Tipple of the Month – October 2016

Published on: 13 Oct, 2016
Updated on: 18 Oct, 2016

Jeremy Blood of the Surrey Wine School

Jeremy Blood from the Guildford based Surrey Wine School reveals his locally available “Tipple of the Month”.

Although I love the grapes Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, and Gamay (all French varieties) they just don’t work as well with heavier dishes like stews and casseroles. So here are two red grapes that will thrill your taste buds over the coming months.

Syrah or Shiraz with its alluring aromas of black pepper spice, black fruits and liquorice, is one of my favourites. You can taste great examples from its home in the Rhone valley or from Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. It will fill your mouth with rich and ripe fruits all rounded off by a smooth and silky texture.

Grenache most likely originated in Spain where it’s called Garnacha. This Mediterranean grape can produce warming wines with strawberry and raspberry fruit it is lower in tannin but higher in alcohol so perfect for this time of year.

It can be blended with other grapes as in Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Rioja or can hold its own as in examples from McLaren Vale in Australia or Navarra in Spain.

So my tipple of the month has to be a wine that contains both Syrah and Grenache grapes and I have chosen, Réserve des Hospitaliers, Cairanne, Cotes Du Rhone Village, France 2014 (Waitrose £9.99).

Cairanne is an appellation in the Southern Rhone that has just been promoted from village level to ‘cru’ status. Aged in French oak for nine months, the wine has developed a wonderful structure and richness.