Curious Case July-23

Our Curious Case is a monthly enigma, a mystery to be unveiled upon arrival. It might contain a classic red, white, rosé, orange, or sparkling wine from a renowned region or an obscure gem from a distant and unconventional vineyard with indigenous and rare varietals. Join the intrigue and indulge in the thrill of discovery.

Now summer's getting into full swing red wines tend to take a bit of a back seat, but in point of fact, there are plenty of them that make great drinking during the warmer months so that's what we're focussing on this month. The days of red wines being meant for room temperature serving only are long gone and many of the lighter and unoaked styles gaining in popularity are well suited to being put in the fridge for half an hour before drinking. And for those of you who really prefer reds to whites, this is the perfect solution for summertime quaffing.

Major grape varieties like Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc and Cinsault are well suited to these styles and we've included examples of these in the case alongside some possibly less familiar grapes that nonetheless make really interesting contributions. Also if you prefer wines lighter on alcohol these are also good choices for warm weather refreshment.

If you fancy running the rule over the different types of reds that shine out nicely when when you've cooled them down a touch our Chilled Out Reds case is certainly one to try.

£90.00 per case
free delivery, or collect from the shop.

What's in it?
As usual the contents of The Curious Case remain a mystery until the end of the month. Nonetheless, we would like to offer some tantalizing hints to whet your appetite and ignite your inquisitive spirit. Are you curious?

Wine #1 - From near to Lake Garda in northteastern Italy this is deliciously fruity and fragrant.

Wine #2 - This Pinot Noir from the Garden of England is a brilliant showcase for the type of still red wines that are now being made in this country

Wine #3 - One of our long-time favourites this deliciously soft and slightly smoky Spanish red comes from the cooler northwestern part of the country

Wine #4 - A fresh and crunchy South African which is soft and welcoming. It's also biodynamic and made as naturally as possible.

Wine #5 - Another of our long-term favourite reds, this is Portuguese, made from traditional local varieties and is wonderfully easy drinking.

Wine #6 - We couldn't put together a case such as this without including a Cabernet Franc from the Loire valley - well here it is and it's great with charcuteries and French cheese.

Monte del Fra Bardolino 2021

In a nutshell:
A delicately fruity and fragrant northern Italian red from south east of Lake Garda.

The lowdown:
Bardolino sits on the south eastern shores of Lake Garda and the red wines that carry its name bear some similiarities to Valpolicella which comes from nearby. This example from Monte del Frà is a Corvina led blend which undergoes a slow temperature controlled fermentation in stainless steel tanks. The result is a light and juicy wine with an aromatic nose of sweet, fresh cherries and summer berries. Fresh and easy drinking, it's got plenty of tangy red fruits, a pleasant touch of spice, and cranberry to finish.

When to drink:
With its lightness of touch it makes super summery drinking and goes well with grilled fish, or cold meats and salads..

Heppington Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022

In a nutshell:
A bright and juicy red wine, full of red fruit flavours, from East Kent.

The lowdown:
The south-facing slopes that overlook Canterbury Cathedral are the perfect location for the vines that produce the grapes for this wine. The perfect aspect of the vineyards helps to produce grapes that are perfectly ripe for this wine. And this is very important when producing a red wine from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. The ripeness contributes towards the fully packed red fruit flavours in the wine. On the palate bright notes of raspberry sorbet and cherry are obvious, with a hint oaky savouriness, from some barrel aging, to create a medium bodied red wine. With a low ABV of under 11%, this is an easy-drinking wine.

When to drink:
This wine would pair best with light red meat dishes or white meat meals.

Brezo Tinto Mencia, Bierzo 2021

In a nutshell:
A delicious, soft and succulent red with a hint of smoky savouriness from far northwest Spain.

The lowdown:
Bierzo, in the far northwest of Spain, is not one of the country's high profile wine regions, but some really good stuff comes from this relatively cooler area (by Spanish standards) of which this, made by talented winemaker Grégory Pérez is a prime example. The local red grape variety here is Mencía and this wine is made from fruit grown in small parcels of vines dotted around the hillsides of the area. Naturally fermented in stainless steel and bottled early it has an almost purple colour and a big and generous flavours of sweet black cherries and damsons. There's also a touch of wild herbs to balance it nicely and the crisp acidity give it a snappy and refreshing finish. If you're partial to a Cru Beaujolais or Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley then this will be right up your street.

When to drink:
Juicy and generous this is perfect with rustic, hearty stews in the winter and ever so slightly chilled is a refreshing summer glugger.

Organic

.Waterkloof Seriously Cool Cinsault 2020

In a nutshell:
One of our favourite South African summer reds, best served slightly chilled.

The lowdown:
From old bush vines grown in the cool Helderberg region, not that far from the ocean, and made with minimal human intervention. Cinsault is an often under-rated variety, but here it really thrives. The wine has fresh and crunchy flavours of blackcurrant, raspberry and spice mix with mild earthy notes and soft tannins.

When to drink:
Put in in the fridge half an hour before drinking and serve with game, or rack of lamb.

Suitable for Vegans

Maias Tinto, Dao 2020

In a nutshell:
An elegant, balanced and nicely fruity organic Portuguese red from the Dão region in the north of the country.

The lowdown:
The Lourenço family have been making wine in this area for around a century and are acknowledged as among the leading producers on the granite plateau of the Dão region of inland Portugal. This is a blend of Jaen (aka Mencia), Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro which is vinified and aged in stainless steel. It's got bright blackberry and cassis aromas which are followed by lots of fresh crunchy fruit and is fresh in the mouth yet smooth and soft, with a clean fruity aftertaste.

When to drink:
Medium bodied, it's a wonderfully easy drinking wine and if given about half an hour in the fridge before serving it'll be at its absolute best.

Organic

Saumur-Champigny, Thierry Germain 2021

In a nutshell:
A young and fresh, biodynamic Cabernet Franc from the Saumur-Champigny appellation along the River Loire.

The lowdown:
Owner and winemaker Thierry Germain is an avowed practitioner of biodynamic viticulture and from his estate near the town of Saumur he makes some highly regarded wines. This red is his domaine cuvée and is packed with crunchy red summer fruits which are followed by spicy and savoury notes mid-palate. The tannins give have a bit of grip giving a good balance and it all leads up to a pleasant, slightly smoky finish.

When to drink:
The crunchy fruitiness here means it works well all by itself. With food charcuterie, pâtés and cheeses work well.

Biodynamic