Domaine Joel Delaunay L’Esprit des Dames Touraine Chenonceaux 2014

This was recommended by the manager at my local Oddbins in Bristol and I really love it.

It’s a blend of 50% Malbec and 50% Cabernet Franc from the Loire - more robust than many Loire reds (although still only 13%) with lovely dark ripe cherry fruit. It tastes quite like a natural (though not scarily so) wine.

It’s one of a number of offers that Oddbins has got on its range right now and is reduced from an admittedly slightly toppy £16 down to £13.60 which is a very fair price to pay for an artisanal wine.

I’d happily drink it with duck or simply grilled red meat like steak or lamb but it would also be great with pulses like braised lentils or with a bean dish like cassoulet.

Don’t bother with the Cattin Alsace pinot though despite the good reduction - down from £14.25 to £9.98. Pinot noir can take a while to come round but it's still a bit wimpy.

If I find any other good bargains in the sale I’ll let you know.

See also Should you buy wine in the sales?

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.

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