It’s always quite hard to pick the autumnal case as I try and find a balance between optimistically including some patio wine - hoping for an Indian summer - whilst recognising the evenings are drawing in which means people’s tastes lurch toward richer wines to be enjoyed in front of the fire. Hopefully I’ve got the balance right and there’s a bit of both and something for everyone.
I’m really pleased to include the fantasia wines as it’s great to find a new Argentinian producer to give Gouguenheim a run for his money. The Torrentés is as good as any I’ve tried and fits the bill if you find a little bit of sunshine left to enjoy it in. Equally the Cabernet Franc delivers something unique, and definitely works on a warmer evening.
I’ve included the St Emillion because I was really pleased when this vintage came on stream. We’ve been supporters of Jean-Voisin wines for a number of years, but I really liked the 2012. the vintage generally has received mixed reviews, but it is accepted that it was a Merlot rather than a Cabernet year, and this is a great example of a Merlot dominated claret.
I also take on one of the wine world’s toughest questions in this month’s feature article. As I try and work out how many grapes there are in a bottle of wine.