Bougrier Les Hauts Lieux 2015, Vin de France
12%
€13.95 from O’Briens
We know our Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay very well, and are on nodding acquaintance with Riesling, but how many of us have tried out Chenin Blanc? This is one of the world’s great white grapes, producing excellent long-lived wines, mainly in the Loire Valley and South Africa. Some are very sweet, others bone dry. This attractive very well-priced version has lovely clean peach and apple fruits with good crisp acidity, and a slightly off-dry finish. Perfect summer drinking at a great price.
Pardevalles Prieto Picudo 2015, Tierra de León.
13.5%
€15 from Clontarf Wine, 64wine and the Corkscrew.
Every year, the Spanish seem to rediscover a long-lost grape variety. If you haven’t heard of the Prieto Picudo grape before, don’t worry; very few wine anoraks have either. I seem to remember trying a few very rough versions a year or two ago, but couldn’t swear to it. Then this very attractive wine landed on my doorstep. The grape is indigenous to the León region in north-west Spain. The wine is savoury with liquorice and plump dark fruits with a very pleasant freshness. Well worth looking out for.
