Time To Sample Some Saddleworth Summer Sizzlers!

At last! After a crazy start to the year, hopefully, we can start to slowly meet back up with our friends and families (responsibly of course) and

Sample Some Saddleworth Summer Sizzlers!

So here are some wines for the (hopefully) lazy, hazy summer days ahead…

By Tim Naylor (Saddleworth Wine Vault)

Barbazul, Spain 2017

Made by the Huerta de Albala winery in Cadiz, Barbazul is primarily made from Syrah and Merlot, with the indigenous Tintilla de Rota and Cabernet Sauvignon making up the balance.  Initially aged for 6 months in French oak, it’s then bottled and cellared for a further 12 months prior to sale.  A complex nose of fig, dried cherries and black fruits yield to savoury dried fruits, cherry, plums and tomatoes.  With a hint of acidity on the finish, this is a shoe-in for nicely grilled or barbecued meats.   

£9.95

Altano Douro White, Portugal 2017

A wonderful white from the Symington stable – the name behind well known Port producers Grahams and Dow’s – this beautifully crisp wine hails from the Douro region.  Made mainly from the local Malvasia grapes this also contains portions of Moscatel Galego, Rabigato and Viosinho (no, I don’t know either).  Wonderfully fresh summer and tropical fruits on the nose – peach, apricot and pineapple abound.  Very crisp and satisfying on the palate, a hint of green apple acidity gives some balance to the lush tropical fruit flavours.  Aged for just five months in stainless steel vats, this is a vibrant and immensely appealing wine.  Great with summer salads, fresh seafood or simply as a refreshing, chilled, aperitif.  

Superb value – just £8.95

Cape Coral Mourvedre Rose, Waterkloof, South Africa 2017

A stunning South African rival to the aristocratic Provence roses, this is a little Stellenbosch gem made from 100% Mourvedre grapes. The gorgeous pale salmon colour comes from grapes that have been hand-harvested, then the whole bunch pressed with minimal contact between the juice and the grape skins.  Fermentation relies on wild yeasts that occur naturally in the vineyard, and the wine is then left on the lees (dead yeast) to add further complexity, before bottling.    Beautifully fresh and clean on the nose with red berry aromas, the palate is dry with a slightly herbaceous character (thyme, rosemary).  Red fruits and berries come to the fore, followed by creamy apricot and delicate fig.  A delicate stony minerality on the finish completes this very fine, elegant wine.  Perfect summer drinking.

Just £8.95

Cheers everyone and take care during these exceptional times.