheers!
This weekend saw the 2017 QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket: the first two features of the five Classics for the three year old racehorses. The Wine Tipster attended both the 2000 Guineas on Saturday for the colts, and the 1000 Guineas on Sunday for the fillies, and enjoyed, like the other spectators, the excitement around this festival and the chance to discover the talent of the three year olds. After a fabulous weekend of racing, we are sure to have true champions for the 2017 season.
Saturday 6th May: The first day of the festival highlighted that Churchill, trained by Aidan O’Brien, has carried on from his two year old days and justified favouritism by winning the 2000 Guineas in impressive style. There were also strong form lines from this race with Barney Roy, Al Wukair and Eminent chasing him home. This leaves Churchill 7-4 favourite for the Derby, and we’ll have to hope he takes his place at Epsom.
Sunday 7th May: This race saw the favourite, Rhododendron, have a troubled passage, and failing to collar her impressive stable mate, Winter, who travelled superbly throughout the race, showing the potential to be a real champion. Despite her difficult run, Rhododendron showed a fantastic turn of foot and will definitely be winning races in 2017. The Wine Tipster fancied her to win not only for her amazing performance at Newmarket last year, but because, as Alan Titchmarsh says, May is the best month for Rhododendrons. The 1000 Guineas race day also saw good performances from Frontiersman and race debutant, Way of Wisdom. 
The Wine Tipster spent the weekend presenting in the Chez Roux Restaurant with fantastic dishes prepared by the legendary Albert Roux. Popular wines throughout the Guineas Festival included Bolney Estate Foxhole Vineyard Pinot Gris, and Prophet’s Rock Dry Riesling.
The Wine Tipster also presented on the course TV, promoting the ‘racecourse experience’ featuring the Purely Prosecco Bar with high quality and stylish Proseccos from the famous producer Bisol. As well as enjoying some bubbles, there were some very tasty Powter Sausages from Newmarket, who were established in 1881 and have been associated with the racecourse for 50 years; A delicious way to celebrate the Guineas.
The other three Classics coming up are Oaks and the Derby at Epsom in June, and the final Classic, The St Leger at Doncaster in September. The Wine Tipster is looking forward to seeing how the runners from the Guineas perform in the coming months.
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