O'Briens Wine Blog

 The first sunny weekend has already past and there is just the glimmer of hope that we may see a few decent sunny spells over the coming weeks. With that in mind it is the perfect time to try some new summery wines. Our stream of new arrivals are wines that are particularly suited to a bit of sunshine and a spot of al fresco dinning.

The light lunch: It’s Saturday, the lawn is mown or the balcony washed down and the sun has just hit its stride. Time for a home-baked pizza and crunchy salad for lunch, if you were on holidays in France you would be reaching for a rosé but here a glass of fresh aromatic white seems more appropriate. San Felice Vermentino is perfect; floral and peachy on the nose with excellent lively fruit and zingy freshness on the palate, a wine made for this kind of dining.

If the lunch is a bit more serious and you fancy a more classic style then the brand new Cave de Lugny Macon-Lugny will fit the bill. Way more richness and complexity than your average Macon wine; this is quality Burgundy that cries out for grilled fish, chicken and pasta dishes. Serve lightly chilled.

Late evening Barbecue: The coals have been glowing for an hour and the grill is just about ready for its first skewers of lamb and green pepper and well-seasoned pork ribs. It is time or a glass of red and ideally this should be not too heavy but have plenty of soft ripe fruit. Our new arrival Arribes de Vettonia Crianza from the little known Arribes region in far west Spain is a cracking wine for just opening and enjoying, it is great on its own but comes alive with savoury food and barbecue fare is ideal.

If this is a big family occasion and the wine needs to be ratcheted up a notch or two then try out our new Portuguese star wine; Quinta Nova. It is phenomenal, packed with sweet blackberried fruit and subtle hints of spice but most of all this is smooth, very smooth; there is a lovely silken texture to it, meaning; it’s terrific with or without the food.

Sunday Lunch:  Outdoors or inside the centre piece (besides the Mother-in-law) of Sunday Lunch is roast chicken; it is a comforting tradition that is not set to change any time soon. The brilliant thing about roast chicken is that it leaves you open to a huge amount of choice for a matching wine.

Crisp, dry whites are a classic choice; Sancerre, Pouilly-Fumé or Chablis, along those lines we have just landed the stunning Jean-Marc Brocard Petit Chablis. This has all the hallmark minerality and wonderfully pure, appley fruit you would expect from one of the finest producers in Chablis and this clear, fresh white is the perfect counterbalance to crispy chicken skin.

Red can work equally well with a roast chicken; make sure it’s not too heavy and avoid too much tannin. Lighter Bordeaux, Italian reds, fruit-driven Rhônes all work well but Pinot Noir is the ultimate choice. The new vintage of Astrolabe Pinot Noir (2007) with roast chicken is one of the most perfect food and wine matches you are ever likely to try. It’s not cheap at €19.95 – Marlborough Pinot Noir never is – but when you put this in the context of fine Burgundy only the €30+ Burgundies can match Astrolabe’s tremendous depth of fruit.

Food and wine matching is of course a matter of taste, one person’s dream combo may be someone else’s cold tea and porridge. If anyone has their own desert island food & wine matches or a particular combination of food & wine that really works for al fresco dining then please let us know.

Fish and Chips with Cava anyone?……..sound strange but it works!