Wines of the week

Terry Kirby selects the best bottles to buy

With the prospect of brighter weather around the corner, here are three zippy
New World new vintages - young, fresh wines designed to revive jaded tastebuds.

SUNDAY LUNCH

ESK VALLEY HAWKES BAY VERDELHO 2011

The Kiwi Verdelho - a grape better known in Portugal - is a joyous, palate-tingling, yet full-bodied mouthful, bursting with tropical fruits and elegant citric acidity. One to enjoy with suitably sharply spiced Asian foods or a fine white fish. £13.80, jascots.co.uk

MIDWEEK MEAL

ACONCAGUA COSTA SAUVIGNON BLANC 2010

From the cool climate of the Aconcagua Valley in Chile, a single-vineyard Sauvignon Blanc packed with tastes of cucumber, limes and green capsicums, demonstrating the great things the South Americans can do with this grape. Amazingly crisp and full of verve and life. Drink with dishes such as griddled salmon steaks with chilli noodles. £8.99 (until 15 April; normally £10.99), Wine Rack; £11.50, slurp.co.uk (minimum purchase six bottles); £11.99 Waitrose

BARGAIN BASEMENT

BOSCHENDAL CHENIN BLANC 2011

Chenin Blanc is the white grape most associated with South Africa, producing deceptively complex whites, where flavours of peaches and melons get a nutty, honeyed edge and a long finish, making it capable of handling strong, garlicky dishes, such as fish soup with aioli or pasta with pesto. One of the picks of a bargain offer on South African wines at Majestic. £6.39 (each for two bottles, as part of a purchase of six mixed bottles; normally £7.99), majestic.co.uk

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
News in pictures
World news in pictures
Life & Style blogs

Your chance to live in Winnie the Pooh’s home

Plus London's buy-to-let hotspots and a new property portal

How can the mortgage market recovery be helped?

Guest post by Richard Sexton, business development director of e.surv chartered surveyors

Where do most millionaires live in the UK?

Plus lateral thinking and living on London's waterways

       

ES Rentals

    Day In a Page

    James Pembroke: The man who's eaten everywhere

    The man who's eaten everywhere

    Few people know more about restaurants than James Pembroke, who only spent five mealtimes at home during his entire childhood.
    A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

    A Berliner in 1963 – but did John F Kennedy once admire Adolf Hitler?

    The young JFK praised 'superior' Nordic races during visits to Germany
    Banned Iranian director Mohammad Rasoulof to attend Cannes Film Festival 2013, his first public appearance since prison

    Banned Iranian director to attend Cannes Film Festival

    Mohammad Rasoulof to make his first public appearance since being imprisoned three years ago
    Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

    Seeing the larger picture: Inspiring images of space

    An exhibition explores images how photography has shaped astronomy
    Eat Spam and carry on: Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating

    Eat Spam and carry on

    Wartime pamphlets could teach us a thing or two about healthy, thrifty eating
    Facial hair: Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence

    Facial hair

    Cat beards and the purrrsuit of excellence
    The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

    The 10 Best salt and pepper sets

    Whether they're for everyday use or to make your dining table look just right, it's worth getting a stylish shaker...
    Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

    Ferran Soriano: Predicting success if Manchester City 'vision' is followed

    Chief executive says trophies will come if a 'core' of suitable players is in place
    Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

    Thomas Müller: We couldn't handle losing a Champions League Final again

    The Bayern Munich forward tells Tim Rich his side have to shed chokers' tag after two recent final defeats
    Giro d'Italia: The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

    The Stelvio Pass - cycling's killer climb

    As the Giro d'Italia tackles the brutal climb, Simon Usborne takes on the snow and switchbacks – and soon realises what the fuss is about
    National archives: Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

    Edward VIII’s phone calls - and how MI5 bugged them

    Newly unearthed papers reveal a shocking extra dimension to the constitutional crisis over monarch’s abdication
    Sent down at the Old Bailey: A tour of the world's most famous court

    Sent down at the Old Bailey

    A tour of the world's most famous court
    Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

    Hollywood's random acts of red-carpet kindness

    The Hangover actor Zach Galifianakis’s date for his movie premieres isn’t arm candy  – it’s his 87-year-old friend who he saved from homelessness
    British football scores an own goal

    British football scores an own goal

    Many managers barely survive a year in post. Martin Baker talks to experts who make a case for clubs using forensic business skills to find the best staff
    James Lawton: Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again

    James Lawton

    Sergio Garcia cracks as major fault line opens up again