Drinks of the Month

 Sixteen Ridges Pinot Noir Early 2014

Sixteen Ridges Pinot Noir Early 2014

This full-flavoured pinot noir from Worcestershire took me totally by surprise this week. I would never have guessed it was from the UK.

It was on the list at Native in Covent Garden, a charming small modern British restaurant which is also a bit of a find. I was going to make it my match of the week given how well it matched a slightly smoky dish of rare venison with salt-baked turnip and smoked potato but it’s such an intriguing wine it deserves the spotlight on its own.

It’s made by Simon Day who also makes cider at Sixteen Ridges sister company Once Upon a Tree and costs £15.49 from their website. Other stockists include Hawkins Bros who have it for £16 and Hay Wines (£16.49) (Restaurants and hotels can buy it from Jascots*)

Pinot noir early - otherwise known as pinot noir précoce is, as the name suggests, an early ripening variant of pinot noir that is doing particularly well in this part of the world. Think less the pure fruit flavours of the best burgundy or New Zealand pinot noir and more earthy, hedgerow fruits. They also suggest pairing it with crispy roast duck, slow roasted lamb or a rich mushroom dish

It won a silver medal in this year’s IWSC awards and a Bronze in the Decanter World Wine Awards.

* who are one of our regular sponsors

Ojai vineyard Roll Ranch Syrah 1998

Ojai vineyard Roll Ranch Syrah 1998

It’s always a treat to drink great old wines, especially when they’re on top form like this fabulous syrah from Californian producer Ojai in the Santa Maria valley.

It was brought along by a chef friend Martin Lam who used to own Ransome’s Dock - a restaurant which had a wonderful Californian wine list.

Despite its age it was drinking wonderfully - mellow, figgy with just a touch of leather - a perfect match with the venison and white polenta we had as a main course

I can’t find the Roll Ranch bottling anywhere in the UK so I wonder if they’ve sold it or no longer have the use of that fruit but it would be well worth buying one of their other syrahs to lay down. If you just want to try a bottle, Harvey Nichols has the 2012 Sebastiano vineyard syrah for £50.

Here's further encouragement to buy Californian syrah from wine expert Jon Bonné who recommends Ojai’s Solomon Hills Syrah among others though, again, that particular bottling no longer seems to be available

Definitely a wine to snap up if and when you see it.

The Garage Project's Chateau Aro

The Garage Project's Chateau Aro

How on earth can I pick a single wine of the week from my two week trip to New Zealand? The answer is I can’t so I’m chickening out and going for a beer

That’s not such as cop-out as it might sound as a) New Zealand has an incredible craft beer scene and b) the beer - Wellington-based Garage Project’s Chateau Aro - also has a wine connection.

It’s a lager brewed with the juice and skins from Larry McKenna’s 2014 Escarpment pinot noir so not surprisingly it’s deeply vinous but there’s also a rich dark lager character. If you come across it (and I suspect that’s only likely to be in New Zealand*) watch out - it’s strong at 8.5% ABV - a bit reminiscent of a barley wine only drier (think a pumped up Rodenbach).

It was very good on its own when I drank it with Larry and his winemaker Huw at the end of our tasting but I reckon I’d enjoy it with venison or pigeon - or a cheeseboard. It would be spot on with Stilton.

(Incidentally if you find yourself in Wellington check out Hashigo Sake, an amazing underground beer bar with over 300 beers. Perversely I ended up drinking a beer from San Francisco - the Almanac Dolores Saison.)

* If you fancy a similar beer closer to home try the Wild Beer Co’s Modus Operandi though it’s not quite as winey.

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