Dr Loosen Riesling 2018, QbA, Mosel, Germany. Hand on my heart I don’t think I can think of a better heat wave wine than this. Wines from the Mosel seem to have the most incredible crystalline purity which makes them so utterly drinkable. It is an off-dry Riesling which puts so many people off, but the sweetness isn’t the cloying richness of a dessert wine, but comes across instead as fruitiness (baked apple, ripe juicy pear and white peach) on the entry, and then this electric wash of sherbety acidity races through the wine and across your tongue leaving a dry mineral, citrus and fabulously cleansing finish. It is only 8.5% abv (which is awesome for day time drinking) yet with the energy, concentration and presence of a much bigger wine. It is also amazingly good value. Dr Loosen is one of the most dependable wine brands I know, consistently making fantastic quality wine at all levels. A definite contender for the crown of the best summer smasher? I think so. The Wine Society £9.50
Alphabetical 2018, Vin Ordinaire, Western Cape, South Africa. Wanting to be introduced to some slightly more unusual wines, our drinker has joined ‘Our Glass’ wine club, a subscription based wine club that tailors the mixed bottles to your taste, enabling you to safely step outside the box and explore. All the wines received so far have definitely been outside their normal realm of drinking and have all received two hearty thumbs up. Alphabetical is a red blend containing ‘almost as many varieties as the whole alphabet’, hence the name, and displays exactly the kind of maverick attitude that is making South Africa such an exciting wine country. Even the back label gives a delightful two fingers to wine convention. This is not just a gimmick but a delicious, fruit driven, energetic wine, easy drinking yet classy. Our Glass £12.95
Brundlmayer Gruner Veltliner Kamptaller Terrassen 2018, Kamptal, Austria. A stylish wine with green fruit and minerality on the nose leading to a richer, savoury herb palate with a clean, fresh finish. The fruit opens up more with food. This grape is known as the ‘sommeliers friend’ as it is such a versatile partner with food so it is always a good recommendation for a big group. A very good example of what it is, although a touch on the expensive side compared to some of the other wines they have tried. Philglas & Swiggot £20.95
Garnier & Fils Chablis 1er Cru Cote de Jouan 2016, Burgundy, France. A delicious and classic Chablis; elegant and refined with floral notes on the note, and that firm oyster shell minerality through the core of the wine. However, you expect excellence from a top class wine like this, especially at the price tag so it lived up to expectation rather than exceeding it – do we perhaps set ourselves up for a fall with wines with a big reputation as our expectation is often so high? Whisky Exchange £34.95
What really impresses is the underdog, the wine you aren’t expecting much from but really over delivers, perhaps it is the element of surprise, or just delight in finding value. The Papegaai Red blend 2017, Swartland, South Africa is just such a wine. A delicious blend of Cinsault and Tinta Barocca from winemaker Adi Badenhorst, it is a delicious, exuberant and utterly smashable red wine that punches well above its modest price. Swig Wines £12.99
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