Light, fresh and fruity: The 7 best reds for summer
KEEP your cool this summer with lighter reds served chilled, says our expert.
Big, heavy reds are excellent for cooler days but not in the middle of summer. I’m a huge fan of lighter red wines, with fresh, fruity personalities – the sorts of wines that you can chill down and which work perfectly with summer fare. A great match for barbecues, too, here are my seasonal favourites.
From left:
Domaine Sérol Les Originelles 2014, Côte Roannaise, France £8.50, thewinesociety.com (01438 741177), 12% alcohol
From a little-known area in the south of the Loire, this bright, light red is made from the gamay grape. It tastes of gorgeous black cherry fruit with a nice mineral quality and has pretty floral aromas.
Chanson Beaujolais-Villages 2013, France £11.99 but £8.99 each for two, Majestic, 12.5% alcohol
This is a great bottle of Beaujolais, the famous lighter-styled French red made from the gamay grape. It’s juicy, fresh and full of attractive raspberry and berry fruit, with a sophisticated presence.
Recchia Bardolino 2014, Veneto, Italy £7.99, Waitrose, 12.5% alcohol
Bardolino, from northern Italy, is a classically lighter style of red, made from the local grapes corvina, molinara and rondinello. Supple, bright with moreish cherry and plum fruit, it shows a pleasant purity and freshness.
The Interlude Pinot Noir 2014, South Australia £6.49, Co-op, 13.5% alcohol
This is good value for pinot noir, with attractively rounded sweet cherry and plum fruit, plus a bit of spiciness. Easy to drink, this should be served slightly chilled.
From left:
Tesco Finest Teroldego 2013, Trentino Alto Adige, Italy £7.99, Tesco, 12.5% alcohol
Very pure, sweet cherry and raspberry fruit is the key to this northern Italian red, which has focus and a slightly grainy structure. It’s so easy to drink.
Domaine Grand Poulsard 2013, Jura, France £14, Marks & Spencer, 12.5% alcohol
Are you ready for something a little different? Try this poulsard from the Jura region in eastern France, which has a pale-red colour with distinctive red cherry and fine, herb flavours. It’s pure and beguiling.
Domaine du Columbier Chinon 2012, Loire, France £7, Sainsbury’s, 12.5% alcohol
The Loire valley makes classic lighter-style reds from the cabernet franc grape. This is typical, showing green, herby notes with minerally cherry and raspberry fruit. It’s very food friendly.