ALLURING AUTUMNAL ATTRACTIONS ! By Tim Naylor (Saddleworth Wine Vault) Yes, Autumn is almost upon us, and another Summer is nearly done.... Well, I guess that’s what happens when you spin unevenly at 1000mph, whilst travelling at 67,000mph at the same time. But never mind, there’ll be another one along before we know it. It’s a scary thought, but it’ll soon be Halloween – which reminds me of the time when I got so fed up with trick or treaters, that I turned the lights out and pretended I wasn’t in. My lighthouse – my rules. Mind you, when I was younger, I used to go out and say I was a werewolf. The fifirst man that opened his door said; ‘But you’re not wearing a costume - you’re just dressed in normal clothes!’ ‘Yeah, well. It’s not a full moon is it?’ I replied. Anyway, last year, having decided to put all that behind me and show my considerate side, I spent all day making treats for the Halloween callers. I really hope they enjoyed their toffee onions. Now lets have a look at some wines... Flines Chardonnay, France 2018 I had to include this one to let all the Flines fans know that an old favourite has made a welcome return. Beautiful unoaked Chardonnay from the Loire Valley, tropical fruit and flflowers on the nose, accompanied by lovely fresh clean notes of those same tropical fruits on the palate. No cloying oak here. Fantastic with pork, poultry, fifish and anything with a creamy sauce. Delicious – and great value. £7.95 Pilots View Shiraz, Australia 2014 Big hearted Shiraz from McLaren Vale in Australia. Six months on the lees in the barrel give structure and help create supple tannins, and the wine is then aged further for 14 months in new French and American oak. A typical McLaren Vale style – full bodied with big fruit and tight acidity. Spice, dark berries and an underlying characteristic earthiness abound on the nose. Red berries, plum and more spice follow on the palate - all wrapped up with well integrated oak and those well resolved tannins. Just the wine for those smokey, leafy, crisp autumn evenings. Simply superb. £16.95 Tra Mari, Rose di Primitivo, Italy 2018 Gorgeous pink from the San Marzano co-operative based in Salento, Puglia (the heel of Italy). Made solely from Primitivo grapes, this is a softly coloured pink, fermented in stainless steel tanks to preserve the aromatics and freshness of the grape. Intense aromas of wild cherries and raspberries, with an attractive touch of Mediterranean ‘maquis’ - the local aromatic shrubland. Clean and refreshing on the palate, with those juicy, fruity Primitivo notes coming to the fore. If you’re tired of the popular, pale pink poseurs of Provence, then give this punchy Primitivo pride of place at the party. Just £9.95 See you next time f some festive treats! www.AroundSADDLEWORTH.co.uk 79 Food and Drink