Le Malbec d’Hervé, Pays d’Oc 2019

The Languedoc probably isn’t the first place you think to look for malbec and if you’re in love with the seductively, lush Argentinian style you may even be a touch disappointed but as someone who sometimes finds new world malbec a bit too full on this Malbec d'Hervé is right up my street.

It’s a totally smashable bright, breezy red made from 30 year old vines in the Vallée de l’Orb, the kind you instinctively want to reach for on a wet weekend like this - or, come to think of it, with a barbecue on a much more summery day. And it’s currently under £10 (£9.99 to be exact) if you buy any 12 bottles from Averys or Laithwaites.

They say it would be ‘a fine choice' with marinaded pork chops, roast chicken or veggie kebabs. It would but frankly it would go with practically anything. (Well, not EVERYTHING, but you know what I mean. More than just steak.)

Bosman Adama Fairtrade Red 2017

The South African wine industry has had a torrid 2020 so far with a ban on exports back in April and now a ban for the second time on domestic sales, citing the pressure that hospitals are under dealing with the high levels of alcohol abuse on top of the COVID crisis.

But the economy is heavily dependent on the industry so you’ll be doing them a favour if you buy South African wine.

This is a big generous red from Bosman Family Vineyards who have been at the forefront of the Fairtrade movement and employ women of colour in both their winemaking and viticultural teams as I mentioned in my recent Guardian article

It’s made from an eight grape blend of Shiraz, Mourvedre, Cinsault, Grenache Noir, Primitivo, Viognier, Nero d'Avola and Tempranillo and is aged in both new American oak and older French oak barrels which makes for a full-bodied red which would be ideal for a good steak, a barbecue or a cheese board.

I generally like the accompanying white too but the vintage available in the UK also dates from 2017 which means it’s lost a little of its freshness. I’d stick to the red.

You can buy it for £10 from the Co-op though I suspect it won’t be available in every branch and for £12.95 online from Master of Malt

Wine of the week: Rafala Tinto Tempranillo

It may be so-called flaming June but the weather is anything but summery this weekend so I’m abandoning rosé for the time being and thinking about red.

This Rafala Tinto Tempranillo 2018, from Castila is perfect for this time of year being appetisingly juicy and not too heavy despite its 14% ABV. And it’s organic which is an unexpected plus at this price. At just £7 (from the Co-op) it’s an absolute steal.

It would go with a pizza, it would go with a curry and it would be be perfect with a barbecue, assuming the sun breaks through.

If you like an even fuller-bodied red you’ll like the Firebrand Old Vine Grenache 2019 (14.5%) from Australia’s Riverland that the Co-op is selling for £9.50. It has the hefty wallop of ripe fruit you expect from an Aussie wine but avoids being excessively jammy. There's a good back story abouit it on the Co-op website. Think beef - burgers, steaks and BBQ.

Two really good wines to buy from Help 4 Hospitality

As I'm sure you know the hospitality industry - i.e. restaurants, pubs and hotels - is in dire straits with no clear idea when businesses can reopen or even if they’ll be viable if they do.

Despite the British government’s most recent initiative 66% of UK hospitality businesses do not think they will survive three more months of lockdown measures, while 87% will cease operations without a nine-month rent holiday.

So it’s good to see a leading industry supplier, Berkmann, setting up an online wine shop called Help 4 Hospitality to raise money for struggling busineses.

I like the fact that the selection is not safe or predictable but full of interesting bottles that you might well find in a good restaurant and which should appeal to any adventurous winedrinker.

I’ve picked out two I really liked a Greek red and a Lebanese white.

The red is Thymiopoulos Xinomavro 2017 from Macedonia. 13% £14.25 which, despite its light colour, is deep-flavoured and brambly but quite refined - almost pinot-ish. It would be great with barbecued lamb or kid or with duck. (It was ace with a smoked duck salad and watercress and orange salad I had last night.)

The white Chateau Ksara Blanc de L’Observatoire 2018 13% £13.75 is a really unusual blend of 30% Clairette, 30% Muscat, 30% Obeidi and 10% Sauvignon Blanc but tastes to me quite like an oaked white Bordeaux. It’s richly textured and lush - not as aromatic as it might sound from the clairette and muscat - and with a crisp, refreshing lift to the finish though funnily enough I think it would go better with south-east Asian than Lebanese food.

For two really unusual wines I think the prices are reasonable plus Help 4 Hospitality is donating 12.5% of the ex VAT price to participating businesses, or to two charities issuing grants to those in need, The Drinks Trust and Hospitality Action. (If you want to support a particular business you'll find the code to apply here which also earns you a 5% discount.)

If the wines I've picked don’t particularly appeal to you, there are mixed cases on their website too, chosen by different chefs and sommeliers. I quite fancy the Walk on the Wild Side case myself.

The wines were supplied as samples by Help 4 Hospitality.