Justin Keay's Wines of the Month
Justin Keay has chosen two Private Cellar wines for his website www.oldandnewworld.co.uk to cheer up these long, dark evenings...
Of our Sasso Arso, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, (£9.14 a bottle) he says: "I never imagined I would find myself recommending one of Italy's more workaday wines as my red of the month, but this Montepulciano d'Abruzzo really lifts the spirits at this gloomy time of year. Full of smoky cherry flavours and with strong rustic undertones, this is a good value food wine and a cut above most montepulcianos. Italian wines are often inconsistent and disappointing - at least the less expensive stuff they deign to export over here - but this is a real find." Click here to buy this wine.
Bishop's Head Reserve Pinot Noir also hit the mark with Justin, making it onto this "Winter Warmers" page: "Best of all is the 2007 Bishops Head Pinot Noir from Waipara (available from Private Cellar, www.privatecellar.co.uk), well worth the £16.30 being charged for it. Aged for up to a year in French oak, this is an exciting cross between a Burgundian and New World style, with much of the sophistication of the former but all the berry fruit and warm toast characteristics of New Zealand. This will go well with most meats but is also great on its own. 17/20." Click here to buy this wine
