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No-one knows wine better than the author and critic Simon Woods, a former editor of the Which Wine Guide and Financial Times wine columnist. Here he picks five of the very best Click to view Top 5 Wine.
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Best For Dinner Parties (2005 Kurt Angerer ‘Loam’) |
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 Choosing a wine to accompany a special meal can be tricky but the 2005 Kurt Angerer "Loam" Grüner Veltliner, from Kamptal in Austria is a real winner for your dinner table. It's a ripe and refreshing wine made from the enigmatic Grüner Veltliner grape and will go down happily with a whole range of dishes.
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 Austrian wines are hot at the moment and here's why: the secret's in the grape. Grüner Veltliner is what those in the know have been quietly sipping for the last few years. You could visit several winemaking countries around the world, and never come across it.
Only in Austria does it thrive, taking up more than a third of the vineyards. It comes in several styles, from crisp, refreshing and citrussy to plump, rich and powerful, all the while with the tell-tale notes of white pepper and grapefruit (and occasionally a hint of lentils – honestly).
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 It can take a little barrel ageing, although most versions are oak-free, and it’s also very adept at reflecting the soil in which it is grown.
This version comes from rich loamy soil in the Kamptal region, and it shows the fuller, fleshier face of Grüner. Ripe, honeyed, long and lively, it’s wonderfully fresh, intriguing wine that can happily accompany even quite spicy food.
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As An Alternative ... |
 If you want to spend a little more and look further afield, turn to South America, because if you’d relegated Chile to the role of cheap and cheerful, it’s time to think again.
There are growing numbers of ambitious wines, both red and white, that show that this country can compete on a much more upmarket level than many thought possible. Neyen 2003 is a great choice. It comes from the Colchagua Valley, a red wine hot-spot, and it’s a cracker.
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon with the exotically spicy Carmenère grape, it’s an impeccably balanced rich yet fresh wine dripping with berry and blackcurrant flavours.
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TYPICAL PRICES -
2005 Kurt Angerer ‘Loam’ £13.49/$25.00
Neyen 2003 - £23.95/$43.00
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