Unveiling the Chef's Choice
The Chef’s Favourite Reds
Happy Tuesday Club Members!
Oh, what a great weekend we had! We have completely given in to autumn now so it’s all about reds today ( you will see, I let someone else pick for you this time). And as I mentioned last week, I went to a vineyard to help with the harvest!! And no, I didn’t go to France and yes, it did rain but I can’t wait to go back!
For those of you who are more into white wines than reds, don’t worry, we seem to be focusing on whites in our Accidental Tuesday Night Wine Club, so will share some of our findings with you on Friday.
And as always, if you need some inspiration, head to our Home page where you can find reviews, tips and our favourite wines, all in one place.
Today’s mood calls for some….
Charming Reds
I have always admired the palate of a chef, their sense of taste and flavour reception. I thought it was fascinating how my partner( oh yes, I live with a chef) could be so sensitive to flavours, spices and herbs that he would be able to recreate those dishes we have tried and loved without seeing a recipe.
He has tried countless bottles of wine with me, loved some and hated others, but his flavour memory has never failed him, even when he didn’t remember the labels.
So this week I thought I would share a couple of his favourites with you; surprisingly, it is a very eclectic bunch!
Kekfrankos from Weninger, Hungary is not your usual midweek wine. At £22 a bottle I can’t say it is a bargain either but gosh, what a truly delightful one! Think of Cabernet Franc from the Loire Valley, light, bright and fruity. Imagine the sweet, dried aromas of plums on the nose, followed by that burst of energy from the blackberries and spices on the palate. It is just full of character and playfulness, yet so youthful. I can honestly say no matter what you are pairing it with, you won’t be disappointed. Oh, and it is also a natural, biodynamic wine so if you never had one of those, I would start with this beauty.
(Available online from Buon Vino at www.buonvino.co.uk )
Name: Kekfrankos
Origin: Sopron, Hungary, wine maker, Franz Weninger
ABV: 13%
Notes: Dried plums on the nose with ripe, sweet blackberries and a touch of herb and spice on the palate
Price: £22 a bottle
Recommend with: Literally anything!!! Poultry, red meat, chocolate, any time of the day
Where: Buon Vino at www.buonvino.co.uk or if you are on your way to the Lake District, you should pop in to see them here:
Buon Vino, At The Courtyard Dairy
Crow's Nest Lane Austwick
Lancashire LA2 8AS
Looking for something slightly cheaper, for those midweek nights?
The Chef doesn’t drink a lot of wine but he has a soft spot for Malbec. Artesano de Argento Fairtrade Organic Malbec Cabernet Franc is something he would sip through slowly for the whole week. It is your typical Malbec, rich, and bold, with plenty of velvety blueberries and plums. But this one is rounded up quite nicely by having 30% of Cabernet Franc in the blend. Makes it more complex and a bit more subtle. And it is not expensive either!
Origin: Argentina
Grape:70% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Franc
ABV: 14.5%
Where: Sainsbury’s nationwide, £9/bottle or Buy any 6 or more and save 25%
Trip to the vineyard Part 1
I have thought about it a lot. Starting a vineyard. Especially when I was studying for my wine exams. Maybe one day, maybe when I have a bit more time.
But then this weekend, I joined an English vineyard for a harvest( who would have thought, I would be harvesting grapes in England!) And then all those ideas were flying back. I think it took me a mere 10 minutes to plan a whole vineyard in my head, I even sorted out all the staffing issues for harvest days.
We all met at this tiny vineyard in the North of England, hoping for the rain to move away by the time it was our turn to be out and about. All volunteers, some here to learn, some for the company and for that cheeky glass of wine during lunch.
As always, I was the first one out, snipping away vigorously. My aspiration was definitely to be the fastest person to do a harvest. Obviously, it wasn’t intentional, it is just me. No one cared how long it took really, the aim was to do it well and for those who came to have a good time. And the one thing that stood out, harvesting with these complete strangers?
Age, background, job, none of these mattered to any of them. The vines made us the friendliest bunch I have seen in a very long time. We all became one group, one team, without remembering each other’s names at the end of the day.
Did I eat the grapes? Yes
Have I tried their wine? Yes
And how was the wine you ask? I can’t tell just yet, my love for this place is currently overshadowing the wine but guess what? I am back this Saturday, taking a friend as well and trying all the wines.
So keep an eye out for the newsletter next Tuesday to hear about all the tricks and more details of the harvest and my view on these English wines from the North.
Next time…
Accidental Tuesday Night wines and about that glass of wine in a pub
Have a grape day!
The 4pm Club