Lynnette Hudson's Selection: Warming winter reds

It is winter and nothing expresses this time of year more than snuggling in front of the fire with a hearty red wine and your favourite comfort food. This selection is all about red wines, from lighter through to full bodied styles and from many countries worldwide. Driven Snow 2017 Pinot Noir Country: NZ Region: Central Otago Varieties: Pinot Noir Taste: A classic Central Pinot with pure fruit flavours that are as clean as the driven snow. Aromas of strawberries, red cherries, thyme and hints of forest floor. The palate is juicy and sweet with soft, smooth tannins with a fresh acid drive on the finish. Serve with: Mushroom dishes or gamey meats. Style: A classic Central Pinot that is fruity, forward with soft tannins and completely smashable. Serving Temperature: 12-13 degrees as Pinot Noir is best served cooler, allowing the perfume to rise. Any warmer and the alcohol rather than fruit dominates the bouquet. Score: 16.5/20 Chateau La Hourcade Medoc 2017 Country: France Region: Bordeaux, Medoc Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) and Merlot (35%) Taste: A succulent, juicy, ripe expression of Cabernet that is incredible, everyday drinking. Aromas of blackberries, boysenberries, mulberriesand these flavours continue on the palate. Rounded juicy fruit on the palate, soft mouthcoating tannins with a good acid finish. Perfect drinking now. Serve with: Roasted red meats. Style: A wine from the Left Bank of Bordeaux, Cabernet dominant meaning a wine with intense blackcurrant flavours, firm tannins and a long linear palate. However, the vintage of 2016 has a strong influence on this wine, making it juicy, great drinking and amazing value for money. 2016 is one of the vintages of the century. Serving Temperature: 16-17 degrees Score: 17/20 Grande Alberone, Organic red wine Country: Italy NV (a blend of years) Region: Pulgia Variety: Primitivo, Negroamaro and Malvasia Taste: Rich, ripe aromas of black plums, tobacco leaves, black charcoal, meatand boysenberries. A smooth wine, that’s very approachable due to the ripe fruits, soft tannins and acid. Too easy to drink. Delicious. Serve with: A hearty stew or slow roasted meats Style: A hearty red wine that will warm the cockles of your heart. Organically grown fruit, bound to be good for you. Serving Temperature: 16-17 degrees will allow this wine to shine. Score: 17.5/20 EOS Zinfandel Paso Robles 2014 Country: USA Region: California, Paso Robles Variety: Zinfandel Taste: A wonderful bouquet of boysenberries with a raspberry coulis, slight hints of toffee and red and black liquorice straps. Sweet rounded fruit on the palate, chewy tannins with a fluid, clean finish. Best with: BBQ pork spare ribs, dripping with juicy goodness. Style: A juicy, fruity, clean New World style of wine. Serving Temperature: 16-17 degrees Score: 16.5/20 Three Bridges Shiraz 2018 Country: Australia Region: South Australia, Barossa Valley Variety: Shiraz Taste: Opulent aromas of black plums, red berry medley, fresh fennel with hints of bramble and other interesting herbal notes. The palate is rich and ripe yet has a freshness, lashing of coconut, dusty, vanilla oak with a soft, smooth and long finish, ultimately drinkable. Serve with: Duck or pork and savoury vegetarian dishes; creamy pasta with a mushroom medley. Style: A rich, ripe style that has freshness and is supremely drinkable. Serving Temperature: 15-16 degrees Score: 16.5/20 Sans + Pareil NSW Australia Durif 2018 Country: Australia Region: South East Australia Variety: Durif (aka Petit Sirah) know for black skins, high tannin and moderate acidity levels. Taste: Intense aromas of strawberries, candyfloss, dark fruits. The berry compote continues on the palate with firm, mouth coating tannins, perfect for those who love big, full bodied wines. A satisfying finish with vanilla and dark chocolate notes and crunchy acid. Serve with: Perfect with BBQ meats Style: A full bodied red wine with firm tannins that would benefit from decanting just prior to serving. Serving Temperature: 16-17 degrees Score: 16.5/20