Wines for Lamb

Organic black-grape skinned silkiness in a glass - should be a staple in every household!

This is a big and powerful red wine, dark red in colour. The nose has plenty of dark fruit aromas, plums, black cherries, chocolate, dried fruit and slight herbaceous notes. The palate is full, dense and rich with intense ripe fruit. There are more plum and spice flavours on the palate. The finish is has a touch of residual sugar, giving some natural sweetness, and is full, rich and lingering. 

Country: Italy

Region: Puglia

ABV: 14 %

Grape: 90% Primitivo, 10% Merlot

A deliciously rich yet supple red that's perfect to enjoy along side hearty, rustic Italian cuisine.

Intense ruby-red colour with a complex bouquet reminiscent of prunes, cherries and redcurrants.  The oak ageing adds a pleasant roasted and spicy aroma. On the palate it is full-bodied, supple and well-balanced with a long finish.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

ABV: 13%

Grapes:  70% Corvina, 20% Rhondinella, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon

Food Match: Great with Antipasto like cured meats and olives, but equally as good with hearty bean and beef stews.

Put a steak on the griddle pan, prepare a fresh green salad and crack open a bottle of this delicious Malbec - Heaven! 

Irresistible pure blueberry fruit make this a particular favourite of ours. Made by legendary Californian Wine Maker, Paul Hobbs.

Country: Argentina

Region: Mendoza

ABV: 14%

Grapes: Malbec

Wild berry and smokey notes are deftly handled at Henry of Pelham, where this variety has become their recognised flagship red wine. A deep ruby colour with hints of dark purple; blackberry and plum aromas with coffee, cedar wood and smoky notes. Dry and full-bodied with pronounced black cherry flavours lingering on a smoky finish.

Country: Canada

Region: Niagara Peninsula

Grapes: Baco Noir

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Great with roast lamb and all the trimmings

http://swahilicoastfoodie.com/wine-and-roast-lamb-pairings/

Baco Noir's origins go back to 1894, when French grape creator François Baco crossed Folle Blanche with an unknown member of the American Vitis riparia family.

His intention was to create phylloxera-resistant vines that retained their Old World French character. At one time Baco Noir was grown in Burgundy and the Loire, but it was gradually phased out of the Old World and has since become one of North America's more successful hybrids.

The original home of Malbec - Cahors in France. Argentina is the young upstart trying to take this regions crown! 

Intense berry fruit with plum, blackberry and lots of spice. Vanilla and soft oak as well as violets and a potpourri character add complexity, which is balanced by gentle tannins.

Country: France

Region: Cahors

ABV: 14%

Grapes: 85% Malbec, 15% Merlot

Food Match: Roast Spring lamb with rich red wine gravy

Pretty and poised Pinot.

Classic cranberry and red current aromas giving us a wine with enough bite and texture to be foody but with enough generosity of fruit to be a delicious glass on its own. A touch of oak in the wine making lends a little soothing creaminess to the finish.

Country: New Zealand

Region: Marlborough

ABV: 13% 

Grape: Pinot Noir 100%

From the true masters of Cape Cabernet - the benchmark Stellenbosch Cab. 2015 was the winner of platter 5* best Cabernet Sauvignon in South Africa.

This is the only red wine produced by Le Riche that is not 100% Cabernet. A reincarnation of Le Riche's classic Cab Merlot blend, this is an exceptionally lovely, classically Bordelaise blend. Restrained but appealing on the nose with typical red fruit aromas of plum, cherries and milled pepper are balanced by an aroma of finely ground graphite found in Left Bank Bordeaux. The palate is a masterpiece of blending - hugely appealing with juicy mouth-filling flavours of red berries, plums and smoky hints balanced with a fine, soft tannic structure and rounded finish. Finely structured and phenomenally fine, Christo Le Riche has more than stepped into his father’s shoes!

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

ABV: 14.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, Petit Verdot

Le Riche Wine

The backbone of the range, it’s a phenomenal expression of Stellenbosch Cabernet Sauvignon when it’s allowed a maritime influence, and it is this that sets it apart and marks it as truly Bordelaise. With carefully selected fruit from the cool gravelly slopes facing False Bay to the rich red granitic soils around Stellenbosch, the wine gains its complexity by expertly blending fruit from 4 specifically diverse terroirs. 

A vibrant red wine with aromas of tobacco, dark cherry, rich red forest fruits and floral notes of lavender and violet. The palate has hints of white truffle, hazelnut, and warm spices with glimpses of anise and clove, rounded off with herbaceous undertones. The finish is gripping, velvety and lingering.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Mount Lebanon and Bekaa Valley

Grapes: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, Grenache & Mourvèdre

ABV: 13.5%

Produced at the historic Monastery of St Jean, whose building dates back to 1696. 75% of the grapes are from the Monastery’s own vineyards in Khenshara & Ajaltoun at 1000m altitude on the Maritime side of Mount Lebanon. The remaining 25% is Cabernet Sauvignon from the Bekaa Valley.

Food match: Moroccan lamb tagine

Saperavi is tipped to be the 'new Malbec' by a few well known wine critics. This ripe, Georgian red is full of red cherry and mulberry aromas and flavours, with layers of vanilla. Wonderful, soft rounded tannins with a long, juicy finish.

Country: Georgia

Region: Kakheti

Grapes: Saperavi

ABV: 13%

Food Matches: Red meat dishes, stews and casseroles, roast lamb or mature hard cheeses.

Read all about Penny's recent trip to the cradle of wine, Georgia in her blog here.

George Margvelashvili is the founder at Tbilvino Wines - where this delicious wine is made. Established 60 years ago, and over this period Tbilvino have become one of Georgia’s pioneering producers. Almost dormant at the end of the Soviet era, the winery was acquired by the Margvelashvili brothers, who set out to restore the facilities, and moved away from quantity to quality production.

Complex nose with hints of spice, chocolate and mocha. Good structure with plum and mineral complexity and a lingering finish.

Country: South African wine

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet & Malbec

ABV: 14%

Made from a blend of six indigenous and international grape varieties, this is a truly distinctive wine, with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Petit Verdot, Graciano and Cabernet Franc, each adding a new dimension and complexity. 

The grapes were hand picked and aged in a mixture of American and French oak barrels for 6 -12 months. The result is a full-flavoured wine, with intense berry aromas, beautifully integrated sweet oak and hints of leather and spice.

Country: Spain

Region: Castilla

ABV: 14%

Grapes: 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Syrah, 16% Cabernet Franc, 10% Tempranillo, 4% Graciano, 4% Petit Verdot.

Velvety smooth, rich, concentrated and supple. Flavours of cassis, bramble and black cherry with a sheen of vanilla from the oak ageing.

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux, Margaux

ABV:13.5%

Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot

Serve 12 to 14 degrees C

Food Match: Red meat dishes such as beef Wellington or roast lamb.

Medium to full bodied with a dark ruby colour and aromas of black cherries and berries, sweet spices and vanilla. The finish is soft and long with hints of black pepper and tobacco.

Country: Bulgaria

Region: Struma Valley

Grapes: Melnik 55

ABV: 14%

Food Match: Red meat dishes especially roast lamb, charcuterie and hard cheeses.

One of the leading Producers in the English winemaking revolution. Enjoyed by everyone except the French...

The sparkling rosé is a seriously sophisticated wine that offers notes of raspberry and wild strawberry, with subtle savoury undertones adding complexity. The sparkling wine is produced following the same traditional method as is used to produce Champagne, providing a luxurious, flavour-filled wine. 

Beautifully packaged so it makes a great gift too. 

Country: England

Region: Sussex

ABV: 12.5%

Grapes: Pinot Noir

An intense ruby red wine. Very fresh and full bodied, lovely finish. Perfect with game or aged cheeses.

Country: Italy

Region: Veneto

Grapes: Cabernet Franc

ABV: 12.5%

Aromatic, medium to full bodied and powerful, with good extraction of the sweet flavours of black ripe fruits. Elegant with good texture and firm tannins, giving wine great ageing potential. A touch of mint, with lavender notes. Firm, well balanced oak and long finish with fresh, spicy, integrated mouthfeel.

Country: South Africa

Region: Wellington

ABV: 14%

Grape: Shiraz

Andreas Wine

Andreas only produce this wine - and they are good at it. The wine is aged for 18 months in French and American oak and bottle matured for another year. Winemaker Shaun Meyeridricks' first first vintage was in 2018, since joining Andreas from Boekenhoutskloof where he was previously making exemplary Shiraz.

An elegant rendition of this normally unruly varietal. Features raspberry, dark fruit and herbal notes whilst an almost meaty, wild aroma can be detected on the nose. Typical vigour expected from this varietal, with a high concentration of fine tannin and a surprising lightness of touch helped by the lower alcohol.

Country : South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grape: Mourvèdre

ABV: 13.5%

Waterkloof Wine

Living soils and a natural approach to winemaking means that each of the single-varietal wines in the Circumstance range is truly defined by the circumstances influencing the chosen varietal and vineyard blocks, including: soil, aspect, altitude and vintage. The Mourvedre is from a single, windswept, south-facing (less sun exposure) block 250-300m above and a mere 2 miles from The Atlantic. These factors combine to produce low yields, balanced grapes and wines with a true sense of place. Production was a miserly 4 tons per hectare. Mourvedre is one of the few varietals with enough wind-resistance to plant as bush-vine on Waterkloof. Grapes are hand-harvested and brought to the cellar by horses for hand-sorting. Bunches are sorted and whole-bunch fermentation happens spontaneously with wild yeast in large, open-top wooden fermenters. Manual punch-downs or foot-pressing take place 1-2 times per day and the wine is left on skins for 30 days before going through malolactic fermentation in old 600 litre barrels then ageing for 16 months in the same vessels. No fining, just a light filtration. No additions other than sulphur. Vegan friendly, biodynamic wine. 6 barrels made.

White flowers, toast, brioche, marzipan and ripe pears on the nose. On the palate, the wine is full and elegant with the freshness of Chardonnay and richness of Pinot Noir. Wonderfully balanced with a fruity finish.

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Grapes: Pinot Noir 1/3 - Pinot Meunier 1/3 - Chardonnay 1/3

ABV: 12%

Rich, ripe and fruity red with black plum and dark cherry fruit. Soft, silky tannic structure.

Country: Lebanon

Region: Bekaa Valley

Grapes: Cinsault, Syrah, Carignan

ABV: 14%

Food match

Mediterranean meat dishes with grilled vegetables

Supple and sumptuous, ripe and ridiculously moreish. It's ready to drink Barolo baby!

Awesome aromas of orange skin, ripe plums, and tobacco leaves. Vibrant tannin and acidity. Lovely!

Country: Italy

Region: Piemonte

14% ABV

Grape: Nebbiolo

Elegant and complex nose with a good concentration of black fruit, thyme and rosemary with secondary aromas of leather and tobacco leaves. Hints of black fruit jam and liquorice warm, with a long, delicious and persistent finish.

Country: Spain

Region: Rioja

Grapes: Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon

ABV: 14.5%

Fresh and complex with notes of white peach, almonds and a hint ripe papaya. Expressive on the palate with a lingering finish.

Country: South Africa

Region: Stellenbosch

Grapes: Chardonnay, Chenin,and Viognier 

ABV: 13.5%

Food Match: Paella

A beautiful fresh nose of medium intensity with aromas of nectarine, lime, acacia and apricot. This is complemented by toasted bread notes & delicate creaminess on the palate.

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Grapes: Pinot Noir 70% , Chardonnay 30%

ABV: 12.5%

Rich, ripe, dense and complex. Notes of tobacco, dark chocolate and blackberries. Abundant flavours of dark berries are released alongside earthy and creamy notes that warm the mouth. Stunning wine.

Country: Spain

Region: Aragon

Grapes: Garnacha

ABV: 14%