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Lynn News Wine O' Clock: Autumn's a great season for wine lovers




Hello! Today is the autumn equinox, the day when the sun rises directly in the east and sets directly in the west (as opposed to zig-zagging to the north and sloping off to the east for a cup of tea, as it usually does?).

Anyway, it's officially autumn, and hurrah for that. Autumn's a great season for wine lovers. Between the return to our menus of delights such as pheasant and mushrooms and the call of the open fire, it's a season to rejoice in with liquid diversions such as these:

First up is a white from Chile, the Errauzriz Estate Chardonnay (Iceland £8). Errauzriz has always been one of my favourite Chilean producers. I was lucky enough to try their Vinedo Chadwick 2020 (£250 a bottle, and yes, it is worth it) last week, but at all levels, their wines are excellent. This is everything you could want from an everyday drinking Chardonnay.

Wine.
Wine.

Medium-bodied, with a nose of baked apples, pears, and lemon, the palate is soft, rich, and fruit driven. Toward the finish, there are notes of apricots, honey, and spices. This is a lot of wine for the money and it’s just the thing for a chicken casserole or fish and chips.

Nest is another Chardonnay, this time from Burgundy, the Saint Véran from Louis Jadot (Tesco £23). £23 isn't exactly bargain basement money, but in the context of the madly expensive Burgundy market, this is a find. 2019 was an outstanding vintage, and the quality shines through. The nose offers everything from apple blossom and crushed nuts to peach stones and citrus. The palate is ripe and rich with gorgeous notes of red apples, peaches, melon, and vanilla. Leave this open for a couple of hours, and notes of apricot and cream join the party on your palate.

And so to the reds. If you're looking to keep the autumn evening chills at bay, I can wholeheartedly recommend The Society's Australian Shiraz (Wine Society £8.50). Full-bodied, spicy, warming, and brilliant, this is one of those wines that reminds you why you joined the Society. This is an unrestrained wine joy, a riot of blackcurrants, raspberries, roasted cherries, mint, and spiced plums.

I'll finish this week with a wine that reminds you why God invented magnums: because bottles aren't big enough. The Cortese Nostru Nero d'Avola 2020 (Aitken Wines £12.50) is vegan, organic, has no added sulphur, and is sustainably made. There's no debating the latter point; it will sustain me over the autumn; I now have a case. If you like the idea of a big, super-saturated soft red that offers stewed plums, mulberries, and chocolate with a hot lick of black pepper to the finish, then this is for you. Partner this with steak or your favourite hard cheese, and you're in for a treat.

More soon, cheers!



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